Discover York on a Budget: Top 12 Free Things to Do in York, UK

Looking to explore the beautiful city of York without breaking the bank? You’re in luck! York is home to a wide range of free activities and attractions that offer something for everyone.

From historic landmarks and stunning parks to museums and art galleries, there are plenty of ways to experience the city’s rich history and vibrant culture without spending a penny. There’s a reason it’s one of my favourite places in the UK. You can see so much but spend so little.

In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the top free things to do in York, UK, so you can make the most of your visit without putting a dent in your wallet.

Read More: 16 Of The Best Day Trips From Leeds

Is York Expensive To Visit?

As one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, York isn’t cheap. You can easily spend over £100 per person a day to see all its historic sights and attractions. 

However, it’s possible to do it for so much less than this. I always think places are as expensive as you want to make them. Sure, you might not be eating at the fanciest restaurants, or drinking cocktails every night until the early hours, but you can easily visit York on a budget and have a great time. That’s why this guide gives you top tips on the best free things to do in York.

There are also plenty of choices for budget hotels and self catering accommodation in York. Many of these are walking distance to the city centre!

Read More: 6 Independent Coffee Shops In York You Need To Visit

How Can I Visit York On A Budget?

Firstly, you don’t need to spend a lot to have a great time in York or to see some of its most famous sights. Stretch your budget even further though by taking advantage of these money saving tips for a visit to York:

Buy A Visit York Pass

From £35, the Visit York Pass allows you to visit so many York attractions for free! Visit the Barley Hall, take a boat ride down the River Ouse with City Cruises York, explore the newly renovated Clifford’s Tower, step into the past at the JORVIK Viking Centre and learn about York’s connection to chocolate at York Cocoa House.

The Visit York Pass is a great purchase if you’re visiting York for 1, 2 or 3 days. In fact, you can see suggested itineraries for York to make sure you’re getting the best value from your pass!

It’s worth noting that for some attractions you will have to book and this is a good idea too if you want to skip the queues and maximise your time in York.

Buy A Visit York Pass

Make Use Of The Park And Ride In York

With various locations and hubs around York city centre (Askham Bar, Designer Outlet, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar), the York’s Park and Ride is a handy way to get into York and to avoid high parking costs!

Plus, unless you’re in York early, it can be a difficult place to park so York’s Park and Ride enables you to get into the city stress free and with ease!

A standard return is from £3.60, so save your money to spend on other things to do in York!

13 Free Things To Do In York, UK

1. The National Railway Museum

Exploring the past, present and future of the railways, the National Railway Museum showcases pieces of locomotive engineering and railway history from around the world. Get up close to the world’s fastest steam locomotive, the Mallard and the incredible Japanese invention of the Bullet Train.

Booking a ticket is recommended so that you can save time getting in. It’s easy to book via the National Railway Museum website. Tickets are usually released around 6 weeks in advance, with tickets released more more in advance for the school holidays.

Book Free Tickets For The National Railway Museum

Entry is free but if you’re able to, a donation is always appreciated!

Address: Leeman Rd, York YO26 4XJ
Opening Times: 
Wednesday – Sunday: 10am to 5pm

2. Take A Free Walking Tour

A free walking tour of York is a great way to learn about the history of York while getting your bearings at the same time. The AVG, or Association of Voluntary Guides to the City Of York, have been offering free tours of the city since 1951. They have around 80 guides whose knowledge of York will bring the city to life.

The free walking tours of York take around 2 hours, walking a route around sights such as Museum Gardens, Bootham Bar, York Minster and The Shambles. I recommend to pre-book a ticket for the walking tours – these start at 10.30am and 13.15pm each day!

Visit the AVG website to learn more about free walking tours in York.

3. Watch A Fudge Making Demonstration At The Fudge Kitchen

Nearly every time I visit York, I head in to The Fudge Kitchen on Low Petergate. I just can’t resist. Now just a word of warning, it is free to come in here and watch the fudge making demonstration – highly recommended if you have a sweet tooth like me. You’ll see first hand the syrupy mixture poured onto a cold, hard slab before being moulded into a delicious roll of soft fudge.

However, the fudge is that good, you might end up spending a fiver to take some home with you. If you do have the willpower though, try the free sample after the fudge making demonstration, and exit back out onto the street 20 minutes later without spending a penny!

Address: 58 Low Petergate, York, YO1 7HZ

Opening Times:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5.30pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm

4. Walk Along The York City Walls

Fancy stretching those legs? Then take a walk along the York City Walls. Built in the 13th century, and at 3.4km long, these city walls are the longest medieval town walls in England. 

Taking around 2 hours to navigate, longer if you stop to take in the views and small details of the past such as arrow slits and mason marks, a walk along the York City Walls is a great free way to understand more about this city. That’s right, you don’t have to pay to walk along the walls of York. You can even download the free text guide which starts from Exhibition Square, or download the audio guide, for a small fee, to learn as you walk the walls.

The section between the Bootham Bar and Monk Bar is a favourite of many people. So if you only have time to do a short part of the York City Walls, do this bit as you’ll get to see unique views of York Minster as well as remains of the moat that used to act as an added defence for the city.

Open from 8am until dusk every day apart from Christmas Day, if there’s one thing to do in York, it’s this. The York City walls aren’t difficult to walk but you just need to be careful on some steps and on the parts of the wall where there might not be any railing. In bad weather, some parts of the wall get closed due to ice or if the paths are slippy. 

5. Explore The Shambles

One of the most famous streets and landmarks in York, The Shambles is a well preserved medieval shopping street that is still busy and thriving with visitors today. Although you won’t find any of the original shop fronts here today, you can imagine what used to be shops serving meat. In fact, the design of the street was purposefully narrow to keep the sunlight off the meat to help keep it fresh.

Thought to be the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley – the street even has shops leaning into this fandom – these days you’ll find quirky shops, boutiques and places to grab a coffee.

Visit the Shambles as early as you can to enjoy the experience of wandering this famous street! If you’re a chocolate fan, make sure you pay Monk Bar Chocolatiers a visit too. This family owned chocolate shop is a treat and dishes up some of the best chocolate in York.

6. York Museum Gardens

Next to the River Ouse, and covering a space of around 10 acres, York Museum Gardens is a great free place to visit in York – especially on a sunny day! 

There’s so much to see here including the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey. Originally built in 1088, and was once one of the wealthiest Benadictine monasteries in England, all that remains here now are the ruins. However, the walls that surround the abbey are the most complete set of walls of any abbey in the country!

At York Museum Gardens you can also see the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital, York Observatory, The Multangular Tower, and the Hospitium. If you’ve seen enough historic sights for one day though, and if the weather is nice, bring a picnic to enjoy while sitting on the grass!

7. Watch The Street Performers

One thing you’ll likely see on your visit to York are the street performers. You’ll find them mainly on weekends and during holidays around King’s Square. Audience participation is sometimes required – I once had to throw swords up to a guy on a unicycle, not terrifying at all! But it’s all good fun and some of the tricks and stunts the street performers do are so impressive. A great way to spend 20 minutes or so!

8. Visit York’s Smaller Churches

Although visiting York Minster is one of the best things to do in York, sadly it isn’t free. However, in York there are so many churches to visit including Holy Trinity Church on Goodramgate. Hidden through a gate and along a path, this church is hidden away from the hustle and bustle. A small donation is appreciated, but isn’t necessary, and it’s a great way to learn a bit more about York’s history. There are even laminated sheets of information explaining information about the stained glass windows and engravings in the church.

Other churches in York include St. Olave’s Church, St. Michael le Belfrey, and Holy Trinity Micklegate.

9. Explore The Snickelways of York

York is a maze. A maze full of gorgeous streets and narrow lanes and alleyways. Get your bearings and find streets you’d probably never come across on a regular stroll around the city, by exploring the Snickelways of York. A mixture of the words snicket, ginnel, and alleyway, the Snickelways are narrow passages connecting streets and other Snickleways around York.

There is an official guide to York’s Snickelways – The Snickelways of York, created in 1983 by Mark W. Jones. This book takes in 50 Snickelways around York however if you don’t want to follow this specific route, take in some of the most well known on your own terms, including Hole-In-The-Wall, Coffee Yard, and Mad Alice Lane.

10. Enjoy The Markets In York

The main market in York is the Shambles Market. Every day you’ll find loads of food stalls here as well as locals selling their homemade items and crafts. If you’re here during the festive season, on Parliament Street you’ll get to enjoy York’s Christmas Market, the St. Nicholas Fair! Feast on roast chestnuts, keep warm with a delicious hot chocolate and pick up a Christmas memento as a souvenir of your day in York.

11. Walk Through Dean’s Park

Dean’s Park is the area behind York Minster and is a wonderful place to get a great view of both York Minster and York City Walls. Visiting in spring time is a magical time to be here as all the flowers are coming into bloom. If you’re not visiting York in Spring though, it’s still a great place to walk through and best of all, it’s totally free!

12. Do Some Window Shopping In York

York is a wonderful place to do some shopping. If you’re on a budget though, enjoy some window shopping and make a list for your next visit. Coney Street is full of your high street shops including Lush and Waterstones. Coppergate is home to Primark, Flying Tiger, The Body Shop and Urban Outfitters. More independent shops can be found down Fossgate and if you do want to splash the cash one day, head to Low Petergate and Stonegate.

Do you have any other ideas for free things to do in York? Hopefully this guide will give you a good start on enjoying a budget weekend in York where you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy this old city.