BritStays
York

Photo: FEGreene (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Things to do in York

Wondering what to do in York? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip.

Aquariums

Attractions & Visitor Centres

The York Dungeon

0.3 mi from York

The York Dungeon

The York Dungeon is a live, interactive theatrical tour through York's dark history, featuring ten actor-led shows, special effects, jump scares and encounters with characters such...

Museums & Galleries

Yorkshire Museum

0.1 mi from York

Yorkshire Museum

The Yorkshire Museum sits in York's Museum Gardens, built over the remains of St Mary's Abbey, parts of which can still be seen in its basement. Opened in 1830 for the Yorkshire Ph...

✓ ✓
Barley Hall

0.2 mi from York

Barley Hall

Barley Hall is a reconstructed medieval townhouse in the city of York, England. It was built around 1360 by the monks of Nostell Priory near Wakefield and extended in the 15th cent... — Wikipedia

York Minster Undercroft

0.2 mi from York

York Minster Undercroft

Museum in York Minster, York, England, United Kingdom

✓
Micklegate Bar Museum

0.3 mi from York

Micklegate Bar Museum

York in the time of Henry VII.

York Saint Mary's

0.3 mi from York

York Saint Mary's

York St Mary's is a medieval church in York, now run by York Museums Trust as a contemporary art venue, currently hosting Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. The building could dat...

Jorvik Viking Centre

0.3 mi from York

Jorvik Viking Centre

Jorvik Viking Centre is a museum and visitor attraction in York, England, containing lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city. Visitors are take... — Wikipedia

✓ ✓
York's Chocolate Story

0.3 mi from York

York's Chocolate Story

York's Chocolate Story is an indoor museum and guided tour attraction in York city centre, tracing 4000 years of chocolate history from ancient cocoa origins to the city's founding...

✓ ✓ ✓
Bar Convent Museum

0.4 mi from York

Bar Convent Museum

Bar Convent Museum in York is the UK's oldest living convent, established in 1686 at a time when being Catholic was illegal. You can explore its rich history through an exhibition...

York Army Museum

0.4 mi from York

York Army Museum

York Army Museum, in York city centre, houses the collections of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Royal Dragoon Guards, spanning over 300 years of British mi...

✓ ✓
Fairfax House Museum

0.4 mi from York

Fairfax House Museum

Fairfax House is a historic Georgian townhouse in the heart of York, with over 250 years of history to explore. Inside, you'll find the Noel Terry collection of furniture, clocks,...

✓ ✓
Merchant Adventurers' Hall

0.4 mi from York

Merchant Adventurers' Hall

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is a Grade I listed medieval guild hall at the heart of York, established over 660 years ago and still cared for by the York Merchant Adventurers Com...

✓ ✓ ✓
National Railway Museum

0.4 mi from York

National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum in York is a museum dedicated to the story of railways, past, present and future. You can explore interactive exhibits at Wonderlab, try a Virtual Reali...

✓ ✓
York Castle Museum

0.5 mi from York

York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum is a museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England, on the site of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. The museum it... — Wikipedia

✓
Quilters' Guild

0.5 mi from York

Quilters' Guild

Museum collection in York, United Kingdom

Kohima Museum

1.3 mi from York

Kohima Museum

Military museum in York, England, United Kingdom

✓ ✓
Yorkshire Museum of Farming

3.1 mi from York

Yorkshire Museum of Farming

The Yorkshire Museum of Farming forms part of Murton Park, a 14-acre site near York combining agricultural history, animals, play areas, a railway and living history reconstruction...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Craven's Motorcycle Museum

3.7 mi from York

Craven's Motorcycle Museum

Craven's Motorcycle Museum is a classic motorbike collection at Brockfield Villa in Stockton on Forest, near York, run by R. Craven. Inside you'll find over 200 machines on show sp...

Catton Heritage Museum

6.6 mi from York

Catton Heritage Museum

Catton Heritage Museum is an unusual small-scale attraction: a derelict telephone box, restored by specialists and converted inside into a miniature heritage museum. Rather than si...

Burnby Hall Museum

12.9 mi from York

Burnby Hall Museum

The Stewart Museum tells the story of Major Percy Stewart and the eight World Tours he made between 1906 and 1926, often with his wife Katharine, visiting every continent and colle...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Aldborough Roman Site Museum

15 mi from York

Aldborough Roman Site Museum

Aldborough Roman Site Museum sits on the site of Isurium Brigantum, once capital of the Romanised Brigantes, the largest tribal confederation in Roman Britain. You can explore rema...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mother Shipton's Museum and Gift Shop

15.8 mi from York

Mother Shipton's Museum and Gift Shop

Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, is a historic museum and gift shop set within a riverside woodland park. You can explore the cave linked to the legendary p...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Tudor Courthouse Museum

15.8 mi from York

Tudor Courthouse Museum

Museum building in Knaresborough, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, UK

✓ ✓
Shandy Hall

16.3 mi from York

Shandy Hall

Shandy Hall is a Grade I listed, mid-15th-century house in Coxwold where the writer Laurence Sterne lived from 1760 to 1768 and wrote much of his work. Now a lived-in museum, it ce...

✓ ✓

Theme Parks

Web Adventure Park

2.6 mi from York

Web Adventure Park

The Web Adventure Park is a family theme park in Wigginton, near York, offering a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions under one ticket, including an adventure park, role play are...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Murton Park

3.1 mi from York

Murton Park

Murton Park is a 14-acre attraction near York combining the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, a railway, animals, play areas and living history sites. You can explore the Roman Fort and...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Diggerland Yorkshire

20.6 mi from York

Diggerland Yorkshire

Diggerland Yorkshire is a theme park in Castleford, Wakefield, where visitors of all ages can ride, drive and operate real diggers in a family-friendly setting. There's also a two-...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ +2
Flamingo Land

20.7 mi from York

Flamingo Land

Flamingo Land is a combined theme park and zoo set in Yorkshire's parkland, offering eight themed areas of rides alongside 140 species of reptiles, mammals and birds. You can enjoy...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Lightwater Valley

24.5 mi from York

Lightwater Valley

Lightwater Valley is a family adventure park set within 175 acres of North Yorkshire countryside, offering over 35 rides and attractions ranging from fun-filled thrills to much-lov...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Go Ape Dalby

27.4 mi from York

Go Ape Dalby

Go Ape Dalby is a high ropes and zip wire adventure set in Dalby Forest in the North York Moors. You can tackle the original Treetop Challenge, with wobbly bridges, a cross-valley...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Water Parks

Zoos & Wildlife

Tropical World

18.9 mi from York

Tropical World

Tropical World in Leeds takes you on a journey through rainforest, mangrove and desert habitats, where you can meet meerkats, monkeys, crocodiles and butterflies. Wander through th...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Monk Park Farm

20 mi from York

Monk Park Farm

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre

24.5 mi from York

Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre

Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre, set in the North Yorkshire countryside near Newsham with Breckenbrough, is home to around 100 birds from over 50 species, including owls, vultures, eag...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre

29.6 mi from York

Bird of Prey and Mammal Centre

The Bird of Prey & Mammal Centre sits within the Walled Garden at Thorp Perrow, about a 10-minute walk from the entrance. You can meet close to 100 birds from around the world, fro...

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Where to stay near York

Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.

More around York

Plan it day by day

Create a free account and hit "Save to my trip" on anything below — then assign each one to a day of your holiday so the whole week is sorted before you pack. And if you haven't booked yet, see our guide to holidays in York for the best places to stay.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in York?

The list below shows attractions nearby with distances from York.

What can we do in York when it rains?

Museums, galleries and aquariums are your friends — filter the list below by category and keep a couple in reserve for wet days.

More ways to explore

Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in York.