One of the things I love most about living in York is the easy access to the outdoors. Within an hour, I can be in the North York Moors or the Yorkshire Dales. In two hours, I can be in the Peak District, and within three hours, I can be in the Lake District. But it’s also nice to explore close to home—in this case, more or less my own backyard! It’s easily one of the best walks around York. I walked from York city center along the River Ouse to Bishopthorpe on a sunny spring day. It was a great walk and a perfect way to get out of the hustle and bustle of York on a weekend!

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Walking From York to Bishopthorpe

The walk from York to Bishopthorpe is just over 3 miles. Round-trip, it’s approximately 6.5 miles total. It took me a total of 3 hours, including almost an hour at the pub in Bishopthorpe. It’s a great option for a car-free walk from York.

It’s easiest to get on the walk from the riverside path along the Ouse. If you’re in York city center, walk past Skeldergate Bridge, keeping the river on your left. You can also cut across the river from Fulford over Millennium Bridge.

Either way, you’ll pass Rowntree Park as you do. It’s a great park, with a pond, café, playground, everything. The path is well-marked and easy to follow.

You’ll move away from the river after a good 20 minutes, and cross a large field in the York Racecourse area. Not long after, you’ll pass under the main A64 highway bridge.

Continue on next to the River Ouse. Eventually, the path will veer to the right, and you’ll come out on a main road. You can follow this street all the way into the main part of the village of Bishopthorpe!

Arriving in Bishopthorpe

Bishopthorpe is a small village and there isn’t loads to see here. The main draw is the Bishopthorpe Palace. This was the biggest reason I wanted to go! Bishopthorpe Palace is the official residence of the Archbishop of York—unfortunately because of this, it’s not open to the public. It has been the residence of the Archbishop of York since the 13^th-century.

While Bishopthorpe Palace is closed, you can still go and see the palace gatehouse! I loved seeing this gorgeous historical structure. It was spring when I did this walk, and there were some beautiful flowers blooming.

Of course if you’ve walked all the way to Bishopthorpe, you certainly deserve a pint! The Ebor Inn is a Sam Smith’s pub in the heart of Bishopthorpe. They’ve got an absolutely huge beer garden (including a playground for kids) and while I didn’t have any food, it looked amazing. Definitely make a stop here while in Bishopthorpe!

Back to York

The route back to York takes the same path. Re-trace your steps along the River Ouse back past Rowntree Park. Like I said, it took me about 3 hours to do the walk, including 1 hour spent at the pub. So estimate to spend about 1 hour each way walking to and from Bishopthorpe. If you only want to walk one-way, you can take the bus back to York from Bishopthorpe. You’ll want Bus 11 from Monday-Saturday, or Bus 500 on a Sunday.

If you’re looking to visit York, you’ll be spoiled for places to stay. I recommend using Hostelworld for hostels, and Booking.com for hotels. You can also sign up to and search Airbnb for accommodation here! Whether you’re visiting for a day, a weekend, or part of a larger trip, York is well-connected by train. I always recommend booking train tickets well in advance through Trainline if possible (particularly if you’re coming from London). 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.

This was an excellent short walk to do from York! I love living in York and there is SO much to do and see in the city. But it’s also nice to get outdoors and go for a walk! The walk from Bishopthorpe to York is well-signposted and very easy to follow—I don’t think you’d be able to get lost. Walking to Bishopthorpe isn’t strenuous or too far of a distance, and it’s a great way to get away from the city!

Have you ever done the York to Bishopthorpe walk? What was your experience like?!

You might also like all my York posts! And:

The Best Walks in and Around York, England

The Best Car-Free Walks From York, England

18 Hidden Gems to See in York

20 Things to Do in York That Are Absolutely Free!

The Best Snickelways in York

The Best Hikes in the North York Moors

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