Places to visit in York
Without a doubt, York is one of the most fascinating and varied cities in Britain. From its stunning Minster to its ancient walls and turbulent history, it's full of fascinating and appealing places to visit, especially if you’re a history buff.
We’ve put together a short list of the places to visit in York, including both indoor and outdoor options, many of which are dog-friendly.
Of course, as a city with an almost 2000-year history (the Romans founded it in AD71 as Eboracum) we’re only scratching the surface. You can enjoy a delightful day out simply by wandering the old town centre and letting chance be your guide.
York Minster
As one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe, York Minster is a remarkable architectural masterpiece. It houses intricate stone carvings, a huge archive of over 300,000 items, and features spectacular stained-glass windows.
Completed in 1472 after several centuries of work, the cathedral provides tours, presents talks about historical preservation and medieval art, and holds classical concerts. There’s also an open-air theatre in the adjacent Dean’s Park in Summer. Do check their website before you plan your visit and dedicate some time to appreciate this spiritual and cultural icon in the heart of the city.
National Railway Museum
A day out in York would be incomplete without the National Railway Museum. Dive into the intriguing world of locomotives, observe the grandeur of royal carriages, and discover the evolution of railways. It’s a trainspotter’s paradise, but there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy here.
Step on board the famous Flying Scotsman steam locomotive and try the immersive VR experience. Located near York's city centre, the museum is a captivating journey through time, and best of all, entry is free.
York Castle Museum
The York Castle Museum offers an immersive journey through centuries of York's social history. Stroll along the Victorian street, Kirkgate, or explore York's past through a variety of exhibits.
Current displays include an exploration of York’s wartime story, and a cultural exploration of the town’s gypsy and traveller heritage. With over half a dozen rotating exhibitions, there’s always plenty to see, as well as interactive activities for the little ones.
The Shambles
Arguably the most famous street in York, The Shambles is a picturesque, narrow, paved medieval lane lined with timber-framed shops and boutiques.
Dating back to the 13th century, the Shambles was originally full of butcher’s shops, each offering a different type of meal. Today it’s host to a mix of independent retailers including chocolatiers, goldsmiths, and a traditional sweet shop.
A true essence of old York, this pedestrian-friendly street is a must-visit for history and shopping enthusiasts.
Jorvik Viking Centre
York isn’t just about its Roman founders – in the 9th and 10th centuries, the Norsemen invaded and made it their home. They called it Jorvik, which later became York.
The Jorvik Viking Centre transports you back to the city’s Viking era. Explore a Norse city with lifelike holographic models who tell their individual stories, including mean blacksmiths and cheerful housewives. Discover the Viking legacy through exciting artifacts unearthed here over many years of archaeological explorations. This exciting historical adventure is a must-see.
York City Walls
Embrace York's rich history in a more energetic manner by walking the well-preserved ancient city walls. The 3.4km stretch that survives is the longest medieval wall in England and was built in the 13th century.
Offering panoramic views of the city, the walls are an excellent way to acquaint yourself with York's layout and landmarks.
York Dungeon
For those seeking sinister thrills, the York Dungeon offers a unique, interactive journey through York’s darker history. Encounter notorious characters from the past and uncover their creepy stories in this eerie adventure.
Daily family-friendly tours are led by actors who bring the spookier side of the city to life with special effects, sounds, and even smells.
York's Chocolate Story
Sweet tooths won’t want to miss York's Chocolate Story. Learn about the city's famous chocolate-making families and their confectionery heritage. Rowntree’s, Terry’s, and Craven all made their homes here, their histories celebrated in the varied exhibits.
Chocolate is an ancient food, going back 4000 years, as the museum explains, and you can take a guided tour to become a true aficionado. Complete your visit with a chocolate-making demonstration and tasting, then leave with some tasty treats.
Yorkshire Museum
With a city so rich in history, you’ll forgive us for including yet another museum. This one is the crème de la crème.
Located in the beautiful Museum Gardens, the Yorkshire Museum houses some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds in Europe. They recently opened the Ryedale Hoard exhibit, a collection of Roman relics including an 1800-year-old bust of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Explore Roman, Viking, and Medieval artefacts during your visit, or if that’s all too recent, you’ll also see dinosaur relics from the Jurassic era.
Clifford's Tower
The last remaining part of York Castle, Clifford's Tower, offers sweeping views of the city. Immerse yourself in its turbulent history and enjoy a unique perspective of York.
Once a royal mint and Civil War garrison, in 1190 it was the site of a shocking massacre. Learn about all these events while enjoying panoramic views from its lofty location, and access areas of the site recently opened up with new walkways and terraces.
York Grand Opera
The York Grand Opera opened more than 150 years ago and was then rebuilt in 1902. Today, it stands as a historic venue that offers world-class live entertainment right in the heart of York. Grabbing a couple of tickets and seeing a musical, concert, comedy show, or drama is an experience that shouldn’t be passed up.
The building has maintained its classic charm while providing guests with modernized facilities for comfort. This isn’t an opera house that hosts massive audiences. Instead, the setting, while not small, feels intimate and interactive. The York Grand Opera is a must for history buffs and theatre lovers visiting York.
York Bird of Prey Centre
The York Bird of Prey Centre is a unique experience for your time in York. Here, you’ll find an interactive falconry experience with more than 90 birds, including owls, falcons, hawks, eagles, and more. The York Bird of Prey Center opened in 2013 and has been providing hands-on encounters, flying demonstrations, educational experiences, and incredibly fun events, including the beloved Harry Potter-themed and photography events.
When you choose to visit York Bird of Prey Centre, you’re also supporting the local community. This facility is committed to community involvement and is well-loved by many. York Bird of Prey Centre is open six days a week (closed Tuesday), making this an easy excursion to schedule and plan during your stay in York.
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Important information
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2033
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 Bed or equivalent grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Make no site fee payments until 2033 when using Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Seton Sands with a monthly site fee of £701.67 (includes purchasing discount of £17.08) and monthly letting income of £707.92. The monthly difference equates to £6.25, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and inflation. The monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2026 figures. Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Victory Ashberry 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading as of 2024. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset at Burnham-on-Sea
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income. ‘Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset’ is available at Burnham-on-Sea. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability.
“Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 Bed or equivalent holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Site fees from as little as £130 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Burnham-on-Sea with a monthly site fee of £797.08 (includes purchasing discount of £19.58) and monthly letting income of £667.25. The monthly difference equates to £129.83 which will be billed to the owner's account monthly. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and inflation. The monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2026 figures. Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Victory Ashberry 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to be billed monthly during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading as of 2024. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset at Lydstep Beach
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income. “Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” is available at Lydstep Beach. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability. "Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Victory Ashberry 3 Bed or equivalent grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. An example of how “Site fees from as little as £160 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of a Victory Ashberry 3 Bed holiday home at Lydstep Beach with a monthly site fee of £949.50 (includes purchasing discount of £28.83) and monthly letting income of £789.83. The monthly difference equates to £159.67 which will be billed to the owner's account monthly. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2026 figures. Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Victory Ashberry 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to be billed monthly during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading as of 2024.Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
New holiday homes from £29,995 – UPDATED 22 January 2026
Holiday home price is based on a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
As at 22 January 2026, price is available at the following parks: Blue Dolphin, Cardigan View, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Littlesea, Marton Mere, Orchards, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Quay West, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Skegness, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Price excludes 2026 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 – UPDATED 22 January 2026
As at 22 January 2026, price is available at the following parks: Blue Dolphin, Cardigan View, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Littlesea, Marton Mere, Orchards, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Quay West, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Skegness, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Price excludes 2026 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Holiday home price is based on a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
As at 22 January 2026, price is available at the following parks: Blue Dolphin, Cardigan View, Church Farm, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Doniford Bay, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Hafan Y Mor, Haggerston Castle, Lakeland, Littlesea, Marton Mere, Orchards, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Quay West, Reighton Sands, Rockley Park, Skegness, Thornwick Bay, Wild Duck and Weymouth Bay. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Price excludes 2026 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.
Move your caravan to Haven for free - full terms and conditions
This offer is available for holiday home owners not located at a Haven park and that want to relocate their holiday home from their current holiday park a Haven holiday park, subject to pitch availability and the satisfactory completion of our standard onboarding checks. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotion, apart from the free 2026 site fee promotion if applicable to the Haven park. Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time without notice.
In order to be eligible to participate in the offer, your holiday home must be situated within a 50-mile radius of the Haven park that you wish to relocate to. The holiday home must be no more than 15 years old from the date of manufacture and if it has been purchased under a finance agreement, the holiday homeowner must provide confirmation from their lender that the holiday home can be moved to the Haven park.
Haven will transport your holiday home from the entrance of its current holiday park location to the required Haven park and will reimburse your transportation costs up-to a maximum value of £750; any excess must be paid by the holiday homeowner. Haven does not accept any responsibility for any damage that happens to the interior of your holiday home whilst it is being transported to one of our holiday parks. We recommend your holiday home is fully packed down and ready for transportation. Transportation does not include decking. Any decking bought onto a Haven park must be approved by the General Manager of that park to ensure it meets Haven standards. Siting and connection costs for your holiday home on a Haven park will be paid for by Haven. Offer excludes payment of holiday home disconnection at your current park and transportation costs from its current pitch to the entrance of its current park.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times. Images are shown for representational purposes. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL.