Getting around York
Getting around York is easy as it is not like other U.K cites. York is a small, compact city which is easy and quick to navigate on foot.
There are short distances between all the major attractions so you will only need to use a car or public transport if you stay outside the city centre.
Walking
Walking York is best way to explore and experience the city and, as parts of York city centre are pedestrianised, walking can sometimes be will be the only option. It is the best way to explore York on a budget.
It is easy to visit attractions on foot and walking will be quicker than catching a bus or driving between attractions.
For example, starting from York Minster, the city walls takes five minutes on foot and Jorvik Viking Centre takes 10 minutes. The furthest attraction from the Minster is the National Railway Museum, a 15 minute walk away.
Walking around York also enables you to slow down and savour the city’s beautiful and often quirky architecture. You wouldn’t see as much detail driving past in a car or on a bus.
Pick up a street map of York at the Tourist Office on Museum Street near Central Library or download one here.
TIP – Wear comfortable shoes for walking York as some city streets are cobbled and stone flagged.
Check out my post on walking tours in York here.
Park and Ride York
York Park and Ride buses are the best way to get to and from York city centre especially if you are staying outside the ring road.
A Park and Ride is where you park your car in a large, secure car park and then pay to ride a direct, non-stop bus directly into the city centre.
Park and Ride York routes offer quick and easy access to the city centre and run regularly throughout the day, usually around every 10 minutes and operate seven days a week.
All the electric buses are low floor with wheelchair access (and onboard spaces for wheelchair users and pushchairs) and each car park has a covered waiting area and free public toilets.
There are six Park and Ride near York which cover the city’s major access roads and all of the city of York attractions. The largest car parks can hold over 1,100 cars.
You can download a Park and Ride map and route timetables here.
Park and Ride prices
A return ticket from a Park and Ride car park to the city costs £3.30 for adults and £1.70 for children.
Up to three children under 16 travel for FREE with each paying adult which makes Park and Ride York a cost effective travel option for families.
Weekly and five day tickets are available and travel days can be non consecutive. Tickets can be bought by card or cash on the bus (exact fares are preferred), in advance online here or at the Park and Ride car parks.
Read my detailed guide to using Park and Ride York.
Buses
The York bus network is comprehensive so you can travel almost everywhere by bus. However, buses cannot travel into the city’s pedestrianised streets so you will still need to do some walking around York.
First Bus York operate most of the city centre buses (white buses) with a few additional yellow buses run by the Reliance bus company.
Buses in York are wheelchair accessible and have space on board for wheelchair users and pushchairs. You may be refused boarding or asked to collapse your buggy or pushchair if the allocated space is full.
Buses allow dogs but not on the seats.
Tickets can be bought on the bus from the driver by card or cash on the bus; exact money is encouraged if paying by cash. You can also buy your ticket online in advance here and download it to your mobile phone.
York bus times and fares
York buses operate seven days a week from early to late though times vary according to different routes.
Day and weekly tickets are available plus there are special fares on weekends.
A single ticket costs £2.00, with discounts for children aged 5 -11 years and children under 5 travel free.
If you plan on using more than one bus per day, a day ticket is usually the cheaper option starting from £4.50.
Plus, 5 people in a family group can travel for one day (on any day of the week) for £9 if you buy your ticket via the First Bus app.
Check York bus times, routes and fares on the First bus website.
Taxi’s in York
Yorkies rarely use taxis for getting around York as the city is so small. They are useful for getting to and from the city, especially at night.
Taxis in York are not cheap but if there are four of you it can work out cheaper than individual train or bus fares. Note that taxi companies are unlikely to provide child car seats.
You can either pick up a taxi at the company office, phone them for a taxi to come to you or wait at one of the city’s taxi ranks. Hailing a taxi is not really the done thing though you can always try it!
York taxi companies (with York taxi numbers)
There are several taxi companies in York.
Station Taxis York operate from a booth outside York railway station. You will see the taxi rank and booth immediately on exiting the station forecourt (YO24 1AY).
Phone – 01904 623332
Fleetways Taxis York are a five minute walk from the train station and are a great option if the station rank has a long queue.
Turn right out of the railway station, go over the road bridge and you will find Fleetways Taxis in front of you on Queen Street (YO24 1AD).
Phone 01904 365365
Streamline Taxis York have an office on Cumberland Street (YO1 9SW).
Phone 01904 656565
Taxi ranks in York
There are several taxi ranks in the city centre in addition to the always busy taxi rank at the railway station.
You can wait for a taxi at the taxi rank opposite St Wilfred’s Catholic Church near the Minster or St. Leonards’s Place outside Bootham Bar (opposite York Art gallery).
At the other end of the city, there is a rank at the end of Colliergate adjacent to Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate.
For a full list of city council approved taxi ranks and operating hours, click here.
Always use a licensed taxi with an identifying logo on the car and check drivers company identification.
Driving
Avoid driving in York if you can!
Traffic is always busy and roads get congested at peak travel times. Plus, with pedestrianised city centre streets, you will have to park around the edge of the city centre and walk in anyway.
Parking in York
There is limited parking as most residential streets are residents only parking which is strictly enforced.
The city has 15 council operated car parks and several city centre car parks. However, parking bays are limited and are narrow for family sized cars. Parking can be paid by cash or card at car park pay points.
Parking fees in York start from £2.40 for one hour. A six hour sightseeing day will cost you £13.50 in car park charges. That’s what makes Park and Ride York such a great option for families!
City centre car parks charge a flat rate of £3 an hour after 6pm.
For Jorvik Viking centre, York Castle museum and city centre shopping use Castle Car Park (one of the city’s most expensive car parks) or the cheaper, further away St George’s Fields car park.
For York Minster use Marygate car park (and walk through Museum Gardens to the Minster) or Monk Bar car park near Monk Bar entrance gate.
Find out where to charge your electric car in York here.
Train
York railway station is a major hub for trains to and from Manchester, London and Edinburgh. If you choose to travel to York by train, there are lots of hotels near York train station to choose from.
But it is also a hub for local trains.
The station is a 10 minute walk to the city centre so is a good transport option if are staying outside the city. Expect local trains to run hourly or half hourly with fares calculated by distanced travelled.
Trains run early till late and can be a good option if visiting the city centre at night. Tickets can be bought in advance online or on a station platform.
Check routes, timetables and prices here.
Bike hire in York
There is a good cycle path network in York and the city is committed to creating more. There are riverside cycle paths as well as a cycle path stretching all the way to Selby in the south.
Get Cycling is a not for profit community and social enterprise that offers bike rental.
The company will provide checked, roadworthy bikes and route maps. They are also happy to offer advice on the best routes to take to suit your interests and cycle experience.
The company also offers specialist bikes such as recumbents, hand bikes, multi seat and cargo bikes.
Bike rental starts from as little as £13 for an adult bike for five hours and £6 for children’s bikes.
Check our Get Cycling here.
Boat
There are boat tours on the River Ouse and self hire boats but these cannot be used for getting around York as you can’t disembark mid journey.
If you are staying near Naburn there is a boat you can use during summer months.
The Naburn Lock River Bus operates on weekends from April to September departing from Naburn Lock at 9.30 am. It returns from Kings Staith at 4pm. The route is scenic but not cheap at £14.50 return for adults.
It is a good option if you are staying at one of the caravan parks or campsites near Naburn.
Read my guide to travelling from London to York here.
