Discover the best things to do in York, England with this detailed guide of the city's top tourist attractions. Charming, walkable, and packed with history, York is sure to win your heart — you'll be glad you included it on your itinerary.

York surprised me in the best way possible. I can now say with confidence that everyone should make a point to visit. Preferably sooner rather than later, because if you’re like me, you'll want to return.

It took me several trips to England to add York to my itinerary. I didn’t know anyone who had been nor did I know much about the city.

2019 was the year I finally made it to York. Located between London and Edinburgh, York made for a convenient stop since I was traveling between those cities anyway.

I enjoyed this tiny city so much, I've since returned three times. York has charm — a stunning little section of medieval streets called The Shambles, a wonderful restaurant and cafe scene, good shopping, a reputation for being the most haunted city in England, and a very interesting Viking past.

Add York to your next England itinerary and you’ll be glad you did.

There are enough York tourist attractions to fill a very busy day or a leisurely 2-day itinerary. For those with extra time, it makes for a great place to slow down and use as a base to explore the Yorkshire countryside.

This map shows the top places to visit in York, England. Click the icon in the top-left corner to view a list of each pinned location. Select the top-right button to enlarge the map (it will automatically save it to YOUR Google Maps). To access this map once saved, open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), tap the "You" icon at the bottom, scroll to the bottom, and select "Maps". Your newly saved map should be listed at the top.

• Blue - 10 BEST things to do in York, England
• Red - restaurant, coffee, and pub recommendations

How many days in York are ideal?

Before we dive into what to do in York, let's discuss how many days in York are ideal. 

I personally am over the days of rushed travel. It was great in my 20s, but I now prefer to give each place justice and would rather have too much time in a city than too little.

2 nights in York is the minimum amount of time I recommend. This ensures you have two full days of sightseeing — the afternoon to explore on arrival day, the entire next day to sightsee, and then the morning (possibly afternoon) to enjoy the city the day you leave.

If you're tight on time, one day is doable. It'll feel a little rushed, but you can still work through everything on this list.

Some guidebooks and websites recommend doing York as a "stopover" between London and Edinburgh. In reality, this would be extremely rushed. It also means you will only experience the most crowded time (the afternoon) in York. My favorite times in York are the morning and evening when the day trippers are gone.

In summary, spend a minimum of 1 night in York. 2 nights in York are best if your schedule allows.

1. The Shambles

One of the best things to do in York, England for photographers (and Harry Potter fans)

The Shambles, a tiny street in the center of York, is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of York.

The Shambles was actually the butcher quarter in the 16th century. Meat was on display for customers to peruse — which made for quite a nasty street. All the trash, meat drippings, and sewage were dumped on this street and slowly trickled down to a pond of disgust at the end of the street. Thankfully, The Shambles you see today is quite different.

What it lacks in size, it makes up for in character. The narrow cobblestoned street is lined with leaning Tudor-style buildings with a distinct medieval charm. If you’re looking for that Instagram shot, this is your spot.

Go early in the morning and late at night when you have a good chance of having the entire street to yourself. Some of my favorite moments in York were walking up and down The Shambles sans day trippers. 

SEE ALSO:

10 DAY UK ITINERARY - LONDON, EDINBURGH, YORK

4 DAY LONDON ITINERARY WITH PDF DOWNLOAD

The Shambles also makes my list of top York attractions because it has an awesome Harry Potter shop.

I stepped through the doors of The Shop That Must Not Be Named and immediately thought, “finally, a Harry Potter shop done properly”. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this is a must. The attention to detail in this store makes for a fun visit, even if you don’t buy anything.

Another famous shop is The York Ghost Merchants. They sell one thing — little ghost figurines. The line was out the door the last time I visited

2. Ghost Walk

Did you know York is officially the most haunted city in England — and considered by many to be the most haunted city in the world?

It doesn’t surprise me, knowing the history of York. York was a Roman provincial capital, a Viking trading center, the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom, and the northern capital of Henry VIII’s Anglican church.

With its long history, it is said that over 500,000 people are buried in the historic core — which is quite substantial given how small the walled inner city is. There are 140 recorded ghosts and over 500 recorded hauntings. If that doesn’t put a ghost tour at the top of your list of what to do in York, England, I don’t know what will.

If you want to go for a ghost hunt, this is the place to do it. Join a walking tour to learn some of the stories. I really enjoyed Shadows of York as there were no lame “jumper outers” to scare people and the guide included information on York's history. The price is right at $18.

Check out Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York -Best Tour Award Europe for a more theatrical tour or this private ghost tour if you want something tailored to your interests.

If you’re really into ghosts, I suggest researching the haunted sites of the city before you visit, as there are too many to fit into one tour. Visit those sights during the day to get acquainted and then come back at night, with a friend of course, and take your time wandering and taking pictures with your camera to see if you record anything unusual. 

3. York Minster

One of the most famous York tourist attractions

The York Minster is one of the most iconic York tourist attractions. The York Minster you see today was built around 1080 and took 400 years to complete. It’s a breathtaking masterpiece and the largest Gothic church north of the Alps. Tickets are £20 for entrance to the cathedral, Undercroft Museum, and a free guided tour.

I highly recommend upping to the £26 ticket that includes the tower climb. You’ll climb a total of 275 steps and be rewarded with views overlooking the city of York and the green countryside.

Visit at 5:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 4:00 pm on Sundays to attend one of the free Evensong services (where the service is sung by the choir). 

Walk down Precentor’s Court road for a hidden view of York Minster without a million tourists. It’s a very short street and can also be found right behind “The Hole in the Wall” bar. 

SEE ALSO:

BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN YORK, UK | TOP 5

A HARRY POTTER EDINBURGH GUIDE – 10 HARRY POTTER SITES

RAINY LONDON – THINGS TO DO IN LONDON IN THE RAIN

4. Walk the Walls

One of the best things to do in York, England for Photographers

One of the most popular things to do in York is to walk the city walls. They are actually the longest medieval walls in England, being just over 2 miles in length.

You’ll be rewarded with elevated views of the city below. The easiest entrance is at Bootham Bar (Bootham Bar [Gateway] in Google Maps). 

Entrance is free and open from around 8:00 am until dusk. Walk counterclockwise towards and behind York Minster until you reach the Monk Bar gateway. This is the most scenic stretch. Plan on 2 hours if you want to walk the entire stretch of the city walls at a leisurely pace. 

5. Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms

One of the best things to do in York, England for foodies

Many say that no visit to York is complete without taking tea at Bettys. I highly recommend booking your afternoon tea in advance as the line is often out the door.

Request a seat by the window as it’s fun to watch the foot traffic outside.

If you don’t want to pay £45 for the bookable tea, try the cream tea (tea, scones, clotted cream, and jam) for £14. The scones with clotted cream and jam are my favorite anyway!

6. Walking Tour

Between the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, this city has a lot of history to offer and is best learned on a walking tour.

Join one of the free walking tours led by volunteer guides. These guides love telling visitors about their city. Tours last about 2 hours and depart at 10:30 am and 1:15 pm every day with an additional time slot at 6:15 pm June through August. Tour sizes are limited, so I recommend booking in advance.

Additional popular tours:

• The Best of York on Foot in a Small Group
• Guided Bike Tour in York
• The Story of York with YorkTour

7. Museums: National Railway Museum, York Castle Museum, and Jorvik Viking Center

York has several unique museums that go beyond art and artifacts. If you have kids in tow, these museums make for a great visit, especially the National Railway Museum, which has some great kids' programs and a treasure hunt app to make the visit family-focused. 

Which museum you visit depends on your interests. I have a Viking heritage, so my top pick was the Jorvik Viking Center. Yes, it’s a bit Disneyland-esque. The main part of the museum entails getting on an actual “ride” that slowly takes you through what life looked like back in the Viking days. The ride is complete with moving figures and smells.

The museum was built around artifacts and information uncovered during archaeological digs on the very same site, using them to recreate the Viking village that once stood there. The exhibit that follows makes for an interesting stop — the sheer number of items recovered paints a vivid picture of everyday Viking life.

Take a seat and listen if anyone is giving a talk in the exhibit area. The information shared is worthwhile.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the world and very well done. You can climb on board historic carriages, learn how the railway system shaped our world today, and experience the working life of a station.

Book your free ticket in advance. You can add a donation during the checkout process (£5 is suggested).

If you love learning about how people lived back in the day, the York Castle Museum is for you. The centerpiece of the museum is Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street complete with cobblestones and shops that actually existed in Victorian York.

Costumed guides are available to help bring the history to life. Interesting exhibits include Shaping the Body, which charts fashion, food, and diet over the past 400 years; Toy Stories, which displays popular toys from the last 150 years; and the York Castle Prison, which brings to life what it was like to be a prisoner in the 18th century.

8. St. Mary’s Abbey Ruins

One of the best York tourist attractions for a sunny day

The ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey are one of the top York tourist attractions to enjoy when the weather is nice. The grounds around the ruins are a popular spot for locals and tourists to picnic and enjoy some fresh air. 

The Abbey was first built in 1088 and was the largest and richest Benedictine establishment in northern England. It was closed and destroyed during Henry VIII’s reformation of the church.

As you look at the ruins, imagine how breathtaking this city was when York Minster and St. Mary’s Abbey mirrored each other. 

9. Ouse River

The Ouse River is a perfect escape from the city for a jog or bike ride. It’s very safe as there is a steady stream of active locals and tourists. You might even see a rowing team or two glide by. 

As you take in the views, consider that this very river is one of the main reasons the Romans chose to found York here in the first place.

A good place to start is by SOPHiE cafe, next to Skeldergate Bridge, and then continue north along the river.

I highly recommend returning to SOPHiE for a glass of wine, coffee, or a cocktail. It’s an adorable spot with a great patio overlooking the river; perfect at dusk so you can watch the sky change colors at sunset. 

10. Clifford’s Tower

Last but not least on the list of York tourist attractions is Clifford’s Tower. You’ll immediately recognize this sight as it’s featured in many photos of York, which makes the tower worth a quick stop.

The original structure on the mound was a wooden Norman building, constructed in 1068 by William the Conqueror. The stone building you see today is the final version that was built by Henry III and is all that’s left of York’s castle.

Clifford’s Tower is also the site of the mass suicide of 150 Jews in 1190 and where Henry VIII hanged Robert Aske for his faith. Unsurprisingly, this is supposedly one of York's haunted sights, given its gruesome history.

Climb the steps and take a peek inside, but don’t bother paying the £9 entrance fee; it’s not worth it. 

Bonus: Where to eat in York, England

• The York Roast Co. - you can't leave York without trying the infamous York Pudding. This spot is famous for the YorkyPud™ Wrap.
• Partisan - great brunch/lunch spot with a local vibe.
• Brew & Brownie - great brunch, coffee, and lunch spot. They have the BEST pancakes.
• Gatehouse Coffee - my favorite coffee shop in York.
• The Blue Barbakan - fantastic Polish restaurant.
• House Of The Trembling Madness - medieval bar that's perfect for drinks and snack boards.
• The Old White Swan - traditional pub fare including fish and chips, meat pies, bangers and mash, etc. 
• The Grand, York - a wonderful spot for afternoon tea.

In Summary

I hope this list of the best things to do in York helps with your planning. It's a fantastic addition to any UK itinerary — its small, walkable size and charming atmosphere make for a welcome break after the hustle of big cities like London.

York is easy to add on to an England/Scotland itinerary as it's two hours by train from London and two and a half from Edinburgh, making it a natural stopping point if you're traveling between the two.

At a minimum, give yourself one night and a full day here, though two nights would be ideal.

SHARE THE LOVE AND SAVE THIS POST ON PINTEREST! 

Best Things to Do in York, England | TOP 10 Tourist Attractions

See my other United Kingdom posts!

Come back after your trip! Share your favorite York tourist attractions in the comments below.