Dean's Park
BEST FOR
Ages 0-17
ENTRY
from £20
SETTING
Indoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A cathedral visit that doubles as a history lesson, with a museum, a 275-step tower climb and a year-long ticket to come back to.
This isn't a garden despite the name, it's York Minster itself, and there's genuinely enough here to fill a couple of hours without anyone getting bored. The Undercroft Museum covers 2,000 years of history in a way that keeps kids moving from room to room, and younger explorers get a free Little Explorer Backpack with tools to hunt things out along the way. There are interactive trails and scavenger hunts built in, plus free guided tours from volunteers if you'd rather have someone explain what you're looking at than read every panel yourselves.
The Central Tower is the one to save for last, and it's a proper challenge: 275 steps, and only open to ages 8 and up. It's not wheelchair accessible either, so if you've got a mixed-age group you may end up splitting up for that bit. Everything else has ramped or lift access, including the main entrance, so buggies and wheelchairs are fine through most of the building.
Entry is £20 for an adult and gets up to four children in free, which stings a bit for what's technically a place of worship, but the ticket lasts a full year, so you can treat it as several visits rather than one expensive afternoon. Add the tower and it's £26 for the adult, £6 per child aged 8 to 17. Food isn't allowed inside beyond cold bottled drinks, but the Refectory next door does a Little Pilgrim Menu and gives a discount with your ticket, and picnics are welcome out in the green spaces if the weather's on your side.
Between the LEGO masterclasses, stained glass tours and occasional live performances, there's usually something running beyond the standard sightseeing route. Sundays are shorter, 12:45pm to 2:30pm, so plan around that if you're coming at the weekend.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 8 to 17 for the tower climb, younger kids get the museum and trails
- Last entry
- 4:00pm
- Booking
- Pre-booking recommended to avoid queues, not compulsory
- Parking
- No parking at cathedral. Nearest pay car parks 5-10 minutes walk (Monk Bar, Union Terrace, Bootham Row)
- How long to allow
- At least a couple of hours
- Food
- York Minster Refectory (Victorian school conversion) nearby
- Picnics
- Welcome in green spaces
- Pushchairs
- Ramped access at main entrance
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair access throughout most of building with ramps and lifts
- Dogs
- Service animals only. No emotional support animals allowed
- Getting there by bus or train
- York Railway Station 1km away (10 minute walk)
- Worth knowing
- Ticket valid for 12 months for unlimited return visits
- The ticket is valid for 12 months, so one visit can become several
- Only cold bottled drinks allowed inside, hot drinks and food are a no
- Free Little Explorer Backpacks are handed out for kids to use on the trails
- Carers get a free ticket if you call or email ahead
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£20 for an adult, and that covers up to four children aged 17 and under for free. Add the Central Tower and it's £26 for the adult plus £6 per child aged 8 to 17.
Do we need to book ahead?
Pre-booking is recommended to skip the queues but it's not compulsory, you can turn up on the day.
Is it OK for a toddler?
The main building has ramped and lift access for buggies, and there's baby changing near the North Quire Aisle. The tower is only for ages 8 and up, so that part's out.
How long does a visit take?
At least a couple of hours for the main sightseeing route. Your ticket lasts 12 months, so you can split the visit across return trips.
Can we take food in?
Only cold bottled drinks are allowed inside, no food and no hot drinks. The Refectory next door does a children's menu and gives a discount with your Minster ticket, and picnics are welcome in the green spaces outside.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday it's 9:30am to 4pm for sightseeing, last entry 4pm. Sunday hours are shorter, 12:45pm to 2:30pm.
Is there parking?
No parking at the cathedral itself. The nearest pay car parks (Monk Bar, Union Terrace, Bootham Row) are a 5 to 10 minute walk, or there's free Park and Ride from six sites around the city.
Can we bring a wheelchair or pram?
Ramped access at the main entrance and most of the building has level, ramp or lift access. The tower and crypt are the exceptions.
What's the Central Tower climb like?
275 steps, and it's only open to children aged 8 and up. It's not wheelchair accessible, so plan for someone to sit that one out if needed.
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