How to spend a perfect Mothers Day in York
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for the best destination in which to spend Mothers Day York ticks all the boxes.
York has a treasure trove of activities and treats that will make this Mother’s Day unforgettable for your mum.
It’s a compact city (getting around York is easy) so you can make the most of your Mothers Day in York. Plus, whether you drive or take the train to York, the city centre is easily accessible on foot.
I’ve spent 19 Mothers Days in York so I know the best things a York Mothers Day has to offer. Like anywhere else in the world, a Yorkie Mothers Day should mean no cooking, no cleaning, lots of family quality time and lots of treats! York will provide that for your mum.
This article includes general ideas of things to do, ideas for daughters and sons bringing their amazing mums to York plus mums who are visiting with young kids.
Best things to do in York on Mothers Day
Visit York Minster
A trip to York wouldn’t be complete without visiting the iconic York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe.
Take a leisurely stroll through this breath taking cathedral, which is not only an architectural marvel but also a place of tranquility and reflection. Once you’ve paid to enter the cathedral, you can join regular, one hour tours of the cathedral to learn its history and stories.
See the atmospheric Undercroft Museum, the ornate Chapter House and if the weather is good, climb the 275 steps of the central tower for a birds eye view of the city centre.
Opening hours – York Minster opening hours are Monday to Saturday 9.30 am – 4 pm and Sunday from 12.45 pm – 2.15 pm. Tower trips run at specific times during the day and can be booked once inside York Minster.
Cost – Combined York Minster and tower tickets cost £22 pp.
Go shopping
York is packed with independent shops and boutiques including art galleries, artisan jewellers and antique shops.
Browse the characterful shops on pedestrianised Stonegate, Minster Gates or Low Petergate. Go for an amble along The Shambles, a medieval era shopping street said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies.
Alternatively, pop into the neighbouring outdoor Shambles Market to browse 75 stalls from independent traders.
Pick up an antique from The Red House on Duncombe Place near York Minster or treat your mum to jewellery from one of the shops on Stonegate or Davygate.
👉 Local tip – If you’re looking for a last minute gift, there is an excellent flower stall at the entrance to The Shambles Market on Parliament Street.
Make your own chocolate
Every mum likes getting chocolate on Mothers Day so why not make your own chocolate together at York Cocoa house?
York Cocoa House features a shop, cafe and a workshop (York Cocoa Works) which hosts a range of chocolate making courses.
For a short, fun activity on Mothers Day, book the 1 hour 15 minute chocolate bar workshop where you will make and decorate your own 500g bar of chocolate. The chocolate you use is divine!
Opening hours – Everyday 9 am – 5.30 pm. Courses must be booked online in advance.
Cost – £22.50 pp
Join a cooking workshop
A cooking class at the 5 star The Grand Hotel’s purpose built cookery school is quality time together well spent.
You and your mum can join a half or full day workshop to cook your chosen dish which you will then eat together in the elegant dining room. You’ll also receive complimentary aprons to take home.
Classes range from pork pies and pasta to curry, tapas, sushi and middle eastern cuisine so there is something for every mum.
Check out the latest timetable for classes here.
Opening hours – Morning, afternoon or full day classes are available but must be pre-booked in advance.
Cost – Prices start from £64 pp for a half day class.
Tour a historic house
There are three historic houses in York city centre to choose from.
The Victorian era Mansion House on St. Helen’s Square is the home of the Lord Mayor of York. You can view the furnished dining room, drawing room and the banqueting room on the first floor.
The 20th century Treasurers House behind York Minster is one of York’s hidden gems. It’s an eclectic mix of Victorian and medieval styles so expect lots of surprises in its fully furnished rooms. Its basement is said to be haunted by the marching ghosts of a Roman legion!
The pink Fairfax House on Coppergate is a lavishly decorated Georgian house offering a glimpse into life in York in Georgian times. I think the highlight are its furnished bedrooms and the basement kitchen which occasionally puts on cooking demonstrations for visitors.
Opening hours – Mansion House is open Wednesday to Sunday 10.30 am – 4.30 pm. Seasonal opening hours apply at the Treasurer’s House so check its website in advance of your visit. Fairfax House is open Monday – Sunday from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Cost – Mansion House £6.50 pp, Treasurers House £9.50 pp, free to National Trust members. Fairfax House £9.00 pp.
👉 Local tip – Pick up a scone at the Treasurers House cafe before you leave – they have been voted the best scones of all the National Trust properties in England.
Things to do for mums in York with young kids
Explore York’s city centre gardens
York is a green city with three major city centre parks.
Dean’s Park behind York Minster is an enclosed grassy area offering lots of tree shade. It’s also home to the Minster library. The park is popular with city workers on their lunch break and offers fantastic views of York Minster.
Museum Gardens is a beautifully landscaped garden in the heart of the city centre. It has lots of space for a run around and a picnic.
The gardens are also home to the 12th century ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, the 15th century Hospitium, a 19th century observatory and the Yorkshire Museum. You can also visit the Roman era Multiangular tower and the Edible Wood, packed with edible (and poisonous) plants.
A trip to Museum Gardens is ideal if you are visiting York on a budget. Plus, y ou can keep the kids busy by downloading the free Squirrel Trail in advance of your visit.
Rowntree’s Park is a 10 minute walk from the city centre along the paved riverbank path. It has a large adventure playground, a toddlers playground, tennis courts, gardens and a pond. It also boasts an excellent cafe.
Make a Mothers Day York keepsake
Why not create a unique and special memento of Mothers Day in York by making your very own piece of painted pottery.
Visit Rainbow Ceramics near Bootham Bar and paint your own plate, vase, jug or ornament. Once you’ve painted your item, it will be fired in the kiln. You can then collect it or have it posted to your home.
Opening hours – Tuesday to Sunday 10 am – 5 pm and from 11 am on Sundays. No appointments are necessary so this is a good stand by option if it’s a rainy day in York.
Cost – Ceramics start from £14.
Make chocolate together at York Chocolate Story
York has a long history of chocolate making (the Yorkie Bar and infamous Chocolate Orange were made here).
On Mothers Day York Chocolate Story will explain how chocolate was discovered and the history of chocolate making in York.
At the end of the entertaining 1.5 hour guided tour (which includes several treats along the way) you can watch a chocolate making demonstration. Afterwards you each get to make your own chocolate lollipop to take away.
This is one York attraction that all the family will love.
Opening hours – Everyday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Cost – Adult £17.50 | Child 4-15 £15.00 | Under 4’s free | Family of four £62.00 | Family of five £74.00
For mums and daughters visiting York
Indulge in a relaxing spa
A Mothers Day spa day is the perfect gift – and something busy mums like me dream about!
For the ultimate indulgence, check out the 5 star The Grand Hotel & Spa. It has a 14 metre swimming pool, a spa whirlpool, an aromatic steam room, a Nordic dry sauna, a relaxation lounge and gym.
There are treatments room offering massages, holistic therapies and beauty treatments. A 3.5 hour spa pass costs from £44 pp.
One of the most affordable York spa day Mothers Day experiences is at The Principal Hotel next to York rail station. It has a heated indoor swimming pool, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, gym and offers beauty treatments. A one day pass costs just £15 pp.
The spa at Hotel No.1 has therapy rooms for two where you can enjoy a a side-by-side back, shoulder and neck massage. This is followed by a bespoke mini facial, with a soothing face, neck, shoulder, and scalp massage.
A 60 minute ‘Time Together’ package cost £230 per couple.
Cruise the Ouse
A boat cruise along the River Ouse offers a respite from the busy city centre.
City Cruises offer 45 minute sightseeing cruises with full commentary. The double decker boats have indoor and outdoor seating and a refreshment kiosk. They also offer evening cruises including dinner, a fish and chip supper cruise or a picnic cruise.
Opening hours – Boats depart everyday from King’s Staith Landing at 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm.
Boats depart from Lendal Bridge Landing at 10:40 am, 12:10 pm, 1:40 pm and 3:10 pm.
Cost – Adult £13 pp. Seasonal and special cruise costs vary.
Go for cocktails
Treat your mum to a cocktail on Mothers Day. You can get cocktails deals at the usual chains but my pick of the independent options in York would be Lendal Cellars on St Helen’s Square, The Botanist on Stonegate or Turtle Bay on Little Stonegate.
Alternatively, head to the quirky Evil Eye Lounge on Stonegate which has a huge range of cocktails. If you want a cocktail with a view, visit the rooftop Sora Sky Bar at the Malmaison Hotel. It has fantastic views of York city centre, especially at night. Pre-booking is essential.
For mums and sons visiting York
Visit Jorvik Viking Centre
Experience York’s Viking history at the Jorvik Viking Centre. It’s packed with immersive exhibits and archaeological finds from the site the museum is built on. Plus, you get to take a historical ‘cab’ ride through a recreated Viking village.
The centre is one of York’s top attractions but will only take around 1 – 1.5 hours so it won’t use up too much time during your Mothers Day trip to York.
Opening hours – Jorvik is open everyday from 10 am – 5 pm or from 9 am during school holidays.
Cost – Adults £15 | Child (5-16) £10.50 | Family of 4 £43.00 | Family of 5 £49.50 | Concessions £12.50
The National Railway Museum
If your mum or you are train enthusiasts like my son and I, the National Railway Museum is a must-visit. I’ve spent several Mother’s Days here over the years!
This enormous two hall museum is packed with locomotives, historic steam engines and modern train carriages, including the only Shinkansen carriage outside of Japan. The museum also has interactive displays and workshops for a hands-on experience.
Best of all, it’s free to enter.
Opening hours – The NRM is open everyday from 10 am – 5 pm.
Self drive on the River Ouse
If you don’t like the idea of an organised cruise, why not drive yourself up and down the River Ouse in a Little Red Boat?
The small boats don’t travel very fast and are very easy to drive. There’s a pedal, a throttle for speed and a steering wheel – and that’s it! You don’t even need to show a drivers license.
The boats take a maximum of 8 passengers but a smaller group would be much more comfortable. The windscreen of the open top boat is low down so if you are tall you may find it difficult to squeeze into the drivers seat. My 6 ft 5 husband did!
A one hour rental is plenty of time to cruise the Ouse together and enjoy the York city skyline.
Opening hours – Every day from mid February to mid November. Pre-booking advised.
Cost – Hire prices start from £35 per boat for one hour hire.
Best Mothers Day brunch in York
Let mum have a lie in on Mother’s Day and take her out for brunch, rather than an early breakfast.
If you want brunch with a view, head to Dyls in The Motor House on Skeldergate Bridge. Its indoor room and outdoor terrace overlook the River Ouse and it offers a varied and affordable brunch menu. This is a very popular weekend brunch spot with Yorkies.
Looking for something a bit more boozy? Head to Impossible on St. Helen’s Square which offers a 90 minute bottomless brunch of gin, prosecco, wine and beer plus a selection of small plates.
Cafe Feva offers a much quieter brunch experience. It’s on the first floor of The Red House antiques shop, a historic building overlooking Museum Street. Grab a window table in the back room as this offers the best views of York.
Cafe Feva is open Tuesday to Thursday and Sundays from 10.30 am and from 10 am on Friday and Saturday.
Partisan is a gorgeous independently owned restaurant and arts space on Micklegate near York rail station. It has a diverse brunch menu including global dishes and great vegetarian options. Pre-booking is recommended.
The Blue Barbakan on Fossgate is a great option if you are visiting York with kids as kids under 12 eat free.
Their varied menu ranges from a full English breakfast to American pancakes to Polish toast – and all for a reasonable price. Tables are allocated for two hours and pre-booking is advisable.
The Blue Barbakan is open everyday except Tuesday from 9 am and from 10 am on Sundays.
Best Mother’s Day lunch in York
If you want to treat your mum to lunch on Mothers Day York has plenty of fantastic options to choose from. The city will be busy so make sure you book a table in advance of your visit.
Many restaurants offer a free glass of bubbly for mums on Mother’s Day. I’ll update this article with any special offers available in the run up to Mother’s Day.
The Ivy on St. Helen’s Square is a central restaurant offering modern British dishes in a stylish setting. Their attentive service and impeccable food make it an excellent choice for a special Mother’s Day lunch in York. It also offers great brunch options.
If you want views with your Mother Day lunch York’s award winning The Star Inn The City has fantastic views of the River Ouse from its outdoor terrace. Their seasonal menu uses local ingredients, and their roast dinners are legendary. If you want to try traditional foods from Yorkshire, this is a good restaurant to do so.
If you fancy something a little different, Ambiente on Fossgate or Goodramgate offers exceptional tapas to share whilst the Art Deco Cosy Club on Fossgate feels like stepping back in time.
For a super stylish restaurant, head to the family run The Biltmore on Swinegate. Its sleek, chic interior was inspired by the owners trip to New York and it offers a wide ranging menu paired with an extensive cocktail list.
Best Mothers Day afternoon tea in York
York has a fantastic choice of afternoon tea venues. Each venue will need pre-booking for Mothers Day.
Bettys Tea Rooms is a beloved 100 year old institution in York. Bettys offers a refined afternoon tea experience with a variety of teas, finger sandwiches, and scrumptious cakes in a quaint, vintage atmosphere. It is one of the most popular afternoon teas in York. Pre-bookable afternoon teas in The Belmont Room cost from £39.95pp.
The Grand Hotel offers a delectable afternoon tea in the elegant Rise Restaurant and was awarded ‘Best Afternoon Tea 2022’ by Condé Nast. Its 5 star food and service starts from a reasonable £34.50 pp.
Fancy an afternoon tea overlooking York Minster? Book a window table at Dean Court Hotel. My daughter and I had afternoon tea here last summer and had the place to ourselves.
The Principal Hotel next to York rail station is a grand Victorian hotel and a York icon. It offers a special Mothers Day afternoon tea from 12pm – 4pm and mums are treated to a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Check out their mouth watering menu here.
In conclusion, York has something special for every mother on Mother’s Day. Whether you’re celebrating with your mum, daughter, or son, the city offers a blend of history, culture, relaxation, and culinary delights that will make this Mother’s Day truly unforgettable.
I hope this article has helped you plan the perfect Mothers Day York has to offer so you can show your mum just how much she means to you.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Now, where to leave this article so that my kids will see it…
