The Best 1 Day York Itinerary: Things To Do (2024)

In this travel guide, we’ll show you how to plan the best 1 day York itinerary including all the best things to do in York! From medieval city walls to gothic cathedrals and historic streets, York is a city worth visiting. During this York one day itinerary we’ve included recommendations of where to stay and how to plan your day.

York is a beautiful walled city located in Northeast England in North Yorkshire. It’s known for its huge Gothic cathedral, York Minster and its old cobbled streets and medieval buildings.

It’s a lovely place to spend one day in York or on a weekend – but in this York itinerary, we’ll show you how to visit the top sites in just one day.

A few interesting facts to learn about York before you visit is that it’s quite a small city, packed with lots of museums and things to do. It’s known as a very haunted city with one of the most haunted pubs in England and it’s easy to reach by public transport in the UK.

This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you.

What to do in York (1 Day York Itinerary)

• Admire the architecture – the York Minster is a main highlight of impressive architecture in York!
• Explore the city centre – the best thing to do in York is to get lost in the streets inside the walled city!
• Visit the museums – the best way to discover more of a city is by wandering around their museums.
• Learn the history – We’ve included some history about some of the landmarks in this York itinerary.

Where to stay in York

The best area to stay in York is near the York City Centre which includes Bootham, Micklegate and South Bank.

Astor York $-$$ – in a beautiful Grade II Listed Building, this hostel has both private and dorm rooms and a full kitchen to cook! – Book Astor York here on Hostelworld!

Vikings Accommodation $$ – Feel like home in York staying in a Victorian guest house close to the city centre – Find on Booking.com here!

St. Raphael Guest House $$ – Stay in a 1990 mock-Tudor building with great amenities and minutes from the city centre! – Find on Booking.com here!

The Best 1 Day York Itinerary: Things To Do in York (2024)

Now we’ll jump into our 1 day York itinerary! There’s some alternative suggestions at the end of this itinerary if you have more than 1 day in York, there are plenty of museums to keep anyone entertained for a few days!

As York is a small city, the things to do in York are very close together and it’s unlikely you’ll need transport. There’s a lot of walking involved but also at a leisurely pace! Let’s explore what to do in York!

Walk along the York City Walls

When arriving from the train station or the south-west side of York you’ll be greeted with a long stretch of medieval wall. These historic walls go all around the city centre and are connected by four ‘Bars’ in each corner. You can walk along them high above the city.

The fact that these walls still exist is amazing and makes York one of the most impressive walled cities in England and all of Europe!

Some cities such as London were removing their old medieval walls (as they were no longer needed), but York has kept most of its city walls which adds such character to the small city!

You can find the Bars here: Bootham Bar, Micklegate Bar, Monk Bar and Walmgate Bar. They’re quite easy to find when exploring the city during your one day in York.

Quick history: The original walls in York were built around 71 AD and were invaded by the Vikings who turned them into a wooden fence. This was then replaced in the 13th century with stone, which is still here and preserved today!

Browse around Shambles Market

As you enter the city, you’ll discover beautiful older buildings mixed with modern-day shops. Even Krispy Kreme has a York aesthetic! Make your way to Market Street in the centre of the walled city to find Shambles Market.

Shambles Market is open all week from 8 am-4 pm and has an array of market stalls selling artisanal food, vintage items, clothes and more. There’s a small seating area for those buying food and it’s also right next to one of the best things to do in York.

If you’re enjoying the history of York so far, take a day trip to Cambridge!

Wander through the Shambles

Right around the corner from Shambles Market is the famous historic street with impressive medieval buildings. It’s one of the most-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and you can definitely tell!

It’s our favourite spot in this 1 day York itinerary, so naturally, we revisited the Shambles a few times during the day.

Shambles actually means a meat market and the narrow street was built to create shade for the butcher shops. Although the shops have changed since the medieval days, a few of them have still kept some characteristics like shelves where meat would have been served back in the day.

We noticed a huge line for a little shop named the York Ghost Merchants. The people at the front had queued for 2 hours to enter on a busy Saturday in July – which is wild! Sadly we didn’t enter because of the long wait but get there early if you want to visit The York Ghost Merchants.

Fun Fact – It’s said that Diagon Alley in Harry Potter may have been inspired by the Shambles! Take a Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour in York! And check out our 4 Day London Itinerary to find more Harry Potter sights!

Find the Haunted Pub

At the end of the beautiful Medieval street, you’ll come across a traditional English pub painted white and black like Tudor buildings.

This building is one of the most haunted hotels in the UK and also the most haunted pub in York! It’s even possible to book a room here where some of the ghosts have been apparently sighted.

It’s said that there are 15 ghosts that still roam the hotel with the most famous being Lady Alice Peckett, the wife of the owner of the hotel, John Peckett! When stepping into the building, you can definitely feel an olden presence, even more so than other English pubs in York.

During your York one day itinerary, have a look inside the building or maybe have lunch there!

Admire the York Minster

Another one of the best things to do in York is to see the famous York Minster – a huge Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city.

The York Minster is also named the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York. The impressive building is the largest cathedral to be completed during the Gothic period in 1472 and as it’s a cathedral it holds the seat of a bishop.

When entering the Minster, you’ll be blown away by the size of the interior. Even from the outside, it’s huge! The York Minster has beautiful stained glass windows and a high roof that creates amazing acoustics.

The price to enter York Minster is currently £16 and it’s also included in the York Pass. It’s free to residents of York!

Take a break in the Museum Gardens

Wander back through the beautiful streets of York until you reach the Museum Gardens which are a free spot for everyone to enjoy. When we visited on a Saturday there was a medieval circus show going on for kids and a few food trucks!

One of the highlights of the gardens is the crumbled ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey. These walls were built in the 1260s and are some of the oldest remaining abbey walls in England!

St. Mary’s Abbey was also used as a palace for King Henry VIII when visiting York.

Explore the Yorkshire Museum

Whilst exploring the Museum Gardens, it’s hard to miss the large museum on the grounds. You can find Medieval jewels, Roman artefacts and lots of other archaeological finds! There’s also a small gift shop at the entrance.

The Yorkshire Museum suggests spending around 1-2 hours to see all the exhibits. For a York one day itinerary, we suggest just walking around the gardens and admiring the building.

Indulge in an Afternoon Tea

Whether you’re British or not, a visit to one of the best places in the UK will feel extra special with Afternoon Tea. You can buy a cup of tea from pretty much anywhere in York and some places will specify if they’re using Yorkshire Tea (a British favourite). Here’s a few places you can visit for an Afternoon Tea.

Betty’s Café Tea Rooms – One of the most famous places in York to get Afternoon Tea. You’ll see long lines to get inside and they’ve been running since 1936! – Find out more here!

Goji Cafe Vegetarian Cafe & Deli – Nestled in the streets of York is this wonderful hidden gem! We ate here for lunch and really wanted to try the Vegan Afternoon Tea, the cakes looked incredible! – Find out more here!

The Grand York Afternoon Tea – In a beautifully large hotel, an afternoon Tea will make you feel fancy! – Find out more here!

Find Clifford’s Tower

On the southeast side of York, you’ll find Clifford’s Tower standing high and mighty on a grass mound (here’s the location).

Clifford’s Tower is a 13th-century castle and there’s a small viewing deck at the top that offers 360 views of York! The price is £10 to enter if you book online, which is a little pricey, but worth doing if you have the York Pass.

The tower has some incredibly dark history as it was a hiding place for a Jewish Community who ended up committing suicide rather than being killed by a mob in York. At the time the tower was built with wood which was burnt down during the violence and was remade with stone.

Even if you don’t visit the inside, it’s really cool to see it from the outside! We also found the ‘York Sign’ here made out of grass, although it may not stick around year-round.

York Castle Museum

Right opposite Clifford Tower is the York Castle Museum. A visit inside costs around £15 and although we didn’t have time for it during our 1 day York itinerary, we would have entered as there’s some cool things to see.

The main highlight is a beautiful cobbled street with Victorian houses set up as if it was the Victorian era. There are a few interactive elements throughout the museum including antique machines (that require £1 to play)!

The York Castle Museum is definitely worth a few hours, so if it’s something you want to visit during your one day in York, make sure you don’t have to rush!

Go on a City Cruise or Walk along the River Ouse

When walking over the bridge from the train station to York City Centre, you’ll see boat cruises lined up ready to roam along the river. It’s a great way to finish up your one day in York and relax for a while! – Book your River Ouse City Cruise here!

There’s also an evening cruise if you’re spending the night in York – Find out more here. One activity we really wanted to do during our 1 day York itinerary was hire a self-steering boat and explore the river by ourselves! The weather wasn’t really in our favour so we decided to skip it, but it looks so fun!

If you’re running out of time then a simple walk from Cliffords Tower to the train station via the river will also be relaxing. The riverwalk can go quite far, so just pick a small section of it near the city centre.

Visit the National Railway Museum, York

Our day in York ended at 5 pm when we had to catch our train home back to London. An interesting way to end our one day in York was a quick visit to the National Railway Museum. It closes at 5 pm every day and is right next to the main train station in York.

The National Railway Museum is free to enter (one of the only free museums in York) and a great place to visit if you love trains and history!

The museum has a large showcase of steam trains, diesel trains, and electric engines & carriages. There’s even a carriage over 170 years old!

More things to do in York

Even though we’ve listed many of the best things to do in York in our itinerary, there are still a few spots that might interest you if you have extra time or want to switch things around. Here’s more of what to do in York:

• Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour – Discover filming locations and any spots of inspiration in York by Book your tickets here!
• York Chocolate Story – Make your own chocolate during a tour – Book a slot on GetYourGuide here!
• The York Dungeon – Book your tickets in advance here for a cheaper price!
• Witches and History Old Town Walking Tour in York – Find out more details here!
• York Ghost Bus Tour (Comedy Horror Show) – Perfect for the Autumn season – Find tickets here!
• JORVIK Viking Centre – A history museum and experience more suited for families with children!

Best Places to Eat in York

York has a huge variety of great places to eat: from pubs to fine dining, cosy cafes to pastry shops and everyone’s favourite chain restaurants. You won’t be hungry on your York one day itinerary.

Best Restaurants in York

• The Orchid Vegan Restaurant $$ – an incredible all-vegan Chinese restaurant (location)
• Goji Cafe Vegetarian Cafe & Deli $ – Fresh healthy food & cakes! (website) (location)
• Döner Summer $-$$ – A fully vegan junk food spot! (website) (location)
• Herbivorous Vegan $-$$ – Located in a Spark food market, also vegan junk food (location)
• Zaap Thai Street Food York $-$$ – A funky little Thai restaurant! (location)

Best Places to Grab a Snack in York

• The Cornish Bakery $ – Grab a pasty instead of a Greggs sausage roll! (location)
• Doe Bakehouse $ – Huge doughnuts with vegan options! (location)
• Double Dutch Pancake House $-$$ – The best brunch treat! (location)

When it comes to chain restaurants we also recommend Yo! Sushi for some quick sushi on the go, Wagamama or Zizzi!

How to get to York

York in Northeast England and located in the county of North Yorkshire! There are great transport links into the city or as always you can always drive there.

• By train: Trains to York bring you to York train station which is conveniently right next to the city centre.
• By bus: Check out Megabus, National Express and FlixBus for journeys around the UK. They’re not as fast as trains but are sometimes a lot cheaper!
• By vehicle: It’s likely you’ll have to pay for parking unless you park somewhere residential.
• By flight: York doesn’t have its own airport but Leeds-Bradford International Airport is the closest one to get to. You may find cheaper flights into London or Manchester and get a train to York.

How to get from London to York

The best way to get from London to York is by train! There are multiple direct trains that only take 2 hours and drop you off right minutes away from York city centre.

How to get better prices for trains in the UK? Book your train tickets in advance! Advance singles save so much money compared to a normal off-peak return. Also if you’re from the UK, check if a Railcard is worth it and you’ll save 1/3 of your fare! Check for railcards here!

How to get around York

York is a lovely small city, so the best way to get around is by walking! There’s also a City Sightseeing York Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour which is another great way to get around York if you’re – Find more details here!

Is the York Pass worth it?

If you’re spending 2 days in York and want to do a lot of the activities York has to offer, then a York Pass may save you money! It’s really easy to work out if it’s worth buying – but double-check the prices online as everything is increasing these days!

Here’s a few of the activities that are included in the York Pass (there are a lot more, but these are some of the ones mentioned in this York one-day itinerary)

• York Minster ( £16)
• Yorkshire Museum (£9.50)
• City Cruises (£12.50)
• Cliffords Tower (£10)
• The Treasurers House (£9.50)
• York Cocoa Works (£19)
• The York Dungeon (£21) – (or book on GetYourGuide here)!
• Jorvik Viking Centre (£15)
• York Castle Museum (£15)

All of this comes to around £128.00 and to be honest it’s going to be really hard to complete all these activities in 1 day and maybe 2 days. Just add up some of the activities you want to do and see if it’s worth getting the pass for your York itinerary!

Currently, the 1 Day York Pass is £59.00 for an adult and a 2 day York Pass is £75.00 – Find out more about the York Pass here and if you have a discount code for GetYourGuide, you may be able to get cheaper tickets here – York City Pass with GetYourGuide!

What to pack for a 1 day York itinerary

Before travelling to York, think about the season and double-check the weather before your visit. We visited York in July and it still rained! Here’s a few travel essentials that we bring on our trips, especially in the UK!

• A reusable water bottle – a must when travelling anywhere!
• Wireless earbuds – the best for long journeys in the UK.
• Comfortable day backpack – this one has so many compartments for organising!
• Portable power bank – charge your phone on the go.
• A compact umbrella – another must when visiting the UK.
• A raincoat – for the unpredictable UK weather.
• Packing cubes – if you’re staying more than one day in York, these are so helpful.
• A padlock – for any lockers.

Planning a 1 Day York Itinerary

Here are some helpful links to plan your York one day itinerary:

• Check for any public holidays on your date of visit (Find out when the public holidays are)!
• If you’re taking the train, double-check for train strikes!
• Book your flights – check Skyscanner prices here to the UK (London, Leeds or Manchester Airport)
• Book your train tickets in advance on Trainline!
• Get Travel Insurance – Find out more here!
• Book your accommodation on Hostelworld here or on Booking.com here!
• Where to stay in York: St. Raphael Guest House ££ – Find on Booking.com here!

Best Time to Visit York

York is an all-year-round destination with different festivals for every season, however, the weather is unpredictable in the UK. Ultimately, the best time to visit York is between April and October.

In the summer months, the weather is usually warm and sunny with sprinkles of rain. However July and August are the busiest months of the year which makes accommodation prices go up! We visited in early July and it rained on and off during our York itinerary but it was still great!

Also check for bank holiday weekends, as these days can get very busy with most of the country off of work – find out when they are here!

More guides in the United Kingdom:

• 4 Days in London Itinerary & things to know before visiting London
• 3 Day Edinburgh Itinerary & 1 Day Scottish Highlands Road Trip
• Bristol Day Trip from London & Free things to do in Bristol
• 1 Day Cambridge Itinerary
• How to Climb Snowdon, Wales
• Brighton Itinerary: Best Things To Do

Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world!

That’s the end of our The Best 1 Day York Itinerary: Things To Do (2024)! Have a lovely time exploring York and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!