How to Spend One Day in York, England (2025 Guide)

It turns out one of England’s most historic cities was practically on our doorstep… and we only just noticed.

Callum and I made a last-minute decision to drive up the M1 for a day trip to York, realising (a bit embarrassingly for travel bloggers) it was only 90 minutes away.

Our “research” was a quick scroll on TikTok for must-dos, and that was it.

We managed to enjoy our one day in York, but if you actually want to go inside the attractions, do a tour, or linger over afternoon tea, I’d recommend giving yourself two days or more.

For a quick one-day wander though, this itinerary will help you pack in the best bits without feeling rushed.

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Where To Park To Visit York, England

If you’re driving to York, do yourself a favour and don’t try to park in the city centre.

We made that mistake initially, eyeing up Coppergate Car Park — until we saw it was £9.70 for two hours. For a full day, you’d need to remortgage your house.

When I was googling where to park instead, we noticed Askham Bar Park & Ride, and it turned out to be a game-changer.

Parking is free, and it’s just £3.90 return per person for the bus into town. The bus was clean, frequent, and dropped us off right by the train station (perfect for starting the day at the National Railway Museum).

It also meant we didn’t have to battle York’s one-way system or pray for a miracle parallel parking job.
Highly recommend.

Itinerary For One Day in York, England

If you’ve only got one day in York, you’ll want to make every hour count. This route works well on foot, avoids too much backtracking, and still leaves you time for a relaxed dinner or a drink before heading home.

Start at the National Railway Museum

Even if you’re not a train person, this place will win you over.

The engines are huge, the Royal Carriages are gorgeous, and best of all — it’s completely free to get in. They are open 10am-7pm seven days a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to have some breakfast before heading here.

We only popped in for a quick look and ended up wandering around way longer than planned.

I’ve already decided I’m bringing my nephew here one day because I know he’ll love it.

Quick Stop in Museum Gardens

Leave the Railway Museum and follow directions to the Museum Gardens.

On the way, you can stop to grab some food or a coffee before wandering around these beautiful historic gardens.

They’re home to the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, plenty of greenery, and lots of benches if you want a quick break.

If gardens aren’t really your thing, you can just skip this stop and head straight to the City Walls.

Walk the City Walls

From the Museum Gardens, it’s a quick walk to Bootham Bar, one of the main entrances to York’s medieval walls. You can climb straight up from the street and follow the path along the top. It’s free, and gives you a decent view of the city from above.

We didn’t do the full loop (it’s about two miles all the way round), but even a short section gives you a good feel for it.

The walkway’s narrow in places and there are a few stairs, but nothing too dramatic.

If you’re tight on time or just not fussed about walking for ages, the bit from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar is solid. It’s short, has a couple of good photo angles, and gets you close to York Minster for your next stop.

York Minster (Even If You Don’t Go In)

You’ll spot York Minster long before you reach it — it’s massive, and you’ll probably end up pointing your camera at it whether you mean to or not.

We didn’t actually go inside this time, partly because we were on a tight schedule and partly because the price made us pause.
It’s £20 per adult to go in, or £26 if you want to climb the tower as well.
Times are tough, and all that!

That said, even from the outside it’s worth a look.

The detailing is ridiculous, and you don’t need to be into churches to appreciate it.

If you’ve got the time (and the budget), the inside is supposed to be equally dramatic with loads of stained glass and a full tower climb for the view.

If you’re skipping it like we did, it’s still a decent place to stop. The square out front is usually buzzing, and there are benches if you want to sit and people-watch for a bit.

Lunch Break Options

By now you’ll probably be ready for food. We were starving at this point. York’s packed with classic pubs, cafés, bakeries, and grab-and-go spots, so it really depends on how much effort you want to put in.

For something quick, Shambles Kitchen does decent wraps and hot sandwiches, and The York Roast Co. is great if you fancy a Yorkshire pudding wrap and don’t mind eating on the go.
If you’re after more of a sit-down brunch, Brew & Brownie gets a lot of love. Just be ready to queue.

There are loads of traditional pubs too. The kind that serve proper chips and don’t mess around with small portions.

Afternoon tea at Bettys isn’t the cheapest option, but it seems to be the go-to for tourists. If you’re keen to try it, I’d recommend booking in advance — otherwise you might find yourself stuck in the queue for longer than you’d like.

We grabbed food and ate it en route to the next stop.

Wander Through The Shambles

Even if you’ve seen a hundred photos of The Shambles, nothing quite prepares you for how narrow, tilted, and busy it actually is.

The shops lean at odd angles, the crowds shuffle through like it’s a slow-moving parade, and you’ll probably spot at least three people trying to recreate a Harry Potter scene.

We wandered through mid-afternoon and, as expected, it was packed. Still fun, but not exactly peaceful. Some of the side alleys are quieter — Lady Pecketts Yard is a good shout if you’re after a photo without elbows in the frame.

I’ve already said I want to go back and stay overnight just to get those sunrise photos when the street’s actually empty. We didn’t get that this time around, but it’s now firmly on the list.

There are a few cute shops (mostly wizard merch and that one little ghost shop!), and if you’re into Harry Potter, you’ll have plenty to browse.
We didn’t buy anything, but we did queue for a free fudge sample longer than I’m proud of.

Choose Your Afternoon Stop

At this point, you’ve seen most of the city centre. Now it just depends how much energy you’ve got left and what sort of thing you’re into.

Clifford’s Tower

A short uphill walk from The Shambles. You can climb to the top for a panoramic view over York.

It’s about £12 per adult, and a good way to get your steps in if you skipped the City Walls!

Not essential, but worth it if you’re nearby and the weather’s clear. You can book tickets here!

JORVIK Viking Centre

If it’s raining or you want something more interactive, this is a weirdly fun option.

You hop into a little cart and ride through a reconstructed Viking village, complete with historically accurate smells.

It’s a bit surreal, but surprisingly well put together. Great if you’ve got kids or just like a themed ride with commentary.

There was a huge queue when we arrived, so make sure you book in advance here!

River Ouse Cruise or Self-Drive Boat

If you’re done walking and just want to sit back while someone else does the work, a sightseeing cruise along the River Ouse is a good shout. It’s relaxed, scenic, and you’ll get a few interesting facts along the way.

Or, if you’d rather take control, you can rent a small self-drive motorboat and navigate the river yourself.
We didn’t try it this time as I don’t trust either of us to drive one, but it looks like fun!

Dinner at SPARK or Nearby

By the end of the day, we weren’t wanting anything fancy, so we headed to SPARK — a street food market built out of shipping containers just outside the city walls.

We’re suckers for Greek food, so we went straight for that, but there were loads of other options too: burgers, noodles, tacos, veggie stuff, all sorts.

It’s a good pick if you want something quick without needing a booking. There’s plenty of covered seating upstairs, and it didn’t feel overly touristy either.

If that’s not your thing, there are loads of classic pubs nearby serving decent food, or you can go full no-effort and hit the Wetherspoons round the corner.

Evening Option: Ghost Tour or Mini Golf

There are a few ghost tours to choose from in the evening. We saw one near York Minster, another outside the King’s Arms, and even a full-on ghost tour bus doing the rounds.

We did the one from the pub and spent about an hour following our guide through alleyways, hearing ghost stories, strange bits of history, and a few dodgy jokes.

It was fun, not scary, and a good excuse to keep exploring after dark.

If that’s not your thing, The Hole in the Wand is a Harry Potter-themed mini golf spot across from JORVIK Viking Centre. It’s small, theatrical, and great if you’re with kids or just want to finish the day on a silly note.

Other Things to Do in York

If none of the above quite tickle your fancy, or you’ve got more time to play with, here are a few other things you could swap in. Everything’s pretty central, so you can easily mix and match depending on what you’re into:

• York’s Chocolate Story: A guided walk-through of the city’s chocolate history with a few samples along the way.
  
• Merchant Adventurers’ Hall: One of the best-preserved medieval guild halls in the UK.
  
• The York Dungeon: Fairly full-on and theatrical. Not for everyone, but good if you’re up for something ridiculous.

• York Art Gallery: Small, central, and an easy place to duck into if you need a breather.
  
• The Puzzling World of Professor Kettleburn: Bit of a wildcard. Quirky, interactive, and not something you’ll find everywhere.

You could easily build a whole weekend around this lot. We packed what we could into one day, but I already want to go back and do the rest.

York City Pass – Is It Worth It?

If you’re planning to go inside lots of attractions, it’s worth checking out the York City Pass.

It gives you access to over 30 places including JORVIK Viking Centre, Clifford’s Tower, York Dungeon, and York Minster, plus discounts on things like river cruises and ghost tours.

You’ll need to do the maths based on how many spots you want to see — but if you’re aiming to fit in 2–3 paid attractions in one day, it could be a decent way to save money (and skip the faff of booking separate tickets).

FAQs About Spending One Day in York

Is 1 day in York, England enough?

Yes, if you stick to the highlights. I’d still love to come back and stay overnight to see more as you could easily fill a full weekend!

Can you do a day trip to York from London?

Technically yes, but it’s a squeeze and I wouldn’t recommend it.

It’s 211 miles from London to York, so you’ll spend a minimum 8 hours of the day travelling there and back.

You’re better off stopping somewhere like Nottingham for the day on the way up and making it a few days.

When is the best time to visit York, England?

Spring and autumn are quieter and easier to walk around. Summer sees a huge rise in tourists. Winter’s nice for the Christmas markets, but bring layers.

Final Thoughts on One Day in York, England

We didn’t go in with much of a plan, but York made it easy. Everything’s close together, the pace is relaxed, and there’s loads to do without feeling rushed.

That said, we barely scratched the surface. Next time, I’d love to stay overnight, get those early morning Shambles photos, and actually go inside some of the big attractions.

If you’re nearby and thinking about it — go.