Spending one day in York, England, is the perfect way to experience the charm and history of one of Britain’s most popular cities. With its towering York Minster, cobblestone medieval streets, and half-timber buildings, a day trip to York gives you time to explore what makes it so popular among tourists.

The Perfect One Day in York

To get the most out of your York day trip, you will need to plan on either spending the night before or getting to York early.

There is a lot on our itinerary, and if you want to do it all, you will need a full day!

York Minster

Start your day in York at York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe.

If you arrive when they open at 9:30, you will be able to see it before your walking tour of York.

This cathedral is stunning and houses the largest collection of original stained glass in the world.

You can take a free guided tour, but it won’t begin until 10 am, and you will not make the guided walking tour of York that starts at 10:30.

The north and south transepts were the first parts of the church that were built.

The North Transept features the Five Sisters, a set of gray glazed windows.

The South Transept has a large rose window that commemorates the union of the royal houses of York and Lancaster.

The octagonal Chapter House is one of the most beautiful parts of York Minster and is surrounded by stained glass.

Another neat feature that you should take time to see while at York Minster is the Astronomical Clock.

The clock is a memorial to servicemen who lost their lives in WWII.

The clock design was based on the appearance of the sun and stars from the viewpoint of a pilot flying over York.

Don’t miss visiting the Undercroft Museum, which houses items discovered from the excavations done beneath the city.

York Minster is built on the site of a Roman fortress, so there are a number of Roman artifacts.

York Minster is on the York Pass, or guests can purchase tickets online.

FREE Historic Walking Tour of York

If you can time it right, take the guided walking tour of York that begins at 10:30 and lasts about 2 hours.

It is nice having a guide walk you to the different landmarks while explaining the history.

If you can’t make it on time, then definitely look at this downloadable map & walk it on your own!

The Shambles

The Historical Walking Tour should end at The Shambles.

This narrow cobblestone street is home to some of the most well-preserved Medieval buildings.

Many of the buildings on this street were slaughterhouses and butchers. Today, they are quaint shops and cafes.

Just walking down this street makes you feel like you are in Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.

Speaking of Harry Potter, be sure to check out The Shop That Must Not Be Named.

If you are a Harry Potter fan and looking for other Harry Potter experiences in York, consider doing a Harry Potter walking tour!

Lunch: Sea Catcher for Fish & Chips

York is known for having some of the best fish & chips, and you should not miss out on having some for lunch.

The owner is super friendly, and the fish is fresh, crispy, and delicious.

You can see what others have to say about it on TripAdvisor if you don’t believe me.

Yorkshire Museum

The history of York is vast, and this museum does a wonderful job of showcasing some of its most important historical finds.

There are over 20,000 objects that date from the earliest prehistoric period through the twentieth century.

You will find rotating exhibits along with permanent collections. There are also interactive features that allow the history to really come alive.

York Gardens

After visiting the museum, take time to walk through the gardens.

The collection of trees, plants, and flowers that are set on the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey is stunning at any time of year.

York Chocolate Story Tour

You might not realize it, but York has a rich chocolate history dating back to the 18th century!

One of the most famous families in chocolate making, the Rowntree’s set up their factories in York and are responsible for such classics as Kit Kat, Smarties, and Aero.

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Another famous York chocolatier, Terry’s, also became famous in England for the iconic Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

While visiting York, you really should visit York’s Chocolate Story to fully understand the impact York had on chocolate making.

Your visit will give you the history of chocolate, understand the chocolate-making process, and even make your own chocolate lolly.

Jorvik Viking Centre

Step back in time at the Jorvik Viking Centre, where you can experience what York was like during the Viking.

This fully interactive attraction has a Disney-style ride that transports you to the Viking era, allowing you to see the sights and sounds of a Viking settlement.

Guides and docents are also there doing Viking demonstrations to give you a better perspective on how Vikings lived while they were in York.

The attraction actually sits on real Viking ruins, which makes it that much more realistic.

Make sure you purchase your tickets online before you go!

Roman Bath Museum

The Roman Bath in York, England, hidden beneath a Tudor-style pub built in the early 20th century, houses the remains of a Roman bathhouse that was uncovered during reconstruction.

This bath was built for the Roman legionary soldiers and featured a caldarium and plunge pools similar to those found in other places like Bath, England.

When you visit the museum, you can see sections of the original hypocaust, a set of ancient tiles, and the artifacts that were excavated.

What people have to say on TripAdvisor:

This museum is like Doctor Who’s tardis in that it is cavernous once you descend the staircase. There is a lot to see in such a small space. It is under a pub and it would make sense to eat lunch there or get a coffee before going downstairs to see the remains of a Roman bath house.
Well worth the modest entrance fee.

Dinner at a Local Pub

After your time at the Roman Bath Museum you can easily just stay and grab a meal.

If not, be sure to visit one of the local pubs in town to grab another great English meal.

For a York Day Trip, Get the York Pass

When visiting York for the day, you should consider purchasing the York Pass.

It will get you into nearly 30 attractions and 15 discounts on places like hotels, restaurants, and more.

Here is a list of the places that are included in the York Pass:

Treasurer’s House, Bar Convent, York Cocoa Works, JORVIK Viking Centre, York Army Museum, Barley Hall, The Hilt, York Castle Museum, Beningborough Hall, York Cold War Bunker, Captain Cook, National Centre for Birds of Prey, York Minster, Castle Howard, National Railway Museum – Train, Air Museum, City Cruises, North York Moors Railway, Yorkshire Arboretum, City Sightseeing, Yorkshire Museum, Clifford’s Tower, Roman Bath Museum, DIG, Golden Tours, Fairfax House, York Dungeons, Goddards, Van Gogh, Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, Stump Cross Caverns, and York Chocolate Story.

Overall, spending one day in York only allows you to touch the surface of this amazing destination. A weekend in York would give you the chance to do even more!