Free Things To Do In York

York is a gorgeous, historic city surrounded by medieval walls. With its cobbled lanes, Gothic cathedral and a shopping street that dates back to the Domesday book this compact city is the perfect place for a short break.

Come rain or shine, there are plenty of free things to do in York so we have complied a list of some of our favourites to help you stick to a budget, while still fully enjoying this beautiful city.

Walk The Walls

One of my favourite things about York was walking the city walls and its completely FREE. You can access the walls at various points around the city and it takes about 2hours to go all the way around. However, in certain places you have to leave the walls and walk along a main road (not very picturesque), so I would advise just choosing a section.

My favourite section was from Micklegate Bar, which is considered the most impressive gate house and is also where the severed heads of traitors were displayed, to Monk Bar. From here if you follow the walls towards the railway station you will pass the iconic Grand Hotel, cross over the River Ouse and have the option of visiting the Museum Gardens on your way.

After the Museum Gardens, you can then rejoin the walls at Bootham Bar and this section of the walls gives you views towards York Minster and you can also peek into the gardens of the houses that sit inside the walls.

When you get to Monk Bar, the walls stop for a while, as this area used to be a large body of water and marsh land. If you are not planning on walking the entire way round I suggest getting off here and either visiting York Minster or heading towards The Shambles.

Stroll Down The Shambles

The Shambles is one of the most popular tourist spots in York so, if visiting at the weekend, try to go early in the morning before the crowds. We first attempted strolling down The Shambles on a Saturday afternoon and it was more of a shuffle than a stroll and we aborted half way through as there were so many people. We returned early on Sunday morning, and although it was still busy, we were able to wander in and out of the intriguing little shops and it was a much more enjoyable experience.

If you are a Harry Potter fan then you will be interested to know that The Shambles provided the inspiration for the film version of Diagon Alley. It is also now home to a few Harry Potter and wizard themed shops such as The Shop That Must Not Be Named, The Potions Caldron and The Society Of Alchemists. Don’t worry if you are not a Harry Potter fan then there are still lots of shops you might like, particular favourites of mine are the Nutcracker Christmas Shop and Monk Bar Chocolatiers.

Explore The Snickets And Snickleways

The words snickets and snickleways are Yorkshire slang for alley ways. In the centre of York, near The Shambles, these tiny alley ways criss cross the city and are used as short cuts to get around. Its fun just to follow one of these snickets and see where you end up. You often find the most interesting hidden gems this way.

Lady Peckett’s Yard is supposedly one of York’s most haunted snickleways. Another interesting snicket to visit is Pope’s Head Alley between High Ousegate and Peter Lane which is York’s narrowest alley at only 2.5ft wide!

Not classed as a snicket but still of interest is Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate, York’s shortest street. It’s name translates to ‘neither one thing nor another’ and in the Middle Ages it was the site of the city’s stocks and a whipping post.

Learn Something New At Museums And Galleries

York is home to a selection of museums, with something to interest everyone, and luckily some of them are completely FREE!

National Railway Museum

Even if you are not a train enthusiast, then the National Railway Museum is still not to be missed. You can explore over 200 years of history and find out how rail travel has changed and shaped the world we live in.

Some of the highlights are sitting in a Shinkansen carriage (the only Bullet Train outside of Japan) and seeing the fastest steam train in the world, The Mallard. There is also a large model railway, a small playground and a miniature railway ride to keep the kids entertained.

York Art Gallery

York Art Gallery was transformed back in 2015 when it received a £8 million redevelopment. As you wander around you may spot art work by L.S. Lowry, Turner and Hockney, just to name a few, but the real selling point is its huge collection of ceramic art. It houses some of the best ceramic art in the world and is home to the Centre of Ceramic Art showcasing British Studio Ceramics.

As well as the beautiful art within this gallery it also has the Artists Garden and Edible Wood to the rear, which you can explore before heading to the rest of the Museum Gardens.

Relax In The Museum Gardens

The Museum Gardens are right next to York Art Gallery and offer a lovely rest bite from the busy city. As you enter, there is a little outdoor cafe where you can grab a coffee or a bite to eat and enjoy the beautifully manicured gardens. The first thing you notice is one of the biggest attractions in the Museum Gardens, the impressive 13th century remains of St Mary’s Abbey but wander further into the gardens and you will find the 3rd Multiangular Tower (dating to Roman times) and the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital.

For kids its a great space to let off some energy and they have a Squirrel’s Trail which leads you around the garden visiting its hidden treasures.

Amble Along The Ouse

The Ouse is the main river in York and has some lovely pubs, restaurants and cafes situated alongside it allowing you to soak up the views and sunshine if you are lucky. If you feel like stretching your legs a little, start at King’s Staith near Skeldergate Bridge (on the same side as the city) and head towards Millennium Bridge. Cross over this pedestrian bridge and head back towards the city centre on the other side of the river passing Rowntree’s Park on your way. This is the largest park in York and has a big adventure playground, tennis courts, skatepark and a great cafe. Definitely worth a stop during your walk!

Look Out For Events

There is always something going on in York, from street performers to fun festivals. While we visited the annual food festival was on, which was a feast for the senses and very hard to resist, and there was also a Ghosts In The Garden Trail with 45 ghostlike sculptures to discover throughout the city’s beautiful public gardens. Check out York’s BID website here for their upcoming events.