Things to Do in York
Discover 30 activities and experiences in York, United Kingdom — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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York Festival of Traditional Dance
Early September. York’s own Ebor Morris, in conjunction with City of York Council and other local teams, invite a rich variety of traditional dance sides from all over the country to join in a non-competitive celebration of the diversity of ritual dancing. The Festival occupies the first weekend of September. The Saturday begins with a colourful dance procession from the Guildhall to Parliament Square, before the teams separate to dance on site, in King’s Square and St Sampson’s Square throughout the day before a final grand show in front of dignitaries. The Sunday dancing is less formal, taking place in St Sampson’s and King’s Square on the Sunday morning. Over the years we have had representatives of all the leading traditional team styles: the stick and hanky Morris of the Cotswolds, the large clog-stepping sides of the North West, the intricate weaving Yorkshire Longsword, the country-dance like East Anglian Molly, the bizarre costumes and disguises of Welsh border Morris and the swift interlacing of Northumbrian Rapper sword. This year’s Festival details are to be confirmed. We'll be inviting teams from all round England to join in this celebration of English Traditional dance, hosted by local team Ebor Morris. The two other local sides Acorn Morris & Minster strays should be in attendance, together hopefully with old favourites such as Brackley Morris from Northamptonshire.
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York Beer & Cider Festival
The Knavesmire (Tadcaster Road end) is the new venue for an expanded York Beer & Cider Festival held in September. The increased capacity means they will be able to offer up to 200 beers, 30 ciders and perries and a foreign beer bar, with wine and soft drinks also available. This is an exciting expansion for the branch which they hope will be enjoyed by people from York and beyond. There’ll be live music on the Friday and Saturday evenings as well as a good range of food from mainly local caterers and other stalls. There’ll be a large amount of seating – inside the tent if it’s wet, with some outside if the weather’s good. Children are welcome during the afternoon sessions. The festival site is less than 15 minutes from York Station and is served by regular buses (12 Woodthorpe, 4 FTR Acomb, 13/13A Copmanthorpe and the Coastliner).
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Battle of Fulford 1066 tour
In 1066 the greatest shield wall battle in world history took place - no, not the Battle of Hastings, but in fact the Battle of Fulford, fought just outside York on the 20th September 1066, just a few weeks before Hastings. Discover the background to 1066, including the great last Viking invasion of England, and the foul deeds and bloody history surrounding the monarchy at the time. A full tour of the battlefield is given by representatives from the ibattles website, who have made a documentary about the battle (a copy is included free with each tour). Please note the battle site is just a 5 minute drive by car from the city centre, transport can be arranged if required.
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Reel Cinema York
Located inside a distinctive art deco building and known for decades under its Odeon ownership, the cinema is held close to the hearts of the residents of York. Despite protests, it shut down a few years ago due to increasing competition. It has recently been bought and reopened by Reel, although many people still refer to it as the Odeon. It is located just a 10 minute walk south of the city centre on Blossom Street. It is on the bus routes 1, 4, 5, 10, 13 and the Askham Bar Park & Ride no.3. Very limited parking is available but not recommended.
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- Blossom Street, YO24 1AJ
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York Early Music Christmas Festival
A popular festival of Christmas entertainments that takes place annually in December. For anyone interested in listening to early music of the highest international quality; adults wishing to join with like-minded colleagues to make music together; youngsters wishing to learn more about historically informed performance; children wanting to know something of the history of the City of York and music in general.
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- St Margaret's Church, Walmgate, YO1 9TL
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Football
They’re a full-time professional club, playing in the N-Power Football League Two and famous for giant-killing victories over Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton. Their home ground of Bootham Crescent, formerly known as KitKat Crescent, is a traditional English football ground surrounded by terraced housing. It is about 15 minutes walk from the city centre, near the hospital.
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- Bootham Crescent
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York Dungeon
Entertaining, though perhaps not for the faint hearted or for young children, there is little blood or gore, and some may find it suitable for children. Definitely worth the entrance price, however check out the pubs beforehand, as you may find 2 for 1 beer mats in the Kings Arms, a pub on the banks of the River Ouse near the Yorkboat landing (Kings Straith).
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Walk around the city walls
One of the best vantage points for the medieval city of York is from the ramparts of its medieval city walls, built on Roman era foundations. About an hour's walk: if short on time or energy, the best views are conveniently from the shortest section, from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar, around the Minster (about 15 minutes). No dogs (except guide dogs) allowed.
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- Daily 8AM-sunset
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- Free
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York Festival of Food and Drink
Late September every year. The Food element majors on Yorkshire food, while the drinks program has a world wide and wine orientated theme. The range of events is very wide with demonstrations, tastings, markets and dinners everyday for 10 days. Big 'Slow Food' / Fairtrade and other 'worthy' food element allied with lots of hands on cooking for kids.
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Mystery Plays
Medieval Passion plays, revived after the Second World War and the forum which first brought Dame Judi Dench to critical attention. Don't run every year and vary between the traditional plays acted on floats carried around the city and more formal renditions which change venues. They will next be performed on 26 May – 30 June 2016 in York Minster.
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Rugby League
York City Knights are currently playing in National League 2, advertising a good standard of rugby, currently playing at Bootham Crescent, the ground of York City FC. Matchdays are usually Sunday afternoons but you are advised to check before setting out as they are usually every other week.
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- Bootham Crescent
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Walking tours and ghost walks
Wonderful. There are many ghost walks that run throughout the year during the evenings. Walks normally start from 6PM onwards and last for around an hour - just look for the posters and billboards posted throughout the city centre for details and the meeting point for that evening.
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- Walking tours free, ghost walks around £4
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York Maze
A very large maze (the largest in the world, they say) and it's made of maize. Give it at least a couple of hours. There are other activities, such as a mini-maze for children, and games (such as Crazy Mazey Golf). Only open during the summer months.
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Jorvik Viking Centre
It is a museum and visitor attraction run by the ''York Archaeological Trust''. JORVIK Viking Centre invites visitors to journey through the reconstruction of Viking-Age streets as they would have looked 1000 years ago. Closed due to flood
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- Daily 10AM-4PM (winter), 10AM-5PM (summer)
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- £6.25 and upwards
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Roman Bath public house
A great venue for food, drink and entertainment - complete with a Roman period bathhouse in the cellar. One of York's oldest attractions, visitors can see the remains of ancient York, with insights into Roman military life and hygiene.
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- St Sampson's Square
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- Daily 10AM-5PM
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- Adult £2
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Illuminating York
An annual festival celebrating celebrates light in all of its forms that takes places during October. A range of attractions, trails and late night openings can be experienced with the festival’s fringe events.
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- Mostly free; a charge may apply for some events
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York Chocolate Festival
An annual celebration of the chocolate industry with a chocolate market, chocolate lovers, artisan chocolatiers, museums and attractions who share a piece of York's chocolate history. Takes place in the spring.
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- Parliament Street and other places in York
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Micklegate Bar Museum
Yet another attraction by the ''York Archaeological Trust''. Visit the ancient gateway to explore the pageantry and barbaric history that has unfolded between these walls through the centuries.
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- Micklegate, on the city walls
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- Daily 10AM-4PM (winter), 11AM-3PM (summer)
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- £2.50 and upwards
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Monk Bar
Yet another attraction by the ''York Archaeological Trust''. Visit the ancient gateway to explore the pageantry and barbaric history that has unfolded between these walls through the centuries
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York Literature Festival
The festival promotes the arts in York, with an emphasis on literature, spoken word and poetry. It also features music, comedy, cinema and theatre. The festival takes place annually in March.
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Jorvik DIG
At DIG you get to discover exciting archaeological artefacts from 2000 years of history hidden under the streets of York. Yet another site run by the ''York Archaeological Trust''
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- St Saviourgate
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- Daily 10AM-4PM (winter), 10AM-5PM (summer)
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- £5 and upwards
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City Screen Ltd
A new, modern cinema located just off Coney Street in the centre of York. Has a bar/cafe with a fantastic balcony overlooking the River Ouse. No private parking available.
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Viking Festival
February. A big event with a lots of appeal for children - lots of dressing up and mock fighting but backed with the serious educational purpose of the Viking Centre.
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Barley Hall
A restored Medieval townhouse, situated on Coffee Yard (an alley off Stonegate) run by the ''York Archaeological Trust''. Someone called it "a hidden gem".
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- 2 Coffee Yard, off Stonegate, YO1 8AR
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- Daily 10AM-4PM (winter), 10AM-5PM (summer)
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- £3 and upwards
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Vue Cinemas
The city's largest multiplex, located on Clifton Moor Retail Park on the north-west outskirts of York. Access by car, or take the no.6 bus to Tesco.
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York Brewery
The brewery tour takes about 40min and includes four tasters. They also have a bar area where you can try their beers without the tour.
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- 12 Toft Green, YO1 6JT
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- Tours Mon-Sat 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, and 17:00
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- Adults £8
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Boat hire
Power up the River Ouse. Alternatively have someone else drive and go on a river trip.
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- £20/hr, early in the day can be cheaper
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Cold War Bunker
Visit only by guided tour, which takes about 1h.
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- Monument Close, YO24 4HT
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- Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00 (last tour 16:45), Mon-Tue closed
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- Adults £7, children £4.20, concessions £6.30
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Exploring York: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
York rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 30 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored York and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience York's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. York has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in York, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but York's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 30 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from York's Activities
Timing matters in York. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that York has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in York is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, York offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in York coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward York's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat York's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 30 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in York
One of the best things about traveling to York is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in York right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to York to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in York often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in York?
York offers 30+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include York Festival of Traditional Dance, York Beer & Cider Festival, Battle of Fulford 1066 tour, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in York?
Yes — York has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring York?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in York. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in York use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in York?
York has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore York with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in York right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
