Visiting York by train

Visiting York by train couldn’t be easier.

We have visited many cities where you arrive by train and then endure a long walk or an expensive taxi ride into the city centre. Not in York!

Travelling to York by train is the best – and easiest – way to visit our city.

 

Why you should visit York by train

 

York city centre is a short, ten minute walk from the centrally located rail station. 

There are luxury and budget York hotels and hostels a five minute walk (or less!) from York train station. There are lot of hotels near York train station to choose from to suit all budgets. 

Don’t worry about not having your own transport in York. Our city is small and compact so you can visit all the major York attractions on foot. City centre parking fees are expensive and very few York hotels offer free parking. Parking fees can add up if you are hoping to visit York on a budget. 

If you are staying at accommodation in York city centre, you will not need to hire a car upon arrival or take taxis or public transport during your trip to York. 

If you wish to travel further afield into Yorkshire, there is an excellent public transport system. You can catch a bus or train to the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Moors or the Yorkshire coast.

Alternatively, there are several car hire companies near York rail station if you prefer to hire a car for sightseeing in Yorkshire. 

If you are visiting for the Christmas markets in York, I strongly recommend travelling by train as they city is very busy.

 

Hotels near York station

 

There is a wide choice of hotels near York station to suit all budgets. All of the following hotels are within a five minute walk of York rail station. Arrive by train, drop your bag and start your sightseeing; it couldn’t be easier!

Luxury options nearby include The Principal Hotel (adjacent to York station) or the five star The Grand Hotel and its neighbour Malmaison. These two hotels are tucked just inside York city walls.

Mid range options include Hotel Ibis or Hampton by Hilton which are excellent value for money.

For something a little different, a five minute walk from York station is The Bar Convent, England’s oldest working convent. The convent rents comfortable, mid range priced rooms to visitors. It is a lovely place to visit and even better to stay at.

Budget options include the Premier Inn on Blossom Street and Safestay York, a hostel in a Georgian building on Micklegate.

Read more about these hotels near York station and discover my top recommendations here.

 

 

Buying a train ticket to York

 

Rail tickets to York are cheapest when bought online in advance online. Seats can also be reserved in advance online and you can choose table seats which are always a good option with kids. 

Children under 5 travel for free on trains in England but you cannot reserve a seat for them. If you want to guarantee the seat next to you will be free, you will need to buy it.  

From London to York (and Edinburgh) choose between Grand Central Railway, Lumo and LNER. Grand Central trains take a little longer but they are usually cheaper than LNER. We find that Grand Central trains also have a little more leg room. 

From the north and west, the routes are operated by Northern Rail and TransPennine Express. 

 

Where to book your train ticket to York

 

Visit National Rail for train times, fares and to book a ticket. Before booking, compare prices with Trainline, Red Spotted Hanky, LNER and Grand Central Rail. Lumo is a new company that has started offering budget rail fares to York. Check their prices here. 

 

Tips for finding cheap train tickets to York

 

Ticket prices will vary depending on the day and time you are travelling. Generally, the cheapest fares will be midweek and after 9.30 am.

The cheapest rail tickets are released 12 weeks in advance. Book as early as you can for the cheapest prices. 

Always shop around before booking. 

Avoid travelling on peak days or at peak times. Monday morning, Friday evening and Sunday afternoons are the most expensive times to travel. I would also avoid travelling to York on a race day; horse racing in York attracts visitors from all over the country. Rail prices will be higher and trains will be packed. Check the race day timetable here. 

Consider purchasing a railcard. They quickly pay for themselves and if you are travelling to York as a family, you may find it pays for itself in one trip.  

Rail cards are available for couples, families, seniors and students and can be downloaded to a phone or bought in person at a rail station. Passes must be shown at the same time as your ticket when asked by the conductor.

Rail cards are valid for one year from the date of purchase. 

A Family and Friends railcard costs £30 for one year. It allows four adults and up to four children to travel on one card. Each adult can get their own card. Adults get 40% off full fares and children aged 5 – 15 years get 60% off full priced fares. You may save more than £30 especially if you are travelling a long way to get to York.  

 

 

York Railway Station 

 

York railway station is an ornate, Victorian era station. It was the largest train station in the world when it opened in 1877.

However, it is a compact rail station and only takes a few minutes to traverse. It has 11 platforms linked by a pedestrian bridge. If you have heavy luggage or mobility issues, there are accessible lifts and an underpass to reach the platforms.

 

Station facilities 

 

There are free public toilets with baby change facilities, ATM cash machines and several cafes, coffee kiosks and two pubs. Free WiFi is available and you will find heated waiting rooms, ticket windows and an information desk. 

There are bike racks and a car park inside, and adjacent to, the station. 

Outside York rail station there is a taxi rank (operated by Station Taxis York) and several bus stops offering connections around the city, to Leeds and to the coast. York Park and Ride also stops here. Car hire companies operate from behind York station. 

York train station postcode is YO24 1AB.

Read our detailed guide to getting around York here. 

 

Left luggage store

 

Unfortunately there isn’t a left luggage facility in York rail station.

However, the nearest left luggage store is only 100 metres away.

Turn right out of the main York train station entrance, walk 100 metres and you will see York Left Luggage on the right next to the Europcar office. 

Alternatively, 800 metres away or a ten minute walk is Yorbag on High Petergate near York Minster. You can leave your bags in this central location for just £4 a day.  

 

How to get from York rail station to York city centre 

 

Exit York station via the main entrance, turn left to walk and walk past The Principal Hotel along Station Avenue. York city walls will be on your right. 

Walk down Station Avenue, cross straight over the traffic lights to continue past Memorial Gardens on the left (the city walls will still be on your right) and go under an arch in the city walls. 

Turn left to walk across Lendal Bridge. Continue on to York Minster directly ahead or, after the bridge, take the first right into Lendal and York city centre. 

This walk will take around 10 minutes. It is the best route to use if you wish to visit York Minster, Museum Gardens and York city centre. 

Alternatively, turn right out of York station and follow the road around to reach a crossroads with traffic lights. At the crossroads, turn left and walk under Micklegate Bar, one of the city’s four medieval gateways. 

Continue down cobbled Micklegate to reach Skeldergate Bridge and York City Centre. This is a good route to use if you want to visit Clifford’s Tower and York Castle museum. This walk is a little longer and will take around 20 minutes. 

 

Journey times to York by train

 

* Train times are approximate *

London to York train – 2 hours

Edinburgh to York – 2 ½ hours

Cardiff to York – 5 hours

Hull to York – 1 ½ hours (connect with ferries to the Netherlands and Belgium) 

Manchester to York – 1 hour 20 minutes

Manchester Airport to York (no change required) – 2 hours

Sheffield to York – 1 hour 8 minutes

Liverpool to York – 2 hours 45 minutes

Birmingham to York – 3 hours

Newcastle to York – 1 hour (connect to ferries to Holland)