Month guide · York · United Kingdom
York in August
What August is really like in York: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 21°C (70°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 14.8 hours of daylight. Summer holidays and the Ebor Festival bring the year's biggest crowds and highest hotel prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 21°C (70°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in York: days average 21°C (70°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with July (22°C (72°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 05:43
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:35
- Daylight
- About 14.8 hours
Summer (June–August). Long, warm days, river cruises and race meetings, but the biggest crowds and highest prices, especially around the Ebor Festival.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Ebor Festival — the biggest race meeting of the year at York Racecourse (usually mid to late August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Gallery · Exhibition Square
York Art Gallery
On Exhibition Square below Bootham Bar, the gallery holds paintings from the 14th century to the present and the Centre of Ceramic Art, one of Britain's largest collections of studio pottery.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Minster Quarter
Treasurer's House
Ask the guides about the cellar ghost story, and enjoy the small garden facing the Minster.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Castle Area
Fairfax House
A Georgian townhouse on Castlegate designed by John Carr, with some of the finest 18th-century plasterwork in the city, furnished with a collection of Georgian furniture and clocks.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · City Centre
York City Walls
Walk the stretch from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar for the best Minster views; the full circuit takes about two hours.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 21°C, lows near 12°C and 10 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit York?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
York in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit York?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Summer holidays and the Ebor Festival bring the year's biggest crowds and highest hotel prices.
+How warm is York in August?
Average highs are around 21°C (70°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in York in August?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.