Historic places in York

76 historic buildings, sites and memorials in York.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 76.

SeeHistoric site
Clifford's Tower
In the 11th century, the Normans built a castle here to keep the Vikings at bay and subdue the local population following their conquest of England. The Vikings being Vikings, they promptly smashed it, so the Normans built bigger and better - the tower you see today was the castle's keep. The tower was the scene of the infamous massacre of York's Jews in 1190. In 1684, its interior was wrecked by an explosion, but the hollow tower is now the oldest remnant of the castle. The rest fell into disrepair, before being re-built as a gaol, and in modern times housing the Castle Museum. Access is by very steep steps up the hillock; it's a bit like climbing a pyramid. After closure, you can still climb to the front door and look back over the square - this is especially atmospheric after dark.
Daily 10AM-6PM (last entry 5:50PM)Adult £9.54, child £4.72, concession £8.75, English Heritage members free
SeePublic art
York Minster
Cathedral of St Peter in York
Seat of the Archbishop of York and the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, York Minster dominates the skyline and dates back to the 8th century at least. The inside of the cathedral has beautiful stained glass and several interesting and peculiar features – look for the modern statues signalling "Christ is here" in semaphore and the dragon hanging from near the ceiling. The Undercroft Museum, beneath the Minster, displays centuries worth of archaeological findings in an interactive display. Then, climb the 275 steps to the top of the Minster's Central Tower to experience panoramic views from York's highest spot (ages 8+ only). The nightly Evensong worship has haunting acoustics, and is the only way of accessing the cathedral on Sunday late afternoons. On the south side of the Minster outside, don't miss the, who was in 306 AD proclaimed emperor of Rome in York. At the far end of the plaza from this is a which was unearthed beneath the Minster and reerected in 1971 to mark the 1,900th anniversary of the city's founding. Once you've seen all this, relax in the – a simple expanse of grass and trees that affords views of the north side of the Minster. In spring or summer, you may catch a glimpse of nesting peregrine falcons.
Minster visits: Mon-Sat 9AM-4:30PM, Sun 12:30PM-3PM; Museum: Mon-Sat 10AM-4:30PM, Sun 1PM-3:15PM; Worship: 4 or more services daily 7:30AM-6PMAdult £11.50, senior £10.50, student with ID £9, child under 17 free. Access to Minster, museum and guided tour included; £5 extra for tower. Worship, park and plaza free. York Pass accepted · Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
Yorkshire Museum
Interesting, and quite good for curious children. Features permanent displays of Roman and medieval riches, including the Vale of York Hoard of Viking treasure. There are also natural history sections dedicated to astronomy, biology and geology. A long-term exhibition exploring Yorkshire's Jurassic World uses VR technology and up-to-date research to engage you in the county's prehistoric past.
Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMAdult £10, student + 65+ £9, child £6 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
York Castle Museum
Outstanding museum of everyday life with exhibits to appeal to all ages. Highlights are Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street, and Half Moon Court, an Edwardian street, exhibitions of York's confectionery industry, plus costumes and toys through the ages. The site includes a former prison, in which you can experience the cells, and imagine what it was like in 1739 when infamous highwayman Dick Turpin was awaiting his execution by hanging. There are numerous special exhibitions and events throughout the year.
Mon 11Am-5PM, Tue-Sun 10AM-5PMAdult £18, student & 65+ £16.20, child £10.80 · Limited wheelchair access
BuySweet shop
Shambles
A medieval shopping street with overhanging timber-framed buildings, which was once a street of butchers. This is easily the most touristy street in York and is mostly devoted to eateries and gift shops. The most notable of the latter are a loose-leaf tea emporium, a popular artisan bakery, a sweet little chinaware shop and a crowded store dedicated to selling Harry Potter memorabilia.
Limited wheelchair access
SeeAttraction
York Museum Gardens
This extensive botanical collection is a great place for a picnic. Perambulate through a variety of borders (butterfly-friendly, oriental, prairie), not missing out the fern garden and rockery. Daffodils and bluebells abound in spring. The gardens are not just for nature lovers, however, as they also contain much significant archaeology: the third century Roman fortification known as the, which only saw action 14 centuries later during the English Civil War; the remains of, where the poor and sick of medieval York were cared for physically and spiritually; the ruins of the Benedictine, which date from 1088 and once rivalled the Minster for grandeur. The small, which was constructed in 1832/33 and is still in working condition, is also located in the gardens. It's open most days 11:30AM-2:30PM, plus some winter evenings for public astronomy events.
Daily 10:30AM-6PM. Free tours every Sun 1PMFree. Wheelchair accessible · Wheelchair accessible
Do
City walls walk
Enjoy the great views, and try to imagine yourself in the role of city watch keeping a lookout for approaching enemy armies. The walls are medieval, built on Roman foundations, though the Station Road bridges are modern. The total walk is around 2 mi: if short on time or energy, the best section is along the western perimeter from to, close to the Minster. There never was a wall to the north-east, as the swamps along the River Foss were sufficient defence, so this is the least interesting section, where you have to walk along busy Foss Islands Road. No dogs, except guide dogs, are allowed on the walls. You can download a map and guide of the walls courtesy of the Friends of York Walls here.
Daily 8AM-duskFree, except the Micklegate Bar, and Monk Bar towers, which are small museums
SeeHistoric site
King's Manor
Now the very apt home for the University of York's Archaeology Department, this was a royal headquarters during the Tudor and Stuart dynasties (16th and 17th centuries). As this is a working academic building, you may have to content yourself with admiring the Grade I listed architecture from the outside, unless you can pass as a scholar that is! Respect the students and staff, or you'll ruin it for future visitors.
Mon-Fri 8AM-6PMFree
SeeMuseum
Barley Hall
Reconstruction of a medieval townhouse. Built in the 14th century by the monks of Nostell Priory in Wakefield, but serially chopped, changed and neglected over the centuries. By 1970 it was a plumber's storeroom, on the brink of demolition. It's now been rebuilt to how it was in the 15th century, discarding later additions. Its detractors say this was more like a retro-fit and prettification of history, but it's difficult to see how anything more "authentic" could have been made viable, and it can be accurately described as a large piece of experimental archaeology carried out by experts.
Daily 10AM-3PM/4PMAdult £6.50, child 5-16 years £3.50, concession £5. Combo ticket with Jorvik: adult £15, child £10, concession £12. York Pass accepted
SeeHistoric site
Cold War Bunker
From the 1960s to the 1990s, behind blast-proof doors, sat volunteers of the Royal Observer Corps, waiting to log nuclear bomb explosions in the region and monitor radioactive fallout. Fortunately they had a quiet few decades at the office. It is now English Heritage's most modern property, and also one of its spookiest. Visit only by guided tour, which takes an hour and includes a film and thorough radiation decontamination.
Apr-Oct: Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM, Nov-Mar Sat Sun 10AM-5PM (last entry 4PM)from; Adult £11.11, concession £10.33, child £5.51. EH member free · Limited wheelchair access
SeeMuseum
York Army Museum
Contact via Facebook and X. The museum brings together the collections of one of the Army's oldest cavalry regiments - the Royal Dragoon Guards, dating from 1685, with one of its newest infantry regiments - the Yorkshire Regiment, which was only formed in 2006. Charting the relationship between Yorkshire and the Army going back centuries, the collections span medals, standards, uniforms, firearms, swords and soldiers' personal effects, with interactive exhibits and many tales of individual courage and hardships to bring the history to life.
Tue-Sat 10AM-4PMAdult £5, child aged 5-16 years £2.50, under 5 years free, concession £4, service personnel 50% off applicable ticket. York Pass accepted · Wheelchair accessible
DoFood tour
York's Chocolate Story
Email via online contact form. A guided tour telling you all about York's historic role in the confectionery industry. Find out about the origins of chocolate and the city's big name brands, hear testimonies of the people employed by local factories, watch chocolate-making demos and taste some of the good stuff yourself. As a bonus, you can make your own chocolate lolly (full chocolatier workshops can be arranged upon appointment). There is a café and chocolate shop at the end of the visit.
Daily 10AM-4PM (start time of last tour)Adult £15, child 4-15 years £12.50, under 4 years free · Wheelchair accessible
DoLive music venue
National Centre for Early Music
Early music is European music from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods, although the centre has broadened its study to encompass all pre-modern music from cultures around the world. In addition to its two festivals (see below), the NCEM has an extremely lively and diverse annual programme of concerts, seminars and workshops, mostly held at its base in a 12th-century deconsecrated church.
Box office Mon-Fri 9AM-5PMPrices vary per concert; under 35s and full time students of any age receive very generous discounts
SeeAttraction
Goddards House
The family home of Noel Goddard Terry, of the Terry's chocolate company. Built in 1927 in Arts & Crafts style, but mostly furnished in Georgian, parts of the house are open to the public to offer glimpses of what the Terrys' family life would have been like, but some of the building is a regional office of the National Trust. On the other hand, the typically English gardens can be visited in their entirety, and you can hunt down birds, bees and butterflies like a true twenties gent.
see websiteAdult £9, child £4.50, NT member free
SeeHistoric site
York Mansion House
The grand official residence of the Lord Mayor of York, dating from 1732, holds an unparalleled collection of civic gold and silver, plus extensive items of furniture, ceramics, glassware and art. Gastronomes will be interested in the daily cooking demonstrations in the authentically-restored 18th-century kitchen.
Wed-Sun, bank holidays 10:30AM-5PM, (last admission 4PM)Adult £7, concession £5.5, child £3.50.
SeeMuseum
Micklegate Bar
Micklegate Bar was first recorded in the 12th century, but reuses stone from an earlier Roman gate. It has long been the official entrance to the city of York for royalty, and welcomed Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. The indoor exhibition closed in 2025, but you can still view the very impressive exterior.
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowFree
SeeAttraction
Guildhall
Built in the 15th century as a meeting hall for the guilds of York, the Guildhall is now also home to the city council chamber. Guilds are associations of artisans and merchants of a particular industry akin to something between a professional association, a trade union and a monopolistic cartel. In the middle ages, these guilds had a dominant role in the economies of every English city. However, the Guildhall you see today is a faithful replica, as the original was mostly destroyed by bombing in 1942. Notice the stained-glass window depicting York's history.
Wheelchair accessible
See
Holy Trinity, Micklegate
Founded prior to 1066, this is the only pre-Reformation monastic building in York that is in use today. The wooden beams supporting the roof are breathtaking, and there is a small interactive exhibition about those medieval monks and their priory, making use of touchscreens and 3D imagery.
Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat Sun 9AM-4PMFree
Do
York Dungeon
Knock-about version of horrible history, suitable for ages 8+. 75-minute tour with storytelling and a very liberal interpretation of historical events that will keep you laughing and screaming. Part of The Dungeons international franchise, run by Merlin Entertainments.
Daily, mostly 10AM-5PM, with periodic late night adult-only eventsWalkup prices: adult/child from £17; online prices: adult from £13, child from £12 with timed entry. York Pass accepted. Merlin Pass holders free · Limited wheelchair access
See
All Saints, North Street
Colourful angels smile cheekily down at you from the ceiling in this 12th century church, which is grade I-listed due to having the finest collection of medieval stained glass windows in the city. The most famous window, dating from around 1410, depicts the Prick of Conscience - a popular Middle English poem.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 10:15AM-6:30PMFree
See
Holy Trinity, Goodramgate
Peaceful and atmospheric grade I-listed 12th century church that you won't find unless you're looking for it. The wooden box pews and stone altar are once-common rarities from an early period in church history.
Wed-Sat 11AM-3PMFree
Do Not mapped
York Mystery Plays
This is "mystery" like the meaning of life, not like a modern whodunnit story. A medieval tradition to showcase stories from the Bible through the medium of colourful, humorous and entertaining plays, performed on floats carried around the city. The performances can be accompanied by traditional bands of musicians called "waits". They don't run every year; the most recent was 2022.
£10–15 per ticketed performance
See
Yorkshire Air Museum
Allied Air Forces Memorial
The former site of RAF Elvington (a WWII bomber command station and base for the Free French Air Force) has been converted into a large open-air museum. In addition to over 60 historic aircraft and vehicles, many original elements of the RAF base - such as the air traffic control tower, hangars and an officers' mess - remain as testament to the sacrifices of airmen and women in all conflict. It also hosts the only Allied Air Forces memorial in Europe. Dogs on leads welcome. On-site NAAFI-style canteen. Information brochures in five European languages available.
Wed-Sun 10AM-4PM (summer until 5PM)Adult £12, child 5-15 years £5, under 5 free, concession £9. York Pass accepted
EatThai restaurant
Phranakhon
One of three restaurants (all in Yorkshire). Thai tapas in a historic, low-ceilinged building. Two or three dishes per person should be about right.
£8-£9 per dish
DrinkCocktail bar
Jalou
Email via online contact form. Geordie glam meets medieval York: lavish and pricey cocktails served to an RnB soundtrack in a grade II-listed Gothic church with an impressive 'neon chandelier' centrepiece.
Sun-Wed 4PM-1AM, Thu-Sat noon-2AM
See
Murton Park
Three attractions in one: The Yorkshire Museum of Farming takes visitors through a typical year on the farm, and charts the industry's development from the 1800s to the 1960s, with farming equipment and lovable animals to meet too. Explore reconstructions of a dairy parlour, blacksmith's forge and veterinary surgery which features equipment from James Herriot's famous clinic in Thirsk. Special focus is on an indoor exhibition about the Women's Land Army, who helped keep Britain fed during two world wars, and paved the way for postwar gender equality. Afterwards, take a walk along the nature trail to discover the rich diversity of wildlife that lives on farmland. The Danelaw Centre for Living History presents a number of recreated rural dwellings from Yorkshire's past, from Iron Age, Saxon/Viking villages and a Roman fort, to a Tudor homestead and wartime farm. As it is used as an outdoor history classroom during term time, access to the centre for the general public is limited to weekends and school holidays, and if you want to make the most of the 'living history' aspects (reenactors, stories from long ago, hands-on activities, weapons training etc), you'll need some children with you. The range of cool stuff for them to do will make you wish you were a kid again. To find exactly which activities are happening on which days see the site's events page. The Derwent Valley Light Railway is the half-mile remnant of a line which once linked York to Selby. Nowadays, you can enjoy unlimited - if admittedly short - diesel-hauled rides from Murton Park's cute little station. And if you're still put out at not being able to join your little Vikings in defending their village from attack, you can console yourself by learning to be a train driver, with a practical lesson from one of the DVLR experts. Once you've learnt the ropes, you can drive your loco the length of the track and back – sorry, kids, you have to be 18 or over.
Farming museum: Easter-October daily 10:30AM-4:30PM. Living history: school holidays daily, same hours. DVLR: Sun, bank holidays, same hoursAdult £11, child/concession £9, includes all living history activities (when available) and unlimited access for one year. Locomotive driving experience (adult only): £10
See
Snickelways
These are the famous medieval (and later) alleys and narrow streets that thread the centre of the city, typically lined with timber frame and brick houses and shops. They are all pedestrianised in the daytime, and indeed most are too narrow for vehicles to use. See Mark W Jones' book A Walk Around the Snickelways of York or its hardback companion The Complete Snickelways of York with their quirky, hand-written descriptions, and follow his suggested route taking in 50 of the snickelways within the city walls. Jones himself coined the term for his books in 1983, as a triple portmanteau of the Yorkshire dialect words snicket and ginnel, and their standard English equivalent alleyway.
Drink
The Biltmore
Housed in a converted historic church, this New York-inspired swish champagne and cocktail bar is relaxed in the week and buzzing at the weekend with the house DJ's music.
Tue-Thu 5PM-midnight, Fr 3PM-at least midnight, Sat Sun noon-at least midnight
Do
The Original Ghost Walk of York
Email via online contact form. No gimmicks, tricks or jumpscares, just experienced storytellers doing what they do best, helped by the atmospheric background of this ancient city and a very real gruesome history to draw from.
Nightly 8PMAdult £6, child/concession £4; no need to book
Do Not mapped
York Chocolate Festival
6-10 Apr 2023
A city-wide celebration of the chocolate industry with a chocolate market, artisan chocolatiers and attractions which share a piece of York's chocolate history.
Do Not mapped
Walking tours: history, culture and ghost walks
Wonderful. There are many walking tours and ghost walks that run throughout the year. The volunteer-led walking tours tend to focus on history and culture, and take place throughout the daytime, while the ghost walks normally start from 6PM onwards and invariably include an element of street theatre. Tours last for one or two hours. Just look for the posters and billboards posted throughout the city centre for details and the meeting point for that evening, or else look through Visit York's directory. While most tours are in English, Descubre York also offers tours in Spanish and Portuguese, while Yorktour offers French, German, Italian and Turkish tours.
History and culture tours free, ghost walks £5-10
SeeArchaeological site
Baile Hill
Baile Hill is a man-made earth mound in the Bishophill area of York, England. It is the only remaining feature of the fortification known as the Old Baile. The origins of Baile Hill date back to 1068.
SeeMemorial
War Memorial
The York City War Memorial is a First World War memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and located in York in the north of England. Proposals for commemorating York's war dead originated in 1919 but proved controversial. Initial discussions focused on whether a memorial should be a monument or take on some utilitarian purpose.
SeeHistoric site
Roman Column
Roman column found during 1969 York Minster excavtions. Comes from the Great Hall / Principia.
Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric site
Saint William's College
Building built 1465-67 as home for chantry priests of the Cathedral
Built 1467
SeeMuseum
York Saint Mary's
St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed former parish church in the Church of England on Castlegate in the city of York.
Limited wheelchair access
SeeHistoric site
St Mary's Abbey
Ruined Benedictine abbey (Source: Wikipedia:en)
SeeHistoric site
York Cemetery
York Cemetery is a cemetery located in the city of York, England. Founded in 1837, it now encompasses 24 acres (9.7 ha) (97,000 m2) and is owned and administered by The York Cemetery Trust with support of the Friends of York Cemetery. It is situated on Cemetery Road in the Fishergate area of York.
SeeArchaeological site
Lamel Hill Battery
Lamel Hill is a scheduled monument about 1 mile (1.6 km) south-east of the centre of York, England. It is on the grounds of The Retreat and the northern part of Walmgate Stray, and in some medieval documents it is referred to as Siward's Mill Hill, or Siward's How Mill, in reference to its previous use as the base of a windmill. However it should not be confused with another site known as Siward's Howe which is about 220 yards (200 m) further east.
SeeHistoric building
Jacob's Well
Jacobs Well is a Grade I listed medieval building in the Micklegate area of York, England. It is the church hall of Holy Trinity, Micklegate.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).