Seventeen things to do in York

Last Updated on 7 December 2023 by Colette Burgess

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Growing up in York means that I often take the city for granted. I used to walk past the Minster every day and barely notice it. Now that I’ve moved away I’m regularly struck by the beauty of this city and can totally see why it attracts so many visitors for a day trip or a weekend break (even if they did used to drive me mad taking photos in the middle of the street and getting in my way when I was trying to go about my business!)

I wanted to share seventeen of the best things to do in York

Some of these suggestions are free, some are not. Some are things to with the kids, others not. All are very “York” and should be added to you “to do list” next time you visit this historic city!

1. Visit JORVIK Viking Centre

The Viking Centre on Copper Gate, in York city centre, had to be at the top of the list. As a child I remember seeing the queues snake around the street and wishing I could go in and see what the fuss was about – of course being a local resident, we never bothered to join the queue, always thinking we could go another day! Eventually my Aunty Margaret took me and my over riding memory is of it being a bit smelly and there being a ride which took you back through time!

The JORVIK Viking Centre opened in 1984 and remains a popular attraction in York to this day – one which I really must take my own children to now that they have both studied the Vikings at school. (It’s worth mentioning that The Viking Centre is a popular destination for school trips!)

You can find out more about opening hours and prices here (and if Vikings are your thing, considering visiting York during the annual Jorvik Viking Festival in mid February – you can read about that here)

You can read more about JORVIK Viking Centre here:

Visiting The JORVIK Viking Centre – HodgePodgeDays

2. Climb the city walls

One of the things which makes York really special to my mind is the city walls. York’s city walls remain largely intact and cover a distance of around 2.5 miles with four gates or “bars”- they are the longest city walls in the UK and parts of the walls date back to Roman times.

You can walk large sections of the walls – this is really lovely way to see parts of the city and doesn’t cost anything. We tend to walk the section between Bootham Bar and Monk Bar as you can see York Minster well from here.

Do bear in mind that this isn’t very pushchair friendly – there’s a number of steps and the path can be quite narrow at times.

I remember walking the city walls with my Grandparents and my own children love to do it now. They are fascinated by the walls and like to pretend to be soldiers protecting the city.

York City Walls in the spring time
Walk York City Walls

3. Visit York Minster

As I’ve said, I used to walk past York Minster every day on my way to work in the centre of York and didn’t pay it any attention whatsoever but it’s an absolutely stunning building and this is something I can appreciate now whenever I see it. York Minster is open 7 days a week but is still a working church so you do need to bare this in mind when planning your visit. Whilst it is free to enter the Minster to worship and pray, there is a general admission charge for visitors which contributes towards the upkeep of this magnificent building. There are free guided tours of the Minster running daily or you can take your own time to explore. It’s worth checking the York Minster website to see what’s on as it changes regularly.

You can read more about visiting York Minster here:

Visiting York Minster and Climbing the York Minster Tower – What the Redhead Said

York Minster in the winter

4. Take a horse & cart ride | No longer running

It is no longer possible to take a horse & cart ride through York city centre unfortunately however there are lots of other options for tours of the city.

For as long as I can remember, there have been horse and cart rides running through the city of York. It was something I’d wanted to do my whole life and finally managed the week after Dave & I got married! I really ought to do it again with the kids. It’s a great way to get a guided tour of York city centre! I can’t find any information about the horse and cart rides online but I’m fairly sure you just hop on at York Minster – I’ll check next time I’m in town and update this!

Take a horse and cart ride from outside York Minster and tour the city

5. Scare yourself silly at York Dungeons

The York Dungeon is so much more than a dusty old museum – this unique actor led experience means you will see, hear, feel and smell the history of York – featuring the Minster, Guy Fawkes (he was born in York and went to St Peter’s school don’t you know!), The Shambles and Yorvik to name but a few.

Is York Dungeon scary? Well I haven’t been to York Dungeon since I was about 10 but I remember screaming and laughing a lot! It’s somewhere I’ve been holding off taking my own children to until I felt they were old enough. Children under 5 are not allowed into York Dungeons and 5 to 8 year olds are admitted with parent / guardian permission – meaning it’s basically up to you to decide if your child will cope with it or not. Chloe is 8 and I really don’t think she’d enjoy it, whereas Ben is much more interested in gore and being frightened in general so I think he’d love it!

Sam from North East Family Fun visited York Dungeon with her tweens recently and said,

“My children are aged 9,10 and 13 and love anything scary – they LOVED York dungeons. I would say you do need to be brave though as there are moments when you are plunged into darkness and actors will jump out at you. The special effects are really good and at one point, I really did feel as if we were being chased by Vikings. York Dungeons is very much like Horrible Histories with the gore levels cranked up a few notches. You will watch human dissections, feel leeches crawl over your skin and witness historical torture techniques. If your tweens and teens are not of a sensitive nature, I can highly recommend York Dungeons as an educational trip which does not take itself too seriously.”

It’s worth mentioning that York Dungeon is a Merlin attraction so entry is free with your Merlin pass.

6. Step back in time at York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum is situated next to Cliffords Tower, the remains of York Castle and of course the reason York Castle Museum has it’s name. I remember visiting the Castle Museum with my grandparents and being fascinated by the Victorian street complete with horse!

You can read more about York Castle Museum here:

York Castle Museum – What the Redhead Said

York Castle Museum
Kirkgate  Victorian Street and horse - York Castle Museum

7. Explore Clifford’s Tower

Now I think I’ve only been inside Clifford’s Tower perhaps once in my life, however I do remember spending a lot time climbing up and rolling down the very steep hill it is built on – I should say I don’t think you’re actually allowed to this any more! (Or perhaps you never were!)

Cliffords Tower always looks especially stunning in the spring time when the banks are scattered with daffodils. The English Heritage site of Clifford’s Tower has recently undergone a vast refurbishment project which includes a new roof deck giving unrivalled views over York’s historic skyline. New walkways and staircases have opened up parts of the tower that have been off-limits for centuries, and immersive soundscapes and stories are bringing the tower’s turbulent history to life like never before.

You can book your visit to Cifford’s Tower here – don’t forget this is free if you already have an English Heritage membership (use code EH22MEM for 15% discount on English Heritage Memberships.)

You can read more about Clifford’s Tower here:

Clifford’s Tower Review – What the Redhead Said.

York Castle - Cliffords Tower (English Heritage site)

8. Stop in at The National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the world and is is one of the best free things you can do in York – as such I spent a lot of time there in my late teens during the charity play schemes I used to work on! I’ve not been for years and years but Mum and Dad took Ben when he was little and, like most boys, totally into trains!

For an extra treat you can get to the Railway Museum by “road train” which runs every 30 mins from York Minster costing £2 each way for children and £3 each way for adults.

You can read more about visiting The National Railway Museum here:

York Railway Museum Review – North East Family Fun

Playing Trains at the National Railway Museum – Life with Mrs Shilts

The National Railway Museum - York

9. Learn all about York’s Chocolate Story

This is a relatively new thing in York and not something we’ve done yet – however York has a strong chocolate history being home to both Terrys and Rowntrees back in the day. (As a child, if the wind was blowing in the right direction, you’d be able to smell the chocolate from the Rowntrees factory!)

As well as finding out all about the chocolatey history of York, you can learn all about how chocolate is made and obviously taste some too!

You can read more about York’s Chocolate Story here:

York’s Chocolate Story review – The Ladybirds’ Adventures

10. Don’t forget to look up

I know this sounds a bit odd but honestly, when you’re walking around York – do take the time to look up. There’s so many quirky, historical details above shops and buildings that you’d otherwise miss. Stonegate, Petergate and Coney Street are prime places for this.

High Petergate - York

11. Hire a Little Red Boat

If the weather is nice you can’t beat hiring a Little Red Boat and taking a boat down the River Ouse (you can go on bigger boats but it’s not as much fun as driving the boat yourself!) We hired a little boat and fit eight of us on there comfortably. You book your boat for an hour and this basically gives you time to sail down the river to a bridge (I can’t remember which one but they will tell you!) and back again. If you’re lucky you might even spot the Two Hoots floating ice cream boat!

12. Take a Ghost Tour (for the older ones!)

And, don’t forget to try out a Ghost Walk (this is better done in the Autumn when the evenings are drawing in – it’s not really as spooky when it’s broad daylight!) You’ll laugh, jump and learn all sorts of random stuff about the history of York and its inhabitants! I think I was about 12 the first time I did this. I’ve been promising to take Dave on a Ghost Walk for the last 18 years – maybe I’d better do that this year!

13. Go on a treasure hunt!

If you’re looking for a bit of an adventure and a new way to explore the city, why not try a Treasure Trail? Ben and I did one of these in Manchester last summer and loved it as it showed us bits of the city we’d never seen before as well as giving us a purpose to our walk. There’s a handful of different trails available for York city centre and I know a number of people who have tried them out and loved them. This is one of the best ways to explore the heart of the city.

14. Relax in York Museum Gardens

The York Museum Gardens are free to visit and open every day (except Christmas and New Year!). These beautiful gardens are the perfect place to sit and relax, catch up with friends or explore. Within the Museum Gardens, you’ll also find the ruins of St Mary’s Cathedral and The Yorkshire Museum itself. I remember feeding squirrels from my hand as a child, or lying on the grass reading with a friend in my teens. You will find the River Ouse running outside the Museum Gardens, and this makes for a lovely walk too.

York Museum Gardens

15. Get lost in York Maze

This one is a bit out of town and a seasonal attraction running from mid July to the start of September and then through October half term – so you have to time it right, but we love it so much we had to give it a mention!

Offering the biggest maize maze in the UK and a whole host of exciting attractions, York Maze is an award winning family day out and well worth a visit if you get chance.

Dave and I actually got married at York Maze in 2012 – out of season the maze becomes a rather fabulous wedding venue!

You can read more about visiting York Maze here:

York Maze – 10 reasons why it’s AMAZING – We’re going on an adventure

16. Take afternoon tea in Betty’s

If you’re looking for a great place to have afternoon tea, then you won’t go far wrong with Betty’s tea rooms in St Helen’s Square. I don’t think I actually had afternoon tea at Betty’s till I was a “proper grown up” and had moved away. As a local resident I used to look at the huge queue snaking out of the door and around the building and wonder what all the fuss was about. Of course, when you live down the road you always think, “Pah, I’m not joining that queue, I’ll just go another day” – and that “other day” never comes does it! Betty’s do the most amazing hot chocolate and a favourite take away treat is a Fat Rascal (which is basically a type of scone) and goes by a much ruder name in our family! If you are going to pay a visit to Betty’s, I recommend you ask for a table on the ground floor rather than the Oak Room. (You’ll also find York Mansion House a short walk away which offers discounted admission for English Heritage members and is also covered by the York City Pass)

Betty's Hot Chocolate

17. Visit The Shambles

How can I write a post about York without mentioning the iconic Shambles? The Shambles is a very old, very narrow street in York featuring overhanging timber-framed buildings. Historically it would have been a meat market but is now home to several Harry Potter themed shops thanks to it being rumoured to have inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. It’s always very busy but definitely worth a wander down. (At the bottom end, you will also find Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate – probably the shortest street in York, definitely the longest name!

The Shambles - York

Have you been to York recently? Do let me know if I’ve missed any favourites off the list!

If you’re looking for fun things to do outside of the city center, consider Castle Howard, the Yorkshire air museum or a trip out to the North York Moors National Park. You can find more suggestions for days out in Yorkshire here.

For seasonal events in York read these posts next:

Easter events in York

The best places to visit Father Christmas in the York area

Things to do with the kids in York this Christmas

The best places to go pumpkin picking in York

Halloween days out in York

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Photo credits – Thanks to www.vistYork.org for the following images: York Minster | Horse & Cart | City walls in spring | Castle Museum | Kirkgate | Devil | Petergate | The Shambles | Museum Gardens | National Railway Museum

Author

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  • Colette Burgess

    Colette Burgess is an experienced primary school teacher and has lived in Manchester for most of her adult life. She is married to Dave and they have three children aged 10, 12, and 14.
    Colette has been writing about days out and adventures in Manchester and beyond including day trips and short breaks in the UK and holidays abroad since 2012.
    Colette and her family love festivals, camping and generally being outside.

5 thoughts on “Seventeen things to do in York”

  1. Thank you so much for sharing this over on Facebook today! Perfect timing as we’re heading towards York next week. Husband wants to visit the Castle and I want to visit the National Railway Museum but it’s fab to know about all the other stuff to do. I must admit, I would LOVE to do the Ghost Tour but alas kiddos are too young at the moment.

    Reply
  2. DIG! is excellent too. We’ve been twice and the kids are asking to go back. It’s indoors so good for a rainy day.

    Reply
  3. I LOVE York and have spent many a happy weekend there as my dearest and oldest friend lives there. But some of these fabulous activities are new to me! Will be trying them out on my next visit, when it’s safe to do so.

    Reply
    • It’s definitely one of my favourite places! Glad you found the post useful – hope you get to visit sooner rather than later x

      Reply

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