Parks and the outdoors in York

87 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around York.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 87.

Photo: MatzeTrier, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

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
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
SeeGarden
Treasurer's House
Grade I-listed town house and garden dating from the 12th century that acted as the official residence of York Minster's treasurers over the centuries. Frank Green, heir to an industrialist's fortune, purchased it in 1897 and transformed it into a lavish pad to flaunt his enormous wealth and eclectic decorating tastes and collection of art, antiques, and furniture. Today it is managed by the National Trust, and the visitor can discover both Green's dizzying collection and the contrastingly calming gardens. Like all good Trust properties, there's an on-site shop and café.
Sat–Tue noon–4PM -- confirm on websiteAdult £12, child £5. NT members free · Free entry
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
DoPark
Rowntree Park
Named for the Rowntree company, which gifted the park to the city, and dedicated to company employees lost during the First World War, this is a 30-acre green flag oasis next to the Ouse. Facilities include tennis and basketball courts, a skate park, children's playground and café. Use the Millennium Bridge to cross over the river and grab something cold from the "ice cream boat" , which is moored on the opposite bank on fine afternoons.
Mon-Fri 8AM-dusk, Sat Sun 9AM-duskFree
DrinkPub
The Kings Arms
The king in question is Richard III, and his house is right on the river bank, meaning one of its annual traditions is becoming part of the river, a fact which is cheerfully recorded on its flood level gauge on the wall inside. Some of the bar rules ('no swearing', 'no drunkenness') are a bit suspect for a pub, and it exclusively serves beers from local brewery Samuel Smith's.
Mon-Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun noon-10:30PMLimited wheelchair access · Outdoor seating
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
SeeMuseum
The Bar Convent
Founded in the 17th century, when Catholics were widely persecuted in England, the convent is still home to a community of nuns, members of the Congregation of Jesus. In a small interactive museum, you can discover the brave sisters' remarkable story, from their underground origins hidden in plain sight of the authorities, right through to their survival under the bombs of the Luftwaffe. There is also an on-site café and 'secret' garden, as well as B&B-style accommodation.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PMAdult £5, child £2, concession £4. York Pass accepted
DrinkPub
Brew York
This craft brewery's 200-seater beer hall and tap room are right alongside the brewing machinery; the beer couldn't be fresher! They also have a nice small open-air seating area in the back facing the River Foss. Burgers and Korean sides will help soak up the alcohol.
Beer hall: Tue-Sat noon-11PM, Sun noon-9PM. Tap room: Wed, Thu 6PM-11PM, Fri 4PM-11PM, Sat noon-11PM, Sun noon-9PM. Brewery tours (duration 45-60 min): Fri 5:30PM, Sat 1:30PM, 3:30PMVegan options · Wi-Fi · Limited wheelchair access
See
Beningbrough Hall
18th-century mansion in Italianate Baroque style, now managed by the National Trust. It is the red-brick creation of John Bourchier, who was inspired by the Grand Tour of Europe he took as a 20-year-old. Inside, it's all gilt and ornate white plaster, with an ever-changing rotation of over 100 period portraits on permanent loan from the National Portrait Gallery in London, while outside the gardens are rich, extensive and diverse. Eclectic too are the attractions on offer: Beningbrough is no staid stately home, with dogs welcome in the gardens and children well catered for by heaps of activities throughout the year, bicycle hire and several themed walking routes with such intriguing titles as 'Top ten trees of interest'. A restaurant, shop and adventure playground complete the package.
see websiteAdult £16, Child £8, NT members free
DoCinema
City Screen
Picturehouse York
A modern cinema which shows a mix of mainstream and arthouse films. It has a bar/cafe with a fantastic balcony overlooking the River Ouse.
Peak time is Tue-Fri after 5PM, Sat Sun, bank holidays all day. Discount day is MonAdult £10.70 (£12.50 peak), child £7.20 (£8 peak), concession £9.70 (£11.50 peak), Mondays £7.90 all patrons, autism-friendly £3, dementia-friendly £4 · Wheelchair accessible
DrinkPub
The Keystones
Popular with a younger crowd for its live sports on telly at the weekends, pool table, variety of board games and free Playstation 4. Beer garden at rear.
Daily noon-10PMOutdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
EatBritish restaurant
Café No.8 Bistro
Refined food which has Yorkshire in its soul: lamb from the Wolds, fish from the North Sea, cheese from Thirsk, and rhubarb and custard for pudding! The intimate indoor space is complemented by a small dining garden at the rear.
Wed-Sat 5-10PM, Sun noon-5PMDinner mains £14-32, Sunday lunch mains £14-18
Eat
Countess of York
Railfans rejoice! You can get your afternoon tea fix in the NRM's opulently-restored train carriage, the Countess of York. There are a dozen blends of Harrogate tea to choose from, and a seasonal selection of sandwiches and cakes, with the highlight being traditional Yorkshire scones, vanilla cream and homemade jam. As capacity is constrained by the size of the carriage, it is recommended to book weeks in advance. Free parking token for the museum's car park.
Tea served at noon, 2PM, 4PMTraditional afternoon tea £26, with champagne £36
EatRestaurant
The Garden Room
A grand and comfortable lounge with armchairs and sofas, and views across the lawns to the Minster..
Daily noon-4PMTraditional afternoon tea £23.50, incl. champagne £30.50
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.
Do
Motor boats for hire
Red Boats
8-seater red motor launches for you to explore the Ouse under your own steam, river conditions permitting. Full training and lifejackets are provided. The person hiring the boat must be an adult and be in possession of valid ID.
1 Apr-31 Oct from 10AM until late afternoonFrom £20 for half an hour, from £30 for one hour + £40 refundable deposit. Online discounts available
Eat
Pizza Express
A chain which needs no introduction, but this one is worth a look for the setting – a spectacular 19th century gentlemen's club perched on the bank of the River Ouse. Summer evenings on the terraces are pleasant, and their toilets are marble temples of Victorian excess – it's worth eating there just for the chance to use a solid brass-and-marble urinal.
Daily 11:30AM-11PMMains £11-£16
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
York Maze
The largest 'maize maze' in Europe. Each year is different; the 2018 maze was shaped like two giant Jurassic Park dinosaurs. There are numerous other activities, such as mini-mazes for children, quadbiking, games such as crazy golf, and funfair-style fun like pig racing (seriously), stage shows and rides. Grill restaurant and café on-site. Be prepared for an assault of corny puns about how 'a-maize-ing' everything is.
SummerAdult £16, senior/child £15, under 3 years free. 50% off all prices for disabled visitors and their carers. £1 discount when bought online in advance
Do Not mapped
Lucky Cat Trail
Cats have been considered good-luck omens in York for centuries, and cat statues were once placed on buildings throughout the city to ward off rats, mice, and the plague they were thought to carry. A mummified cat was even found concealed in the Mansion House. The original statues have now all long-since weathered away, but the concept was resurrected by a local architect in 1979. Since then, more and more buildings have added sculptures of cats clinging to walls or perched on balconies. Today, you can follow a trail around the old town in an attempt to find 22 cats, and spot plenty of landmarks while you're doing so.
Download the trail map for free
DoPark
Hull Road Park
Hull Road Park is a 25-acre (10 ha) open-space park in the suburb of Tang Hall, York, in Northern England. The park is bordered on its southern edge by Osbaldwick Beck, which has become a home for the endangered water vole. The City of York Council withdrew support for the park in 2011, and it is maintained and cleaned by a network of volunteers working for several different societies.
Open now · open 24 hours
DoPark
Dean's Park
Dean's Park is an urban park in York, England. It was created in the 19th century. Formerly the site of the Archbishop's Palace, during the latter part of the Middle Ages, it is located adjacent to York Minster on its northern side.
DoPark
Eye of York
Oval green levelled in 1777. The name reflects the former importance as the centre of county administration.
DoPark
West Bank Park
Open now · open 24 hours
DoPark
Homestead Park
The Homestead, 40 Water End
Closed · opens 8:30 am tomorrowBuilt 1904
DoPark
Tower Gardens, St George's Field
Tower St
DoPark
Glen Gardens
DoPark
Clarence Gardens
Haxby Rd
DoPark
Clifton Green
SeeGarden
Groves Secret Garden
DoPark
Clifton Play Park
96 Rawcliffe Ln
DoNature reserve
St Nicks
Rawdon Ave
DoPark
Scarcroft Park
DoNature reserve
Askham Bog Nature Reserve
DoPark
York Science Park
Innovation Way
DoPark
Haxby Road Park
DoPark
The Minster Gardens
The Minster
DoPark
Bowls Park
Haxby Rd

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).