Best things to do in York
The top 3 according to 35 votes from people: JORVIK Viking Centre · The Shambles · National Railway Museum. (Updated Sep 29, 2026.)
The Minster, the Shambles and city walls: York's highlights according to TripAdvisor and UK travel bloggers.
Top 10
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1
JORVIK Viking Centre
Ride through a reconstruction of Viking-age York on the original excavation site.
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2
The Shambles
Medieval street of overhanging timber buildings, once the butchers' row.
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3
National Railway Museum
Free museum with the Mallard and Japanese bullet train.
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4
York Castle Museum
Social history museum with a recreated Victorian street.
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5
Ghost walk
Evening ghost tours through 'Europe's most haunted city'.
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6
York Minster
One of northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals, with a central tower climb.
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7
Evensong at York Minster
Free sung evening service by the Minster choir.
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8
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
Famous tearoom since 1937, known for its Fat Rascal scones.
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9
Museum Gardens and St Mary's Abbey
Botanical gardens with abbey ruins and the Yorkshire Museum.
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10
York's Chocolate Story
Tour on the city's chocolate heritage: Rowntree's and Terry's.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
York City Walls
The longest medieval town walls in England, walkable for about two miles.
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12
Clifford's Tower
13th-century keep on a mound with views over the city.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (9)
The National Railway Museum is free and amazing, even if you're not into trains.
The Shambles is beautiful but crowded, go early morning.
York Minster at evensong, absolutely magical.
JORVIK with the smells of the Viking village 😂
Walking the city walls is free and you get great views.
York is the perfect weekend city.
Ghost walks at night, York is the most haunted city in Europe apparently 👻
Bettys queue is long but the Fat Rascal scone is worth it.
Clifford's Tower after the renovation is great.