York’s historic city walls reveal more than 2,000 years of urban development. For anyone looking to explore the city, they offer a special starting point: history is visible not only in individual collections but also in buildings and places connected with different periods of York’s past.
City Walls, Minster and Viking-Age York
The walking route along York’s city walls runs above the city centre and is free to access on foot year-round. Check access arrangements before your visit, as opening times may change. It takes about 20 minutes to walk across the centre of York, which is considered especially easy to explore on foot. There is also an audio trail app for the city walls.
The Fishergate Postern Tower offers a different visitor experience: it opens to the public on selected days of the year. Check the visiting days in advance. This makes it easier to plan a stop there, while the city wall walk offers an independent way to engage with York’s history on foot.
At York Minster, medieval architecture and cathedral spaces meet insights into Roman roots and the Minster’s role in Viking-Age York. Guided tours uncover stories embedded in the cathedral’s stonework and stained glass; check tour availability before your visit. The Tower Challenge involves climbing 275 steps to the highest point in York and offers views across the city and surrounding countryside. Check availability and conditions for this activity in advance, too.
At the JORVIK Viking Centre, you can encounter York’s Viking-Age past at a real archaeological site: archaeologists excavated houses, workshops and backyards belonging to the city of Jorvik here. Reconstructed streets depict life in 10th-century York. The excavation site and the city portrayed offer two distinct ways to engage with this period.
Collections, Gardens and Further Discoveries
The Yorkshire Museum’s archaeological collection comprises nearly one million objects, ranging from the earliest prehistoric finds to the 20th century. Most of the Roman, Anglian, Anglo-Saxon, Viking-Age and medieval objects come from York and Yorkshire. The museum stands among the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey and preserves architectural and monastic materials from the abbey, including life-size 12th-century statues.
York Museum Gardens also bring nature and history together in their own way. The gardens were laid out in the 1830s. Their collections include trees, shrubs, perennials and bulb plants; the medieval ruins of St Mary’s Abbey lie alongside them. Visitors can also explore various plant species, wildlife and historic landmarks.
The National Railway Museum looks at the past, present and future of railways. It offers insights into more than 300 years of railway history, as well as family-friendly science shows, storytelling events and an indoor play area. As facilities and programmes may change, check in advance which activities are currently scheduled.
At York Art Gallery, internationally significant collections span more than 600 years, alongside a major collection of British studio ceramics. Exhibitions and displays may change. York’s Chocolate Story presents York as the historic chocolate capital of the United Kingdom and offers tastings with master chocolatiers. Details of this visitor experience may also change.
On Foot, by Bike and on the Water
The York to Riccall Path is a shared route for walking and cycling. If you’d rather experience York from the water, consider the York Sightseeing Cruise: the trip through the centre is accompanied by live commentary from local boat skippers. Check the timetable and availability in advance.
York has six Park & Ride services for visitors arriving by car. Visitors can leave their cars free of charge in secure car parks and continue by bus to the city centre. As service conditions may change, check the latest information before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Hessay, Acaster Malbis, Copmanthorpe, Huntington, Knapton, Rufforth, Strensall.
View the broader travel guide: Yorkshire And The Humber.
