Free guide

Free things to do in York

1 place in York whose own website says entry is free. Checked Oct 25, 2026.

Facts last checked Oct 25, 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

National Railway Museum, Station and Museum Gardens
National Railway Museum, Station and Museum GardensPhoto: Glen Bowman from Newcastle, England, CC BY 2.0
York's Chocolate Story, The Shambles and Stonegate
York's Chocolate Story, The Shambles and StonegatePhoto: Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0
York Castle Museum, Castle, Fossgate and Walmgate
York Castle Museum, Castle, Fossgate and WalmgatePhoto: Jitka Erbenová (cheva), CC BY-SA 3.0

Places on this page where we hold a photo; the others show sights elsewhere in our guide.

Free means general admission. Special exhibitions and events can be ticketed, some places ask you to book a free slot, and some suggest a donation. Check the venue before you go.

Every entry below is a museum in our York guide whose own website said, when we read it, that entry is free. We quote what the page said, link the page, and do not give opening hours, because they change. If a venue's page changes, we remove it at the next check.

Free museums, galleries and sites

Getting around York for less

Local transport: First York Park & Ride. First York lists Park & Ride sites at Rawcliffe Bar, Poppleton, Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar and Monks Cross. You can buy in the First Bus app or pay the driver by cash or contactless card. Ticket types include day return, week, month and annual, and a York by bus smart card for regular users. On Oct 25, 2026 First reported Monks Cross (service 9) not running because a stop was closed.

Fares and tickets: York Park & Ride (opens in new tab). Our getting around guide compares every destination.

Where next in York

Open the York guide for neighbourhoods, eating and getting there. For sights that need a timed ticket, see what to book ahead; for indoor ideas on a wet day, see the rainy-day guide.

Other destinations