One day in York

Day by day

1. Day 1: York Minster and The Shambles

   York Minster, The Shambles, Treasurer's House and Holy Trinity Goodramgate, then Evening ghost walk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      York Minster

      Climb the central tower early, before the narrow stairs fill, and return for Evensong to hear the choir for free. Allow 2–3 hours with the tower.

   2. Late morning

      The Shambles

      Visit early in the morning or in the evening, when the street is quiet enough to see the buildings properly. Allow 30 minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Yorkshire pudding

      Pubs and restaurants serving Sunday roasts across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Treasurer's House

      Ask the guides about the cellar ghost story, and enjoy the small garden facing the Minster. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      Holy Trinity Goodramgate

      Look for the small gateway on Goodramgate; many visitors walk straight past it. Allow 20 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Evening ghost walk

      Most walks set off around dusk without booking; bring cash or check whether card payment is accepted.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in JORVIK Viking Centre (Coppergate): Book a timed ticket online; walk-up queues can be long, especially in school holidays.
• Swap in National Railway Museum (Leeman Road): Walk from the station via the footbridge in about 10 minutes, and check for turntable demonstrations on arrival.
• Swap in York Castle Museum (Castle Area): Start with Kirkgate, then visit the prison cells; children enjoy both.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–6 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.4 hours in December to 17.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Most sights inside the walls are within 10 minutes of each other, and the walls themselves are a walking route around the city.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in York
• 3 days in York

Questions travellers ask