Top places to visit in York

• York Minster

  church · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · entry £13 (≈ ₹1,640)

  One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe. The Great East Window contains the world's largest expanse of medieval stained glass. Climbing the Central Tower gives the best York panorama.

• National Railway Museum

  Museum · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · free entry

  The world's largest railway museum is entirely free. Mallard (the fastest steam locomotive ever built), royal carriages, and the shinkansen bullet train are among its extraordinary exhibits.

• The Shambles

  Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  England's best-preserved medieval street, with overhanging timber-framed buildings dating to the 14th century. Once a butchers' row, today it's a charming mix of independent shops, cafés, and chocolate sellers.

• York City Walls

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Britain's most complete circuit of medieval walls (3.4 km), dating from Roman times and expanded by the Vikings and Normans. The free walk along the bar walls gives superb views of the Minster and city rooftops.

• Jorvik Viking Centre

  Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry £14 (≈ ₹1,800)

  Built directly over the 1970s archaeological dig that uncovered the most complete Viking settlement ever found. A time-car ride transports you through reconstructed 10th-century Jorvik, complete with authentic smells.

• York Christmas Market

  christmas-market · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The York Christmas Market (St Nicholas Fair) — the magical festive market in the spectacular Parliament Street, with the wooden chalets, the famous Yorkshire produce, the Minster backdrop, and the iconic Yorkshire winter.

• York Cathedral Quarter

  cathedral-quarter · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A walking tour of the York Minster Quarter — the spectacular cobbled streets surrounding York Minster, with the historic medieval houses, the Treasurer's House, the Roman Bath remains, and the iconic medieval heritage.

• York Walking Walls Full

  medieval-walls · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The complete York City Walls walk — the spectacular 3.4km walk on the most complete medieval city walls in England, with the historic bars (gates), the panoramic views, and the iconic Yorkshire heritage.

• York Clifford's Tower

  medieval-keep · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Clifford's Tower — the spectacular 13th-century motte-and-bailey castle keep, the site of the 1190 Jewish massacre, with the panoramic views over York, and the rich medieval heritage.

• York Ghost Walking Tour

  ghost-tour · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The York Ghost Walk — the spectacular evening guided tour through York's narrow medieval streets (England's most haunted city), with the historic ghost stories, the medieval atmosphere, and the iconic experience.

• York Castle Howard Day

  baroque-palace · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A day trip from York to Castle Howard — the spectacular 18th-century Baroque palace (filming location for Brideshead Revisited), with the magnificent gardens, the lake, and the iconic British country house experience.

• York Castle Museum

  social-history · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The York Castle Museum — the spectacular social history museum in the historic 18th-century debtors' prison, with the recreated Victorian street, the immersive period rooms, and the rich British social history.

Things to do

• York Dungeon Activity · 1.3 h · from GBP 17 per person

Where to stay in York

• City Centre about GBP 145 per night

  Cambridge city centre puts you within cycling or walking distance of all 31 colleges. Limited hotel options — book well ahead.

Hotels

• The Grand Hotel & Spa York 5-star · GBP 200 to GBP 700 per night
• Eastons Bed and Breakfast York 4-star · GBP 95 to GBP 180 per night
• Crook Lodge Bed and Breakfast 3-star · GBP 75 to GBP 150 per night
• The Lawrance York 5-star · GBP 180 to GBP 380 per night
• Middlethorpe Hall and Spa 5-star · GBP 280 to GBP 520 per night
• Grays Court Hotel 5-star · GBP 280 to GBP 500 per night

Where to eat

• Betty's Café Tea Rooms York British, Afternoon Tea, Café · about GBP 35 per person
• The Lamb & Lion Inn British, Pub Food, Yorkshire · about GBP 32 per person
• Star Inn The City York Modern British, Yorkshire · about GBP 70 per person
• The Botanist York British, Brasserie · about GBP 32 per person
• The York Roast Co British · about GBP 10 per person
• Ye Olde Starre Inne British, Pub · about GBP 18 per person
• Nandos York Portuguese, Chicken · about GBP 16 per person
• Akbars York Indian, Pakistani · about GBP 20 per person

Getting to York

Nearest airport: Leeds (LBA), about 39 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

Getting around

• Bus
• Walking

More in United Kingdom

• London
• Edinburgh
• Bath
• Oxford
• Cambridge
• Manchester

Frequently asked questions about York

What are the top-rated places to visit in York?

The highest-rated places in our York guide are York Minster, National Railway Museum, York City Walls, York Cathedral Quarter, York Walking Walls Full.

Where should I stay in York?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in York: City Centre.

How do I get around York?

Ways to get around York covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.

Which airport is nearest to York?

The nearest airport to York has the code LBA.