what to do in york uk for free
York is a wonderful historic city to visit in the UK. In that location are enough of things to practice on a visit to York.
Information technology's important to make travel accessible for anybody, no matter what your budget, hither are the all-time free things you lot can do in York.
Plus a few other things you lot can run into and do if you're travelling on a budget merely still want the awesome York feel.
Here are all the complimentary and budget things I did on my York trip. Let me know if you have whatever other ideas for things to exercise.
Update May 2020 – Since many of these things are not open at the moment, I've included a range of virtual tours and videos you can watch to immerse yourself into everything York!
Or simply use them to help make up one's mind which things you want to do when yous do get around to visiting York
Free Things to practise in York, England
Well, I'm starting with all the free things to exercise in York, because who doesn't dear a freebie!
York is one of those cities that you can very chop-chop autumn in love with because there's so much to see and practice.
Walking the Walls of York
Cost: Costless
The walls of York are what drew me to this city six years ago. I spent an hour waiting for a train and I walked forth the walls instead of sitting around at the station and roughshod in love with the urban center. They have a fascinating history as well, you tin read more most the 'bar walls' hither.
The walls don't circumvolve the entire urban center of York but there are all the same large sections remaining in three large parts.
My favourite section was the wall most the York Arts Centre which gives you stunning views of York Minster. Y'all can besides walk forth the department most the train station (where I previously walked), which also gives you great views of the Minster too.
Top tip
- Bank check the weather during your visit and aim to walk the walls of York when it's not raining.
- (There's no shelter up at that place unless yous take an umbrella!)
York Free Walking Tour
Cost: Free
Free walking tours are at present popular in many big tourist cities, I've done them whilst visiting Berlin, Budapest and even Reykjavik in Republic of iceland.
The York free walking bout lasts almost two hours and starts outside the York City Art Gallery in Exhibition Square and finishes on the famous street The Shambles.
The tours run all year circular, starting at x.fifteen am and 1.15 pm. In peak flavour, between June to August at that place is also a night walking tour starting at 6.15 pm.
Yous can notice more data hither on the free walking tours.
National Railway Museum in York
Cost: Free (Donations welcome)
For a train lover, the National Railway Museum was a real highlight for me. The museum is totally complimentary and it'south huge and filled with stunning steam trains, trains and much more.
It feels amazing walking into such a huge museum with trains in immaculate condition. At that place are huge halls both inside and outdoors, with a mix of former and modernistic trains
In that location are likewise demonstrations throughout the day and then exist sure to program your visit with what you lot're interested in.
The museum is open daily from 10.00 and closes at 17.00 in winter and 18.00 in the summer months. Be certain to cheque before yous visit.
Top tip
- The National Railway Museum is abroad from the urban center eye.
- Since yous tin spend several hours there be sure to have drinks and snacks if you desire to continue the costs down.
Virtual choice – Read historic railway stories here online
Walk the York True cat Trail
The official cat trail takes you lot around the streets of York in search of its resident cats which are dotted around the city. Yous tin run into how many yous can spot on your trip or follow the official cat walk around York.
Virtual option – Lookout man the cats of York trail including what the streets look like during the U.k. lockdown.
Exploring the Slaughterhouse
Cost: Free (Shopping £££!)
This wonderfully beautiful street is a please to explore, it too gets very busy then be sure to option your time wisely. It's perfect for window shopping as there are and then many cute shops.
This street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films, another reason this street is and so popular!
Of course, any shopping that you might treat yourself besides isn't free and in that location are enough of shops to tempt y'all to spend.
My favourites were, of form, the Harry Potter shops (there are iii in total), plus a great tea shop that had every different kind of tea you could imagine plus beautifully busy teapots, cups and mugs.
Y'all can also visit York Marketplace which is next to the Shambles, for cheap nutrient and swell deals.
Top Tip
- For a quieter feel, exist sure to visit early in the morning time.
- But it'south also wonderful to walk downwardly at night too when it feels very different with all the shops airtight.
Exploring the Streets of York
Cost: Costless
York is a great city to explore, there are so many streets and alleyways that you can wander and go lost in. I could take spent hours walking around the city, finding little shops and doors to new places each fourth dimension I wandered!
York Riverside Walk
York has non 1 merely two rivers, for a free way to relish the rivers you can take a lovely walk past the bridges.
I loved the section betwixt Low Ousegate and Skeldergate Span (pictured above) which finishes very close to Clifford Tower.
Since the river runs very close to the urban center centre, it'south a must-do action on your York trip.
More Gratis Things to do in York City
- Visit Yorkshire Museum and Gardens
- Go to Rowntree Park
- York St Mary'south Church – go inside for gratis
- See Clifford's Tower from the outside – York Castle
How to Save Money?
Should yous Buy the York Pass?
That's most of the complimentary things you tin can do in York, although go on reading at that place are still some options for more than free things to see!
If you are visiting York on a budget then 1 option to still see everything at a lower toll is to purchase the York Laissez passer. You lot can buy a one, 2, three or 6-24-hour interval choice.
The of import thing is to plan what you want to meet and and then you can decide which York Laissez passer to buy that volition save y'all the most money!
Delight notation that the York Pass too includes other activities away from the city so if you're interested in a couple of solar day trips from York then be sure to factor those costs in too.
You lot tin read more ideas hither for day trips from York which includes the N Yorkshire Moors Railway, National Bird of Casualty Centre and Rievaulx Abbey in Hemsley.
York Laissez passer prices – adults/ children
- 1 24-hour interval – £42/ £26
- 2 days – £60/ £30
- iii days – £70/ £35
- 6 days – £120/ £60
Read next – Is the York Pass worth it? Will you save money or not?
More things to practice in York
Attraction costs (developed prices) from £3.fifty – £16.95
All the below options are not gratis to enter but if you lot would like to come across them from the exterior they are costless. I do sometimes call back that buildings are beautiful from the outside, specially York Minster, just wow!
These things to do are all included in the York Laissez passer so if you take a read and are planning to do at least 3 or 4 of these things and then consider the i-twenty-four hours York Laissez passer and plan your visit around these attractions.
Visit York Minster
Cost: £10/£xi adults/ £0 children or Complimentary with the York Pass*
Time: 1-1.5 hours (depending on whether you do the Central Tower)
York Minster is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Europe and took 250 years to build!York Minster is free to explore from the outside including the gardens around the beautiful building.
However, if you would like to come across inside you lot can pay to explore. The York Minster is wonderful inside and those stained drinking glass windows look spectacular.
Throughout the mean solar day there are various tours that accept place within the Minster, check out the signs as you walk into the Minster.
What practice you need to know nigh visiting York Minster'due south Central Tower?
Price: £15 (or £v if you already take the York Pass)
If you want to visit the Fundamental Belfry (which I would recommend) you will need to pay extra to exercise this. There is no lift to the superlative, if you want to climb to the top so you will demand to climb the 275 narrow stone screw staircase.
The stone staircase is pretty much screw all the manner then yous might notice it makes you slightly light-headed, peculiarly on the walk down. It takes nigh x minutes to climb up to the top.
You lot volition demand to book a fourth dimension slot to go up to the Central Tower and volition all go up at the aforementioned time. It'due south not possible for people to overtake on the stair so you volition all get to the top, have time to explore, and then descend before the next group go up.
Please note – on very windy, icy or snowy days the Cardinal Belfry may be closed. Be sure to check the weather when you visit to fit in if you tin.
The York Minster tickets are cheaper if yous buy them in advance online.
Virtual option – Go online and discover more about York Minster's history, including backside the scenes work on the Minster. You tin even look into the particular of the beautiful stained glass windows.
End off at the Treasurer's House Garden
Cost: Costless (gardens just) or £eight.10/ £4.05
These gardens are beautiful to walk around and free likewise. For the best view of the house, become up the steps next to the gate on the left.
You tin also go inside the house besides, although I ran out of time on my York visit.
Fun Fact nearly the Treasurer's Firm in York – The House is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the 'Ghosts of Greatest Longevity'. You can take part in Ghost Towers during your evening visit to York.
Climb the Steps of Clifford's Tower
Cost: £v.40 adults/ £three.60 children or Free with the York Pass*
Fourth dimension: thirty-45 minutes
The Clifford's Belfry is great (and free) to explore from the exterior, albeit you lot cannot climb on the grassy verge surrounding the castle. This becomes a huge memorial in early spring and the whole hill is covered in daffodils which I can prototype looks stunning.
For some awesome views of York urban center yous tin climb the steps, and then the screw staircase within the tower to walk along the turret walls and get great views of the city.
There's also a small store and information within too. If you haven't gone upwards the Central Tower at York Minster this is probably the second-best viewpoint of the metropolis. Simply the York Minster is by far the best view.
JORVIK Museum
Cost: £xi adults/ £8 children or Gratuitous with the York Pass*
Time: 1 60 minutes
First, you lot get into a room where there are onetime extracts and you walk on a glass floor (which feels a fleck strange). And so it'due south the main allure, a six-seater ride that takes you on a journeying through time which lasts virtually 15 minutes.
You have an audio playing during the entire experience (or text on a screen). I loved this part although I felt like I wanted to practice information technology twice as in that location was so much to run into and listen to via the audio and visuals I feel I missed parts.
The highlights were the characters bought to life and real-life smells which bring the whole feel to life. Exist certain to look out for the man on the toilet, he certainly made me smile!
After the JORVIK experience, you tin explore the interactive exhibition which includes ii of the full skeleton which was found during the excavations every bit well every bit an assortment of pans, knives, tools and coins.
Top tip
- The JORVIK Museum is a very popular attraction in York.
- There tin be long queues, especially at weekends and rainy days then be sure to book your ticket in advance to jump in the Fast Pass queue.
Virtual pick – Cheque out the JORVIK museum online, 'Discover from home' and their range of interactive online fun activities and videos for both children and adults. There'due south too one which includes tips on how to make your ain Viking helmet.
York Brewery bout + beers
Cost: £eleven adults/ £8 children or Gratuitous with the York Pass*
Time: 45 minutes + drinking fourth dimension after the tour
One for the beer lovers. Book on one of the tours to visit the brewery.
This was 1 of my least favourite tours in York, 25 minutes of the tour takes identify in 1 room, where they describe nearly every single beer before you are shown around the main brewing equipment, which is the last 20 minutes.
The tour lasts 45 minutes, just as well includes tokens for beer. If you pay for the tour individually and so you'll be given four tokens but with the York Pass, you'll simply receive one token.
York Castle Museum
Cost: £x adults/ £0 children or Free with the York Pass*
Time: 1.5-2 hours
The York Castle Museum is huge, in fact, information technology'southward so big it'south actually split into ii sections. Allow yourself plenty of time to explore and learn virtually life many years ago.
The highlight is the fully created street with cobbled stones, traditional shops and fifty-fifty a horse and cart. This was one of my favourite parts of the museum and information technology's much bigger than the 1 photograph I've added above.
The museum is split up into two parts and y'all're given a wristband so you lot can go on exploring the other part of the museum. There'southward and then much to come across, information technology'due south bang-up to split up your visit, perhaps stopping for a coffee or cake at the buffet.
York Chocolate Story
Price: £12.50 adults/ £10 children or Free with the York Laissez passer*
Time: one hour
Who knew that York was so large in the chocolate making business? Find out all about the York chocolate making businesses including Nestle and Terry's chocolate.
The York Chocolate tour lasts virtually 45 minutes, taking you lot through different rooms and experiences. I won't spoil the surprise simply there are a few clever and quirky parts to the tour, as well every bit chocolate samples too!
After the tour, y'all and so have the opportunity to make your own free chocolate lolly likewise as seeing a demonstration of how the chocolate is made for the shop below.
This was i of my favourite tours, it was interactive and very interesting, unlike any other tours I've washed before. A must-see thing to do on your visit to York.
Y'all might like to read – 24 hours in Bathroom, UK
More things to do in York with the 'York Pass'
If y'all decide to purchase the York Pass and then brand the most of it past visiting all these attractions in York also!
Call up all of these will be free with the York Pass.
(Prices in brackets if you don't have the York Pass – adults/children)
- Mansion Hosue – great views from outside (£6.50/ £three.50)
- Merchant Adventures Hall – perfect for photos as well (£6.fifty/ £0)
- Roman Bathroom Museum – (£3.50/ £2)
- York Dungeon – (£16.95/ £fourteen.95)
- Bar Covent Living Heritage – (£5/ £2)
Also, visit Castle Howard as a 24-hour interval trip from York (they are currently sharing online Q&A sessions about the firm. Scout via YouTube hither.
Where to Stay in York?
During my stay in York, I stayed at the B+B York and Astor Hostel. Both are located shut to the urban center centre and have parking available. The B+B York is nearer York Minster and Astor Hostel which is nearer the Costless National Railway Museum.
You lot can read my review of my stay at B+B York here
Or peradventure check out Airbnb for your York trip – £25 off your first Airbnb stay
Are you planning a visit to York? Are you wondering whether to buy the York Pass? Ask me whatever questions in the comments beneath
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*Visit York provided me with the York Pass for my visit. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
*Becky the Traveller participates in the Amazon Services Assembly Plan, besides equally other chapter programmes. If yous make a buy through these, I earn from the qualifying links. This is at no actress price to you lot. Read more than here.
Source: https://www.beckythetraveller.com/free-things-to-do-in-york-budget-trip/
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