There isn’t much to do in the English city of York that is free. To be honest, most things to do are priced quite highly for what they are. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t free things to do if you look hard enough.
City Walls
After repairs in the Victorian era, the walls were opened as a public walkway. They still follow the path they followed during the middle ages. From different points along the walkway, you can see the Minster, several churches, and other interesting sites. The walk makes a fantastic introduction/orientation to York.
Due to uneven pathways and a lack of safety railing along several sections, most of the walls are unsuitable for small children who might run off. Be aware that they get busy during summer and are often closed due to bad weather in winter.
National Railways Museum
This is basically a couple of huge sheds filled with all things trains. There’s really old trains, modern trains, royal trains, war trains – pretty much every kind of train you could possibly think of. In addition to this, they have periodic demonstrations, talks, and train experiences.
Entrance is free, though they do bag checks and ask for £5 donations as you walk through the door. I was there on a wet weekend morning and it was jam-packed full of families with small children – you may wish to keep this in mind while planning your visit.
Museum Gardens
The gardens around the Yorkshire Museum are beautiful and free to walk through. Two of the more notable things to see in the gardens are the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey and the Multangular Tower. Apparently, there are some interesting plants and wildlife, but I don’t know anything about that kind of thing.
Walking Tour
There are at least two companies that do free walking tours of York: the Association of Voluntary Guides and White Rose York (they say they’re free, but expect to tip – about £5 per person seemed normal).
I was very impressed with the White Rose York tour I went on, though I was by far the youngest tourist (I take it most backpackers my age go on the earlier Association of Voluntary Guides tour). Our guide was fantastic and kept telling us stories (we asked him to) so that the tour lasted much longer than advertised.
Alternatively, you could wander the Snickleways in the centre of the city by yourself (don’t miss The Shambles). It is rather easy to lose track of where you are, however, so I don’t recommend this. There is also a self-guided Cat Trail; it leads you around the city, looking at cats on the sides of buildings. The cats themselves are underwhelming, but at least they gave some structure to my wanderings.
Churches
York is littered with picturesque medieval churches, many of which are still in use. With the exception of the Minster, they’re free to enter when open. Some are more spectacular than others, but they all have their individual quirks and differences in history.
I was fortunate enough to be in York for Residents’ Weekend, so a lot of the churches had increased accessibility and extra volunteers available. My favourites would include St Denys Walmgate and Holy Trinity Goodramgate.
So that’s my list of free things to do in York. Do you want to visit York? or have you already been there?
