how long to visit york uk

2 Days In York: Itinerary For First Time Visitors

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Are you planning to spend two days in York and not sure what to do? This York itinerary will show you the best things to do!

It’s safe to say that York captures England and its history perfectly. The Romans, Saxons, and the Vikings all left their stamp on the city – and it’s a real treat to walk through the narrow streets of the old town.

York was one of the first cities I visited in the UK. When I was following my six-week language course before officially moving to Manchester, my friends and I took a day trip to York. Luckily, I’ve been able to go back a few times since (even once with my parents when they were visiting me!) because York is such a beautiful city!

If you’re also going to visit York, I’ve put together a weekend itinerary that shows you all the highlights of the city. Let’s take a look!

Follow The Ghost Trail Of York

Visit the railway museum, how to get around york.

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Weekend In York Map

Day 1 = Red Day 2 = Yellow Hotel recommendations = Blue

2 Days In York Itinerary

Luckily, York’s not a very big city. So spending two days in York gives you more than enough time to tick the main highlights off your bucket list. Let’s dive in.

Day One In York

For this York itinerary, we start by exploring the city centre and the Old Town. York is one of the most charming cities in the UK (along with Bath ). Especially since most of the city is a pedestrian zone, it’s a real treat to walk around. On our first day, we’ll visit the York Minster, the Shambles, Clifford’s Tower, and go on a ghost tour.

Visit York Minster

No visit to York is complete without seeing the York Minster. Also known as the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter, York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Not all cathedrals are minsters and vice versa, but the one in York is both. 

It dates back to the 7th century, and you can see traces of the Saxons, Vikings, and Normans – who all made York their home at some point in time.

There is an entrance fee, but a tour of the Minster is included. It’s free to visit with the York Pass. While it’s an extra £5 (even with the York Pass), I highly recommend visiting the top of the Cathedral. You get to climb the 275 narrow steps to the top of the tower , giving you the best view in York. It’s 100% worth the extra fiver!

Explore The Shambles

From York Minster, we make our way into the Old Town of York. One of the most famous spots is the Shambles. This narrow, charming, and picturesque street served as the main inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll be happy to find some Harry Potter memorabilia and stores here too!

The oldest mentions of this street date back to 1086, but most buildings on The Shambles today are from the 14th century. Back then, the timber-lined shops used to be butchers’ houses; hence the name “Shambles.” It’s one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world!

You also may want to visit the Shambles Market, which is located near the Shambles itself. It’s home to tons of independent traders, selling anything from artisan crafts to tasty snacks.

Climb Clifford’s Tower

After you’ve explored some more of the Old Town, it’s time for our next stop on this York itinerary: Clifford’s Tower. This tower is part of the original York Castle, constructed by William the Conqueror in the 13th century. Today, Clifford’s Tower is all that remains.

There’s a small fee to enter the tower (free with the York Pass), but it gives you another beautiful view over York’s old town. Plus, it’s 360 degrees!

Visit York’s Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum is only a couple of minutes from Clifford’s Tower. It’s another opportunity to learn more about York’s history, and therefore English history. There is an entrance fee (free with the York Pass), but I think it’s worth it!

The exhibitions portray York from the Victorian age to the 21st century. Especially since I hadn’t officially moved to the UK yet and wasn’t very familiar with English history, I learned a lot.

There are tons of great pubs in York, and I highly recommend you pick one of them for dinner. What better than to end the day in the pub? 

Well… What about a ghost tour?

York is known to be one of the most haunted cities in Europe ! And there are tons of ghost tours and walks available. A guide will show you through the history and mystery of York. Especially after dark, it gets pretty creepy!

Day Two In York

On our second day in York, we’ll walk the famous city walls and visit the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey. Did you know that you can even see a Shinkansen in York? The only one outside of Japan! But first, let’s learn about York’s relationship with chocolate… 

Visit York’s Chocolate Story

Did you know that the famous KitKat candy bar originates from York?

That’s why the Chocolate Story is a great addition to this York itinerary. You’ll learn over 300 years’ worth of chocolate history, why the chocolate bar is such a hit in Japan, and even get to try some chocolate yourself.

Afterwards, you can stop at the Chocolate Cafe for one of their luxury hot chocolates. Delicious!

Walk The City Walls

Now we’re all stocked up on chocolate; it’s time to burn some of those calories 😉 The Roman city walls are the perfect place to do so. They stretch 3.4 km and are some of the most beautifully preserved walls in the UK . Dating back to 71 AD, it really adds to the historic atmosphere of the city.

It’s free to walk the city walls, but keep in mind that they’re open from dust till dawn. When I visited York with my parents, we were just a little too late. Luckily, I walked them when I went to York a couple of years earlier – but it would’ve been nice for my mom and dad to have the same experience. I guess there’s always next time 😉

More than 2.5 million people walk it every year, and there are tons of fantastic photo opportunities! The entire route takes around two hours to complete, but you can choose to walk a shorter part.

See The Ruins Of St. Mary’s Abbey

Now, we slowly make our way back to the York Minster. Near it, you can find the Museum Gardens. This botanical garden covers around 10 acres, including the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey.

The Abbey was established in 1088 and stood proudly for over 450 years. Unfortunately, it got destroyed under Henry VIII’s ruling. You can still visit the ruins today, however. It’s quite an impressive sight.

I know that there are a few museums in this itinerary, but the Railway Museum makes for a perfect ending to your weekend in York. It’s the largest museum of its kind in the UK and covered anything rail-travel-related. It even includes the only Shinkansen outside of Japan , along with 100 other trains.

It’s completely free to enter, too.

Where To Stay In York

Dean Court Hotel (4*): There is no better location to stay than the Dean Court Hotel. The hotel is located opposite York Minster, and you’re only a couple of hundred yards away from the city centre. The stylish and comfortable rooms give you everything you need for the perfect weekend in York.

Hilton York (4*): This hotel is located in the heart of historic York, opposite Clifford’s Tower. The rooms include a big and comfortable bed, and some even give you beautiful views of the tower. On top of that, you can find two bars and restaurants in the hotel, along with a gym.

Things To Know Before Visiting York

Before spending a weekend in York, here are a few travel tips. Including the best times to visit the city, how to get to York, and how to get around.

Best Times To Visit York

While there’s never a bad time to visit York, spring and summer are the best seasons. It’s best to visit between April and September because of the mild temperatures and the least chance of rainy weather. It is England, however, so bringing an umbrella is never a bad idea 😉

Because it’s such a gorgeous city, there isn’t really an offseason. York’s usually quite busy, especially during the weekend! If you want to avoid the huge crowds, it’s best to plan a two-day trip during the week.

If you’re visiting in November or December, make sure to check York’s Christmas Market .

How To Get To York

By plane: York doesn’t have an airport, but you can fly to Leeds-Bradford or Manchester Airport instead. From Leeds-Bradford, you can take the bus which will take you to York in 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the bus to Leeds and get a train from there. From Manchester, it’s best to take the train, which will take around an hour and a half.

By train: It’s easy to take the train to York. Trains in the UK can be on the more expensive side, but they run between all major cities. From Manchester, it takes around an hour and a half to get to York. From London, it takes two-three hours.

By bus: As trains are quite pricey in the UK, you may want to opt for a more budget-friendly option. The coach is a great alternative! While it’s cheaper, it also takes a little longer.

By car: York is easy to reach by car from most parts of the UK. If you decide to take the car, keep in mind that most of the city centre in York is a pedestrian zone.

York isn’t a large city, so it’s easy to get around on foot . Especially since most of the city centre is a pedestrian zone (one of the largest in Europe, actually!), it’s best to walk around the city.

Conclusion – How To Spend A Weekend In York

York is such a picturesque and charming city, it should definitely be on your list of places to visit! Packed with history and tons of great things to do, it makes for the perfect city break or weekend away.

I hope that this York itinerary has helped you plan your own trip. If there are places you’d recommend, please leave them in the comments. I’m always looking for new spots to visit when I am in York next!

Looking for more bucket list ideas in the UK ? Why not visit Manchester for the weekend , or travel to Edinburgh for two days ?

Is York a good city break?

Yes, York is one of the best UK city breaks . York captures England like no other city; the cobblestoned streets, the Roman city walls, well-preserved medieval streets, it’s packed with history. Especially since the city centre isn’t very large, you can easily see all the highlights in a couple of days. There are lots of smaller towns nearby that you can visit too – check out the best things to do in Knaresborough .

How many days do you need to visit York?

You need two days to visit York. While you can visit York on a day trip, it’s better to take your time and spend at least a whole weekend in York. This way, you can see all the highlights without having to rush.

Is York worth visiting?

York is 100% worth visiting! If you’re planning a trip in the north of England, you should definitely include York in your itinerary as it’s one of the best cities in the UK. It captures England’s history perfectly, with traces of the Romans, the Saxons, and the Vikings. It’s a wonderfully charming city – one that everybody will love.

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Nele (Nay-la) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with an English and Creative Writing Degree and has lived in the UK for nearly 10 years. She has had an interest in Japan and its culture for as long as she can remember. Since her first trip in 2018 surpassed all expectations, she has continued to return to Japan to explore more of all it has got to offer. You can read her full story here .

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3 thoughts on “2 Days In York: Itinerary For First Time Visitors”

I’ve been to York and it was one of my favorite cities in the UK! But I didn’t know about the KitKat origin!!! How did I not know that!?!? Oh well, just a reason to return for some of that luxury hot chocolate 😉 Thank you for letting me know about that!

Oh my god 300 YEARS OF CHOCOLATE HISTORY???? Hold on lemme pack my bag I need to go

Let’s gooo!

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A Weekend in York Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Days in York England

Last updated: October 30, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - Leave a Comment

The beautiful walled city of York, England is the perfect location for a weekend break. It’s easily accessible from most of the UK, there’s plenty to see and do, and it’s compact enough for walking around.

We’ve visited York many times, and in this guide we’re going to share with you how to spend the perfect weekend in York. From what to see and do, to where to stay to how to get around.

This guide can be used for any two-day trip to York of course, it doesn’t have to be over a weekend. You can also extend it easily for a longer stay, as there’s a lot to see both in the city and in the surrounding area!

Let’s get started with this York weekend itinerary.

Weekend in York Itinerary

Our weekend York itinerary has you visiting many of the main sights in the city. Of course, as with all our itineraries, it’s a starting point for you to plan from. So feel free to adjust it based on your interests and sightseeing pace.

We like to see a lot when we travel, but if you prefer a slower pace, just adjust the itinerary to see fewer things per day.

If you are visiting over a weekend, you can either arrive in York on the Saturday morning and depart on the Sunday evening, or extend your stay to arrive on the Friday evening and depart either on the Sunday or Monday. It’s up to you.

Day 1 in York

For your first day in York you’re going to learn about the history of the city, explore some of the medieval walls, and visit the UK’s largest railway museum.

Note that if you are arriving by train on your first day in the city, you might consider re-ordering this itinerary so you start in the railway museum as it’s next to the railway station. There are left luggage facilities just next to the railway station to save you carrying your bags.

For getting around, we have a section on getting around after the itinerary. York is very walkable, but you might also choose to take a Hop on Hop off bus. If you do the hop on hop off bus (included on the York City Pass ), you’ll likely want to set up your sightseeing so it follows the route of the bus.

• York Minster

The gorgeously Gothic York Minster is a highlight of a visit to the city, and the imposing construction is visible from around York.

Two large towers dominate the western side, with a large central tower in the middle. It’s actually the largest Gothic style cathedral in the UK (yes, it’s bigger than Westminster Abbey!), and the second largest in Europe.

A church has been in this location since at least 627 AD, however; the present building was largely built between the 13th and 15th centuries.

There is plenty to see if you visit inside the Minster, which we recommend you do. For example, there is a lovely chapter house, the beautiful Great East Window (the largest medieval stained glass window in the world), a tower you can climb, and there’s even a crypt you can visit.

A highlight has to be a trip up the tower. At 235ft, the Central Tower is the highest point in the city, meaning you get wonderful panoramic views of the city around you. It costs a bit more to climb the tower but we think it’s well worth it for the view. There are 275 steps to the top, and there’s no lift option.

York Minster is normally open every day except Tuesdays and there’s a fee to visit. At last check, you needed to book online or by phone in advance to visit due to COVID restrictions. You can see prices and opening hours on the website here . Entry is included on the York City Pass .

Expect to spend around 90 minutes here, although this will depend if you choose to climb the tower and how fit you are if so! From York Minster to the Yorkshire Museum it’s a 5 minute walk.

• Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

York was founded in 71AD, when a Roman fortress was built here. For a period of time, it was actually the capital of Roman Britannia, and over the years it’s been everything from a Roman garrison town, a Viking stronghold, a trading centre, a Victorian engineering hub and even a confectionary powerhouse!

That is a lot of history to learn about. For those of you who love learning about the history of an area, then a visit to the Yorkshire Museum is in order.

This is found in the York Museum Gardens, situated next to the River Ouse. The 19th century gardens have a number of interesting sights, including Roman ruins, an 11th century ruined abbey, a 14th century Hospitum, and a 19th century observatory. You can read more about the sights in the garden and opening hours here , and it’s well worth taking a bit of time to wander around before or after your museum visit. The gardens are free to visit.

Of course, the highlight is going to be the actual Yorkshire Museum . Here you’ll be able to learn about the history of the city, from prehistoric times through to the arrival of the Romans and Medieval times. There’s an entry fee to visit, and you can read more about opening times and prices here . It’s included on the York City Pass.

Medieval Wall Walk

One of my favourite free things to do in York is wander along the walls. These walls have surrounded the city since Roman times, although they’ve been restored and improved upon over the years. Today, the majority of the walls you can see and explore date from the 12th to the 14th century, with major restorations taking place in Victorian times.

The walls are the most complete set of city walls in the UK, encircling large parts of the city centre. You can walk along the top of them on the wall walk, which elevates you above the city streets and gives some lovely views across the city. If you were to follow the whole route, you’d be looking at around a 2 hour walk of around 2.6 miles.

Of course, you don’t have to do the whole route and there are many sections you can walk. If you are following this itinerary, from the Yorkshire Museum simply cross over the River Ouse and join the city wall trail to the south of the river. You can follow it around to Micklegate Bar, one of the medieval gateways in and out of the city. It was traditionally the gate that monarchs would use for entering York.

It is about a 15 minute walk from the Yorkshire Museum to Micklegate Bar via the city walls.

You can also go inside the gate at Micklegate Bar to visit an exhibition about the history of the city walls, and their evolution from Roman times to the present day. This is a new experience, opened in 2022, and it’s also included with the York City Pass .

There are a number of pubs, restaurants, and shops around Micklegate , so this can be a good place to have lunch or stop for coffee before heading to the next stop on the itinerary.

For those interested in religious history, The Bar Convent is located next to Micklegate and is the oldest living convent in England. It is a museum and living heritage center and you can visit the exhibition for a small fee (included as part of the York Pass). But there is also a cafe here that serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea Monday to Saturday. We visited here and found it really interesting.

From Micklegate Bar to the National Railway Museum is a 12 minute walk.

National Railway Museum

If you are into trains (and even if you’re not!) we can highly recommend a visit to the National Railway Museum in York. This free museum is found right next to York railway station.

The museum is the largest museum dedicated to all things rail in the UK. It’s home to some of the most significant locomotives in railway history, including the Mallard, which still holds the record for the fastest steam locomotive ever built. There are usually around 100 locomotives or rolling stock on display, which when we visited included a Japanese bullet train and a Eurostar train.

Having the museum in York makes a lot of sense from a historical standpoint. First, York was famous in the 19th century for the production of railway carriages. In addition, direct trains were running from York to London as early as 1840, and the railway essentially saved York from years of decline. York was firmly on the railway map, and mass tourism took off. Yes, people have been visiting York for the weekend for quite some time!

Note that if there is a particular train or object you are interested in seeing, you should definitely check their website to be sure it is on display. Sometimes trains or other items are sent on mobile exhibitions, or put in storage.

The National Railway Museum is free to visit although donations are greatly appreciated. There’s also a shop and cafe on site, as well as a number of paid ride attractions including a fun Mallard simulator and miniature train rides. Lots of fun here for the whole family!

We’d recommend spending a couple of hours here. You can see more, including opening times and days, on the official website here . You should also check to see if you need to book tickets in advance.

From the National Railway Museum to city cruises departure is around a 15 – 20 minute walk, depending on which cruise you take.

• River Cruise

By now you have probably spent enough time on your feet and would like a bit of a break. Well, a popular option for visitors to York is to take some form of boat cruise. These usually run from April through to the end of October.

These will take you up and down the River Ouse which runs right through the centre of the city, affording you a unique view of the city from the water. Most cruises feature live commentary, and they also often have drinks available for purchase.

There are a variety of boat cruise options in York, from self-drive boat hire  through to short excursions , amd sunset cruises .

They vary in duration from 45 minutes up to 2.5 hours. You can see all the options and book in advance here . Note that a city cruise option is included with the York City Pass .

If you’re visiting from November through to March, most of the boat cruises are not operational. There are however a number of bus tour options to consider.

Evening Ghost Tour / Shambles Walk

As the day starts to fade to night, it’s the perfect time to learn a bit more about the darker past of the city. York is well known for its ghost tours, and the authentic medieval streets around the Shambles are an amazing backdrop to these tales and stories.

Of course, you can explore the area around the Shambles on your own. However, the ghost tours are a lot of fun, led by entertaining costumed guides who are going to shock, thrill, and humour you.

The two tours we suggest you check out are this 90 minute tour or this 90 minute tour , both are led by costumed guides. Both tours have excellent reviews and have won awards.

Of course there are also other tours, including this one and this one . So you have no shortage of choice.

We also recommend you spend a bit of time walking the streets around the Shambles at night, as it is remarkably pretty and photogenic. The actual street with the name “Shambles” is our favourite, with the leaning houses that look like they are straight out of a Harry Potter film set .

Out of all the streets in the UK that have been said to look like they are Diagon Alley out of Harry Potter (we’ve been to all of them), this is the one that looks most like it.

If you’d prefer a bus tour rather than a walking tour, there is also an evening ghost bus tour you might consider.

That wraps up your first day in York! Time for some food and rest, before heading on to your second day!

Day 2 in York

For your second day in York you’re going to do some more sightseeing, learn about York’s Viking and Victorian history, and even try some chocolate. Then there’ll be time for a bit of retail therapy before you wrap up your weekend in York.

Again, everything on our list today is easily walkable, or on the York Hop on Hop off bus route. Let’s get going!

• York Castle Museum

Despite the name, the York Castle Museum is not in a castle, nor is the museum about a castle. It is built on the former site of York Castle, which was largely rebuilt as a prison in the 18th century. The only really obvious remnant of the castle is Clifford’s Tower, which is found on the hill opposite the York Castle Museum.

So, now that your expectations around the lack of a castle have been managed, you might be wondering what this is a museum of.

Well, in the early 20th century, a Yorkshire physician by the name of John Kirk decided to start collecting objects that he felt reflected the time, in an effort to capture a glimpse of life in late 19th century Yorkshire. His collection grew prodigiously, and in 1931 he asked if anyone would want to display it.

In 1934, his collection was purchased by the city, and in 1938 the York Castle Museum opened to display the objects. A highlight of the museum on opening, and still a highlight today, is the recreated late Victorian street known as Kirkgate. This was a first of its kind in the UK, and is still popular with visitors today.

There’s lots more to see in the museum, which is maze-like and sprawling, and not laid out in any particularly logical order that we could discern. Exhibits include information on the prison, the Great War of 1914-1918, the Swinging Sixties, and fashion over the last 400 years. There is also a Victorian mill that is sometimes open to visitors.

It’s a lot of fun with a lot to see and do, and you could easily spend 2 to 3 hours exploring. There’s a fee to visit, and you can see opening times and prices here . Also included on the York City Pass.

• Clifford’s Tower

Directly opposite from the York Castle Museum sitting atop a large mound is Clifford’s Tower . This was the keep of York’s original castle.

A keep has been in this location since the time of William the Conqueror in the 11th century, but the present stone version dates from the mid 13th century. It’s the only really visibly obvious surviving part of York Castle that you can visit.

The tower itself is largely a shell, with the impressive walls surrounding a courtyard. A highlight of a visit is to go up to the top of the walls, from where you get good views across the rooftops of York and York Minster.

Clifford’s Tower is operated by English Heritage and there’s a fee to visit, although it’s free for English heritage members. You can see opening times and prices here . It’s also normally included on the York City Pass .

Note when we got our photos of Clifford’s Tower it was in the middle of a renovation project. The tower is open as of April 2022, and now has an interior structure and a new roof deck from where you can appreciate the views!

From Clifford’s Tower to Jorvik Viking Centre it’s a 4 minute walk.

• Jorvik Viking Centre

In the 9th and 10th centuries, York and a large swathe of northern England was captured and ruled by the Vikings. They called the city Jórvík, and turned the city into an important centre of economy.

A fun way to learn about life in York during Viking times is to visit the popular Jorvik Viking Centre . This attraction consists of two parts.

First, there’s an ride which takes you through a reconstructed Viking village, where you’ll see many scenes of life in Viking times. This was created by the York Archaeological Trust, and based on excavations in the area. In addition, some of the mannequins are based on facial reconstruction technologies using skulls found from the time.

Following the informative and fun ride, there’s a museum area, which has many objects of interest and further explanations of life in Viking times. In addition, there are costumed staff who demonstrate crafts from the time, such as coin making.

A trip to Jorvik Viking Centre is definitely worth including on your visit to York, and it’s a very popular family attraction as well. Expect to spend around an hour to 90 minutes visiting. There’s an entry fee, and it’s also included on the York City Pass .

From the Jorvik Viking Centre to York Cocoa House is a 1 minute walk, and to York Chocolate Story it’s a 4 minute walk.

York Chocolate Story or York Cocoa Works

In the 19th century confectionary and cocoa making became major industries in York. The railway improved the ability to transport goods, and major producers like Rowntree’s produced their products in York. In fact, after the railways, cocoa manufacturers were the second largest employer in York at this time.

Chocolate is still very much an important part of life in the city. Nestlé’s UK confectionary business is based here, as is their global R&D centre for confectionary. Rowntree’s still make their iconic KitKat bar in York, over four million of them a day!

If you have a sweet tooth, or simply want to learn a bit more about the history of chocolate making in the city, then you have a couple of options. These are York’s Chocolate Story , or the York Cocoa Works . Both these locations feature shops where you can buy chocolate. However, more importantly, they also both an educational experience and you can do a tour at each for a fee.

York’s Chocolate Story takes you on a journey through the history of chocolate in York. You’ll learn about the people and companies that put York on the chocolate making map, as well as the process for how chocolate is made. You’ll also get to make your own chocolate and of course, eat some chocolate as you go!

York Cocoa Works focuses more on the chocolate product process. Whilst the tour does share the history of chocolate making in York, the experience is more about visiting a working chocolate factory and learning how chocolate is made from bean to bar. A variety of tours are available, with the standard tour included on the York City Pass .

So, which to choose? Well, if you’d like to get more into the history of chocolate in York, we’d probably recommend York’s Chocolate Story . If you want to learn more about chocolate making, flavours and so on, then we suggest the York Cocoa Works . Of course, you could also do both, although there is going to be some overlap!

If you have a York City Pass then the York Cocoa Works would probably make more sense as the tour is included.

From either of these attractions to the Shambles Market is less than five minutes walk.

Shambles Shopping

We’re going to finish up your last day in York with a bit of shopping in the Shambles. As well as lots of independent retailers in this area, you’ll also find the Shambles Market itself. This historic market has over 70 stalls to choose from, with everything from arts and crafts to clothes and food available to buy.

We’re pretty sure you’ll find something to buy in the Shambles Market and shopping area, be it a souvenir of your time in York or a gift for someone else. If you’re not into shopping, you’ll also find cafes and bars throughout, and the lovely medieval streets are well worth wandering around anyway.

If you are looking for something to do in the evening after dinner, there are of course a number of bars, clubs, and cinemas. But you could also check out what is playing at York’s performing arts venues, such as the York Theatre Royal , Joseph Rowentree Theatre , and Grand Opera House , as there is often theater shows, operas, concerts, pantomimes, etc.

York Weekend Itinerary Summary

Here’s a quick overview of this 2 day York itinerary.

• Day 1 – York Minster, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, Medieval Wall Walk, National Railway Museum, River Cruise, Evening Ghost Tour / Shambles Walk
• Day 2 – York Castle Museum, Clifford’s Tower, Jorvik Viking Centre, York Cocoa Works, Shambles Shopping

Of course, there’s plenty more to see and do in York, so you could extend this itinerary to more days or swap some of these sights with others to suit your interests and time.

Map of 2 Day York Itinerary

Attractions Near York

If you’re planning on spending a bit more time in York, there is of course many more things to do in central York. But there is also a lot to do around York. Many of these attractions will definitely be easier to visit with a car.

• Castle Howard – one of the UK’s most impressive stately homes is just eight miles outside of York
• Harewood House – another spectacular country house, around 20 miles from York
• Yorkshire Dales – gorgeous countryside and plentiful walks can be found in this National Park,
• Harry Potter Filming Locations – there are two Harry Potter filming locations within 90 minutes drive of York. See our guide to find out which ones!
• Wentworth Woodhouse – one of the largest stately homes you can visit is around an hour from York. See our complete guide to visiting for more!

Of course, there’s plenty more to do in the area around York, but this should give you some ideas for what to see and do!

Where to Stay in York

York has a wide range of accommodation options ranging from hostels and apartments through to high end hotels, and everything in between.

Our recommendation for York is definitely to stay near to the centre so you are within easy walking distance of all the sights, restaurants and attractions. We’ve put together some recommendations for York across all budgets. These are approximately ordered by price, however do check for your dates as prices vary.

• Astor York Hostel – if you’re looking for a hostel, this is one of the best options in York. Set in a grade II listed building, the property features both shared and private accommodation. There’s also an on-site bar as well as kitchen, dining and lounge areas. It’s 15 minutes walk from the train station and 20 minutes to most city attractions.
• Gillygate Guesthouse – This very well reviewed and popular 4* guesthouse is found just 3 minutes walk from York Minster. Rooms are en-suite and a good value full English breakfast is available.
• The Bar Convent – how about staying in a working convent during your time in York? This quiet location features private and shared accommodation in an actual convent, which is also some to a fascinating living heritage centre which is well worth visiting. Breakfast is included, and it’s 15 minutes walk to the main sights, and only five minutes from the train station.
• Roomzzz York City – just to the south of the city centre, around a 15 minute walk from most attractions, this is a well reviewed aparthotel option. En-suite rooms have kitchenettes.
• 23 St Mary’s – we stayed at this luxury guesthouse on a recent visit to York and loved it. It was just 15 minutes walk from most attractions, and the rooms were wonderfully spacious with luxury amenities.
• The Grand – this five star hotel is found in York’s former railway headquarters, so as you might imagine it’s very close to the railway station. Rooms are spacious and en-suite, there’s on-site dining and a bar, as well as a spa and pool. If you’re looking for luxury in York, this is an excellent option, and you can get some great deals depending on when you stay as well.

If you’re looking for an apartment, we recommend the Plum Guide . They offer a selection of curated properties that have to meet a high standard to be listed, and we’ve always had a positive experience when we’ve stayed with them. See their listings for York here .

How to Get to York

York is a well-connected city which is easy get to from around the UK.

First, you can of course reach York by car. If you opt for this option, make sure to check the parking options at the hotel you choose, as parking can be tricky to come by. If the hotel doesn’t have parking, you might need to take advantage of the park and ride options into the city. Once you’re in York, you are unlikely to need a car.

York is around a 4-hour drive from London, 90 minutes from Manchester , 45 minutes from Leeds and four hours from Edinburgh.

Another excellent option for reaching York is to take a train. York is on the east coast mainline, with fast train services linking it with the rest of the country. London is just under 2 hours away by train, and Edinburgh is around 2.5 hours by train from York.

You can check train times and book tickets online in advance here . With rail tickets, booking in advance is nearly always going to land you the best deals.

You can also travel to York by long-distance bus, although this will take a bit longer and so might not be suitable for a weekend trip. From London to York is between 6 and 7 hours by coach for example. You can check times and prices on National Express here and Megabus here .

York doesn’t have an airport. If you want to fly to York, the closest airport is Leeds Bradford Airport, which is around 30 miles away. This offers domestic and some international flight connections.

How to Get Around York

York has a compact city centre which is very easy to get around on foot. Most attractions are within 20 minutes’ walk of each other in the city centre, so getting around on foot is usually our preferred option.

Of course, there are other options for getting around the city centre, including public buses and taxis. iTravel York is an excellent resource for route planning, with everything from walking maps to cycle maps to information on parking.

Another good option for getting around the attractions in York, as well as learning about the sights, is to take a hop on hop off bus tour. You can buy tickets for these individually here , and there are also Hop on Hop off bus tours included as part of the  York City Pass .

York Sightseeing Passes

When we visit a city, we always check if there’s some kind of sightseeing pass that includes the attractions we want to visit. If so, we will invest in the pass if it’s going to save us money, which is often the case.

For York, the only pass available that we were able to find is the York City Pass . This includes more than 40 attractions and activities in the city and beyond, as well as some discounts and even some food. The pass is available for one to six days.

To decide if a pass like this will save you money you need to look at the attractions you plan to visit, the costs of those, and then compare the total cost to the pass cost.

For our itinerary for example, the following attractions are currently covered by the York City pass. This covers nearly every attraction and activity we recommend (note that inclusions can change, see full list of attractions here ):

• City Walls Experience
• Bar Convent Museum (optional)
• Railway Museum Road Train
• York Cocoa Works
• 24 hour sightseeing bus ticket (optional)

If you paid individual adult entry to all these attractions, it would cost around £112.

If you did all the attractions but skipped the Sightseeing bus, you’re looking at around £96.

The pass also includes lots of other attractions as well.

A two-day York City pass costs £75 as of April 2023, although it can sometimes be found at a discount. So you are looking at good savings if you plan to visit a number of attractions. It’s also available for longer and shorter durations, as well as in a child version.

We recommend checking what the pass includes and comparing the inclusions to what you plan to visit. Then you can decide if the York City Pass is good value for your trip.

You can buy the York City Pass on the official website for the pass here .

In addition, you can sometimes get the York City Pass with a discount. We recommend comparing the price on Tiqets here , GetYourGuide here and the official website here to see if there are any offers.

Further Reading

That’s it for our guide to spending two days in York, perhaps over a weekend or perhaps not. We hope you found it useful. Before you go, we wanted to share a few of our other guides to help you plan your trip to York as well as the rest of the UK, as well as some third party resources we think you’ll find useful.

• For wider UK trip planning, we have suggested  one week  and  two week UK itineraries
• York is close to Manchester, check out our guide to things to do in Manchester here .
• If you’re driving in the UK for the first time, check out my  tips for driving in the UK  for some advice. We also have a  guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK .
• We have guides to many other cities in England. See our guide to things to do in Stratford upon Avon ,   things to do in Bristol ,   things to do in Portsmouth , tips on Visiting Oxford on a Day Trip , and things to do in Cambridge
• If you’re heading to Scotland, check out our  2 day Edinburgh itinerary , our  Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary , our guide to the  best day trips from Glasgow , our guide to  things to do in Edinburgh , our  itinerary for Skye and the Highlands , our guide to the  best day trips from Aberdeen , and our guide to the best  day trips from Edinburgh  to get you started. We also have a guide to getting from  London to Edinburgh .
• We have a guide to  10 of the best Stately Homes in England

And that’s it! Have you ever visited York? Do you have anything you’d add to the above? Just let us know in the comments below!

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York in a Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary for York, England

Today we have a guest post from Kelsey from Sights Better Seen on the perfect one-day itinerary for York. Kelsey studied abroad in York, so she has lots of great travel tips and photos to share. Without further ado!

Anytime someone tells me they’re going to England, I tell them to head straight to York. Founded by the Romans in 71 AD, York is one of England’s oldest and most beautiful cities. Around every corner, you’ll find medieval architecture, half-timbered houses, or boxes of colorful flowers. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Table of Contents

Why you should take a day trip to York

Here’s why I fell head over heels in love with this medieval English city and why you probably will, too:

• It’s super haunted – York is hailed as the most haunted city in Europe – some even argue it’s the most haunted city in the world . With 140 ghosts and more than 500 hauntings, they might be right.
• It’s easily walkable – York is a small city, so you don’t have to bother with public transportation. The city center is just a 15-minute walk from the train station.
• It’s safe – As a solo female traveler, I found York to be an extremely safe and welcoming place to visit.

P.S. You can also scroll to the bottom of this post for a free map of what to include in your one-day York itinerary, which you can download and use offline with an app like Google Maps.

Getting to York

York is located in Northern England; it’s 3.5 hours north of London by car . If you travel by train, it takes about 2 hours, making a day trip to York from London totally doable.

Your one day in York itinerary: What to do, see, eat, and drink

Have a full english breakfast at partisan.

Only a five-minute walk from the train station, Partisan is a great place to start your day trip to York. I recommend trying Partisan’s full English breakfast which consists of fried eggs, sausages, back bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, beans, and black pudding. It’s absolutely delicious. If you’re not a meat-eater, Partisan also offers vegetarian and vegan versions of the full English breakfast.

Walk the City Walls

Originally built by the Romans, York is encircled by medieval city walls (they’re actually the longest medieval town walls in England !). What’s neat is you can walk on top of the walls, which offer stunning views of the city. It takes an hour or so to walk the complete loop, which is about 2 miles long.

The walls can be a little crowded, so I recommend visiting them right when they open (8 a.m.) or just before they close (dusk). They’re free to visit, so I suggest hopping on and off the wall as you explore York. You can do a free self-guided tour — click here to read more . You can also do a private guided tour of the walls — check current prices here .

Marvel at the city’s gatehouses (known as “bars”)

The wall is punctuated by “bars”, meaning gatehouses, which were used in medieval times to collect tolls. There are four main bars meaning in York: Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar, and Micklegate Bar. I recommend seeing all of them!

See a museum (or five)

York is home to many excellent museums. My personal favorite is the York Castle Museum. Though it’s no longer a castle, it’s a former prison that has been converted into a quirky mixture of exhibits: You can walk down an old Victorian street, visit an 18th-century debtor’s prison, step back into the 1960s, and so much more.

Here are some other unique museums to see while in York:

• Vikings at JORVIK Viking Centre : A museum dedicated to all things Viking, featuring reconstructions of old Viking settlements. £12.50 for adults.
• National Railway Museum : If you love trains, you’ll be enamored with this museum. It’s also free!
• York’s Chocolate Story : Do I really have to convince you to go to a chocolate museum? You get to make your own chocolate bar and learn all about the history of this delicious sweet. £12.95 for adults.
• York Art Gallery : A public art gallery with a collection dating back to the 14th century. £7.27 for adults.

Enjoy afternoon tea at Betty’s

In operation since 1936, Betty’s is THE place to have afternoon tea in York. I recommend ordering the Traditional Afternoon Tea that comes with tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and a pot of tea. It costs £20 per person. If you’re on a budget, you can get the abbreviated version for £10 per person, which comes with tea and two scones.

Stroll through the Shambles

The Shambles is a small, narrow street that dates back to the Middle Ages. Walking down the street, you’ll wonder if you’ve just teleported straight into Hogwarts. Funnily enough, the Shambles is one of the locations that reportedly inspired Diagon Alley. You’ll even find several Harry Potter-themed stores there.

Along with the Harry Potter-themed stores, you’ll find all kinds of quirky and fun shops: chocolate shops, a cheese store, craft beer sellers, bakeries, to name a few. There’s a lot to do on the Shambles, so be sure to leave some time to explore.

Try a pasty at The Cornish Bakery

If you’re feeling peckish, stop by the Cornish Bakery for a pasty. A pasty is a traditional baked good that originated in the southwest of England; It’s basically a folded pie that’s filled with meat, cheese, and/or vegetables.

If you’re a vegetarian, I highly recommend trying the sweet potato and feta pasty at the Cornish Bakery — it’s amazing!

Visit the York Minster, York’s beautiful cathedral

Next, stop by the York Minster . Locally known as “The Minster”, this enormous Gothic cathedral is arguably York’s most famous landmark. I recommend paying to see inside the cathedral, as the interior is just as beautiful as the outside. An adult ticket costs £16.50, which includes both a church and a tower visit. The tower provides beautiful views of the city, so I highly recommend paying to go up.

Tip – if you visit an hour or two before the Minster closes, you’ll hear the choir singing the Evensong, which is the evening service. It’s also much less crowded at this time, which is always a plus in my book.

Have dinner at The Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece is a traditional English pub that’s also the most haunted pub in York. Fifteen different ghosts “live” in the hotel! The most commonly seen ghost is Lady Alice Peckett, whose husband, John Peckett, owned the hotel and was mayor of York.

Foodwise, the Golden Fleece serves traditional pub food but offers vegetarian options, too. If you stay for dessert, be sure to get the sticky toffee pudding – it’s amazing!

Go on a ghost tour

If you stay later in the evening, you HAVE to go on a ghost tour in York. I recommend the Shadows of York Ghost Walk which costs £6 for adults. The Original Ghost Walk of York also comes highly recommended and costs £5 for adults. You can also book the York ghost bus tour here , which lasts 75 minutes and includes a comedy show.

Sip cocktails at Evil Eye

This quirky, dimly lit bar has a brightly painted interior that’s the perfect place to escape the rainy English weather. Evil Eye is known for its impressive selection of gin but serves an array of creative cocktails with many other spirits as well. You can even book a gin tasting or learn to make cocktails!

A map of the best things to do on a one-day itinerary in York:

When to visit York

November & December – In November and December, get into the Christmas spirit by visiting the York Christmas Festival, where you can enjoy warm cups of gluhwein, delicious baked goods, and fun activities.

February – In February, visit York to see the Yorvik Viking festival, which is an entire week of all things Viking. You’ll see reenactments (and even some battles!) and learn all about York’s Viking history.

March – In March, York hosts Restaurant Week, where you can dine at pricey restaurants at steeply discounted prices.

July – In July, York hosts the Great Yorkshire Fringe, which is ten days of theater, song, and dance productions. Similar to the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this festival is fun and enjoyable for all.

August – On a weekend in August, stop by the York Walls Festival to discover York’s heritage related to the City Walls.

For a complete list of festivals in York, click here . There’s something fun happening almost every month!

Where to stay in York:

The Golden Fleece -Not only does this pub serve delicious food, but you can also stay the night. It’s also located in the city center, which is quite convenient. You’ll literally have The Shambles at your doorstep.

The Lawrence Luxury Aparthotel – At the Lawrence, you can have your own little apartment situated in the heart of York. If you like to cook, you’re in luck – these apartments come with fully equipped kitchens.

Moxy York – This is a mid-range modern hotel with a quirky feel. All rooms and common areas are accented with bright purple, giving it a funky vibe. While the Moxy isn’t directly in the city center, it’s only a 5-10 minute walk to the center of town.

Safestay York – Located in a 16th-century Georgian townhouse, this hostel has an elegant and funky vibe. They offer mixed bed dorms, female-only dorms, or private rooms. It’s located right next to the train station.

YHA York – YHA York is a budget hostel that offers female-only, male-only, and private group rooms. This hostel is about a 25-minute walk to the center but is located on the River Ouse, making for a pretty setting. I’d suggest walking along the river into town!

And there you have it – all my suggestions for spending one day in York! As you now know, it’s a fantastic city with tons to do. I’m already trying to plan my next visit – I’m thinking December as I’m a sucker for Christmas markets.

Have you ever been to York? What did you think?

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About Kelsey Frey

Kelsey is a blogger and freelance writer originally from California, but currently navigating her newfound digital nomad life in Europe. If you're curious about an honest account of life without a permanent address, you can follow her on Instagram @sightsbetterseen or pop over to her blog at Sights Better Seen for more about her (mis)adventures.

2 thoughts on “York in a Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary for York, England”

Love the details and breakdown. Never been to York but you really have me wanting to take a trip. Would you recommend this for a family trip? Bars etc aside. Seems like a great place for everyone.

I think it would be great for a family trip!

Comments are closed.

• Day trips from London >

York Day Trip Itinerary

Plan a perfect day trip itinerary to York, a city of history, culture and heritage and boasts some of the prettiest streets in England. Roman ruins, towering cathedrals, and narrow shopping streets are combined with contemporary shopping and dining to give this city its vibrant and energetic feel. A day trip to York is normally enough to see its highlights, and this is a popular destination for travelers planning an itinerary from London to Edinburgh on the train, and wish to break up the journey along the way. York is also a great starting point for day trip tours of the surrounding area.

Tourist England’s suggested itinerary for a one-day experience in York:

Update 2021:  We’ve made a list of attractions  open in York now .

1 day itinerary:

The View from York Minster

Begin the day at York Minster , which is conveniently located just a 10-minute short walk from the train station. York Minster is the largest medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The cathedral towers over the city and is a real architectural achievement. Enter inside the Minster (entrance fee £10 per adult) where you’ll find an impressive series of stained glass windows, breathtaking calvings, naves and pillars. For an additional £5, (recommended) you can climb the steep steps to the top of York Minster tower, with breathtaking views over the City. There’s also a series of fascinating underground displays and exhibitions, detailing the history and conservation work that took place over the past decades.

Head out of York Minster and into the group of narrow streets known as The Shambles . Local residents are very proud of these narrow windy streets which are filled with lots of interesting local shops, cafes and restaurants and is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat or pick up a souvenir. Shambles Market is open daily, with an interesting selection of stalls and produce.  For lunch, try Betty’s Tea Room which is a kind of institution in York, serving up classic British dishes since the 1930’s! (Although expect to wait in long queues outside on weekends – this place gets booked up!). For a delicious bite to eat, head to Shambles Kitchen  which serves up huge mouth-watering sandwiches.

Micklegate City Walls, York

There are several ways to plan an afternoon itinerary in York. Head to the riverfront to see the pretty River Ouse, and perhaps go for a River Cruise, with 1-hour boat trips operated by YorkBoat , accompanied by a live guided commentary. The cruise departs and returns to the same spot by Lendal Bridge and from here, one of the most popular things to do is to walk a section of the Roman City Walls – our favourite section is from Lendal Bridge all the way past Mickelgate Bar and continuing to Skeldergate Bridge. A short walk from Skeldergate lies several world-class museums. York Castle Museum  looks at the changing English way of life from Jacobean times to present modern-day Britain. Next to it lies Clifford’s Tower , the oldest remaining part of York Castle with great views over the City. If you’re traveling with kids, you might consider heading to the JORVIK Viking Centre , which has fun interactive displays showing how the Vikings lived in York over 1,000 years ago.

There are lots of fabulous places to eat and drink in York. For dinner, try Stonegate Yard which is a tasty bistro and brasserie situated in the city centre with a relaxed, chilled-out feel. Alternatively, head over to Walmgate which is the restaurant district of York. Evenings tend to come alive in York, with plenty of pubs offering live music and shows.

York also claims to be Europe’s most haunted city, and if you’re looking for something a bit different, check out the 75 minute Ghost Bus Tour , which departs daily at 19:30.

York Hop on Hop off Bus:

Our 24-hour York hop on hop off bus is the perfect way to get around the city. Hop on and off at 20 stops conveniently located across York, and learn more about the city from a live guide on board the bus. Upgrade your experience to include a cruise along the River Ouse.

two-day itinerary

If you have more than 24 hours to spend in York, there are plenty more things to do , and it’s easy to mix and match the above day trip itinerary and a few more attractions within the city centre. This includes the York Dungeon , which takes you back to the darkest days in the city’s history, the 2,00-year-old Roman Baths, and the grand residence of the Mayor at Mansion House . There are also a number of day tours that take place in and around York. Top attractions beyond York include Castle Howard , the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the beautiful countryside of the North York Moors.

However you plan to spend your time in York, we’re sure it will be an unforgettable experience!

more things to do

What's Open in York Now?

Day Tours from York

How to get from London to York

Things to do in York

A Long Weekend in York – The Ultimate 3-4 Day York Itinerary

I recently spent 3.5 days in the incredible city of York. Here, I give you the full itinerary for my long weekend in York, as well as some extra ideas so you can make the trip truly your own.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our  disclaimer  here.

I first went to York on a school trip back when I was about 9 years old. A coach full of Year 5 children, we descended on the Jorvik Viking Centre as part of a history project. Even now, I have vivid memories of the strange smells that floated from the museum (more on that later!) and spending my trip money on some replica Roman coins from the gift shop (did anyone else love buying crystallised rocks and replica coins from museum gift shops?!).

York clearly made quite an impression on me and I’ve been back countless times since then. Most recently, we went when I was around 7 months pregnant (anyone looking for a perfect ‘babymoon’ destination? York is strong contender!) and spent 3 and a half days exploring every inch of this beautiful and intriguing city.

• 1.1 By Train
• 1.3 Getting to York by Car or Train – which is better?
• 2.1 Chocolate Lollipop Workshop
• 2.2 Dinner at The House of Trembling Madness
• 2.3 York Ghost Tour
• 3.1 Jorvik Viking Centre
• 3.2 York Minster
• 3.3 Lunch at The Brew & Brownie
• 3.4 Walk the City Walls
• 3.5 Time for a rest!
• 3.6 Dinner at Sotano
• 3.7 Walk The Shambles at night
• 4.1 Clifford’s Tower
• 4.2 Hire a Little Red Boat
• 4.3 Have a drink on the River Ouse
• 4.4 Stop for a snack
• 4.5 Wander the streets of York
• 4.6 Dinner at The Duke of York
• 5.1 Free Walking Tour
• 5.2 Railway Museum
• 5.3 Home Time & Final Thoughts on a Long Weekend in York
• 6 Where to Stay in York

How to get to York

We booked train tickets in advance and travelled to York in first class comfort from Liverpool Lime Street – a journey that takes around 2 and a half hours. Travelling first class meant that we were certain to get a seat with slightly more room to relax and refreshments such as tea, coffee, crisps, biscuit and soft drinks were included.

From York Station, it takes around 10 minutes to walk to the centre of York and to most of the hotels within the city walls.

If you don’t want to pay the extra for First Class, I’d still recommend reserving a seat so you don’t run the risk of having to stand for the duration of the journey. I’d also suggest nipping into a shop in the station before you leave to stock up on drinks and snacks in case you get peckish en route!

You can of course travel to York by car although be aware that most hotels within the city walls do not have car parking on site. Most hotels will direct you to one of the multi-story car parks within the city, but parking in one of these can set you back over £25 for a 24 hour period. If you do have to bring your car, you can save some money on parking by booking your space in advance.

Getting to York by Car or Train – which is better?

York is such a compact city and if you don’t plan to venture too far from the city walls, there really is no need for a car during your stay. A car may come in handy if you were thinking of planning some day trips outside of York, although even then, there are plenty of tour companies that can provide transport as part of a package. Although I enjoy a road trip and usually love the freedom that having my car provides, in the case of York, I would 100% recommend taking the train .

And without further ado, read on for the ultimate guide to a weekend in York !

A Long Weekend in York – Day One Itinerary

We arrived in York late afternoon and, after checking into The Judges Court Hotel , we decided to get straight back out there and start exploring!

Chocolate Lollipop Workshop

York is nicknamed the Chocolate City so a chocolate related activity is a must. We decided to book onto one of the chocolate workshops at The Cocoa House, an independent chocolate shop specialising in its own artisan chocolates. You can also check out The York Chocolate Story .

We got to the York Cocoa House early and spent some time browsing the shop, learning how chocolate is made. All the machinery used to take the cocoa from bean to bar is on display behind large glass windows and the friendly staff will gladly talk you through the process. After spending around 15 minutes in the shop, the temptation all got a bit too much for us and we ended up buying a bar of their special gin infused chocolate – yum!

The workshop itself was good fun, albeit very simple. We donned our stripy aprons and were given the option of making milk, chocolate or dark chocolate lollipops. Chocolate chips were melted with a hairdryer (yep, you read that correctly!) into a plastic food container ready to be mixed with your choice of ingredients to truly make the bar truly your own (I flavoured mine with violet and threw in a load of marshmallows because, yum). The bar was set and ready to take away with us at the end of the workshop.

The Cocoa House has a small café area at the back of the shop selling hot chocolate made with their own delicious chocolate, so of course we stayed to sample it!

Top Tip: Book in advance for this workshop. Despite being a weekday afternoon in March, the class was fully booked.

Website: York Cocoa House

Dinner at The House of Trembling Madness

I love quirky places with bags of character and that’s exactly what The House of Trembling Madness has in bucketloads. Hidden away on the top floor, you have to walk through a shop selling countless bottles of spirits from around the world to find the creaky stairs that lead you up to the small alehouse.

What this place lacks in size, it definitely makes up for in atmosphere. You may have to wait a short while for a table, but there’s plenty of unusual artefacts lining the walls to look at while you wait, and with a large selection of ales (there’re some tasty non alcoholic options) and gins, it might take you that long to decide what you want to drink! Food is simple and delicious – we went for a no fuss pie and mash – and despite it being busy, we didn’t wait too long for our food. Definitely one to visit, even if just for a drink.

Website: House of Trembling Madness

York Ghost Tour

Later that evening, we joined a ghost tour to help us walk off some of the pie and mash. There’s numerous ghost tours on offer but we opted for the Original Ghost Walk, which has apparently been chasing ghouls since 1973. At 8pm, we made our way to the meeting point at The Kings Arm Pub (the famous pub that floods should the water levels of the River Ouse get too high) to meet our guide for the evening.

The walk lasted around 2 hours and was just the right combination of entertaining, chilling and comical. Our guide clearly had a passion for live theatre and his recreation of the stories was so engaging that the two hours flew by.

Ghost walks are a great way to see the city and get your bearings, whilst learning about a different, more sinister side to York’s fascinating history. And at £5 per adult (£4 for children), it couldn’t be better value for money.

Top Tip: There’s quite a lot of standing around so make sure you wrap up warm! Comfortable shoes are a must too.

Website: The Original Ghost Walk of York

A Long Weekend in York – Day Two Itinerary

We rose early, and after setting ourselves up for the day with a tasty breakfast at The Perky Peacock , we made our way to the Jorvik Viking Centre for 10am.

Jorvik Viking Centre

We could smell the Jorvik Viking Centre long before we could see the staff dressed as Vikings standing outside. You see, the Jorvik is different to any other museum in that it tries to offer a fully immersive experience – smells and all!

We were lucky that there was no queue and we were able to walk straight inside without having to wait around. During busier periods (weekends and school holidays) I’m not sure we would have been so lucky so I would consider booking in advance or buying a York Pass .

Without a doubt, the best thing about this museum is the Time Cart – a ride back in time through Viking York. The Time Cart lasts around 30 minutes and is such a unique way of bringing history to life.

Afterwards, in the museum, there are plenty of archaeological finds to browse, many of which relate back to some of the characters you will have met during your time in Viking York. Staff are very approachable and knowledgeable and are happy to enter into discussions or answer any questions. It’s definitely a fun way to learn about the Viking era of York’s history!

We spent around 1.5 hours in The Jorvik Viking Centre.

York Minster

If you don’t have a York Pass , it’s fairly expensive to get into the York Minster but in my opinion, it’s definitely worth it. You can pay slightly extra on the day (it’s weather dependant so you can’t book tower tickets in advance) to go up into the tower which promises breath-taking views across the city, but being pregnant, staff advised me against taking the narrow stone, spiral staircase to the top. Never mind, there was still plenty to marvel at within the cathedral itself and down below in the Undercroft Museum.

If you’re interested in doing a walking tour, check out this option combining a guided walking tour of York with entrance to the York Minster and Undercroft Museum.

I’d definitely recommend joining one of the free tours of the Minster which run Monday – Saturday between 10am and 3pm. I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining and interesting I found this tour and it really did make me appreciate the layers of both social and architectural history that the cathedral represents.

We spent around 2 hours exploring York Minster and the Undercroft Museum.

Website: York Minster

Lunch at The Brew & Brownie

All that culture had made us hungry so we stopped for a bite to eat at The Brew & Brownie. Good coffee and even better brownies (the clue’s in the name!) – this place immediately became a firm favourite.

Turns out I’m not alone in my adoration of The Brew & Brownie; this café gets seriously busy at peak times (lunchtime and weekends). You may end up queuing for a table but if you don’t have time to wait, you can always grab a takeaway and have a picnic in the park or eat on the go!

Website: Brew & Brownie

Walk the City Walls

Feeling fully refreshed, it was time for a brisk walk in the fresh air to help us beat the post lunchtime slump. Luckily for us, York has the perfect walking circuit up on the city walls!

The walk is just shy of 3.5k and takes around 2 hours in total but it’s so easy just do a section at a time if you don’t fancy doing it all at once. Sections of the wall are joined by four bars (gates) and it’s at these points that you can get on and off the wall. However, if you just fancy a rest, Gatehouse Coffee or The Perky Peacock can be found on the walls and are worth a visit.

Walking the walls in an absolute must. Not only is it completely incredible that you’re walking on layers of history spanning from around 71AD, but it’s also a great way to see the city from a higher vantage point. There’s an amazing view of York Minster along the section of the wall towards Mickelgate so get your camera at the ready!

Time for a rest!

All that fresh air had made us tired so we headed back to our hotel – The Judges Court – for a rest before dinner.

Dinner at Sotano

I adore tapas so of course I had to sample some of the tapas York had to offer. Thankfully, Sotano didn’t disappoint.

Tucked away off Little Stonegate, we climbed down the steps and found ourselves underground in a cosy, dimly lit area, rather like a cave. There’s not a huge number of tables so if you’re visiting at a weekend, booking is essential.

There’s a good selection of tapas dishes to choose from ranging from the usual chorizo and patatas bravas to some more unique seafood specials. We ordered a selection of about 6 to start with but couldn’t resist ordering more once we realised just how tasty it was! There’s a good selection of drinks too and the bar staff are more than happy to advise.

Sotano has a really warm and laid back atmosphere and the staff are friendly and helpful. It’s definitely one for your shortlist.

Website: Sotano, York

Walk The Shambles at night

I found it difficult to appreciate The Shambles during the day as it’s always teeming with tourists (of which I am also one – I can see the irony in this!). Visit in the evening however, when the shops are closed and you’ll likely get to see it in all its wonky glory without another person in sight!

I’m not sure if it’s because we’d been on the ghost tour and heard some sinister tales about ghostly sightings on The Shambles, but there’s definitely something deliciously eerie about being there when it’s so quiet. Take your time and soak in all that history. There really is nowhere else quite like it.

A Long Weekend in York – Day Three Itinerary

We got up early again ready to make the most of the day. Choosing to go for breakfast in Mannion and Co, we weren’t disappointed with our decision. The fresh bread is just so good it’s worth the trip alone. Stuffed full of eggs, spinach and the delicious bread, we were ready to seize the day!

Website: Mannion & Co

Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s Tower is almost all that remains of York Castle and offers incredible views across the city of York. It’s looked after by English Heritage which means there is an entrance fee to pay unless you happen to be a member or have a York Pass .

As neither members of English Heritage or holders of a York Pass, we decided to just take advantage of the views from the steps of Clifford’s Tower without paying to enter inside. The views are still pretty good and you can get decent photos of the tower from the bottom. We spent around 20 minutes here before heading off to cruise the River Ouse in a little red boat.

Website: Clifford’s Tower

Hire a Little Red Boat

We decided to take advantage of the pleasant, sunny spring day and hire a self-drive little red boat and cruise up and down the River Ouse. The boats are incredibly easy to drive – just make sure you steer clear of the bigger cruise boats coming in the opposite direction!

We hired our boat for an hour and thoroughly enjoyed tootling along at a leisurely pace, peering in envy at the beautiful houses that line the river. On a nice day, this is such a lovely activity to do and it gives your feet a rest from walking everywhere. Make sure you lookout for the Two Hoots Ice Cream boat and stop off to buy a tasty treat!

Top Tip: In peak season, there can be a long wait for a little red boat. Beat the queues and book your boat in advance!

Have a drink on the River Ouse

There’s a few places to choose from, but we liked the look of Dyls with outdoor seating right on the edge of the river. We decided to make the most of the spring sunshine and take a seat outside, sipping our drinks and enjoying the view of the river.

It’s not just one for the sunny days either. Dyls is still worth a visit even if the weather isn’t so good. Housed within a little stone round house, the seating areas inside are cosy and intimate. If you’re looking for somewhere a little bit different then it’s definitely one you need to check out.

Website : Dyls, York

Stop for a snack

We’d eaten so much at breakfast that we hadn’t really felt the need to stop for lunch. That all changed however, when we heard about The York Roast Co and we knew we couldn’t possibly leave York without sampling its speciality!

The York Roast Co. speciality is an entire roast dinner, trimmings and all, served wrapped up in a giant Yorkshire Pudding. It’s more than a snack – it’s an entire meal in itself! I wasn’t all that hungry for a savoury snack but, not wanting to miss out, Steffan reluctantly gave me a few bites of his. If you like a roast dinner (and let’s face who doesn’t?!), you’ll definitely want to give it a try!

Website: The York Roast Co

One of the reasons I didn’t want an entire Yorkshire Pudding to myself was that I was saving myself for LICC – a very coincidental acronym for the Luxury Ice Cream Company.

I imagine this place is packed in the summer months so expect queues outside the door if you visit during the hot weather! The only problem? With over 150 ice cream flavours and a huge selection of toppings, it may take you a while to choose which one you want!

Website : LICC, York

Wander the streets of York

If there’s one thing you have to do in York, it’s to simply go for a wander. We spent a good hour in the afternoon just walking the streets, getting lost in the snickelways and gazing upwards to spot quirky features like the little red devil. It’s also a good time to visit some independent shops like the weird and wonderful Imaginarium on Blake Street or browse inside one of the second hand bookshops.

Top Tip: If you want more structure to your wanderings, you can collect a map for the York Cat Trail from York Glass on The Shambles . Or if it’s the snickelways you want to explore in detail, you can actually buy a book all about these intriguing passageways and where to find them.

Dinner at The Duke of York

After a couple of hours rest back at The Judges Court Hotel , we made our way out to have dinner at The Duke of York. We’d passed this restaurant so many times during our stay and had been intrigued by the way the old building so obviously leaned to one side!

Venturing inside the wonky structure, the décor inside wasn’t as quirky and unique as I’d been hoping given its outside appearance. Despite this, food was lovely and we tucked into a tasty three course meal to mark our last night in this incredible city.

Website: Duke of York

A Long Weekend in York – Day Four Itinerary

Despite having a train to catch later in the day, we were determined not to waste our last precious few hours in York and packed as much in as possible!

Free Walking Tour

There are a number of free (and paid for ) walking tours that you can do in York. If you choose a free one, be aware that they can vary greatly in the quality of the tour. Our tour lasted around 2 hours and covered all the main sights of York. Although our guide clearly knew her stuff, the way information was presented was a little rushed and difficult to follow in parts.

Top Tip: Consider doing a walking tour on your first day instead as it will help you get your bearings and provide you with a general overview of the city’s history. Unfortunately,  this wasn’t an option for us as this tour wasn’t running until our last day.

Railway Museum

We’d been to The Railway Museum before on a previous visit to York so we didn’t need a great deal of time here. If you’ve never been before, I would suggest allocating at least an hour to browse as it’s surprisingly fun – even for a non train enthusiast! It’s a good place to end your trip to York if you’re leaving on the train as the museum is right next to the railway station.

The main reason we were here however, was to experience a very special afternoon tea aboard the Countess of York, a lovingly restored old fashioned first class train carriage. It really was like entering into a bygone era; a throwback to the times when tea on trains was served in silver teapots and attentive waiters tended to your every need.

The Countess of York is stationed within The Railway Museum and, if you want to visit for afternoon tea, booking in advance is a must!

Home Time & Final Thoughts on a Long Weekend in York

That just about wraps up how we spent our time in York and it’s safe to say, we had an absolutely amazing time.

As you’ll know if you’ve read any of my other posts about York , there are many ways you could spend a few days in this incredible city. There really is so much to do that we could easily come back for another 3 days and spend our time doing completely different activities.

My top tip would be to plan in advance what you want to do in York so that you’re not wasting any valuable time in this incredible city deciding on your activities when you get here. Trust me when I say you’ll thank yourself for all that forward planning once you arrive!

Need some more inspiration to help you plan in advance? Click here for a complete guide to all the fun things to do in York!

Where to Stay in York

I like to stay away from large chain hotels and opt for somewhere a bit more personal. For example, I’m a sucker for anywhere shrouded in history or with a story to tell.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on places to stay in York, you can check out my round-up of the best quirky and unusual places to stay in York , which includes some great budget options too.

On our most recent trip to York, we stayed in The Judges Court Hotel (you can check prices here and here ). If you want to know how I found it, I wrote an honest review of my stay .

As for my preferred booking websites, I tend to check prices on both hotels.com and Expedia . It’s always worth checking the actual hotel website to see if they have any special offers on too!

Have you spent a weekend in York? What did you get up to? Let me know in the comments!

Hi! I’m Helen – proud Northerner and the founder of Venture Up North. Disclosing local secrets to inspire unique adventures, join me on my mission to make sure that Northern England is recognised for the truly wonderful place that it is.

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Things to do in York ( + Itinerary, Map & Tips)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 18, 2022

Discover why York is one of the most popular cities in England for visitors from all over the world. Plan your visit with our guide to the best things to do in York plus essential tips (including the best places to eat and where to stay in this historic English city)

Halfway between Edinburgh and London, in the north of England, sits the ancient city of York. Visit for yourself and discover how York was founded by the Romans and invaded by the Vikings.

This is a beautiful English city that’s rich in history, and with its medieval city walls, museums, shops, and a renowned racecourse, it’s no wonder that visitors flock to York. Things to do and see are in abundant supply, and York tourist attractions are plentiful.

By day, you can visit the majestic York Minster or stroll along the River Ouse (or take the sightseeing bus if you prefer). By night, dine out in one of the many restaurants, and enjoy a tipple at one of the traditional pubs that line the streets.

With so much on offer, you will be spoilt for choice. If you are looking for ideas on what to see and do in York you will find lots of inspiration in this article! Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the very best things to do in York.

Looking for a place to stay in York? Our accommodation guide to York has suggestions for all budgets.

Tip – If you plan to visit many of York’s sights and attractions a York Cty Pass may be a cost effective option. The pass is valid for one or two days of sightseeing and gives you entry to over 20 attractions in York. You can find out more about the York City Pass here .

Walk York city walls

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Things to do in York

Fancy a stroll along the longest walls in England? York is famed for its 13 th century City Walls (also known as the Bar Walls and Roman Walls). Originally built by the Romans to defend the city, York City Walls are now an attraction in their own right.

If you want to walk the whole way around, you’re looking at a two-hour stroll – if that seems too long-winded, you can just walk part of it. The walls are elevated, so you get to take in pleasant views over the city and discover the main characteristics of the stone fortifications at the same time.

Of all the places of interest in York, Clifford’s Tower has to be high on the list. An imposing structure, commanding eye-catching views of the city beyond, Clifford’s Tower is the largest remaining portion of York Castle.

In the past, the tower served as a Royal Mint and also as a prison, playing host to a number of criminals. There’s some debate as to how the tower obtained its name – some believe the Clifford family laid claim to the structure, giving it their name.

Others deem that the tower adopted the name to mark the hanging of Roger de Clifford (hanged in 1322 for his opposition of Edward II). Whichever story you believe, Clifford’s Tower is certainly worth a look.

An edifice celebrating the reign of England’s kings, the tower is an important historical monument, and it also provides extensive panoramic vistas of York.

Where, When and How Much?

• Tower Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9SA.
• Clifford’s Tower is set to re-open in the summer of 2021 following conservation works.
• English Heritage looks after Clifford’s Tower, and members enter for free. (For overseas visitors the
• For everyone else, admission is as follows:
• £6.50: Adults
• £16.90: Family (two adults, up to three kids)
• £10.40: Family (one adult, up to three kids)
• £3.90: Children (five-17 years)
• £5.90: Concessions (students and over 65s)

There are plenty of places to go in York, but there’s something magical about the Shambles. Nooks and crannies, alcoves and secret alleyways, the winding, narrow Shambles used to be home to neighbouring butcher’s shops.

Nowadays, the 14 th -century timber buildings play host to cheerful cafes and upmarket boutiques. There’s a buzzing atmosphere here – look out for the market at the end of the street, and keep an eye out for the talented street performers.

If you are a Harry Potter fan don’t miss ‘The Shop That Must Not Be Named” along the Shambles. Broomsticks can be parked outside if necessary!

Tip – There is a guided walking tour perfect for Harry Potter fans which takes you to all the film locations around the city. Great fun and the perfect way to experience York. Read more about the Harry Potter walking tour.

You can amble around the Shambles and discover its charms for yourself. Alternatively, join one of the guided walking tours . Take in the sights as a knowledgeable guide leads you around the city, sharing their insight and pointing out the wonders of York.

• Right in the heart of the city.
• You can walk along the Shambles at any time, day or night.
• Easy on the wallet as you can walk the Shambles for free, but we can’t guarantee you won’t succumb to temptation and blow your budget in one of the many wonderful cafes and shops! 

As far as buildings go, York Minster is nothing short of magnificent. Dating back to 627 AD and a spectacular example of gothic architecture, the cathedral has an imposing presence.

History oozes from its very pores, and the medieval stained-glass windows, including the Great East Window, catch your imagination as well as the light.  The on-site Undercroft Museum provides a glimpse into the history beneath the cathedral, and there are guides on hand providing free tours of York Minster.

• Deangate , YO1 7HH. 
• Open daily for services and prayer (7:00 to 18:30). For sightseeing, opening hours are Monday – Saturday 9:00 to 17:30, and Sunday from 12:45. Occasionally, parts of the cathedral are closed in preparation for evensong or special events during general opening hours.
• Admission prices are as follows:
• £12.00: Adult/Senior
• £9: Student (not studying in York)
• Free: Children under 16 and residents/students of York (proof of address)

Infamous invaders Ivar the Boneless, King Halfdon and their Viking throng laid siege to York in 866 AD. You can discover the story behind the invasion at the Jorvik Viking Museum.

It’s no surprise to learn that a visit to the museum is considered one of top things to do in York. You can expect a fully immersive experience – climb into a carriage and prepare to be transported through 10 th century York.

The journey provides a glimpse into Jorvik of old, the sights, the sounds, and even the smells! You will also get to take a close-up look at genuine Viking relics, which were all discovered in the vicinity of the museum.

The York Castle Museum is another museum in York worth visiting.

• 19 Coppergate, YO1 9WT.
• Jorvik opening hours are typically between 10:00 and 18:00, but this varies depending on the time of year.
• Admission as follows:
• £12.50 Adult
• £8.50 Child (five-16 years)
• £10.50 Concessions
• Family of four (max two adults) £35
• Family of five (max two adults) £40
• Combination tickets (Jorvik & Dig, Jorvik & Barley Hall, Triple Ticket are also available at an additional cost, so you can make the most of the attractions on offer.

There are lots of fun things to do in York, one being a visit to the York Chocolate Story. Here you can and find out more about iconic chocolate brands synonymous with the city – Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s.

Learn more about how chocolate is made and how to savour it like a pro. Marvel at the skills of the expert chocolatiers and indulge in a few tasty treats on the tour.

• 3-4 Kings Square, YO1 7LD.
• York Chocolate Story is generally open daily from 10:00 until 18:00 (with the last tour at 16:00). The chocolate bar café is open for temping treats between 10:00 – 18:00 (21:00 Friday and Saturday).
• Admission is as follows:
• £14.50 Adult
• £12.50 Concession
• £12.50 Child (four-15 years)
• £49.50 Family of four
• £57.50 Family of five

Days out in York are fun, but they can be costly – here we have a treat that costs nothing at all!

The National Railway Museum is a great day out for the family, and history buffs and train enthusiasts will be particularly at home here.

Browse the notable collection of rolling train stock and marvel at the locomotive and railway exhibits on show. There are picnic areas on-site too, so you can take the weight off your feet and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

• Leeman Road, YO26 4XJ. 
• Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 until 17:00.
• Admission is free!

Boat Rides Along the River

The River Ouse flows through the city of York. In the past, it provided passage to Viking invaders and helped bring the Black Death. Thankfully, nowadays, the river offers leisure opportunities instead of danger!

If you prefer to stay on dry land, you can stroll along the bank, look at the striking scenery and join in the York River Festival. Take to the water and you can participate in a spot of canoeing, rowing, fishing and boating. Hire your own boat or climb aboard a cruiser and enjoy a cruise.

Hire one of the fourteen red motorboats from York Self-Drive Boat Hire , and you can try your hand at being a skipper.

You can hire a boat (choose from Josephine, Angie, Leonie, Sarah, Yvette, Kathryn, Alice-May, Lucy, Tina, Heather, Ellen, Rebecca, Emma or Penny) for 30 minutes or a full hour, depending on how much messing about you want to do on the river!

• Hire Point is at King’s Staith, next to Tower Gardens, YO1 9RZ.
• Opening hours are typically from 10:00 until 15:00.
• Boat hire as follows:

30-minute self-drive (up to eight people) costs between £20 and £40.

One-hour self-drive (up to eight people) costs between £30 and £50.

City Cruises offers a number of sightseeing tours. Choose a daytime trip which includes lunch and allows you to escape the hubbub of the city.

Grab your camera and sail along the River Ouse, snapping pics of historic buildings, bridges and striking views as you go (keep your eyes open for the Kingfishers as they flitter by). The cruise lasts around an hour.

Alternatively, there’s an evening sightseeing cruise . This one-hour trip takes in the sights and sounds of the city. You’ll hear all sorts of interesting stories about York (and its colourful history).

• Daytime cruises: May to November – four departures a day from each standing: 10:30 until at least 15:00 (King’s Staith Landing) and 10:40 until at least 15:10 (Lendal Bridge Landing).
• Evening Cruises: May to September – sailing at 19:30 and 26 th September – 20th November – sailing at 18:00.

City Cruises also offer an afternoon tea cruise , lunch cruise (two-course meal included), evening dinne r cruise , and party cruises complete with disco and buffet.

Plan your visit to York – FAQs for visiting York

York is a UK travel destination that can be visited all year round. There are lots of things to do in York even if it is raining as many of York’s attractions are indoors.

The York Christmas festival is a great time to visit with a Christmas market and festive decorations throughout the city.

Read my article about the best time to visit the UK for a month-to-month rundown of weather and what’s on when.

York can be visited in a day so is the perfect stop off if you are travelling to Edinburgh from London by train. (One of our top 10 rail journeys to take in Britain )

If you have time I would recommend a couple of days in York – it is the perfect weekend break destination. York is also a great base if you plan to take day trips to popular Yorkshire destinations such as Saltaire, Fountains Abbey, and Studley Royal or Whitby.

York is a walkable city with many of the main attractions of the city in close proximity.

If you prefer there is a City Sightseeing York Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour or guided cycling tour of York you could join.

It takes only takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes by train direct from Edinburgh Waverley Station to York.

Catch the train from London Kings Cross for the 2-hour trip direct to York.

For times and tickets visit the trainline.com

If you are planning a UK road trip and want to include York in your itinerary there are a few options for parking.

If you are visiting for the day York has a Park and Ride scheme – park at one of the 6 designated car parks located and catch a bus into the city. Fees apply.

There are also 15 public car parks operated by the City of York. On-street parking is available but limited to up to 2 hours until 3 pm. Fees vary depending on the length of time you plan to park.

Alternatively, look for accommodation that has free car parking included.

If you are planning to visit a number of York’s attractions it is worth evaluating if purchasing the York City Pass is a cost-effective option.

The York City Pass is valid for one or two full days of sightseeing and gives your entry to 25 attractions in York including • York Minster • JORVIK Viking Centre • Clifford’s Tower  • York Dungeon  • York’s Chocolate Story

Click here to find out more about the York City Pass

There is a multitude of interesting places to go near York which is the best base for your day trips and excursions. Some of the most popular attractions near York include:

• Saltaire : Model Victorian village built by Titus Salt for his factory workers.
• Whitby : Pretty coastal town famous for connections to Dracula and its tasty fish and chips.
• Yorkshire Dales National Park : Grab your hiking boots and head to some of the famous trails (we love the circular Ingleton Waterfalls trail) If you want to explore more of the Yorkshire Dales (which covers a huge area we recommend an organised day trip which includes several locations in the one day)
• Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Park : A UK UNESCO World Heritage Site belonging to the National Trust.

If you prefer to take an organised day trip from York these are our choices of the very best:

• Yorkshire Moors, Whitby, and the Yorkshire Steam Railway
• Steam Train, Whitby, and North York Moors
• Bronte Country, Haworth and Yorkshire Dales Day Trip

Where to Eat and Drink in York

With so many things to do in York you’re going to be very busy, but don’t forget to take a moment to eat, drink and make merry. There are plenty of cafes, eateries, restaurants, pubs and bars.

Here is a handful of the best:

Just a short stroll from the train station, Partisan is a cosy café with a top-notch reputation, good service and even better brunch. With offerings such as eggs benedict and a full veggie English, you certainly won’t go hungry.

Where and When?

• 112 Micklegate, YO1 6JX.
• Every day from 9:00 to 15:00/17:00.

The birthplace of Guy Fawkes the medieval Inn is located in the shadow of York Minster. The Inn retains many of its original features such as gas-lighting and timber staircase which all add to its character and atmosphere.

Enjoy classic British food in the restaurant or bar. The Guy Fawkes steak and ale pie is highly recommended! Pair with a pint of Black Sheep Best Bitter or another from a wide selection of real ales.

If you choose to book a stay in one of the Inn’s 13 en-suite bedrooms there is the added perk of a free 2-hour walking tour of York.

• 25 High Petergate, York YO1 7HP
• The Inn offers a variety of menus including A La Carte, Sunday Lunch, and a special Conspirator’s menu served Monday – Friday 12 pm – 6 pm.

How about a tipple at a traditional pub that dates back to 1873? The Old White Swan is a charming place, jammed full of character and atmosphere.

As well as the usual spirits – vodka, brandy and whiskey – there’s another one, the Old White Swan’s resident ghost!

The pub grub here is good, with classics such as toad in the hole, fish n’ chips and apple pie on the menu, and there are lots of cask ales to enjoy too.

• 80 Goodramgate, YO1 7LF.
• Every day from 10:00 until around midnight.

Fluffy pancakes and a chocolate orange hot chocolate, anyone? Head to Brew & Brownie to enjoy both. The treats here are Instagram worthy, and they taste divine.

Brew & Brownie proved to be so popular that the owners opened another venue (The Bakeshop) just two doors along!

• 5 Museum St, YO1 7DT.
• Both venues: Sunday-Friday, 9:00 – 16:00 and Saturday 9:00 – 17:00.

Jalou is big on cocktails, and offers RnB with a chilled-out, stylish vibe. There’s a resident DJ and a buzzing atmosphere.

The bar is located near to the train station, and the building itself is pretty special too. Jalou sits in a Grade II listed church, and it boasts period gothic features.

• 2 Micklegate, YO1 6JG.
• Monday-Wednesday and Sunday, 16:00 – 01:00; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12:00 – 02:00.

How could you visit York without popping into the legendary Bettys Tea Room ?

The famous café has been trading since 1936 and has strikingly beautiful interiors, inspired by none other than the Queen Mary Ocean Liner. Enjoy one of the tasty teas (sourced from around the world by expert buyers), or a delicious coffee (and a plump fruity scone whilst you’re at it) – yum!

• 6-8 St. Helen’s Square, YO1 8QP.
• Open 9:00 – 21:00.

York is a city worth exploring for a few days and if you are planning to see more of Yorkshire it is the perfect base from which to do so.

If you plan to stay there are plenty of accommodation options in York to suit all budgets and travel styles.

• The Grand York – York’s only 5* hotel retains original Edwardian features, large bedrooms and a central location.
• Guy Fawkes Inn – 4 * historic accommodation in a wonderful location opposite York Minster. All bedrooms are furnished with 4 poster beds.
• The Bar Convent – 3* guest house located near the train station and next to York’s historic walls. Also England’s oldest living convent.
• Wheatlands Lodge – 2* budget accommodation offering free breakfast.

Read – Where to stay in York

For more England travel inspiration and practical tips about visiting York and the north of England:

• York Travel Guide
• Fountains Abbey and Studley Water Park
• Ingleton Waterfalls Circuit
• 19 Best Yorkshire Day Trips
• Top 10 places to visit in Yorkshire
• Top 10 places to visit in North East England
• Top 10 places to visit in North West England
• Beatle lovers Liverpool itinerary
• Things to do and see in Liverpool

How to Spend a Weekend in York: The Perfect 2 Day Itinerary

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 4th March 2023

Categories England , Itineraries

Last Updated on 4th March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Brimming with a history that is not always for the faint-hearted, York is a top-rated UK destination just a two hour train ride away from London. Perfect to visit over the course of a weekend thanks to its compact size, here’s how to spend the perfect weekend in York , a suggested 2 day itinerary.

York is a gorgeous city in northern England, not far from Hadrian’s Wall and the border with Scotland. There’s no evidence of human inhabitation in York prior to the Romans’ arrival some two millennia ago, and so York is truly a Roman city.

Over the centuries, the city has been the favourite of many royals and celebrities alike. The city also happens to be the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, of the November 5th notoriety.

What is York known for?

Getting to york, is 2 days enough time to visit york, day 1 in york: must-sees of york, day 2 in york, where to stay in york.

York is probably most famous for its York Minster, a grandiose Gothic Cathedral that’s one of the largest in Europe (it’s the second largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe).

Other highlights of this mesmerising city include timber-framed buildings, hidden alleyways that are known locally as snickelways, and more ghost stories than you would probably care to hear about prior to your visit.

York has easy transport links to the rest of the UK and direct trains run between York central station and London’s King’s Cross in just under two hours. While you probably could manage to visit York as part of a day trip from London, you’ll want to set aside at least a weekend so as to truly enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Once in York, the easiest way to get around town is on your own two feet and so comfortable shoes are an absolute must. There is a comprehensive bus network which serves the city centre as well as its surroundings. As of 2023, you can use your debit card to simply ‘tap in’ to the transportation system, much like using the Tube in London.

Yes, resoundingly 48 hours is more than enough time to explore all that York has to offer, as well as enjoy some of its restaurants and wander its streets. In 2 days, you’ll have enough time to see all of the major attractions, though if you want to visit every single museum in the city, you’ll probably need 3 or 4 days.

2 days in York suggested itinerary

Museum Gardens: If you are arriving in York via train, then your first port of call when heading towards the historic city centre (just across the River Ouse) should be the Museum Gardens.

This beautiful green space is free to visit and boasts treasures such as the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital, a piece of Roman wall, and the beautiful ruins of St Mary’s Abbey. For an extra fee, you can pay to visit the Yorkshire Museum which counts archaeological treasures and rare birds, animals, and fossils among its collections.

York Minster: Without a doubt, the number one attraction you have to see in York is the Minster. Also known as the The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, this cathedral was founded in the 7th-century and is now one of the most impressive ecclesiastical buildings in the world.

Unfortunately, York Minster is incredibly pricey (£16 per adult as of 2023) and you’ll have to pay a further £12 per person if you want to clamber up to the viewing tower. You don’t really need to purchase tickets in advance as we didn’t queue for very long to buy the tickets on the day.

With this being said, York Minster is the only attraction in York that I would prioritise above all others in visiting, especially considering the treasures held within its historic walls.

Highlights include the stained glass windows of he Chapter House, the Astronomical Clock, and the crypt (which contains the tomb of Saint William, the Patron Saint of York).

Walk the city walls: One of the best free activities to do in York is to walk the city walls. Overall, these well-preserved medieval walls cover a distance of 1.9 miles (3.1 km) and offer outstanding bird’s eye views of York.

You don’t have to walk the entire length of the walls all at once but instead can opt to walk it in sections. Particularly special parts of the walls are those parts which encompass ‘Bars’. These aren’t drinking taverns but are instead former city gateways which date back to a time when the city would have been defended against would-be invaders.

Bootham Bar is probably the most famous city gate and is located right next to the Minster so is hard to miss when strolling through the town. The stretch of wall branching out from Monk Bar is a must-see and provides beautiful views of the cathedral and its surroundings.

Lunch House of Trembling Madness: If there’s one pub which truly surprised me during my time in York, it was the House of Trembling Madness. Despite its enviable location just minutes’ walk away from the Minster, this tavern serves up quality food in huge portions.

House of Trembling Madness functions as both a shop and pub; the lower floor of the building is in use as a shop selling one of the most impressive collection of beer I’ve ever seen while the top floor serves as a pub. We personally opted for the vegan/ vegetarian burger and found it a really hearty and filing lunch.

Roman Bath Museum: Many visitors to York miss this little hidden gem by accident, but if you’re able to, I highly recommend making the stop off at the Roman Bath. This little museum costs £3.50 per adult as of 2023 and only consists of a handful of rooms but is well worth the entrance fee if you’re a history buff like me.

After all, once you’ve made it down the steep and narrow staircase you’ll soon be rewarded with the sight of a former Roman bathing complex. The museum staff are really friendly and there are a few displays about what life would have been like in Roman York. If you have time after your visit, then you can head upstairs to the pub for a pint!

The Dark Chronicles of York Tour: York is reputedly one of the most haunted places in the UK and so if you want to get to grips with its history, then you’ll want to embark on one of the many famous ghost tours which take visitors through the city.

Together with a local guide, you’ll wander the streets of the city and discover all of the stories of the city’s past, all the way back to Roman times when York was known as Eboracum. Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! Check prices and availability here.

The Orchid Vegan Restaurant: As a vegetarian, I am always pleasantly surprised just how many vegan and vegetarian options there are in the UK, even in smaller cities such as York. For dinner I suggest heading to the Orchid Vegan restaurant, which serves up classic Asian fusion dishes made vegan.

The service was impeccable and the portions were incredibly large for the price so my husband and I left full and content! Just be sure to reserve a table in advance as walk-ins are no longer possible and so the restaurant will only accept parties who gave booked ahead of time.

Breakfast/ brunch at Partisan: One of the best places to head to for a hearty breakfast or brunch is Partisan café. This delightful little space serves up mouthwatering version of your favourite fry-ups including vegan and vegetarian version.

Just be sure to reserve a table well in advance (especially during the weekend) as it’s quite a small space and places fill up fast. During our time at Partisan, we ended up eating so much that we didn’t even have lunch later that day and only stopped briefly to rest our legs, drink a coffee, and have a slice of cake! 

Head to the Shambles : One spot which you won’t want to miss on your trip to York, especially if you are a Harry Potter fan is the Shambles. This historic street is alleged to have inspired JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley and now there are a smattering of wizard-inspired shops as well as older boutiques and souvenir shops.

Clifford’s Tower: This 13th-century castle keep is now owned and managed by English Heritage. Members go free but everyone else will have to pay. Whether or not you choose to enter the former prison turned museum, you can still admire its exterior, especially if you’re planning to visit Clifford’s Tower. 

JORVIK Viking Centre/ Castle Museum of York: In the afternoon, you have an option of what you want to see/ do, depending on your personal preferences. If you are travelling with kids, both the JORVIK and the Castle Museum will provide a good few hours of entertainment.

Both museums are all about the experience and we personally opted to visit the Castle Museum of York. Set within a former prison, this interactive museum showcases what York would have looked like during Victorian times and you can even visit the former cells of the Men’s Prison.

Gatehouse Coffee: You’ll probably be a little bit hungry after all of the walking around and so I recommend heading to a coffee shop for a sandwich, coffee, and some other light refreshments.

One coffee shop which is especially highly recommended is Gatehouse Coffee. As its name suggests, it is quite literally set against the backdrop of a former gatehouse which has seen plenty of uses over the years. Today this quirky café serves up speciality coffees and tasty cakes.

Boat tour/ rent your own boat: If you are visiting York during the summer season, then one of the best ways to enjoy the city and its surroundings is by taking a boat tour like this one . If you prefer a hands on activity, then you can even rent your own boat like this one.

National Railway Museum: One museum in York which is completely free (though donations are always welcome) and is close to the station, making it a great final stop if you have time, is the Railway Museum.

This museum is fun to visit for all the family (I don’t really care for trains but truly enjoyed this museum) and boasts within its collections full-sized train carriages which you can admire from every angle. There’s also small exhibitions about the history of trains and even a train simulation!

Drinks at the Ackhorne: End your stay in York the English way by heading to the pub. For a cosy and friendly local that’s less than a fifteen-minute walk away from the station pay a visit to the Ackhorne. This pub has a laid-back relaxed atmosphere and is filled with locals. We each enjoyed a pint here before heading back on our train home.

As one of the most popular weekend getaways in the UK, York has no shortage of accommodation options to suit almost every taste and budget. Here are some of the top places to stay in York based on web-reviews and location:

Budget: This low cost hostel has mixed and female only dorm rooms, as well as private rooms for an extra fee. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi and free parking. Check prices and availability here.

Mid-range: This cosy pub offers up travellers the chance to stay in a 17th-century inn complete with quirky decor and historic features. Amenities include a restaurant on-site and air conditioning. Check prices and availability here.

Luxury: For the crème de la crème of accommodation when it comes to York, you need to look no further than this five-star hotel. Highlights include a spa, pool, and hot tub. Check prices and availability here.

Enjoyed reading about how to spend a weekend in York? Pin this article now, read it again later:

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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A day trip to York (2023): a one day itinerary in the historic city

If a day trip to York, England is all you can manage then you’ll be pleased to know that it’s still well worth visiting even if you have limited time here.  

As part of a larger UK trip or just a day out from your regular routine, York really captures the hearts and minds of all who visit.  Why?  Well, I guess many reasons, but for me it was the wealth of history that the city has that drew me to visit.  There’s also a faint smell of chocolate – that’s quite tempting too!  More about that later!

This article probably contains affiliate links. This means that if you buy or book after clicking, I may get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

I love hearing about people who go on a York day trip after reading this post – let me know in the comments what you thought of it and if you recommend any new attractions!  

Our Top Pick

York River Cruise

A cruise on the River Ouse is a must on a day trip to York. It gets you away from the crowds and you can enjoy a really different view of the city!

Personal recommendation: Save money with the York Pass.

We used the York Pass to gain entry to all the attractions we mentioned on this page (plus it includes a lot more) and it really helps to save money. If you only have a day and are planning to make the most of it by visiting everything I highly recommend it!

For 2023 the cost is £55 for adults and £32 for children.

Alternatively you can book the attractions separate :

• York Chocolate Story (my favourite!)
• York Dungeon
• Ouse River Cruise
• Hop on Hop off bus

A note from the writer: Hey! I’m Kirsty and I’m a UK travel expert. Although I live here I still travel around England as a tourist every year – there’s so much to see! Shout (or comment below) if you have any questions about your trip and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

York doesn’t feel like a city.  It’s not sprawling and it’s not hard to get around.  In fact, get there early enough and you’ll enjoy a sense of peace and serenity that I never associate with cities.  The compact feeling is amplified by the fact that the city is surrounded by medieval walls and most things a day tripper will be interested in is within them.

There’s so much history in York that it’s both hard to get away from it yet it’s also hard to understand what went on here – I knew that it was a city full of historic sites, but I’ll be honest, I felt a bit overwhelmed by what was around.  Where do you even start?  Do you go and enjoy each time period, or try and cram them all in?  If you’re limited by your time in the city then you’ll likely want to do the latter!

Need a hotel on your trip? For an extra special weekend away definitely consider booking The Grand for a 5 star (but still quite reasonable) experience Or check out these unusual places to stay in Yorkshire Coming from London? Check out the best ways to get from London to York

What to do on a day trip to York

So, my itinerary for you here takes into account a bit about each part of history that the city of York is famous for, so if history is your thing you’ll love it, but really when we did it it was just enjoyable itself.  James isn’t quite as into history as I am and he had a really fun time so I hope you do too.  It, of course, doesn’t cover everything history wise, and certainly not all there is to do in York but it’s a pretty good introduction.

First things first is that you should consider getting yourself a York Pass for the day.  It’s especially good if you’re visiting the area for a few days as you can also get one that covers the city centre attractions and also some surrounding sights too.  If you really only have a day in York then you can still get your money’s worth with the one day city pass that they do.

Be aware it works on a calendar day and not 24 hours so don’t start using it one day and thinking you can finish up seeing sights the next morning unless you go for the two-day option.  You can get the pass here or I’ve linked to each attraction individually if you want to pick and choose.

About the York City Pass – you get a couple of options: The City Pass is available in a single 1 day card or you can also get a 2 day card. You can buy it online in advance here and pick it up at the Visit York Information Centre (just down from York Minster – 1 Museum Street, YO1 7DT) or just get it on the day from there. 

For early birds:

My top tip for you if you can manage it is to get into York early and just wander around the streets, or maybe do the city wall walk while the city is just waking up and before lots more tourists spill on to the streets.  This is what we did and we found the Shambles, the famous medieval street in York, deserted!  No, we couldn’t look round the shops, but we did lots of window shopping and returned later for another look around.

Go to the York Visitor centre to get the York pass

The tourist information office opens at 9 am, so head there straight away to get your pass and you’ll be ready for the day ahead.  They’re really friendly there too so if you have any questions about your day they’ll be able to point you to where you need to go.  You do get a small booklet with a map in with your passes to help you navigate the city.

*feel free to do things in your own order – this is pretty much how we spent our day, but any order is fine.  Some attractions can get busy in the summer months e.g Jorvik, so perhaps aim to get that done early if you’re worried about queues*

Start the day at York Minster

York Minster completely dominates the city landscape so you’ll definitely want to take a peek inside.  Going early means that it’s very peaceful and not busy at all.  You can look around in your own time and really take in the beauty of the building.

I personally was in awe of the Minster and couldn’t believe that it was built 800 years ago – just how did they do it?  Ok, it did take them 250 years to complete it fully, but the architecture and skill were immense.  There’s actually history that goes back even further on the site too and you can learn about that in the Undercroft museum which goes under the Minster (opens normally around 10 am).

You can also get a guided tour of the Minster (included in the York Pass) and there’s a chance to go up the tower too for an additional admission fee.  Apparently you get excellent views over the city but we couldn’t partake as James forgot to bring his asthma inhaler!  One for another time.

Monk Bar, one of the old gates to the city is quite close to the Minster if you want to head on over there while in the vicinity.  You can learn about one of the old kings here as well if you want to go inside the gate to the Richard III experience.

If you have time and it’s a nice day you might like to head close by to the York Museum Gardens which house St Mary’s Abbey – a medieval ruin in the city! Yorkshire has so many abbeys but you can see one right here in the centre of York.

Head over to the York Chocolate story

Update for 2023 – this attraction is no longer covered by the York Pass. If you want an alternative that is included then the York Cocoa Works could be good for you!

It’s about a 5-minute walk to the next attraction from the Minster and if I’m honest, this was one of my favourite parts of the day and it was only partly because we got to taste chocolate!

York’s Chocolate Story is an attraction that combines the history of some of the most famous names in chocolate, who came from York, with information on how chocolate is made and of course, some chocolate tasting too.  The lovely smell of chocolate hits you as soon as you walk through the doors here and it stays as you head on through the tour.  There are some lovely tastings to be had, and some not so nice ones too – there’s a reason chocolate has sugar in it!

The history of the companies of Rowntree’s and Terry’s was really interesting and it was such a big employer of the city in the late 19th and early 20th century.  The tour ends with a quick making of a chocolate lolly that kids will love (ok, I did too) and a demonstration of how handmade chocolates are made.

If you want more chocolate there’s cafe too and if you want more than that there a lot of independent chocolatiers all round York too.  There’s even a chocolate trail that I may have to do myself one day too!

Visit the Roman Bath house

Just around the corner, there’s time to fit in another little attraction before lunch.  This is such a quirky little place and I really loved the story of how the ruins of this place were found.

Roman York actually lays about 4 feet under the ground you currently walk on in York so there are actually pretty few Roman remains to be seen in the city, even though we know that the Romans were here.  The fort in this area was called Eboracum.

The bathhouse remains were found in 1929 when the building, which was (and still is) a pub, had a big fire.  That fire gave them the chance to dig and get a bigger cellar, but they found a little more than they bargained for!  What they found was the corner of the fort and the remains of the ancient bath house the legionnaires would have used.

It’s only a small attraction and doesn’t take too long to get around, but the man on the desk was really friendly and knowledgeable if you want to know more about what’s around.  Plenty of dressing up opportunities for the kids too!

Lunch & shopping

(if you like your lunch a bit later you might like to add in Jorvik beforehand – see how you’re doing for time.  This is what we did.)

Time for some food and also take some time to wander around the shops.  The Shambles is one not to miss, even though it’s super touristy and will be very busy by now.  Another street that is extremely pretty is Stonegate (above) so add that one on your list.  One of the buildings there dates back to the 1400s which is quite mind-blowing!

The Shambles actually dates back to medieval times, although the shop fronts aren’t from that era.  Narrow streets like this were actually designed like that to keep the sunlight out because it would have been used by butchers selling meat from the windows.  No sunlight meant the meat was less likely to go off!

It’s thought that the Shambles is actually one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter (alongside Edinburgh ) and there’s plenty of Harry Potter inspired shops there nowadays too.  If you have some HP fans you can even take a dedicated tour !

Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s tower is currently closed until Summer 2021 – check here to see if it’s open before visiting.

In the afternoon take the 8-10 minute walk to the south of the city walls to Clifford’s Tower which is the only remaining piece of York Castle from medieval times to still be standing.  You can get amazing views of the city from the top but really there’s not a lot to do in the tower and you can be done in a short time.  Max 30 mins I’d say.

There are a couple of museums around here too if you like those – the York Castle Museum and York Army Museum are right next to Clifford’s Tower.

Clifford’s Tower is an English Heritage site and is free if you have membership – check details here .

Is Medieval England one of your interests? See our guide to visiting Sherwood Forest and find where Robin Hood was supposed to have hid out!

Go back in time to see the Vikings at Jorvik

York is very proid of their viking heritage and I’d heards loads of good things about Jorvik but wasn’t exactly sure what happens when you get there.

There was a little bit of a queue to get in, but as we were out of season it didn’t take long to get to the front.  I’d be aware of queues if you’re there in high season.  Once you’re in you’re greeted with a glass floor where you can see the archaeological remains from the Viking settlement that have been found.  You can watch some videos about the stories of the excavations too.

Once you’ve had your fill of that you can go on the ‘ride’ which takes you through the Viking village reconstruction.  I say ride because you sit in a chair that is moved around, a bit like an extra slow rollercoaster!  There are speakers that will guide you and let you know what you’re seeing as you go round and they can be in lots of different languages too.  I really loved seeing the reconstruction and I think the models were really well done – some of them I really thought were real people!  It’s fully interactive with your senses as well with lots to see, hear and smell!

After the journey through Jorvik, you’re led to a museum area where there are all sorts of collections of Viking artefacts found on site, skeletons of some of the people you saw in the village and some people in costume demonstrating things too and on hand to ask about.

After Jorvik we took a little breather and headed for a little stroll to the riverside before our last attraction of the day:

Finally, finish on a fun note by visiting the York Dungeon!

Personally, I wasn’t too bothered about doing the York Dungeon , but James really did want to do it.  I’ve seen the chain of attractions in lots of cities – Edinburgh has one as does London and actually there’s a few worldwide now too, but I’ve never actually been there.  I was a little worried I wouldn’t like it but actually, it was a heap of fun and I’d definitely recommend it.

What you need to bear in mind is that it’s an interactive attraction and they may well pick on you to be part of it and be ok with that – I’m not so good with this kind of thing, but I was lucky and didn’t get picked on!  James did though!

You’ll get led round different rooms, each with a different time period and you’ll hear stories.  The actors are really brilliant and we laughed out loud so many times.  I liked that they kept their stories to things that York is famous for, so Viking, medieval times, Guy Fawkes makes an appearance as does the story of Dick Turpin.

We enjoyed it so much we’ll definitely consider visiting next time we see one!

An alternative idea… for your day in York might be a self guided city sightseeing treasure hunt like this one .  Really good idea if you struggle keeping kids engaged on a day out or just if you enjoy a challenge!

Was the York Pass worth it for a day?

When planning our day in York I knew that I wanted to take in as many of the historic attractions as possible and straight away I started wondering if a York Pass would be worth it.

Interested in the York Pass? We wrote a full review of it and how it works here .

If you do the places in this itinerary you’ll find that you save money on buying the admission for each attraction individually.  For us, it was definitely worth it as there was no wondering whether each place would be worth the price – we could go in, spend as little or as long as we wanted there and not worry.  I actually like having the freedom to do that and there are so many attractions in York if you found something lacking you could definitely find something else to fill its space.

Get your York Pass in advance here

A general note if you’re visiting York in winter.  Many of the attractions in York run a reduced set of hours in the low season.   We visited in January and so we couldn’t use the Sightseeing bus as it didn’t run and the city cruise schedule was limited too.  Both of these are included in the York pass but we couldn’t take advantage.   Most of the attractions don’t open until 10 am and close between 3 pm and 4 pm too so bear that in mind when deciding your timings.  On the plus side, queues weren’t long at all!

Evening in York

If you still have the evening to enjoy in York there are quite a few ghost tours that we saw advertised around the city (or you could arrange a private evening walking tour ) and of course there’s plenty of pubs, both historic and not, to enjoy a meal and an evening’s entertainment in.  I’m afraid we didn’t have time for any of them this time.

York City Cruises also does evening trips which are worth thinking about if you happen upon some lovely warm evenings.

Want to explore around York? There’s a lot to do around York from seaside towns to train rides. Here are some must do trips around the area: Haworth & Yorkshire Dales Heartbeat TV Locations Tour Steam Train, Whitby & North Yorkshire Moors You can also check out my guide to 21 of the best day trips from York .

Where to stay in York

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay overnight in York you’re in for a treat as there are loads of independent and quirky hotels in the area.  The Grand Hotel is a 5-star Edwardian era hotel if you’re looking for something special.  

Another option might be The Guy Fawkes Inn which is reportedly the birthplace of the man himself – it’s a little smaller and right next to York Minster.

Check out this map for much more options!

How to get to York

York is really easy to get to.  It’s situated in the North of England and if you’re coming by car you’ll find it’s just 20 mins from the M1 motorway.

There are parking options in the city but I recommend the park and ride option which is what we did.  It means you don’t need to navigate around the city at all – parking is free and you just need to pay for the bus journey in and out which was £3.50 return per adult (correct Dec 2022).  Check out the park and ride sites here .

The train is also really easy and we had planned to do this until our local connection was cancelled.  You can get to York in 2 hours from London and about 2.5 hours from Edinburgh so if you’re arriving in the country and basing yourself in any of those places you can totally add York to your vacation easily!  Check out Trainline for times and costs for getting there.

Private tours to York: If you’re wanting the convenience of a private tour that takes in some of Northern England and the City of York too then take a look at the following with many departure points across the UK: London : 5 day Heart of England, North Wales and Yorkshire tour Edinburgh : Best of Northern England – 5 day tour from Edinburgh Manchester : 3-day Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour

Disclaimer: Thanks to VisitYork for providing us with a YorkPass each for the day so we could review whether it would be worth it for a day trip.  

What next? Look for hotels in York – check booking.com Want a holiday cottage or apartment? – check VRBO.com Check out tours in York – Get Your Guide or Viator

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England Travel FAQ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Do I need insurance for traveling to England?

YES! I always recommend people take travel insurance when exploring the world!

Check Travel Insurance Master for quote comparisons from different providers.

Do I need a car for visiting England?

YES – If you’re wanting to explore England fully then a car is worthwhile. It will get you to all the small villages, countryside sights and all on your own timetable

I recommend DiscoverCars to compare car rental prices in England

How to book accommodation in England?

For hotels I recommend Booking.com

For apartments and cottages check out VRBO

Will my phone work in England?

Perhaps – it depends if you have roaming enabled and beware this can be an expensive way to use your phone.

If you need a SIM for use in the UK I recommend GiffGaff which you can get and set up before traveling.

What’s the best guidebook for England?

I really like the Lonely Planet Guidebooks

Where to get flights for England

Skyscanner is my first port of call for finding cheap flights to England.

Do I need a visa for England?

Many countries don’t need a visa for visiting England as tourists (USA, Canada, Aus, NZ and Europe) – it’s always best to check first though .

Pin for later!

Kirsty Bartholomew

6 thoughts on “A day trip to York (2023): a one day itinerary in the historic city”

What a great article – I have lived in York for 2 years and I still haven’t managed to go to some of these attractions. I also think a walk along the city walls is pretty special – you don’t see something like that everyday.

Fab post! I’m heading up to York this year, so very handy!

Fabulous and informative. I am planning on doing a one day tour of York from London (part of a bigger trip to Scotland) and this article was very helpful. Keep it coming!

Thanks so much – really glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your upcoming trip!

VERY HELPFUL ,GREATLY APPRECIATED POST!!HEADING TO YORK THIS WEEKEND..

hope you had fun!

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York 3 Day Itinerary: Things To See On A Long Weekend In York

If you’re pushed for time, a long weekend can be the perfect way to build travel into a hectic lifestyle. And as long weekends go, a 3 day York Itinerary is ideal.

Well not only does it have a wealth of heritage, culture and attractions but – thanks to the Medieval city walls – it is compact enough to fit in the highlights over a long weekend.

But if you don’t want to do the planning and research yourself, I have put together a comprehensive 3 day itinerary below. This should allow you to fit in the key sights without feeling too rushed.

Aim to arrive for around midday on Friday and leave at mid-afternoon of Sunday and you should have more than enough time to fit in the everything below.

So without further ado here is my York 3 Day Itinerary.

York 3 Day Itinerary – Map

• Day 1 – Blue
• Day 2 – Green
• Day 3 – Purple

To save this map and take it with you, hit the ‘enlarge’ button on the top right and it will open in your ‘Google Maps’ app. If you then go to ‘Your Places’ and choose ‘Maps’ you will find it saved there for future use.

Recommended Tours

My itinerary below is a perfect ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ for three days in York, but if you are looking for something a bit more structured, are pushed for time or want an expert to show you some of the finer details here are a couple of other options.

City Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour

To save yourself some time a hop-on-hop-off bus tour is perfect. We did the open top bus on day two of the itinerary below and it helped us get around quickly and stay dry on a wet day.

The ticket is valid for 24hrs hours and you can use it as many times as you want at more than 20 stops around the city.

Booking in advance means you are guaranteed a place, which is especially useful on busy days.

>>> CHECK HOP-ON-HOP-OFF BUS PRICES NOW <<<

York City Walls Private Walking Tour

Walking the ancient city walls of York was one of our favourite parts of visiting, but I do wish we’d had an expert with us as I’m sure there were loads of smaller details we missed.

This three-hour tour can be customised to your own liking and you can include elements away from the walls such as The Shambles, York Minster, or York Castle if you want an expert guide to show you the history of the city.

Tickets can be shown on a mobile, so it makes sense to book in advance and customise your tour by email rather than negotiating on the day.

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York 3 Day Itinerary – Day 1

This itinerary works on the assumption you’ll get to York around lunchtime. If you’re a southerner like me, then there’s a 0900 train from Kings Cross that gets into York at 1130, perfect timing for a weekend of adventuring.

1) Pick Up Your York Pass

First thing, head off the train towards the centre of York and pick up your York Pass from the York Visitor Information Centre. If you’re not convinced about getting one then read my review here:

York Pass Review: Why You Need One & How Much It Saved Us In A Weekend (Hint, We Made A Profit!)

If you are planning to spend your time in York seeing the main attractions then you a York Pass makes sense, as whilst it is an upfront cost, it will save you money in the long run.

The visitor information centre is really easy to find from the station, just follow the crowds into town towards York Minster and you will see it on your right – on the corner of Museum Street and Davygate.

2) York Minster

No visit to York would be complete without visiting the imposing and iconic York Minster.

Standing at 60 meters (17 stories) tall, it is visible from almost all parts of the city. 

There has been a church on this site as far back as 627, and it represents England’s oldest type of ecclesiastical centre.

It is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second highest position in the Church of England. Despite being the seat of an Archbishop it is not often called a Cathedral, as it was originally a missionary church or ‘minster’.  Minster is a very old term for a collegial church, established as a community, to spread Christianity and Christian learning. Besides York Minster, only Westminster Abbey still retains this title

It is technically a cathedral too, and it’s full title is ‘Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York’, but is more popularly known as just ‘York Minster’. Not all cathedrals are minsters, not all minsters are cathedrals, but this is both.

3) The Shambles

Away from York Minster The Shambles are THE iconic place to see in York.

This is arguably the best preserved medieval street in the entire world!

Shambles is an old term for open air meat markets, and up until the late 1800s there were as many as 25 butcher shops along this street, with the groove along the middle of the street draining the blood away.

These perfectly preserved Elizabethan buildings are also said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter series . 

Whilst The Shambles itself is quite a small street, it is right at the heart of York and is a perfect place to start your adventures into the surrounding area.

It’s also worth taking the time to visit the Shambles Market  in the neighbouring square, which opens daily selling everything from fresh produce to hand-made crafts and second-hand records.

4) York Chocolate Story

There is a long history of chocolate and sweet making in York, with the famous families of Terry’s, Craven’s and Rowntree’s based here.

I didn’t really know what to expect from it, but the Chocolate Story turned out to be amazing!

It is a really innovative and informative experience, with everything from an Aztec cinema, interactive talking pictures, hands-on displays, and our amazing (and very funny!) guide Mark. 

Oh, and you get to taste a fair bit of chocolate!!!

You won’t fail to be impressed by what they’re put together here. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours, with enough to keep both adults and kids interested.

York 3 Day Itinerary – Day 2

1) the shambles.

Look, I know I’ve already sent you to the Shambles on day 1, but it’s hard to get too much of this amazing street.

One of my favourite ways of beating the crowds when travelling is to get up earlier, and if you’re looking for a tourist-free photo of The Shambles this will be your only way.

The good news is that York does seem to sleep a little later than cities such as London, so as long as you’re out and about before 0830 you’ll find the streets are fairly clear.

So bag yourself the perfect tourist-free Shambles photo, then wander onto the streets next-door to see the early morning sights and smells of the market setting up for the day.

2) Open Top Bus Tour

I know it’s a bit touristy, but I love open top bus rides!

It’s a quick and easy way to see a city, and they are normally really informative.

I’d suggest wandering over to Clifford’s Tower and picking up the bus from here, as this will put you in the perfect position for section three of the day.

The tour takes about an hour. Keep an eye out for the Terry’s tower – as mentioned in the Chocolate Story yesterday – and York Racecourse, scene where Pope John Paul II famously gave mass to 200,000 people in 1982 . These are both places you’d be unlikely to get to without hopping on the bus as they are a bit further out of the centre.

3) York Castle Museum

York Castle Museum is an interesting, if slightly unexpected way to kill a few hours in York.

It’s an eclectic mix of exhibits: from the great wars, the prison, the sixties and even a section dedicated to old children’s games.

It is interesting, but certainly not the complete history of York I was expecting!

There is one exhibition which makes this museum well worth visiting though….

The most famous and spectacular part is Kirkgate, which is an indoor re-creation of a Victorian street. Opened in 1938, it has become the most iconic part of the museum and is worth the price of entry for this alone.

4) Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s Tower is all that remains of York’s royal castle, which is where the power in the north of England was held in the time of William the Conqueror.

There has been a castle on the site since 1068, but unfortunately it has long since fallen into disrepair and Clifford’s Tower, the castle’s keep, is the only part left standing.

It perches atop its hill, looking like it could give way at any minute – large cracks running down the walls and at an angle that suggests an impending surrender to the pressures of gravity. Despite this, it seems to be in good health, with English Heritage controversially planning to renovate the site over coming years.

There’s not much to see inside, but the views across the city make it a worthwhile trip. It’s not for the faint of heart though, with slippery, narrow, uneven staircases taking you to the top of the tower.

5) Yorvik Viking Centre

The Jorvik (Viking for ‘York’) Viking Centre tells the story of the Vikings in York.

It is more like a theme park than a museum, as the bulk of the experience is on specially commission carts, taking you through Viking village life as it was at 1730, 25th October AD975.

It is an immersive experiences, with the sights, sounds and smells of Viking living brought to life in front of you. 

You can’t help but have admiration for what they’ve done here. It would have been easy to present all the finds from the various digs around York in another stuffy museum (though you can see these after the cart ride).

Instead they chose to bring Viking-age Jorvik to life, a captivating experience for all ages.

It is thoroughly worth a visit, though expect a wait at peak times, as they can only accept limited numbers due to the capacity of the carts.

6) Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is one of the best preserved medieval guild halls in the world.

The oak building is getting on for 700 years old!

Stepping inside is like being transported into the CGI of a period movie. It’s easy to imagine this place full of well-dressed people drinking tankards of ale and feasting around a giant table.

There is an incredibly informative audio tour that is part of the entry fee, and will teach you everything your need to know about the rich history of the building.

And whilst we’re on the subject of rich , there is a fantastic coffee shop downstairs selling delicious homemade cakes!

7) Roman Bath Museum

This pub was originally called ‘The Mail Coach Inn’, that was until 1930 when the remains of a Roman Bath were discovered underneath as they tried to extend the beer cellar.

It was the Romans who founded York back in AD71, when 5,000 men of the ninth legion set up camp here, and under this pub you can get a glimpse into their world.

For a small fee you can view the remains of the bath and cold room, and get a detailed tour of the bathhouse itself and the Roman history in York.

And for the childish amongst you, the local reenactment group store their kit here, so you are free check out the fashion trends – Roman style! (Ahem…. check exhibit ‘A’ to your right!).

8) Ghost Trail

What better way to round off your second day in the city than with an after-dark tour of the most haunted city in Europe.

Not only is this a fun way to spend an hour, but it will also get you out into the city after dark and teach you a bit more about York’s long history.

Our guide was Greg, a master in the forgotten art of story telling. He took us around the city and told tales gruesome enough to keep the adults interested, but not too scary to frighten off the kids.

He managed to inter-weave the history of York into his tales, and point out elements of the city that would otherwise go unnoticed, such as the numerous owl statues and black cats dotted along the rooftops.

Not a believer?  Check out the shadow over Greg’s head in the photo above. It certainly creeped me out when I was looking back through our snaps!

  York 3 Day Itinerary – Day 3

1) walk part of the city walls.

The York City Walls are a great way to get a view of the city. They are the longest and best preserved medieval walls in England .

Whilst their total length is 3.4km (about a 2 hour walk), you don’t have to do it all at once. The walls are broken up by 5 main bars (gateways), so it’s easy to get on and off the walls at various points across the city. They open from about 0800 most morning (weather dependant), so are a great way to start your last day in York.

My favourite part is the northwest corner between Bootham Bar and Monks Bar. It is a fairly short walk (about 20 minutes), but gives incredible views across the back of Treasurer’s House, and is one of the few places in the city you can take a full width photograph of York Minster (my photo above was taken on this walk).

If you want more information about this walk, then visit the amazing Friends Of York Walls website, which will give you a full guide to this walking trail and many others.

BOOK A PRIVATE WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY WALLS WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE HERE

2) The Yorkshire Museum & St Mary’s Abbey

The Yorkshire Museum gives a comprehensive history of Medieval York, and holds some fantastic treasures found buried nearby.

Included here are some of the finest Medieval items ever unearthed including the Middleham Jewel , worth over £2.5 million and discovered in 1985 by antiques dealer Ted Seaton, who was out with his metal detector. 

You will also find the mysterious sapphire centre Escrick Ring , and a Richard III supporter’s Boar Badge , which helped historians pinpoint the Battle of Bosworth.

In the grounds of the museum you can also find the remains of St Mary’s Abbey. For 450 years it was the most powerful abbey in the north, but was destroyed in the mid 1500s under Henry VIII’s drive to disolve the monasteries . 

3) The National Railway Museum

If you are in any way interested in the engineering or history of the railways, then York’s National Railway Museum – the largest of its kind in the country – is well worth a visit.

Amazingly it is free, meaning you can take in as much or as little of it as you like without feeling too much pressure.

The standout exhibits are:

• A fully restored Flying Scotsman
• The only bullet train outside Japan
• The Mallard, holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives, set in 1938
• A replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, the template for steam trains going forward
• The capsule which transported Tim Peake to and from the International Space Station (not strictly rail-related, but I’m sure they knew that!)

4) Afternoon Tea at the Countess of York

The Countess of York is a beautifully restored 1956 railway carriage, that has been converted into an Edwardian style dining car.

What better way to finish our York 3 day itinerary than with a luxurious lunch. Being close to the train station makes it easier to access for your trip back home.

And with an 86% 5 star rating on Tripadvisor at the time of writing, it is an experience that is not going to disappoint! 

Book in advance to make you sure you get a table, as they seemed really busy when we were there. Try and give yourself 1 1/2 hours before your train leaves so you don’t feel in a hurry.

Where To Stay In York

We loved the superb Minster Walk Guesthouse which was in a great location and head cosy rooms (and a wonderful selection of afternoon cake every day!).

There are loads of fantastic places to stay in York though, and with the centre so small it’s easy to access all the best sights.

Further Reading

• Things To Do in York: 13 Places to Visit over a Long Weekend
• If you’re planning on staying a bit longer in York check out ‘ 6 of the Best Day-Trips From York ‘.
• York Pass Review | Why you need one & how much it saved us in a weekend (Hint – We Made A Profit!)
• Top 10 Budget Restaurant, Cafes and Pubs in York
• The 15 Most Incredible Places to eat in York
• The Best Bed and Breakfasts in York er’uoyfI’uoyfISaveSave

Related posts:

• Long Weekend in York: 13 Things to Do & See (1st-Hand Guide)
• Is the York Pass Worth It? (£ Values for 2024)
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AUTHOR – BEN REEVE

Reeves Roam , is a first-hand travel blog. The Reeves have lived in the UK, South Africa and Australia and have travelled extensively in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Booking your trip via the links on this page earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

You can also buy us a coffee . 

Thanks – Ben, Becca and Gracie

There are plenty of ways to get around when you're here, find the one that's right for you!

Travel in york.

York is a compact city with plenty of things to do within the city walls and beyond. This ancient city is best explored on foot, and it’s easy to get from one side of the city centre to the other in just 20 minutes.

View details of all current temporary road closures in place in York , including closures due to major events.

iTravel York

Operated by the City of York Council, iTravel York is a fantastic resource packed with useful information on travelling around York. You can easily plan your journey and get more information on walking, cycling, buses and driving in the city. Additionally it provides real time news and updates to help you travel around York. For more information please visit iTravel.

York buses and Park & Ride

If you're travelling into York by car, use one of the six ideally located Park & Rides sites surrounding the city for a hassle-free journey. Just leave your car safe and secure at one of the free parking spaces and hop on the bus to York city centre. www.itravelyork.info/park-and-ride

First buses also run their services in York . For full timetables please visit www.firstgroup.com/york . For up-to-date customer and service information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please see here .

First Bus Space Checker - the brand new tool from First Bus to help you plan ahead and travel with confidence. Space Checker allows you to see when your favourite bus stop and service is typically at its busiest and choose a quieter time to travel. Designed using recent passenger data, this new platform acts as a prediction of how much space will be available on your service - up to 7 days in advance.

TIER e-scooters

For a different way to explore the city, or simply get from A to B, why not do it in a climate-neutral way. Simply download the TIER app, and head over to one of several charging points across the city to jump on a TIER e-scooter. For more information, please click HERE .

To access many of York's out of town attractions and the coast use the local Coastliner service which runs regular services including Leeds, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Filey and Whitby. For more information please click HERE . For up-to-date customer and service information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please see here .

Stephenson of Easingwold buses run services to Castle Howard – where you can also get a discounted entry into the house on presentation of your ticket. Buses also have routes to Ampleforth Abbey, Easingwold and Helmsley. For timetables and information please check www.stephensonsofeasingwold.co.uk

Best of Britain Holidays offer great day trips from York , and include routes to the Yorkshire Dales, Castle Howard, North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Whitby. Tickets are available to buy from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre or online.

Taxis and car hire in York York is serviced by many taxi companies. Find out more about taxi services and car hire H ERE .

Cycle hire in York

You can enjoy an active holiday for all the family with a cycling break in York! York is the perfect base for all kinds of biking adventures, from leisurely rides around the city to exciting rural routes over moorland and through forests. Explore York by bike with a guided cycling tour to experience the city’s rich history, or hire one yourself for a solo adventure. York has plenty of choice for bike hire, with companies offering something for everyone from road bikes and mountain bikes to children’s bikes and specially adapted bikes. Please click HERE for all the options.

Updates from Visit York Sign up for news on events, festivals and special offers

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Join The London Crew: Grab this checklist with 110 things to do in london from a local.

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How Many Days Do You Need for a Trip to York? | Guide & Itinerary

So, you’re thinking about going on an adventure but not sure how many days you need for a trip to York England ? Two to Three days is a good amount of time to spend in York. I would suggest 3 days if you are wanted to do a day trip from York.

There is quite a lot that goes into planning a holiday and a few considerations that need to be taken into account.

York has so much to offer and is steeped in centuries of history. Regardless of how much time you have, you will love every moment that you are in the city.

If you plan on staying for quite some time, you can even take day trips from York after you have taken in the sights and sounds of the city.

Ultimately, every person has a different idea of what they want to do and what is important to them so how long you should stay in York will depend entirely on you.

What to Consider When Planning How Many Days You Need

When it comes to how many days you need for visiting York City in England, there are a few things that you should consider before planning your trip.

How many days you have available is the first step to planning your adventure. Knowing how much time you have to explore will set the tone for what you will and won’t be able to do.

Mapping out the specific things that you want to see will also give you a guideline as to how long you actually need to plan for as well.

Your budget is a great indicator of not only how many days you will have to stay but what you will also be able to see and do while in York.

The last thing that you need to take into consideration is the weather. The hardest thing to predict is the weather so check the forecasts and ensure that you have a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities planned when you visit York, UK.

A Brief History of York

While there is evidence that settlements existed earlier, York as a city was founded by the Romans and was originally known as Eboracum .

It has since been known by a few different names as different inhabitants lived within.

From the Saxons to the Vikings, there has been a range of cultures living within over the centuries.

The Vikings conquered the city from the Saxons who took it over from the Romans and renamed it Jorvik . The city saw immense prosperity during the 100 years that the Vikings ruled the city.

To this day you will see evidence of all these periods of time which just add to the rich history that you can explore in the city.

How Far is York?

York is a beautiful city to the north of London which is full of important landmarks from British history.

Its walls are absolutely bursting with history and culture begging to be explored but with so much to see, the length of time you need to explore will vary.

How many days you need in York will somewhat be dictated by how far from York you are. If you are in the City of London, you will be around 174 miles away, which can turn into a fun road trip over a few days.

There are a few ways for you to get to York from London, but the length of your trip will depend on what mode of transport you use.

The easiest and fastest way to get to York from London is by train. It will take you just under two hours, perfect for a day trip if that is all the time that you have.

If you are after a road trip and have the freedom to drive around, it will be around a four-hour drive to reach York. This would be better if you wanted to go to York for a few days and explore more areas.

Can You Do a Day Trip to York From London?

A day trip to York is a doable thing and makes for quite the spontaneous adventure, whether you are wanting a solo trip or want to go with friends.

York makes for one of the best day trips from London and you would be surprised at just how much you could do with a one-day itinerary .

This is a great way to get out of the city for a little while and take yourself away from the concrete jungle, stepping into another era within the country. Although it is a great day trip, a few days are needed for visiting York, England.

3 Day Itinerary Trip to York, England

When it comes to just the right amount of time to take a trip to York, around three days is an ideal length. It gives you enough time to get to York and take in as many of the sights as possible, without the need to rush.

What to See in York on Day One

On the first day, you will be travelling to York, either by car or train, but once you arrive there are a few things that you can do to get into the environment. When it comes down to what to see in York, England, today is all about familiarising yourself with the city a little more.

Take a Stroll Through the City

The best way to get to know the town is to explore it a little and take to the streets. The York City Wall is the perfect way to see the city centre from above as it stretches around.

The best part is that it is free to walk around but is only open during daylight hours.

Visit St. Mary’s Abbey

This is one of the most photogenic places in York, the perfect place to take some images for Instagram . These ruins are a beautiful place to escape to and are quite large so you might need to set a fair amount of time aside

Gaze in Amazement at the Grand York Minster

This cathedral is one of the largest in Europe and although you may need to pay a fee to enter, it is worth every penny.

The inside is expansive but the main attraction is the massive yet intricately designed stained glass window.

Places to Visit in York on Day Two

After a slow start on the first day, the second day will give you time to really get stuck in and explore even more of the city.

Take a Cruise on the River

A great way to start off your second day is by taking a river cruise . This is an excellent way to see the city centre along the River Ouse , it is a tranquil experience but they are not operational from November to March in the winter months.

So whether or not you can enjoy this activity will depend on the time of year you visit.

Visit the Shambles Market

Take a walk through the over 70 stalls in this lovely market and grab some late breakfast or some lunch to get you ready to explore the city further.

There is even a ghost bus tour that you can do when the sun goes down later in the day, to add a spooky element of fun to your trip.

Visit the Grand Opera House for a Show

This happens to be the largest fully-operational opera house in the country so makes for the perfect way to end your day off by taking in some art and culture.

From comedians to music concerts and theatre productions, there will be something for everyone here.

How to Spend Your Last Day in York

Your final morning is more of a relaxing start as you begin to get ready to make the journey back home and back to reality. The best has been kept for last and will also give you the chance to take a little something back with you.

York Chocolate Factory

This is for everyone that has a bit of a sweet tooth. Dive into the rich history of chocolate at the local Rowntree factory.

This will take up a few hours at least, which is why it is best for last. This is a lovely way to end your trip by tasting some delicious chocolate and grabbing a few extras to snack on during your journey home.

So Just How Many Days Do You Need for a Trip to York?

The length of your trip will ultimately depend upon the first four criteria. You could do a trip to York in England in a day, but you would not be able to see that much.

Three days is a good amount of time to spend in York. It means that you can take your time and explore the city at a much slower pace.

A good little item to grab before your trip or when you get there is a York pass . This will make your trip even easier and open up many more possibilities for you and your friends to do and see as much as possible.

The question is though, when will you be planning your trip and how long will you stay for?

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Plan a Visit to York Minster

At least two million people a year visit York Minster in the medieval city of York. The 800-year-old cathedral that took 250 years to build is just the tip of the iceberg. It occupies on a site that has been connected with history and faith for almost 2,000 years. Its Great East Window, as big as a tennis court, is the largest expanse of Medieval stained glass in the world.

There's a lot to see and, during the summer months and school vacation periods, a lot of people who want to see it with you. So a little advance planning doesn't hurt.

What's New at York Minster

Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft  Don't miss the new exhibition. It's part of a £20 million, 5-year renovation and conservation project, scheduled to be fully completed in 2016, parts of it are already open to visitors. The largest state-of-the-art attraction in any UK cathedral, it relates the history of the cathedral and its site with amazing objects and interactive displays - including the 1,000 year old Horn of Ulf, given to the Minster by a Viking lord.

Did you know?

• Some of York Minster's most interesting ancient history was only discovered in the 1960s and 70s during emergency excavations under the cathedral.
• Constantine the Great, who chose Constantinople the capital of the Roman Empire and made Christianity its official religion, was declared Emperor by his soldiers while in York.
• Minster is an Anglo Saxon word, originally used to describe monasteries with a teaching role. It's mostly used these days as an honorary title for some large cathedrals.

Great East Window Cleaning and Conservation

The work of restoring this immense stained glass window and the stonework of the East End of the Minster will take much longer than the 5-year York Minster Revealed project. At least 311 glass panels, made up of thousands of pieces of Medival glass, are being removed, repaired and reinstalled. It won't be completed until 2018. But in 2016, visitiors will, at last, be able to see it without the protective scaffolding that has covered it for years. 

The restored panels will be visible as they are returned to their positions in the window. Other sections still being restored will be protected with clear glass. Working on these windows is such a massive project that new technology is being used to prolong their lives. York Minster will the first building in the UK to use UV resistant glass as an outer protection for the stained glass.

If you want a challenge, see how many of the stained glass panels your can understand. The Medieval artisans who created it aimed to tell the entire story of the Bible, from Genesis to the Apocalypse, in the one, multi-paneled window.

Take a Guided Tour

• Minster tours - Volunteers lead guided tours, six times a day - at 10, 11,12,1, 1 and 3pm - every day except Sunday. The tours take about an hour and are a great way to discover some of the Minster's hidden treasures and amazing history. The tours are included in the price of admission. If you are coming with a group of 10 or more, or need foreign language help, let staff know 28 days in advance by sending a group tour request to  [email protected]
• Tower trips - Climbing York Minster's central tower is a very special experience if you are fit and fearless. It's the highest point in York and before you arrive at the 230 -foot-high top and step out into the open air, you get a chance to see some of the Minster's Medieval pinnacles and gargoyles close up.
• There are 275 steps to the top. Some are narrow and uneven and some go through narrow passageways.
• The Tower climb is not recommended for people with heart conditions, vertigo, claustrophobia, high blood pressure, angina, breathing trouble (asthma, hay fever, and bronchitis), poor mobility or who are pregnant.
• Health and safety regulations are available to read when you buy your ticket and you must read them before tackling the climb.
• Children younger than 8-years-old are not permitted to climb the tower.
• School groups of ten or more must be accompanied by three adults, or two adults if there are fewer than ten. 
• Trips up the tower take 45 minutes and are limited to 50 people at a time. They leave every 45 minutes or so throughout the day and there is an extra charge for the tower. Ask at the ticket office about tower trip times when you arrive. But before planning to climb, consider these factors:

How to Find York Minster

Just about all roads in  York  lead to the Minster. Head for the center of the small, walled city and you cannot miss it. If you can't see it, just climb onto the city walls at one of the many access points around York for a birds eye view.

Goodramgate, leading to Deangate and High Petergate, all lead to Minster Yard (in York, streets are called "gate" and gates through the city wall are called "bar").

When To Visit

As a working cathedral, York Minster may be closed from time to time for all the normal business of a church - weddings, christenings, funerals - as well as special events and concerts. In general, the Minster is open:

• For services and prayer , daily from 7am to 6:30pm
• For sightseeing, Monday - Saturday 9am to last entry at 5:30pm, Sunday from 12:45 pm. Parts of the cathedral may be closed for evensong preparation or special events during general opening hours.
• For the Undercroft exhibitions, Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm
• For Tower trips , check on the day you visit. Because Tower trips have an open air element, their scheduling is tied to the weather.

Why Is There an Admission Charge?

People sometimes balk at having to pay for a ticket to visit a place of worship so it is important to consider a few things:

• There is no entrance fee to enter the Minster to attend a service, to pray or to light candles.
• Not counting the restoration and conservation projects, it actually costs £20,000 a day to cover heating, lighting, cleaning and other staffing to keep the Minster open to the public. Most of this has to be raised from admission charges.
• The people of York are admitted free.
• Admission tickets are good for unlimited visits for a full year from the date of purchase.

Other Visitor Essentials

• Admission - as of 2015, tickets for the Minster, Chapter House and Undercroft cost £10 for adults and £9 for seniors and students. Up to four children accompanied by an adult are free. ​Tickets for the Minster and the Tower Trip cost £15 for adults, £14 for seniors and students and £5 for children from 8 to 16. Children under 8 are not permitted to climb the tower.
• Photography and video recording for personal use is permitted everywhere except the Undercroft.
• Visit their Official Website for lots more information and a range of contact information.

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Is York Worth Visiting? 21 Best Things to Do & Reasons to Visit

Grey Globetrotters Travel Blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my  disclaimer  for more information.

Are you wondering, “is York worth visiting in 2023”? This guide will help you decide if you’re considering a trip to York in the UK. We’ll cover some of the city’s top attractions and things to do, where to stay, and how to get around.

I’ve lived in Yorkshire for almost a decade and visit York frequently, so I have the inside track on what’s worth seeing and doing in this incredible medieval city.

By the end of this post, you should have a good idea of whether or not York is right for your next vacation.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Is York Worth Visiting In 2023?

In a nutshell, YES! York is a superb city to visit!!

With many historical attractions, Harry Potter connections, and iconic British landmarks, York is a great place to visit .

This is especially true if you’re a history buff or love exploring cities rather than venturing out in the rugged outdoors, though the wild and beautiful North York Moors are not far from the city centre for a memorable day trip.

As the capital city of the North Yorkshire region, York is a charming city in the heart of North Yorkshire, often overlooked by travellers on their way to bigger and more famous destinations around England.

Save $$$ With The York Pass

Save money on entry to top York attractions, including York Minster, York City Cruises, JORVIK Viking Centre, York Dungeon, and more with the York City Pass !

Visitors to this historic city are rewarded with unique experiences that simply can’t be found anywhere else. From exploring the winding medieval alleyways of the Shambles to sampling Fat Rascals at Bettys Tea Rooms, York has something for everyone.

So, if you’re still pondering “is York worth visiting”, we can confidently say it’s fabulous!

21 Best Things to Do and See in York in 2023

This historic British city – the land of Vikings and Romans, Kings, chocolate and stunning architecture – has so much to offer. Here are some of York’s top tourist attractions and things we recommend you do while visiting York:

1. Visit York Minster

This stunning 12th-century cathedral dominates York’s skyline and is a must-see when visiting the city.

With its intricate stonework and stunning stained glass windows, it’s no wonder this place – the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe – attracts over 2 million visitors every year.

Pro Tip: A tower tour is a great way to enjoy the best views over the centre of York. You’ll need to get there early and book your tour when you arrive , as this is one of the most popular things to do in York, and places fill up fast!

2. Go on a ghost walk

York has a reputation as one of the UK’s most haunted cities, so why not embrace it? Take a ghost tour to around some of the spookiest locations in town – just don’t forget your garlic.

3. Take a Scenic River Cruise

A leisurely cruise down the River Ouse in central York is the ideal way to see some of the city’s main attractions from a different perspective. Pick from a scenic daytime cruise or a romantic and atmospheric evening cruise .

4. Explore Clifford’s Tower

The only remaining part of William the Conqueror’s magnificent York Castle, Clifford’s Tower has played many roles throughout history.

Since Roger de Clifford built it, this tower has been a royal mint, prison, and even an air raid shelter during World War II – but today, it stands tall as one of York’s most iconic landmarks.

5. York Castle Museum

Centuries before Buckingham Palace became the official residence for British monarchs, King John lived in the secure keep at York Castle. While the castle is long ruined, you can learn about a thousand years of York’s turbulent history at York Castle Museum.

6. Jorvik Viking Centre

Step back in time at Jorvik to the 9th century when England fell to the Vikings, and York became a vital settlement – becoming the second largest British city of the time.

7. The York Chocolate Story

Learn about York’s role in bringing chocolate to the world in this interactive and engaging museum. You can also make your own chocolate treats at the end of your tour before browsing the gift shop for delicious handmade chocolates to take home!

8. Head down to the York Cold War Bunker

Uncover Britain’s Cold War’s secret and chilling history at the most modern English Heritage property. Walk through the blast-proof doors to investigate the more unusual side of York’s heritage.

In active use from the 1960s to the 1990s, the bunker was a nerve centre to monitor any fallout from a nuclear attack. 

9. Discover the city’s gruesome past at York Dungeon

Walk through 2,000 years of York’s history and meet famous characters from York’s dark past, including Vikings and Guy Fawkes! The York Castle dungeon will make you laugh and scream!

10. Take a stroll on top of the medieval city walls

It’s not every day that you can walk on ancient fortifications with Roman origins. York City Walls are approximately 2 miles long and offer breathtaking city views. It’s an excellent opportunity to work off your afternoon tea and one of the most popular free things to do in York!

11. Visit the Shambles

The Shambles is one of the most famous streets in England, and for good reason too! With its narrow cobbled streets and overhanging timber-framed buildings dating back as far as the 14th century.

12. Take afternoon tea at Betty’s Tea Rooms

For something quintessentially British, look no further than Betty’s Tea Rooms .

This charming cafe has served traditional afternoon tea since 1919 and offers everything from scones with clotted cream to dainty finger sandwiches – all served on fine china and crisp white linen tablecloths.

13. Go trainspotting in style at the National Railway Museum

A short walk from York train station will take you to this cavernous Yorkshire museum, which has over 100 examples of rolling stock, including a carriage made for Queen Victoria . The main attraction is the famous Flying Scotsman train .

With free entry , visiting the National Railway Museum is one of the first things many families like to do on a day trip to York – perfect if it’s raining!

14. Have a pint at one of the many historic pubs in York

Ye Olde Starre Inn pub claims to be the oldest licensed premises in York (dating back to 1644), so it’d be rude not to stop by for a drink. The interior is cosy and full of character – just what you’d expect from such an ancient establishment.

Other characterful pubs in York include the wonderfully eccentric House of the Trembling Madness , the Evil Eye , and the historical Guy Fawkes Inn near York Minster, where the pub food is excellent.

15. Find all the cats on the York Cat Trail

Cat lovers will find York worth a visit, as cats have been symbols of luck for centuries in the city. You’ll soon see that many properties sport feline decorations.

The popularity of cats in York dates to the days of timber houses, when vermin carried diseases, including plague, and could destroy entire buildings by knawing at the wood. Cats were kept to ward off evil spirits and keep rats at bay!

You can download the lucky cat trail map here .

16. Check out the York Roman Baths

Pop into the Roman Bath Museum in York to discover the Roman roots of this old city . You will see the Tepidarium (warm room), Caldarium (hot steam room), and Frigidarium (cold plunge room) used by occupying Roman forces two thousand years ago!

Pro Tip : It’s easy to spot this small museum on your first day in York, as it’s located beneath the Roman Bath Pub!

17. Have a flutter at York Race Course

Going to the races in York has been popular since the time of Roman Emperor Severus, however, the city did not fully support horse racing until 1530!

Today, York is one of the premier racecourses in Yorkshire, rated top in The Times newspaper survey of all Britain’s racecourses. So, if you fancy getting dressed up, sipping a glass of bubbly and watching some of the best horseracing in the country, check the racing fixtures here .

Pro Tip: For the best deal on entry tickets to 20 of York’s top tourist attractions, we recommend you buy a York City Pass . You’ll save a ton of time and money compared to buying separate admission tickets!

There we have it, folks; seventeen fantastic things to do whilst exploring beautiful York – one of the top attractions in North Yorkshire!

Where is York?

York is located in Northern England, in the large, rural county of North Yorkshire. The city is around 2 1/2 hours from London by train and 3 hours from Edinburgh by train.

What is York famous for?

York is best known for its magnificent 12th century Minster – the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. It’s also regarded as the most haunted city in Europe.

Chocolate was the most significant industry in York until recently, with almost every family in the city connected to the world-famous chocolate brands.

York is also known for the huge number of pubs in the city, many of which are quirky and historical, including the Guy Fawkes Inn, where Guy Fawkes was born in the shadow of York Minster, and the Golden Fleece, which is reputed to be the most haunted pub in York 💀

🥃 Best Pub Tour in York

Visit the most fascinating pubs in York, with a knowledgeable local guide on this Guided Historic Pub Tour .

Foodies will love a trip to the medieval Shambles, where foods from around the globe await hungry visitors. If you’re wondering, “what food is York famous for?” the answer is the Yorkshire pudding !

If time allows, putting on your finery for a day out at the York races or taking a day trip to the North Yorkshire Coast is a must.

A few more reasons why York is worth visiting include the historic (and reputedly haunted) Treasurer’s House and the Merchant Adventurers Hall – the oldest guildhall in Great Britain.

York is a bustling, active city that will not disappoint visitors.

Best Time To Visit York United Kingdom

The best times to visit York are Easter, during the summer when the weather is warm and pleasant, Halloween, and Christmastime.

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy Cherry Blossom in the city – look out for the beautiful trees below the City Wall by the train station and those near York Minster.

Summer is ideal for romantic picnics in St. Mary’s Abbey’s ruins, riverside strolls, and river cruises. Hiring one of York’s little red boats for a potter along the river is fun.

York is certainly worth visiting for Halloween , with plenty of ghost tours to pick from. The leaves will be changing colour, and the nights drawing in, and while the real chill of winter won’t have arrived yet, you’ll want to dress warmly.

Christmas in York is spectacular, with award-winning festive markets, pretty lights and an unbeatable ambience. If you want to experience the magic of a carol service at York Minster (and you really should), you’ll need to book early, as these events sell out fast. Consider staying a few extra days to really soak it all in.

No matter when you visit, York is a fabulous city that’s always bustling with activities.

How Many Days In York Is Enough?

You could easily spend a week in York and still find things to do. However, 3-4 days are enough to see the city’s main sights if you’re short on time.

If you only have one day to spare, a single day in York is doable. We recommend buying a one-day York City Pass and focusing on the city centre to see the most highly-rated attractions.

The most popular things to do during one day in York include:

• Walking along the City Walls from the train station to Bootham Bar
• Exploring York Minster (don’t forget to book the tower tour when you arrive)
• Visiting Jorvik or the York Chocolate Story
• Finding somewhere to eat (Guy Fawkes pub or Gert’s Fish & Chips in the Shambles are great options)
• Wandering through the Shambles
• Climbing Clifford’s Tower for superb city views
• Taking an evening river cruise for incredible views of the city at sunset, or going on a spooky ghost walk

Where To Stay In York

York has great accommodation options within the city and nearby. For a hotel close to the city’s main tourist attractions, you’ll want to stay in the centre of York to make the most of the best restaurants, shopping, and nightlife options.

Our favourite hotel in York is the Grand Hotel . This luxury 5 star hotel offers a peaceful oasis of calm and refinement after a day of city exploration. The Grand Hotel is a very short walk from York train station, with fabulous views of the city walls.

➡️ Top Luxury York Hotel: Grand Hotel ➡️ Top Mid-Budget York Hotel: The Dean Court ( 200m from York Minster )

How To Get Around York

Getting around York on foot or by bicycle is easy, and the city’s bus system is efficient. You should avoid driving into the city centre, as the streets are congested, and parking is expensive .

If you stay in the city centre, most places are within walking distance; however, if you want the freedom to explore more of North Yorkshire, renting a car or looking at guided tours are good options.

FAQs – Is York Worth Visiting

This collection of questions people often ask should help you plan your trip if you’re still asking yourself the question “is York worth visiting?”:

What is the York Pass?

The York Pass includes admission to York Minster, City Cruises York, JORVIK Viking Centre, The York Dungeon, Van Gogh Immersive Experience, York City Sightseeing, and much more! Each York Pass also comes with a free 24 Hour hop-on hop-off bus tour plus a choice of three pasta or pizza dishes at ASK Italian Restaurant, York.

Is the York Pass worth it?

Yes, the cost of a York Pass is less than the cost of individual admission charges to the city’s main tourist attractions.

How far is York from London?

York is around 220 miles from London. Driving from London to York takes around 4 hours (depending on traffic conditions), whereas the London to York train journey takes from 2 to 3 hours.

How many days do you need in York?

While you can see some of the most popular tourist attractions in one day, York is worth visiting for 3 to 4 days to see more of the city.

Is York a good city break?

Yes, York is one of the best city breaks in the UK, thanks to the wide variety of things for visitors to do, and the high quality of accommodation and restaurants in the city.

Is there a lot to do in York?

York is packed with things to do and see. Whether you love history and culture, independent shops, romantic breaks, city cruises or great pubs and restaurants for evenings out, York has plenty to offer!

Is York a walkable city?

The historic city centre is best explored on foot. It’s compact and very walkable.

Is a day in York enough?

Is York worth visiting for one day? Absolutely! If you only have one day to spare, you can get a good introduction to York in one day, and see a number of the main attractions, as they are all located close together.

Is York a cheap city?

In general, York is far less expensive than many other UK cities, such as London and Edinburgh; however, one person’s idea of cheap can be another’s idea of expensive!

Is York a beautiful city?

York is stunning and worth visiting for the Instagram-worthy sights at every turn. Don’t forget to charge your phone/camera fully to take plenty of photos!

Can you get around York without a car?

Absolutely! In fact, you should try to avoid driving into the city and use public transport instead, as York is a small city, and it’s easy to get around on foot or by bike. If you visit York for the first time, a guided walking tour will help you get your bearings around the narrow streets and historical landmarks.

Is York a friendly city?

Absolutely, Yorkshire folk are very welcoming and friendly.

Is York a safe city?

York is one of the safest cities to visit in the UK and a brilliant tourist destination.

Is York cheaper than London?

In a word, yes! The cost of living in “the north” is considerably lower than it is in London, and this means you’ll pay less for hotels, restaurants and more in York.

Was Harry Potter filmed in York?

York station was a film location for Harry Potter; however, the Shambles was NOT the film location for Diagon Alley (although it REALLY should have been!). There are plenty of fabulous Harry Potter themed stores in York to keep any Potterheads happy though, including the Shop That Must Not Be Named.

Is Diagon Alley based on the Shambles in York?

While JK Rowling confirmed on Twitter that Diagon Alley was not based on any location in the UK, we think that the Shambles is exactly what she had in mind, with it’s quirky winding streets, ancient buildings and incredible atmosphere.

What cities are near York?

The nearest cities to York are Leeds , Bradford, Sheffield , Manchester and Edinburgh.

Is York a safe night out?

York is a popular and safe city for a night out. As many of the city’s streets are cobbled, you’ll probably not want to wear high heeled shoes though!

Is York Minster worth visiting?

Absolutely yes! It’s one of the most beautiful and most ancient cathedrals in the world and one of the York must see places.

Look out for the incredible Rose Window and the beautiful “Heart of Yorkshire” window when you visit.

How many people visit York a year?

According to Make it York , over 8 million people visit York each year, contributing almost £800 million to the local economy. York loves visitors!

Conclusion: Is York Worth Visiting?

If you’re looking for a charming and historic city with plenty of unique attractions and much history, York is worth visiting. It’s one of the UK’s best cities for a long weekend break.

This beautiful city has something for everyone, from the ancient York walls and stunning Minster to quirky shops and lively pubs. And let’s not forget the delicious food !

Just make sure you bring your walking shoes (or rent a bike) to explore all York offers.

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Coralie Thornton, the owner and author of Grey Globetrotters, has been a traveller for more than four decades. Her passion for adventure has led her through over 40 countries, seeking cultural experiences, delicious foods, and hidden gems. Today, she helps others experience the UK, Europe, Egypt and China, with meticulously crafted travel itineraries and affordable luxury travel guides.

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Today we are open from

First admission

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Ticket prices range from £13 to £28.

See our What's On section for upcoming services and events

Visiting York Minster.

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Opening times

See our standard opening times or search the calendar below.

Mon to Sat: 9.30am - 4pm Sun: 12.45pm – 2.15pm

Undercroft Museum

Mon to Sat: 10:30am - 4.45pm Sun: 1:15pm - 2:45pm

Mon to Sat: 10am - 5pm Sun: 12.30pm - 4pm

Mon to Sat: 7.30am - 6pm Sun: 8am - 5pm

Check the dates of your visit

Monday 20th may.

Admission Prices

Sightseeing visits can be booked in advance online

Minster only

Adult/Senior - £18

Students (not studying in York) - £16

Child (17 and under)* - free with a paying adult

York resident/York student - free with proof of address

*Up to four children with one paying adult.

Minster and Central Tower

Adult/Senior - £24

Students (not studying in York) - £22

Child (8-17) - £6

To climb the tower you must be aged 8+.

Ticket information

It costs £30,000 a day to run York Minster and your admission fee directly supports the future of the cathedral. We never charge for people to enter the cathedral to pray, light a candle or attend a service.

Valid for 12 months

Keep your ticket and return throughout the year

Children go free

Up to four children go free with one paying adult

York residents and York students free

With proof of address including a YorkCard, driving licence or utility bill. Students must have local College/Uni ID card with valid date.

Free guided tour

Join our expert guides and explore the Minster’s history

Free Undercroft Museum entry

Discover 2,000 years of history beneath the cathedral

Groups of 10 or more

See our exclusive options and rates for groups

Tours and trips

Join a tower trip or let our expert guides show you the Minster’s rich history.

Free guided tours.

General admission tickets include a free guided tour of the cathedral filled with stories and facts from our 800-year history. Tours run Monday to Saturday between 10am and 3pm.

Tours exploring the Minster’s extensive collection of medieval stained glass also run Monday to Friday at 11am.

Climb the Central Tower

York Minster’s Central Tower is the highest point in York and offers unbeatable, panoramic views of the city.

See medieval stonework and gothic grotesques as you climb the 275 steps to the top. Trips run regularly throughout the day. Health and safety restrictions apply, which can be viewed  here .

Tower Trips can be booked on the day of your visit inside the Minster.

Out of Hours tours

Explore York Minster before it opens to the public and savour its special, serene atmosphere brought to life by one of our expert tour guides.

Your ticket includes a delicious breakfast at York Minster Refectory with stunning views of the cathedral and beautiful décor inspired by the building’s history.

Hidden Minster tours

Discover York Minster’s hidden spaces normally closed to public access and hear untold stories from the cathedral’s past.

Take a journey with one of our expert tour guides to learn more about how parts of the Minster were built and the people who made it happen.

Purchase a souvenir guide book

Our 64-page souvenir guide book is packed with information and stunning full-colour photos of the cathedral. You can order a copy while purchasing your tickets using the link below to collect from our welcome team when you arrive. Alternatively, you can buy copies from our admission desks or in the Minster Shops during your visit or online.

Discover nearly 2,000 years of history in the Undercroft Museum

From the remains of a Roman barracks, to 1,000-year-old artefacts still used in the cathedral today, visitors can explore two millennia of York’s history in state-of-the-art chambers beneath the cathedral.

Explore our current exhibitions

Explore our conservation projects, Yorkshire treasures, carvings and more in our exhibitions included in general admission.

York Minster Refectory

The grade 2 listed former York Minster School built in the 1830s with unique views of York Minster, now a brasserie style restaurant serving up all day refreshments and modern British dishes using local produce and suppliers from in and around Yorkshire.

Getting here

York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH

York Minster is a ten minute walk from York Railway Station , which is in Station Road, York, YO24 1AB.

Please note that random bag searches may be carried out when you enter the cathedral. Wheeled bags, and bags larger than hand luggage are not permitted in York Minster. There are a number of left luggage facilities in the city including Yorbag.

Several bus services make stops in the city centre, with the nearest stop in St Leonard’s Place. To plan your journey, visit the iTravelYork website .

For details of coach parking in the city centre, see the City of York Council .

Unfortunately there is no parking available at the cathedral.

You can park for free at one of the six Park and Ride sites around the city with the nearest stop a few minutes’ walk away in Museum Street. Full details for the York Park and Ride service is available here.

The nearest pay and display car parks are a short walk away at Monk Bar (YO31 7QR), Union Terrace (YO31 7ES) and Bootham Row (YO30 7BP) and further details about opening times and charges are available here .

The region is served by a number of airports and the closest to York Minster are Leeds Bradford , Manchester  and Newcastle.

York is only a one hour drive from the P&O Sea Ferries terminal at Kingston-upon-Hull, with daily sailings to Holland and Belgium. Further details are available here .

For more details on your visit to York, including information on the best places to stay, visit or eat & drink, visit our partners and official destination group Visit York .

At York Minster we want to make sure we deliver a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all our visitors. The majority of the building is accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooter users alike. Please see below for full information about resources and facilities in various areas for visitors with disabilities or additional access needs, or you can download our full statement here .

For further information about your visit, please contact the Minster team on t: 01904 557200, e: [email protected]

To book a free carers ticket, please contact our bookings team on: 01904 557200

Getting to the Minster

York is well served by the road network and public transport. The main railway station, which has barrier free access, is about 1 kilometre from the Minster. There are safe crossing places along the way. Bus services run to Museum Street close to the Minster and there are on-street accessible parking bays close to the Minster.

Blue Badge parking locations in the city can be found here.

Entrance to the Minster

There is a choice of ramped or stepped access with handrails from Precentor’s Court, which leads through an outer doorway and glass porch to the admission desk. The Minster is open Monday-Saturday from 9.30am until 3.30pm (last admission) and from 12:45pm until 2.15pm (last admission) on Sundays. There is a charge to enter the Minster, although accompanying carers are not charged for entry. Guided tours are free to visitors afterwards (Monday to Saturday).

Minster Interior

York Minster is a very large gothic building with high ceilings, magnificent stained glass windows and mostly stone floors. Although it is a place of reverence it can also be quite busy and noisy when visitors are present or, for example, when the organ is playing. Light levels vary in different parts of the Minster, particularly where sunlight impacts on the stained glass windows or in the Undercroft, which is the lowest part of the Minster and a darker area. The main features of the Minster, except the Tower, have level, ramped or lift access to them.

The Tower does not have wheelchair access and visitors need to climb the 275 stone steps of a spiral staircase, which does have a handrail on the left going up, to reach the top. There is an additional charge to visit the Tower. Please see the full health and safety details here .

Main Minster Floor

On entering at the West End the Minster is set out in the form of a cross, with the Nave in front and the North Transept to the left and South Transept to the right, with the East End beyond. The raised Quire occupies a central space with walkways on either side leading to the East End. The West End, Nave and North Transept and South Transept and the East End of the Minster are on one level, with paved stone floors throughout.

Organ and Quire

There is stepped and ramped access to the Quire from the Nave next to the Kings Screen. The Quire area where the organ is positioned is mainly single level. About halfway down the Quire there are three sets of shallow steps which lead up to the high altar. For this reason, only the first section of the Quire is accessible for wheelchair users.

Chapter House

There is convenient sloped access from the North Transept leading to the Chapter House.

Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt

There is stepped and lift access from the South Transept to the Undercroft, which tells the story of the Minster and has historic books and artefacts on display.  It has level or ramped access throughout.

The Treasury and Crypt contain an exhibition on Pilgrimage and the tomb of St William.  Currently they are accessed via a set of seven steps from the Undercroft; we are taking measures to improve this and platform lift access to these two areas is due to be in place by the end of summer 2019.

Toilet Facilities

There are male and female toilet facilities, baby changing and an accessible toilet facility located after the North Transept towards the East End of the Minster. There are ambulant toilet cubicles available in the main male and female toilet areas.

Minster Shop

There is flat-level access to the Minster shop from the South side of the Nave towards the South Transept, and stepped or ramp access from the shop through the South Transept and out the South Door into the Minster Piazza. Any visitors who require ramp access to the shop, please ask at the North West door of the Minster and a member of staff will show you the way through. There is no ramp access directly into the shop from street level.

Tactile Model of York Minster

A range of services are provided at the Minster for people who are blind or partially sighted.

A tactile model of York Minster is offered to enable visitors to get an idea and orientation of the Minster. PENfriend™ audio description and Braille text is also provided to help interpret the design.

Tactile Plan and Adaptive Information about the Minster

A tactile site plan, with PENfriend™ audio description and Braille information is provided to assist blind and visually impaired visitors to learn about and navigate the Minster. The tactile plan and PENfriend may be borrowed in advance of visiting to enable blind and partially sighted visitors to learn something of the Minster before visiting. If you would like to request the plan to be sent to you, please email [email protected] , or call 01904 557200.

Self-Guided Route

The tactile plan enables blind and visually impaired visitors to find, and learn about, a series of interesting and informative tactile features around the Minster, on a self-guided journey.

Assistive items

There are sensory materials such as embroidery samples and stained glass examples available to help people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities learn about the Minster. These are kept securely at the main entrance and a member of staff will be able to help on request.

Hearing aid users

Audio induction loops to assist hearing aid users are provided in parts of the interior of the Minster. Minster staff and volunteers have also been trained in welcoming and communicating with deaf and hearing impaired visitors.

Assisted guided tours

We understand that some of our visitors might require extra help, or wish to take part in a guided tour and be able to plan this in advance. Our bookings team can arrange for specially trained guides to be available to meet you when you visit, but require 6 weeks’ notice to try and secure a guide (subject to availability). There is no additional charge for this service. If you would like to take advantage of this service please phone our bookings team on 01904 557275 or email [email protected] with details of the assistance required.

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How long should I allocate for a visit to York...

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York Minster Questions & Answers

How long should I allocate for a visit to York Minster and the Undercroft (not the tower as I have a fractured arm)

If you have a deep interest in religious history & architecture then you could spend 3/4 hours. A general look round & with photographs you would do in 2 hours or less. Enjoy the visit - it is well worth while.

60-90 Minutes should be enough time to walk around the Minster, if wish to further explore and join an organised tour you may need to allow 2 hours plus for your visit.

Hi I would say hour and half there is so much to see it is really beautiful inside

Certainly a couple of hours particularly if you take photos! A very beautiful building, enjoy!

1- 2 hours max

It really depends how long you take walking around. You can do it in an hour. But we took our time, took photos, took it all I. And it took us about 2 hours. We enjoyed it so much.

As posted earlier, about 2 hours will be adequate

Suggest about 3 hours or so. That should give you a leisurely time to look around.

We were in there for 2 hours . We looked in all the little chapels and the undercroft .

I think between 1 and 2 hours should be enough. There is a lot of reading if you want to read everything.

At least an hour

At least one hour. It all depends on how many stones you want to read and how long you want just to sit and view

Never went in as thought £12 was a bit expensive.

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How many days do we need to tour York - York Forum

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Hi, we will be visiting our daughter who is going to be studying abroad at the U of York in the Fall.

How many days would we need in York to see and feel York to its fullest?

We like sports, some museums, castles, we are foodies, like good beer (ale) and pretty much most things. I will think of a few more items and things to help, but hopefully this is a start.

We were thinking more like 3-4 days? Give or take.

Thanks in advance

You could begin with a round trip on the open top bus service. Takes about one hour with a commentary and a useful way to get an overview. Combine with a river bus ticket at a discount rate.

There are free walking tours with a volunteer guide. Several ghost walks operate in the evening, and one entrepreneur runs a ghost bus tour...board it if you dare!

The 900 year old City walls offer a different perspective. Well over 2 miles but not a continuous circuit and lots of steps to climb up and down, As you are here for a few days, you could walk a different section each day

The city centre is compact enough to walk around. Lots of semi secret alleyways offer useful short cuts. To find them, treat yourself to an intriguing book titled "The Snickleways of York."

York's Visitor Information centre is an excellent resource for advice. You will find free wifi in the City centre as well.

As a graduate of that university, I feel an obligation to suggest that you spend a little time walking around campus and especially around the lake that is a central part of the original campus (the newer, Heslington East campus, feels somewhat cold and characterless IMHO). You may also wish to visit the village of Heslington - not that it has a lot of attractions, but with a few basic services and facilities, it retains the feel of being a village and, remarkably, it retains two pubs in its short main street. For the city itself, 3 or 4 days should be adequate to visit most attractions and likely whet your appetite for making another visit in the future.

Judging by what you say your preferences are - you will love York!

Plenty to see, flat, compact. Many great pubs to explore!

Have a ball!

P.S. You don't need this bus. You'll be able to walk York diametrically in 15 - 20 minutes.

Looking forward to our visit in September or October. Also, we get a discount at Marriott, so I am thinking of York Marriott. Whats your opinion of that Hotel?

I will be picking your informative minds in the coming months, hope you dont mind?

P.S. Should we rent a car from London or take the train to York?

Train 100%.

As for the hotel, are you talking about this one: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/qqyyk-york-marriott-hotel/ ?

That's a long way from central York, and even from the station. I would book somewhere more central. Lots to chose from. The Dean Court is my favourite, and it is right opposite the Minster. I've also stayed at the Hampton by Hilton, which is at the budget end of the market, but I was happy with my stay there, and I've also stayed at the Guy Fawkes Inn,

We've stayed at Rose&Crown on Lawrence Street, and were extremely happy.

I would say 3 days would give you a goof flavour of the city of York - you would enjoy a tour of the quirky York Brewery which is within the city walls. York is a lovely, historic city and is very walkable (a car is a hindrance in the city) but you must get out into the surrounding countryside if you like castles. Most places are accessible by regular public transport, but to see the most, I would recommend renting a car for a day or two.

Placed to look up to see if you fancy a visit:

Whitby (on the coast)

North York Moors National Park

Helmsley and Riveaulx Abbey

Castle Howard

Knaresborough

Fountains Abbey

So much to see and do!

You can go on a tour of York Brewery which includes a sample of their beer in the Tap Room.

There are 3 other York Brewery pubs within the city walls - the Last Drop Inn, the Three Legged Mare and the Yorkshire Terrier which kas a small shop that sells York Brewery bottled beers, t shirts etc. (You can also get these items from the brewery itself).

Also try The Blue Bell, The Maltings and York Tap at York railway station. There's many other wonderful pubs in York too.

You might even have some time for a bit of sightseeing! ;-p

Clifford Tower, Castle Museum, rampart wall walk, Jorvik Centre,...

The most important, treat your wife to The Afternoon Tea at Betty's! The very best Afternoon Tea experience we've had in UK so far. Must be prebooked

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The latest on the massive solar storm

By Angela Fritz, Elise Hammond and Chris Lau, CNN

Incredible lighthouse picture from Maine

From CNN's Chris Lau

Among a flurry of surreal images capturing the dazzling auroras is one taken by Benjamin Williamson of a lighthouse in Portland, Maine.

"It's one of the most incredible things I've ever seen, the awe and wonder," Williamson told CNN.

He said he used a long-exposure technique to snap the shot, but did not edit it.

Watch the full interview with Williamson here .

Things could be about to ramp up

If you still haven't seen the aurora, hold on for another 30 minutes to an hour, according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.

The next wave of coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which cause the aurora, is about to arrive, he said.

"Just wait a minute because things are going to start to ramp up here," he said, adding that the increase could arrive "anytime now." "When it comes, get outside, get ready, put your coat on."

For those who are too busy to witness the phenomenon tonight, Myers said the aurora is expected to last three nights.

Why does the aurora last for a weekend?

By CNN's Chris Lau

Generally, it takes just eight minutes for light to travel 93 million miles to the Earth from the sun, but astrophysicist Janna Levin said the energized particles causing the current wave of aurora travel a lot slower, causing the phenomenon to last for the weekend.

"Some of these mass ejections are trillions of kilograms," she said. "They're slower. So they're taking longer, but still hours, maybe tens of hours."

Here's how the solar storm looks in the South and on the East Coast

The aurora was visible across the East Coast and in the South Friday.

Here's how it looked in Chester, South Carolina.

Down in Florida, waves of color swam through the sky.

Up north in New Jersey, a purple-ish haze could be seen in the sky.

Will solar storms get more intense and risky in the future?

The answer is probably not in the short term, according to astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi.

He said scientists study what is constantly happening on the surface of the sun and have found a pattern.

“Geological data shows us that in the past the sun was way more active than it is today. It has cycles where it goes very quiet ... and you have events that show that the solar activity was much, much greater,” he told CNN. “So there's no evidence that we're going to see those big maxima this cycle." 

But the astrophysicist also spoke of a caveat - the limitations of modern science.

“Even though it's predictable in the short term, we still don't quite understand what creates the magnetic fields in the sun,” he said, adding: “That's why NASA has so many satellites looking at the sun.”

In Pictures: Auroras light the sky during rare solar storm

From CNN Digital's Photo Team

A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun are creating dazzling auroras across the globe .

The rare solar storm may also disrupt communications. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

See more photos of the aurora from tonight.

Behind dazzling aurora could lie “real danger,” Bill Nye the Science Guy says

The massive solar storm could present “a real danger,” especially with the modern world relying so much on electricity, according to Bill Nye the Science Guy , a science educator and engineer.

Scientists are warning an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun have the potential to disrupt communication on Earth into the weekend. Solar flares can affect communications and GPS almost immediately because they disrupt Earth’s ionosphere, or part of the upper atmosphere. Energetic particles released by the sun can also disrupt electronics on spacecraft and affect astronauts without proper protection within 20 minutes to several hours.

In comparison to tonight's event, Nye drew comparisons with another incident in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, when telegraph communications were severely affected.

“The other thing, everybody, that is a real danger to our technological society, different from 1859, is how much we depend on electricity and our electronics and so on,” Nye said. "None of us really in the developed world could go very long without electricity."

He noted that there are systems in place to minimize the impact, but “stuff might go wrong,” stressing that not all transformers are equipped to withstand such a solar event.

“It depends on the strength of the event and it depends on how much of our infrastructures are prepared for this the sort of thing,” he said.

Bill Nye breaks down significance of the solar storm | CNN

This post has been updated with more details on solar flares' impact on electronics.

Here's where clouds will block the view of the northern lights in the US

From CNN's Angela Fritz

After an incredibly stormy week, most of the Lower 48 has clear skies to see the northern lights. But there are some areas where clouds and rainy weather are spoiling the view.

A deck of clouds is blocking the sky in the Northeast, from parts of Virginia into Maine, as an area of low pressure spins off the East Coast.

In the Midwest, the aurora will be hard to see through thick clouds in parts of Wisconsin, Michigan — including the Upper Peninsula — and Illinois.

A stripe of clouds is tracking across Texas, including Dallas-Forth Worth, and into Louisiana.

And in the Southwest, patchy clouds across the the Four Corners region could make the northern lights difficult to spot.

Aurora seen at least as far south as Georgia

Barely visible to the naked eye, the aurora can be seen in Atlanta in the 10 p.m. ET hour. 

It is easier to see through photographs using a long exposure. The photos below, taken by CNN's Eric Zerkel and Emily Smith, used 3- and 10-second exposures.

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Northern Lights 2024: Here’s When You May See The Next Aurora Borealis

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The Northern Lights have recently caused dazzling displays across the U.S., and because solar activity has been busier than scientists expected, there may be more chances to see the lights this year leading up to peak activity in summer 2025.

Northern Lights visible in North America.

A celestial event called Solar Cycle 25 —the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights (or aurora borealis), and NASA predicts it will continue on into next year.

Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, and it’s estimated it will reach its maximum—when activity is expected to peak—in July 2025 , and it’s projected to peak with 115 sunspots, which are where the geomagnetic storms originate.

Although the maximum hasn’t happened yet, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists anticipated, so it’s possible there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2025, though it’s difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.

When the next aurora borealis does happen, the best hours to view are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For the best views, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights, monitoring weather forecasts for prime viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point like a hilltop.

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here .

What Are The Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are shafts of colored light visible in the night sky. They’re created when the sun’s energized particles slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at high speeds. These particles are formed from clouds created by solar storms on the sun’s surface, and although most particles are deflected away, some are caught in the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field then redirects these particles to either the north or south pole, causing the lights to occur.

Surprising Fact

When these lights happen on the south pole, they’re called aurora australis, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

Key Background

Earth began experiencing a “historic” geomagnetic storm Friday , which trailed into the weekend. NOAA issued a warning for a second geometric storm on Tuesday , and said the sun released another flare on Wednesday , though these lights weren’t as intense as the lights over the weekend. The phenomenon was visible earlier this week in states like New York, Vermont, Idaho, Maine and Washington. Geomagnetic storms are more common during the solar maximum, and are associated with increased sunspots and solar flares. Region 3664 , a massive sunspot, has been the cause of recent geomagnetic storms.

Further Reading

Northern Lights Forecast Update: Here’s Where You Might See Aurora Borealis Tonight (Forbes)

Northern Lights Could Show Up Yet Again Tonight: Here’s An Updated Aurora Borealis Forecast (Forbes)

Tonight’s Updated Northern Lights Forecast: Here’s Where You Could See Aurora Borealis (Forbes)

Northern Lights Could Be Visible Again Tonight—Here’s Updated Advice On How To Watch (Forbes)

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How to Observe the Northern Lights This Weekend

The Space Weather Prediction Center said solar activity would be high again on Saturday.

Northern Lights Glow in the Sky Amid Solar Storm

Powerful solar flare activity made the aurora borealis visible unusually far south..

[Laughing] Holy moly. I know. This — I thought it would just be over on the horizon a little — Behind us, too. Yeah. A little green on the horizon. Nothing like this. This is — This is like, ‘Oh, my god.’ Everywhere.

By Claire Moses

Keep an eye on the skies on Saturday night for what could be another dazzling display of nature — or not, depending on your location and weather conditions.

An unusual amount of solar flare activity means that the aurora borealis, or the northern lights, could continue to appear over the weekend.

The solar storm was a level 5 on Friday, which gave some star gazers a clear view of streaks of green, purple and red that arced across the skies. Those conditions are expected to continue, Mike Bettwy, the operations chief of the Space Weather Prediction Center, said on Saturday.

“It should be fairly similar to what we saw last night, maybe not as widespread but fairly close,” Mr. Bettwy said.

“Depending on how everything evolves,” he added, “tomorrow night might actually be better than tonight” for views of the aurora.

In areas with clear skies, the display on Sunday could be similar to what people witnessed on Friday.

If you’re in a place with a lot of bright lights — like a city — it’s going to be hard to see anything. And then there are other complications, like the weather.

Two weather systems on Saturday night could impair viewing of the solar display, said Bryan Jackson, a forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center.

The Northeast is likely to be overcast because of a cloud system that could stretch from the Midwest and center over Pennsylvania. Cloud coverage might also extend as far as Maine, with the potential to clear around New Hampshire.

“This event is strong enough that the Northeast United States pretty much universally has a good shot at seeing it,” Mr. Bettwy said. “It’s just a matter of making sure that the cloud cover is absent.”

A second storm system, which was predicted to produce a fair amount of rain and cloud coverage, is possible over the Southwest.

Mr. Jackson said Michigan was likely to have clear skies between waves of rain. Other regions of the country could have clear views, too.

“In Seattle, it was pretty clear last night and it looks to be pretty clear again,” Mr. Jackson said on Saturday. “Portions of the southern Rockies, portions of the southern Plains are not overcast, but not completely clear either.”

The lights were particularly brilliant over England on Friday, and images of the solar show awed onlookers in parts of Maine and Massachusetts.

A tip: If you are in a clear area, even south of where the aurora is forecast, snap a picture or record a video with your cellphone.

The sensor on the camera is more sensitive to the wavelengths produced by the aurora and may produce an image you can’t see with the naked eye.

Why is this happening?

A severe solar storm is brewing.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center on Friday issued a rare warning after a solar outburst reached Earth.

As nuclear reactions occur on the sun, it routinely expels material from its surface.

Officials said that the solar activity could potentially cause electrical outages or interfere with navigation and communication systems.

When is this happening?

The expelled material from the sun could reach Earth’s atmosphere by Friday afternoon or evening, officials said.

“What we’re expecting over the next couple of days should be more significant than what we’ve seen, certainly so far,” Mike Bettwy, the operations chief at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said at a news conference on Friday.

What’s flaring up?

The Space Weather Prediction Center said on Friday night that we were experiencing an extreme solar storm, a level 5 , up from a level 4 earlier in the day .

The last extreme event happened in October 2003 and resulted in power failures in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa, the center said.

The current storm is caused by a cluster of sunspots — dark, cool regions on the solar surface. The cluster is flaring and ejecting material every six to 12 hours.

“We anticipate that we’re going to get one shock after another through the weekend,” said Brent Gordon, chief of the space weather services branch at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

Katrina Miller , Emmett Lindner and Judson Jones contributed reporting.

Claire Moses is a Times reporter in London, focused on coverage of breaking and trending news. More about Claire Moses

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Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

A dramatic blast from the sun  set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, making the northern lights visible around the world .

With the help of Google Cloud, scientists who hunt killer asteroids churned through hundreds of thousands of images of the night sky to reveal 27,500 overlooked space rocks in the solar system .

A celestial image, an Impressionistic swirl of color in the center of the Milky Way, represents a first step toward understanding the role of magnetic fields  in the cycle of stellar death and rebirth.

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How the Catskills became the long weekend summer getaway for New Yorkers

Just over two hours out of the city, alex hannaford finds a playground for outdoor enthusiasts – as well as restaurants, wineries and shopping to satisfy even the most discerning manhattanite, article bookmarked.

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S trapped into climbing harnesses and braced against the chilly wind, my daughter and I peer over the ledge to track a pair of peregrine falcons – the fastest animals on earth – swooping and gliding on the thermals. We’re so high up on this section of a via ferrata , a protected climbing route with fixed steel cables, that it’s us who have the bird’s eye view. Beyond is a palette of green stretching as far as we can see, a breathtaking view of deciduous and evergreen forest and mountains that few outside New York are really aware exist. It’s certainly not what most people imagine when they picture America ’s Empire State.

My family are spending a weekend in the Catskill Mountains, a 1,000-square-mile subrange of the Appalachians just west of the Hudson River Valley, a couple of hours’ drive northwest of New York City . Our temporary home is the Mohonk Mountain House, a huge Victorian castle-style hotel built in 1869 as a getaway for New York City’s glitterati (famous guests have included John D Rockefeller and the Clintons) and whose 85 miles of private hiking trails include the Pinnacle Ledge, which my daughter Scout and I are precariously negotiating.

While the Catskills were the subject of famous works of art by 19th-century painters, collectively known as the Hudson River School, and literature like Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle , for most of us our main frame of reference is 1980s romantic drama Dirty Dancing – although the hotel used as Kellerman’s resort, where Patrick Swayze famously forbid anyone from putting Baby in the corner, is actually in Virginia .

From the 1920s until the 1960s, the Catskills were synonymous with these summer resorts, particularly popular with New York City’s vacationing Jewish population – not for nothing was the area nicknamed The Borscht Belt. Most of them are now shuttered after they became a casualty of cheap air travel allowing access to more exotic destinations. But in the early 2000s there was a concerted effort to rebuild the region’s economy through tourism, with New York City dwellers seeking solace in the countryside. While the pandemic grounded flights and the world stopped travelling, the Catskills and the Hudson Valley (a 7,000-square-mile region that stretches along the Hudson River from Westchester County up to Albany) continued its resurgence. Those in the city who could afford it moved into their second homes, others sold their Brooklyn apartments and relocated upstate. By the time Covid restrictions were over, weekend holidaymakers followed. Today, upstate tourism is booming – and the area now draws international visitors.

Read more on US travel :

• The best National Parks to visit in the USA
• Inside Carmel-by-the-Sea, the California beach town that celebrities love
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It’s hardly surprising. For two centuries, the mountains, lakes and rivers here have been a feast for the eyes, nourishment for the soul, and an outdoor enthusiasts’ playground (wilderness hikes in summer; snow sports in winter ), and more recently the area has exploded with restaurants to rival New York City, as well as festivals, museums, art exhibitions, and galleries. The Catskills and Hudson Valley have wineries, cideries, distilleries, and craft breweries on tap, many of which are set in spectacular countryside.

A little further north of Mohonk is Kingston, the original state capital. Head to the Stockade District and eat pizza at Lola’s or get a coffee from Rough Draft, which somehow also manages to be a bookshop and a bar.

Woodstock, made famous by the 1969 festival (which actually took place 60 miles southwest of the town on a farm in Bethel), is a 20-minute drive from Kingston into the mountains. Catch a band playing in the backyard of The Colony music venue, and eat dinner at Good Night, an Asian restaurant just across the road that is a Hudson Valley favourite.

On this side of the Hudson River you’ll also find the town of Accord, which is home to Innes, a 220-acre luxury retreat with cabins, a swimming pool, restaurant and golf course. It’s run by a New York City transplant called Taavo Somer who started to come up to the Catskills and Hudson Valley in 2002 with his family and became hooked. Perhaps because of the vastness of this area, Somer says that, despite the influx of people, it all still feels peaceful. “Back when we first came up here, nobody in the city had heard of Accord. In the last year or so, people suddenly know it. It’s wild … but it’s not East Hampton. It’s still sleepy, and I think that’s why people find it appealing.”

Just across the Hudson River, Rhinebeck hosts a farmer’s market on Sunday mornings where farms across the Hudson Valley come to set up a table and sell their produce. My family and I relocated to Rhinebeck in the summer of 2020 (I moved from the UK to America in 2003 and lived in Texas for the best part of 17 years). We usually begin the weekend with a visit to a little café and grocery store a few miles outside of Rhinebeck called Golden Russet. Another local favourite is Slow Fox Farm, which Brooklynites Matt and Miranda Mobley purchased in 2018.

No visit to Rhinebeck is complete without dinner at Market Street Italian restaurant. If every little town in America has one place where you can bump into fifth-generation locals and discuss the latest small-town gossip, as well as weekenders and visitors, this is Rhinebeck’s. And while the rigatoni pasta and butterscotch budino are delicious, it’s the atmosphere that owner Luciano Valdivia has created here that makes it so special. He said he’s seen the town grow exponentially over the last decade. The Hudson Valley isn’t the Hamptons, and people here want to keep it that way. “You’ll see farmers sitting next to Manhattan Madison Avenue advertising executives,” Valdivia, who was born in Rhinebeck and grew up in the Hudson Valley, said. “People come here to melt into it rather than change it.”

On our final night at Mohonk, after dinner, it’s time for a walk around the lake – a gravel path wraps around the shoreline, and it’s big enough that when you’re out of earshot of the hotel, birdsong is the only thing you’ll hear. Halfway around, we sit down for a minute in one of the many pagodas hewn from the cedar that grows on the mountains here, to watch a family row past.

Then, as the sun is low in the sky, I head upstairs to the spa, grab a towel, and walk out onto the deck. I climb into the hot tub, shut my eyes and breathe in the smell of pine and listen to the low murmur of evening hikers somewhere off in the distance, possibly watching those same falcons soar on the thermals below them.

Travel essentials

Where to stay.

Nightly rates at Mohonk Mountain House start at $1,245 (£990) for two adults, double occupancy, inclusive of meals and most resort activities.

How to get there

Icelandic low-cost carrier Play Airlines flies from Stansted via Reykjavik to New York Stewart International Airport in the Hudson Valley from £240 return. Airlines including British Airways , Virgin Atlantic , American Airlines , JetBlue and United Airlines fly direct to New York City. Flight time is around eight hours. The Catskills and the Hudson Valley are roughly a two-hour 30-minute drive from New York City.

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