Things to do in York: 13 attractions for your York bucket list

Last Updated on 12/03/2023

York is the county city of Yorkshire, first founded by the Romans in 71 AD. With such a long and fascinating history, you’ll find a lot to explore! Here is a list of the top 13 things to do in York, so you can make the most of your visit.

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13 Things to do in York

Here are the top 13 things to do in York that you need on your itinerary. If you want to visit them all, you’ll need about 3 days, and even then fitting them all in might be a squeeze! But if you’ve just got one day in York, pick your favourites and plan your perfect York adventure!

I’ve included the entry cost and an indication of the time required to visit each attraction. Although you can spend more or less time at each attraction as you wish, you can use it as a guide when planning your visit.

Why visit York?

York is one of my favourite cities to visit. It is one of those destinations that you can visit again and again, and still discover new things with each visit.

York’s long and turbulent history makes it a fascinating place to learn about the past and how it has formed the York that we know today. So get ready to discover my favourite York sites and start planning your own York itinerary!

Climb Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s Tower is an imposing tower perched on a mound, watching guard over the city. It is almost all that remains of York Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror in 1068.

English Heritage maintains the remains of the tower. You can pay to enter the remains to read information boards on the building’s history. The fee is absolutely worth the stunning panoramic views of the city that you get from walking around the top of the tower.

A word of warning though, a walk around the top of the tower has a sheer drop on either side but there are handrails and low walls in place. Although I never felt unsafe when at the top of the tower, it is windy and exposed so is such to be an exhilarating experience!

Entry cost: £6.50* adult (including donation) £3.90* child (5-17yrs including donation) or free for English Heritage members. Family tickets are available.

Time required: approx 1 hour

Talk to a Viking at Jorvik Viking Centre

The Jorvik Viking Centre celebrates York’s proud Viking history. Following an archaeological dig in 1972, over 40,000 unusually well-preserved Viking artifacts were unearthed. They give a uniquely detailed insight into the life of these people who inhabited York between 866-954 AD.

At the Jorvik Viking Centre, you can see what the original archaeological site would have looked like in the exact location the discoveries were made. You can also take a ride around York at the time of the Vikings. As you sail through the city, you will observe life-like animated mannequins as they go about their daily life to get a flavour of what it meant to be a Viking.

There is also a room showcasing the artifacts that were discovered at the dig, giving you a real insight into Viking York.

My favourite thing about Jorvik is the ride through Viking York. This 20-minute animate ride wouldn’t appear out of place at Disney World. It is a really engaging way to learn about York’s Viking history, no matter what your age!

Entry fee: £12.50* adult, £8.50* child (5-16). The ticket allows unlimited visits in 12 months. Family tickets available.

Time required: approx 1 hour

Sample sweet treats at York’s Chocolate Story

The city of York has a sweet side that is well worth exploring. York is the home of names such as Rowntrees (think Kit Kat, Aero, Fruit Pastilles, Smarties) and Terry’s of York, now most famously known for their chocolate oranges. The city revels in its sweet history, and York’s Chocolate Story is a great place to learn about it.

This interactive museum takes you through the history of chocolate, and how it made its journey to York. It explains how the city established itself as the home of chocolate when the surrounding cities relied on wool, cotton, and steel.

There are also demonstrations on the chocolate-making process. You’ll even get to try your hand at making your own sweet treats to take away with you!

I really love the variety in the experience at York’s chocolate story. From the immersive stroll through the rainforests of Central America, to trying your hand at chocolate decorating. You become really engrossed in following the journey chocolate took to wind up in the streets of York today.

Entry cost: £14.50* adult, £12.00* child (4-15), family tickets available.

Time required: approx 1 hour

Shop in The Shambles

The Shambles is a postcard-ready street with overhanging timber-framed buildings, dating back as far as the fourteenth century. This iconic street where the buildings on opposite sides almost touch is one of the most recognizable spots in York.

Today, it is the ideal place to do a bit of souvenir shopping to commemorate your visit. The Shambles has a unique collection of independent stores, selling wares such as traditional English sweets, Christmas decorations, and York glass, There is even a shop where you can pick up a ghost!

I could spend hours roaming the Shambles and exploring the unique independent stores! But apparently so can everyone else! If you want to enjoy uninterrupted views of the street, you’ll need to get up early! As soon as the shops open this pretty street becomes a hive of tourist activity.

Entry fee: free!

Time required: approx 1 hour

Walk the City Walls

York has been a city defended by walls as far back as Roman times. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain. York has more miles of intact Medieval wall than any other city in England. 

Walking along the walls is a great way to see the city. You can take in the stunning views as you trace the footsteps of York dwellers from over 1600 years ago!

A walk along the walls should absolutely be on your York bucket list. Whether you tackle the whole route, or just a small section, visiting the York City Walls should be on every York itinerary!

Entry fee: free!

Time required: the whole route will take approximately 2 hours although you can visit single sections in a shorter time.

Hunt ghouls on a Ghost Walk

In 2003, York was named the most haunted city in the world. It is unsurprising that there are rumors of spirits in a city that has such a long history. Today, ghost walks are a regular attraction in York, and you can find a number of them on offer.

Ghost walks usually take place in an evening, and your tour guide will introduce you to some of York’s darker history. You’ll hear tales of some of the city’s unfortunate souls who have never left, centuries after their lifetime. A popular stop on most tours is The Golden Fleece, York’s most haunted pub, who is home to 5 resident ghosts.

Although they venture into York’s dark side, many of the tour guides are relatively light-hearted. The tours are usually entertaining, but if you’re visiting with a child, be sure to check the age guidance to ensure the content is suitable.

Entry fee: varies from walk to walk, but usually between £7-10.00* per adult or £5-7.00* per child.

Time required: approx 90 minutes

Take Afternoon Tea at Betty’s

The first Betty’s tea room was founded by Swiss-born baker and confectioner, Fritz Bützer, which opened in Harrogate in July 1919. There are 6 establishments in the Betty’s estate, all based in Yorkshire, including York’s tea rooms in St Helens Square. The York tea rooms first opened in 1936 and its beautiful interiors were inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner.

The menu features a range of cooked breakfasts and main meals, with a unique mix of continental classics and British favourites. If you want an authentic taste of Betty’s though, no trip to York is complete without sampling their traditional afternoon tea.

Betty’s is a delicious and popular spot when visiting York. During peak hours on busy weekends, you can expect to queue for a spot! If you don’t have time to wait though, you can pick up a snack from the nearby store at 46 Stonegate. You can even have treats delivered to your door from their online store!

Cost: ideally budget approximately £20* per person for lunch and a drink.

Time required: approx 1-2hrs but be prepared to queue for entry on most days as it gets busy!

Visit the Yorkshire Museum

The Yorkshire Museum tells York’s history from prehistory to the city’s medieval splendor. Here, you have the unique opportunity to walk on a genuine Roman mosaic floor. You can also kneel at St William’s shrine and learn about the monsters of the deep that swam through Yorkshire when it was beneath the sea.

Entry fee: Adult £8.00*, Child £5.60*

Time required: approx 1-2 hrs

Explore the city’s dark side at York Dungeon

Despite York’s pretty exterior that we see today, it is a city with a dark history. York Dungeon takes you on a journey through 2000 years of the city. Through the use of live actors, immersive sets and all of your senses, it will showcase stories the city would rather forget.

You can experience what life would have been like for visitors at York Castle Prison, the torture chamber and the plague house. You will even meet some of York’s famous faces. Guy Fawkes who notoriously attempted to blow up the houses of parliament, and Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman.

Entry fee: From £15.95* per adult and £12.75* per child when booked online in advance. From £19.95* per adult booked on the day.

Time required: approx 90 mins

Discover the history of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

This beautiful timber-framed building can be found right in the center of York. It was constructed by a fraternity of York citizens to provide a base for charity, worship, and business. Today, it is a fascinating museum where you can learn more about the Merchant Adventurers and their role in York’s history.

The museum offers an insightful audio tour, which guides you around the building. You’ll see stunning rooms such as the undercroft, chapel, and great hall. As if the rooms weren’t incentive enough, they each hold a collection of fascinating artifacts that have been collected by the Merchant Adventurers over the last 6 centuries!

Entry fee: £6.50* adults, £5.50* students and over 65s, under 16s free*

Time required: approx 1 hr

Walk the Victorian Street at York Castle Museum

York Castle Museum is the place where you can see 400 years of York’s history under one roof. You can experience everything from recreated Jacobean dining rooms and life-sized Victorian streets to life on the front line in the First World War and the swinging Sixties. The museum is famous for its collections of costume, textiles, military and social history.

Entry fee: £10.90* adults, £4.00* children

Time required: approx 2-3 hrs

See the stained glass at York Minster

In 1215 Walter de Gray was made archbishop of York and ordered the construction of a Gothic cathedral to compare to Canterbury. Building because in 1220, and the structure was declared complete and consecrated in 1472. York Minster has seen numerous restorations during its lifetime, but it remains true to the awe-inspiring Gothic roots.

The minster’s architecture is stunning, but the real gem in the building and its crowning glory are the breath-taking stained glass windows. Some of the stained glass in York Minster dates back to as far as the 12th century. In total, the minster has a spectacular 128 colorful windows to awe you.

Entry fee: £12.00* for adults, £9* for students, free for children under 16. Free for York residents with proof of address. Tickets will get you unlimited access for 12 months. Must be booked in advance at YorkMinster.org

Time required: approx 1 hour

Climb aboard at the National Railway Museum

Whether you’re a train enthusiast or not, you cannot help but feel inspired by the ingenuity of rail travel at the National Railway Museum. This free to enter museum houses the national collection of railway paraphernalia, with approximately 100 vehicles on display at York at any one time.

This creatively displayed museum lets you get up close to the trains, interact with some, and ride aboard others. As well, you can watch engineers restoring some of these impressive engines in the workshop, and learn about the impact that rail travel has had around the world.

Entry fee: free!

Time required: at least 2 hours but could easily fill half a day

Top Things To Do In York

So, if you’re ready to explore York for yourself, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it so you can revisit this guide!

And if you want more York inspiration ahead of your visit, download your free York Quick Start Planning Guide for a list of the top 10 attractions in York, plus a guide to where to stay, when to visit and more!

Plus, you’ll get four bonus travel planning printables you can use when it comes to planning and packing for any trip!

Until our next adventure,

*entry fees updated as of February 2021

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