UPDATED MARCH 2022! As one of the most popular destinations in the North of England, York sees huge crowds of tourists every year. Having lived in York for a year and a half 3.5 years over 5 years now (!!), I love living here and having so much to explore in my own backyard! Being such a famous destination to visit can mean that prices for a lot of attractions are pretty expensive. But despite that, there are still lots of things to do in York that won’t break the bank. Here are 20 things to do in York that are absolutely FREE!

Interested in a FREE 10-page York Mini Guide? Included in this York Mini Guide are: The top experiences and things to do in the city Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs) The best daytrips outside the city An itinerary for how to spend 3 days in York Click here to get your free copy!

1) Stroll through Museum Gardens

Museum Gardens is my favorite place in York—it looks especially beautiful in the spring when the flowers bloom! It’s absolutely free to visit, and there’s a lot to see. You can see the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, which date to 1294, and explore the crypt of the old St. Leonard’s Hospital by Explore Library. You can also see the Multangular Tower, one of the remaining towers of the Roman fort, Eboracum, and the black-and-white Hospitium (although it’s only open for weddings and events). All of these things are must-sees in York, it’s one of the most Instagrammable places in the city, and it’s all free! My top tip? Bring a picnic lunch when the weather is nice!

2) National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is the largest train museum of its kind in the country. You could easily spend most of a day here, exploring the different trains, going through the different exhibits, and learning about their history. Best of yet, the National Railway Museum is completely free! This is also one of the best things to do in York with kids.

3) York Observatory

Yorkshire’s oldest Observatory was built in 1832, and its conical roof is a feature in Museum Gardens. The Observatory houses a large telescope built by Thomas Cook. It was nearly demolished in the early 1980s, but £50,000 was raised by the public to save it. Unfortunately, the Observatory has very limited opening hours as its run by volunteers. It’s typically open from 11:30am-2:00pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. The Observatory is free though—there’s no entrance fee to go inside when it’s open!

4) York’s Edible Wood

Tucked behind York Art Gallery is York’s Edible Wood. This garden was created in July 2015, to explore peoples’ relation with permaculture and our relationship with food. All of the plants in the Edible Wood are (you guessed it!) edible, although generally they ask not to actually pick the plants. As the Edible Wood is connected to Museum Gardens, it is free to visit!

5) Attend a service at York Minster

Visiting York Minster will cost you—general admission is about £10, with tower tour tickets going up to £15. However, the Minster is still a working and fully operational church. If you want to have a look inside but don’t want to throw down a bunch of money, you can visit for a service—there’s never a charge for services! Although you’ll miss out on many of the highlights of the building, you’ll get to attend a service in a beautiful atmosphere.

6) Visit any of York’s smaller churches

While York Minster does cost money to visit, you can drop by any of York’s other smaller churches for free. Some of my favorites of York’s smaller churches are St. Olave’s Church, Holy Trinity Goodramgate, St. Michael le Belfrey, and Holy Trinity Micklegate.

7) Watch Street Performers

As York sees loads of tourists (especially on weekends), there are always street performers in the city center. All the street theater or music is completely free—although performers always appreciate tips. Some of the best spots for street performers are outside York Minster, on Petergate, and in King’s Square. Man With Big Balls (who called me out for taking the above photo and posed for me!) is one of my favorites!

8) Attend a Theme Festival

York has so much history it seems to overflow everywhere you go. One of the best times to visit York is during one of the big festivals! The Viking Festival lasts for a week every year at the end of February. Romans take over the town for the Roman Festival the first weekend in June. In February, you can take part in the York Ice Trail and visit ice sculptures around the city. The first Sunday of the summer months, Fossgate turns into a big street party for Fossgate Festival. All of these festivals have free activities you can participate in!

9) Go on a Free Walking Tour

There are several different organizations that run free walking tours in York. The Association of Voluntary Guides run tours that start outside York Art Gallery in Exhibition Square (daily at 10:15am and 1:15pm). White Rose tours start from outside the Minster (daily at 11:00am, and 3:00pm April-October). Every Sunday, there’s a free 1-hour Museum Gardens walking tour at 1:00pm. There are a few other free companies, but those are the main ones. While tips are always appreciated by guides, the tours themselves are free!

10) Walk along the River Ouse

One of the main rivers running through York, the River Ouse (pronounced “ooze” as in “booze”) is a wonderful place for a stroll when the weather’s nice. You can do a loop from Skeldergate Bridge to Lendal Bridge in the town center (cut up Coney Street when on the east side of the river). It’s very popular with runners and cyclists!

11) Walk the City Walls

One of York’s main attractions are its spectacular set of medieval walls, surrounding the town center. While most of the walls date back to the 13^th century, some sections date back to the Romans in 70 AD! There are 4 main gates (called bars) to the city: Micklegate, Walmgate, Monkgate, and Bootham Bar. The full circuit is 2 miles, although the best stretch is arguably from Bootham to Monkgate—the views over to the Minster are spectacular. The walls are open from dawn to dusk, but may be closed in bad weather. They are completely free and one thing you absolutely must do in York!

Interested in a FREE 10-page York Mini Guide? Included in this York Mini Guide are: The top experiences and things to do in the city Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs) The best daytrips outside the city An itinerary for how to spend 3 days in York Click here to get your free copy!

12) Admire the views from the Barbican at Gatehouse Coffee

Tucked inside Walmgate bar is one of my favorite cafes in the city, Gatehouse Coffee. It’s housed in the medieval barbican, which underwent restoration in the Victorian period. You can go out along the walls of the barbican, although to be polite it’s best to ask if that’s okay before going out. It’s free to do this, although I definitely recommend stopping for a chai latte or a treat here!

13) Explore the Snickelways

I’ve already written a big blog post on York’s best snickelways, the winding, narrow passageways and hidden alleys and snickets around the city. Some of the best are Lady Peckett’s Yard, Coffee Yard, Horn Pot Lane, and Hole in the Wall to Precentor’s Court. It’s one of the best free things to do in York.

14) Walk down the Shambles

One of York’s main attractions is the medieval shopping street called the Shambles. With a mention in the Domesday Book in 1086, the street is one of the oldest in Europe! It was supposedly the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, and with the narrow, cobblestone street, and the overhanging buildings, you can see why! This is one of York’s most famous snickelways, and one place you absolutely must see. It’s free as long as you don’t buy anything!

15) Wander through the Markets

York is home to a variety of markets, all of which are free unless you purchase anything. Shambles Market is on everyday, and there are markets or festivals on Parliament Street nearly every weekend. If you’re visiting the city during St. Nicholas’ Fair in December, you can explore York’s Christmas market!

16) Window shop around town

Window shopping is always free as long as you don’t buy anything! York is full of small, local, independent businesses which tourists and locals alike love. Stonegate—an old, medieval, pedestrianized street—is the main shopping street in the city center. Gillygate and Bishopthorpe Road are also big shopping areas for independent stores. Coney Street is the city center’s main hub for high street, chain businesses.

17) Enjoy the Gardens at Treasurer’s House and Merchant Adventurer’s Hall

While both the Treasurer’s House and the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall charge admission prices to go inside and visit, they both have spectacular gardens outside. The gardens are absolutely free to relax and enjoy! The gardens are only open when the sites are open though, so do check in advance during the slower winter season.

18) Stroll through Dean Park and enjoy the views

Dean Park is the large, green, spacious park surrounding York Minster. The views of both the Minster and the City Walls are wonderful from here, and it’s free to visit! The park is at its prettiest in the spring, when there are crocus flowers planted around. Dean Park is generally open from dawn to dusk.

19) Explore Rowntree Park

Located just outside York’s city center is Rowntree Park. This is a beautiful park with lots to see and do—playgrounds for kids, fields for sports, a large pond, and even its own café! Like all the parks, it’s 100% free and doesn’t cost anything at all. You can easily walk here from Skeldergate Bridge on the west side of the River Ouse (it’s well sign-posted).

20) Marvel at the architecture in York Train Station

York Station is one of the most beautiful in the country—the clock near the footbridge is particularly stunning! The train station was actually used as a film location in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as a stand-in for King’s Cross (Hagrid and Harry walked across the pedestrian bridge before he boarded the Hogwarts Express). The train station is free to visit and there are no ticket barriers in operation. It’s also home to some of the only free toilets in the city center!

Planning Your Trip

York is just two hours away from London by train, making it an easy daytrip or long weekend away. I always use Trainline to find the best deals for train tickets. The closest airport to York is Leeds-Bradford, although the most convenient is Manchester since there’s a direct train from Manchester Airport to York. I always use Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Planning on staying overnight in York? I’d recommend the following places:

• Budget: Safestay York or The Fort Boutique Hostel
• Mid-range: Hotel Indigo or Galtres Lodge
• Luxury: The Grand

You can book hostels in York here, and check out hotels in York here!

Booking.com

 

While York isn’t necessarily a cheap travel destination in England, there are plenty of free things to do in the city that won’t break the bank! I hope this helps in planning a budget trip to York!

Have you ever been to York?! Did you do any of these free things?

You might also like my other posts:

18 Hidden Gems to See in York

The Best Snickelways in York

A Complete Guide to the Best Instagram Spots in York

The Best Walks in and Around York, England

The Best Bars and Pubs in York, England

The Best Cafes and Coffee Shops in York, England

The Best Restaurants in York, England

Quintessential Yorkshire: The Best 4 Daytrips From York

All of my York posts!

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