A walled cathedral city of medieval streets, Roman and Viking layers, and the railways
York is a compact walled city in North Yorkshire, where the Ouse and the Foss meet. The Romans, the Vikings and medieval merchants each left a layer: the Minster rises over the old centre, narrow lanes such as the Shambles run beneath it, and the city walls still circle the heart of the city.
Most things worth seeing lie within a short walk of each other. Visits tend to start at the Minster and the Shambles, then follow the walls, the castle area and the museums, with the National Railway Museum beside the station on the western side.
Areas
Each area has its own mini guide with 61 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.
York Minster and the medieval streets, gates and halls around it
Open the mini guide →
The Shambles, Stonegate and the narrow lanes of the old city centre
Open the mini guide →
Clifford's Tower, the Castle Museum and the streets along the Foss
Open the mini guide →
Micklegate Bar, the pubs of Micklegate and the shops of Bishopthorpe Road
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The National Railway Museum, the station and the Museum Gardens
Open the mini guide →Sights
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of York. It is a working church that also welcomes visitors.
Narrow medieval street of overhanging timber-framed buildings, once lined with butchers' shops.
Ruined keep of York Castle on a mound, managed by English Heritage.
Medieval gateway in the south-west city walls, at the top of Micklegate.
Museum of railway history beside York station, part of the Science Museum Group.
Grade I listed house beside the Minster, looked after by the National Trust.
Market with food and other stalls just behind the Shambles.
Social history museum in former prison buildings beside Clifford's Tower, run by York Museums Trust.
1 / 12Theatre
4 theatres and performance venues across 3 areas: see where each one is, how to get there and where to find what is on.
Filter 4 venues by area, type of show and step-free access.
Open the directory →One link to each venue's own programme page, plus seasonal highlights.
See what's on →A producing theatre in St Leonard's Place with a main house, a studio and an annual Christmas production.
Venue page →Itineraries
Short routes that stitch the areas together.
Getting there
York is on the East Coast Main Line and its railway station is just outside the city walls, a short walk from the centre. The nearest major airports are a drive away. Always check the operators for current times, fares and disruption.
Visit York says LNER and Grand Central bring passengers from London in under two hours, with about 1 hour 50 minutes listed for the journey. TransPennine Express runs direct trains from Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
Visit York says Coastliner buses run from Scarborough and Whitby, and East Yorkshire buses from Hull and the surrounding area. For national coach services, check the operators.
Visit York names four international airports within easy travelling distance: Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Humberside and Doncaster Sheffield.
Visit York describes York as about 20 minutes from the M1/M62 network. The council lists six Park & Ride sites with free parking in secure car parks and a bus into the city centre.
Journey times on this page are Visit York's headline figures. We do not publish timetables or fares.
The Minster, the Shambles, the castle area and the museums are all within a short walk of each other. The Micklegate and Bishopthorpe Road area is a longer walk to the south-west.
The council runs six Park & Ride routes, with free parking and a bus into the city centre. Operating times differ between routes, so check the route timetable.
The council says the walls can be walked for free, but they close in icy conditions and strong winds and have steps, so they are not step-free. Check the council page for closures.
First York Park & Ride
Best time to go
York works all year. The Minster, museums and walls are busiest in summer and school holidays.
Good weather for the walls and the Museum Gardens, with fewer crowds than summer.
Long days for walking the walls and the river. Book popular attractions and rooms ahead.
Quieter streets once the school holidays end, and good light on the Minster.
Short days, but museums, tea rooms and old pubs come into their own.
Day trips
Ideas for a day away from York. Check the operators for times and tickets.
A baroque country house with gardens and parkland north-east of York.
castlehoward.co.uk →
The ruins of a Cistercian abbey beside Studley Royal water garden, near Ripon and run by the National Trust.
National Trust: Fountains Abbey →
A harbour town on the North Yorkshire coast, with a ruined abbey on the headland run by English Heritage.
English Heritage: Whitby Abbey →
A spa town with the Valley Gardens and RHS Garden Harlow Carr, west of York.
RHS: Harlow Carr →FAQ
One day covers the Minster, the Shambles and a stretch of the walls at a brisk pace. Two or three days leave time for the castle area, the museums and the National Railway Museum.
Visit York lists about 1 hour 50 minutes by train from London, and names LNER and Grand Central as operators. Check the operators for current times and fares.
Yes. The council says the walls are free to walk, but they close in icy conditions and strong winds, and have steps, so there is no step-free access. Check the council page for closures before you go.
York Minster is a working church, and the Minster's website says admission is ticketed, with options for the Minster alone or the Minster with the Central Tower. Check its site for current details.
The museum says entry is free, and encourages visitors to book free tickets in advance. It is also being transformed, so check its website for routes and entrances before you go.
Yes. The council lists six Park & Ride sites with free parking: Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar. Operating times differ between routes.
The bars are the medieval gateways in the city walls, such as Micklegate Bar, Bootham Bar, Monk Bar and Walmgate Bar. They are gates, not pubs.
The Minster Quarter and the Shambles put you among the main sights. Micklegate and the area near the station suit train travellers, and the Castle and Fossgate area is quieter and close to the museums.
Nearby places
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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