Month guide · York · United Kingdom
York in February
What February is really like in York: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter K Burian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
February is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 1°C (34°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Chilly, but the JORVIK Viking Festival brings battle re-enactments and markets during the school half-term.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 1°C (34°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in February
February is the 10th-warmest month in York: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 1°C (34°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 28 days. Compared with January (7°C (45°F)), February is about as warm; by March highs climb to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 07:24
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:13
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Christmas markets and Minster carols in December, then cold, quiet weeks and the JORVIK Viking Festival in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, February rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in February
- JORVIK Viking Festival (usually mid to late February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, 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 8°C, lows near 1°C and 9 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February 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 February a good time to visit York?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Chilly, but the JORVIK Viking Festival brings battle re-enactments and markets during the school half-term.
+How warm is York in February?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F).
+Does it rain a lot in York in February?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.