York

York is a walled cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman roots. Go for York Minster, the city walls, which are described as the most complete in England, and the narrow medieval lanes of the center.

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York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, where the rivers Ouse and Foss meet. The Romans founded it as Eboracum in AD 71, and under Viking rule it was called Jorvik. Much of the center still sits inside medieval walls, and York Minster, a large Gothic cathedral, is the city's most prominent historic building. The Shambles, a narrow medieval street of shops and tea rooms, runs through the old core, a short walk from the minster.

The city suits walkers and museum visitors. The Jorvik Viking Centre opened in 1984, and the National Railway Museum, just beyond the station, has the largest collection of railway locomotives in the world. York also has more than 100 pubs on its city center map, and York ham is a mild, lightly smoked, dry-cured ham. The most sunshine falls from May to July, when summer highs often reach 27°C. Winters bring frost, fog and cold winds, and the weather changes often, so pack for varied conditions.

York in five

Walk the city wallsThe walls are free and loop most of the center in about two hours. They close at dusk and in icy weather.
Book York Minster and its towerThe cathedral charges for sightseeing entry, and the tower climb is a separate timed ticket. Services are free to attend.
See the Shambles earlyThe medieval street is crowded from late morning. Before 9am you can see the overhanging houses without the queues.
Visit the National Railway MuseumIt is free and sits right behind York station, with royal trains and a Japanese bullet train.

Things to do in York

See all attractions in York

A large cathedral with a clock on the front of it

Landmark · YorkBarley HallLook for the entrance in Coffee Yard, off Stonegate; the hall is tucked down an alley.

Museum · YorkMerchant Adventurers' HallExplore both floors to see the Great Hall and the spaces linked to the building’s hospital history.

brown concrete building near green trees under white clouds during daytime

Park · YorkMuseum GardensGo early for a quieter visit and clearer photo opportunities.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to YorkPut the places you like in York on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Leeds Bradford (LBA) or Manchester (MAN), about 1.5 hours
Getting there: Train from London King's Cross about 2 hours, from Edinburgh about 2.5
Getting around: On foot; the walled center is small
Best base: Inside the walls or near the station
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, quiet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Viking festival
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cool, showers
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Blossom on walls
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, green
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Long days
JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Mild, calmer
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Autumn color
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, quiet
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in York, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in York

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 5°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 13 km/h
Chance of rain: 4%

Yorkshire

10:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today10°5°4%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 4%.
Tue11°6°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
Wed12°7°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
Thu11°8°4%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 4%.
Fri12°8°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sat11°8°9%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 9%.
Sun11°8°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 6%.

Updated 08:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Castle Howardabout 40 minutes by carA baroque stately home with large gardens.
Whitbyabout 1.5 hours by carAn abbey ruin above a harbor town on the North Yorkshire coast.
Harrogateabout 35 minutes by trainA spa town with gardens and tea rooms.

Before you go to York

York staysInside the walls or by the stationCheck availability

Minster and Jorvik ticketsBook timed slots for holidaysCheck tickets

eSIM for YorkTrain apps and walking mapsRead the guide

Insurance for a rail weekendCover for delays and rebooked trainsRead the guide

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Rules for York, checked

Check whether you need a visa or ETA to enter the UK before you book, using the UK government visa checker.Source
Check gov.uk before you pack food to bring into the UK, since meat, dairy and plant products have import limits.
The historic core inside the walls is car-free during business hours or restricted. Use one of the six park and ride sites, or walk in from the station.
Parts of the city centre flood. Check river conditions before walking along the Ouse or the Foss.
Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance.

Plan around York

All of England

Cities, rail, entry rules and money

Read the guide London

King's Cross to York in about 2 hours

Read the guide Edinburgh

About 2.5 hours north on the same line

Read the guide UK ETA explained

Who needs one, what it costs, how to apply

Read the guide Trains, buses and cars

Advance fares and getting around Britain

Read the guide

York FAQ

Is York worth a day trip from London?

Yes. Trains take about 2 hours, and the walls, minster and Shambles fit in one day. A night lets you see the center quiet.

Are York's city walls free?

Yes. You can walk them for free from morning until dusk. They close in bad weather.

How many days do I need in York?

One or two days. Add a day for Castle Howard, the coast or the North York Moors.

When is the best time to visit York?

Spring and early autumn are mild and quieter than summer. December brings the Christmas market and short days, and February has the Viking festival.

What is there to do in York when it rains?

Plenty indoors: the Minster, the free National Railway Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and the Jorvik Viking Centre. The walls and the Shambles are better on dry mornings.