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Original poster

Any recommendations for free and cheap things to do and see in York

26 replies

SpideySenseTingles · 09/09/2021 12:34

I got super cheap train tickets in the Northern Rail sale a couple of weeks ago to visit York this Saturday for me and the family (Me, DH and DD5yo).

Money is a little tight for us this month so I wondered if any York-based Mumsnetters had any recommendations for fun and cheap ways for us to spend our day there.

Any quirky streets worth exploring? Or unusual shops to browse in? And anything at all that would appeal to a 5yo!

OP posts:
Loughrigg77 · 09/09/2021 12:45

Walking round the walls is free and the bit between the station and the back of the minster is the best bit. You don't have to go all the way round. The Railway Museum which is 5 minutes from the station is also free. For streets the Shambles is the obvious one but Stonegate and Petergate are also very attractive. There is the Harry Potter shop on the Shambles and a Christmas shop on Stonegate. Dean's Park and the Museum gardens are ideal for small people to run round and blow off steam.

Kiitos · 09/09/2021 12:56

@Loughrigg77 beat me to it! The walls and the museum gardens especially. I think entry to the Minster is free too. It’s a lovely city to just wander around. You can also walk along the river towards Rowntree Park, which is a nice walk

MummyJ12 · 09/09/2021 13:03

Agree with all of the above! Nice work @Loughrigg77 and @Kiitos Smile

mogtheexcellent · 09/09/2021 13:19

Minster is not free but there are several churches which pre-pandemic were open to look around. All saints and holy trinity were lovely.

RatherBeRiding · 09/09/2021 13:22

National Railway Museum! The Shambles and the market.

Samanabanana · 09/09/2021 13:24

Definitely the Railway Museum!

CampervanQueen · 09/09/2021 13:25

Pretty much what they all said! The Minster is only free to residents I'm afraid.

Just be aware you'll need to pre-book the Railway Museum, and not all the attractions are available at the moment. It's still worth a trip though.

Original poster
SpideySenseTingles · 09/09/2021 16:06

Thank you so much everyone, I've made a list! And plotted a little route for us around the city

OP posts:
Kiitos · 09/09/2021 22:57

Ah apologies, it’s a while since I’ve been in the Minster, I thought you only had to pay to go up the tower.
If you need somewhere with lots of casual food options check out Spark York - really cool place for street food.

Topsyandtimison37 · 09/09/2021 23:03

Museum Gardens are free and lovely x

Lj8893 · 09/09/2021 23:11

The shambles!

Don’t know what you class as cheap but The potion shop on the shambles does a potion making experience which lasts an hour or 2 and is really reasonably priced!

Lj8893 · 09/09/2021 23:11

There is also the cat trail which is free!

Original poster
SpideySenseTingles · 09/09/2021 23:29

A cat trail? Excuse me whilst I Google!

OP posts:
Bearfrills · 10/09/2021 00:20

There is a Harry Potter themed mino-golf on Coppergate that is £6.99 per person but you get a potion drink included in the price. My 4yo isn't bothered about Harry Potter but still loved the various holes and hitting the ball around.

Walking around is a lot of fun. There are usually street entertainers dotted about and there are lots of trails to follow and interesting things to look at. My older DC wanted to see Dick Whittington's grave last time we were there. There are open top buses that you can hop on and off for not very much money at all and tour the city.

Word of advice, if there is a free toilet wherever you are then use it as the public toilets are 40p a go. Between four DC, including one with a dodgy kidney who pees pretty much constantly, I spent close to £6 on toilet trips Shock

ItllBeOverByChristmas · 10/09/2021 00:34

Museum Gardens is lovely if the weather is nice and free and there's a company who show birds of prey there - they make their money by charging for photos with them, but even if you don't cough up for a photo op it's well worth having a gawp.
www.owl-adventures.co.uk/public-events

BigWhooper · 10/09/2021 01:02

Apparently you can still get into the minster for free if you say you're going in to worship. Otherwise it is expensive it's true. It's nice looking round the outside though and interesting to see the bit that shows you what the stonemasons are up to at the moment.

Railway museum is good. There are other museums that are nice enough but not worth the money I don't think.

There's some decent takeaway vans in the market that do really reasonable priced food. Look out for the one that sells katsu chicken fries. The portions are enormous and it all tastes fantastic.

When you're in the bit around stonegate there are lots of little alleyways that can be fun to walk down just to see where you end up. Sometimes it's the next street along and other times it's some little square of shops etc all completely unexpected.

There is a nice (free!) church to look around opposite coppergate.

The best view of the minster is: walk to high petergate and go through the arch onto it with the art gallery behind you. About three buildings along on your left hand side go into the little alley, then at the end turn right and you will see the minster. This also takes you to the entrance, or you can go and have a wander in the gardens next to it on the left.

Scarby9 · 10/09/2021 01:26

www.yorkluckycats.co.uk/york-cat-trail/
The cat trail!

Northernlurker · 10/09/2021 07:30

You CANNOT get in to the Minster for free by saying you are there for worship. You can turn up and attend evensong or another service or you can go in for prayer when you are shown to a side chapel. The cat trail is really good and an ace way to wander around.

Bluenotgreenmilk · 10/09/2021 08:00

I’m from York and for food (if it’s still open) krusties for food (cex and down the side of the church towards the market)
It’s a tiny deli and don’t bother with the babs-the baguettes or the salads are so good,I’d sell my fella to get one
Don’t bother with cliffords tower-it costs a fortune to get in and it’s just stones
Railway museum,the dungeons,Jorvik centre and the shambles are all really good

Bearfrills · 10/09/2021 08:09

Jorvik is amazing but fairly expensive for what it is. Usually they have demonstrations and talks alongside the ride but these have been scaled back because of covid so when we last visited it we were in and out within an hour.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 10/09/2021 08:14

Took ds when he was 5 and went to the railway museum he loved it ! We made a small donation of a fiver .
The boat on the canal was pretty cheap too and the captain let him blow the horn which he loved!
We loved york but there was a lack of family restaurants however that might be because we didn't know where to look
The tourist bus is good value as it is a trip in itself and you can get on and off as many times as you like within 24 hours so great for transport too

Lj8893 · 10/09/2021 09:00

The shambles food market is great. We only discovered it on the last day of our trip and I feel I need to return just to try something else from there!
And we had the most amazing doughnut from a shop by the main square, I think it was called Dough or Doh?? It was honestly the best doughnut I’ve ever had!!

feltflower · 10/09/2021 09:13

don't know if anyone has mentioned previously but if staying overnight the youth hostel is amazing !

CarrieMoonbeams · 10/09/2021 09:18

I'm jealous OP, I love York. Have fun!

BirdIsland · 10/09/2021 09:20

The cat trail is great, and if you're lucky you might see Donald, a locally-famous (real life) Bengal that lives near the Minster 🐈‍⬛.

There is a small patch of grass near the minster called College Green, there's some picnic tables there at the moment and a big wooden 'York' sign, kids seem to love racing round there if you're looking for somewhere to sit and eat lunch.