Day trips from York worth adding to your bucket list!

Last Updated on February 12, 2025 by Lauren Allen

York is an incredible city. In fact, it’s one of the best cities to visit in the UK. With just a few days in this world-famous location, you can see and do a lot. This includes taking advantage of the free things to do in York, admiring the beauty of York Minster and eating traditional Yorkshire dishes at the city’s tastiest restaurants. This list of 11 day trips from York shares some of the coolest places to visit outside of the city!

Places to visit outside of York that are worth the trip:

1 | Knaresborough

Located 17 miles from the city, Knaresborough is one of the most convenient York day trips. Furthermore, it is also one of the most charming. Some of the best things to do in Knaresborough include taking in the beautiful views from the castle, hiring a boat and visiting Mother Shipton’s Cave.

How to get from York to Knaresborough:

By train: The journey takes just 25 minutes with fairly frequent services available. Booking in advance is advised as this sometimes saves money. Additionally, don’t forget to use a railcard if you have one.

By car: Travelling to Knaresborough from York by car typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

Read more: Instagram spots in York, Yorkshire that you can’t miss!

2 | Leeds

Leeds is a great city for food and shopping. For example, The Corn Exchange is home to a number of independent stores and tasty food traders. This makes it one of the top places to visit whilst in the city.

Additionally, Leeds Arcades should also be on your to-do list. These beautifully elegant buildings house many high street and designer stores, perfect for browsing in or treating yourself to a new outfit! Alternatively, they also make great photo spots if you want to get snap-happy for Instagram!

How to get from York to Leeds:

By train: Train journeys from York to Leeds are direct and last around half an hour. Services are very frequent which makes the trip extremely convenient.

By car: Typically, the fastest route between York and Leeds takes around 40 minutes to one hour depending on the traffic.

3 | Harrogate

Harrogate doesn’t really make it to the top of many people’s UK bucket lists. Often, it is overshadowed by the likes of York and Whitby. However, it’s an ideal place to visit if you want to spend a day relaxing. For example, the Turkish Baths offer massages, treatments and a beautiful relaxation room that you must take advantage of!

Next, head to the ever-popular Betty’s for lunch or cake. Afterwards, spend an hour or two visiting the Mercer art gallery. End your visit with a wander around the Valley Gardens before heading back to York.

How to get to Harrogate from York on a day trip:

By train: Trains from York to Harrogate typically run twice an hour. Direct services take just over half an hour whilst journeys including a change take 70 minutes.

By car: The trip to Harrogate from York takes between 35 and 75 minutes. This varies greatly depending on traffic. Make sure you check your route in advance.

By bus: If you would prefer to catch the bus from York to Harrogate, the journey takes almost 90 minutes. From York train station, you can catch the 412 towards Wetherby. Once arriving at Wetherby bus station, change buses for the X70 towards Harrogate which will drop you off in the city centre. If you want to travel back to York by bus, take note that the last (convenient) bus leaves Harrogate at 4:45 pm.

4 | London

London is a great city which deserves a lot more than a day trip. However, if you are limited on time, visiting London from York is well worth doing. Although you won’t be able to tick everything off your London bucket list, you can get a real feel for the city.

If it’s your first time in the English capital, consider joining a walking tour of the city. That way, you can discover a lot in a short space of time. Alternatively, you can hit up some of the top attractions in London including The London Eye, Tate Modern or Kew Gardens.

York to London by train:

By train: Train journeys between York and London take between two hours and 2.5 hours. Tickets are best booked in advance as that tends to save money.

Please note: Whilst you can drive to London from York, the journey is long and will eat up a lot of your time. The best option is to catch the train as this is the fastest method of transportation.

Yes, it is possible to visit London cheaply. My guide shares lots of helpful tips.

5 | The Yorkshire Moors

Nature enthusiasts will want to consider a day trip to the Yorkshire Moors. The area boasts incredible views, great walking routes and a number of tourist attractions worth visiting. Furthermore, it is a haven for photographers wanting to take some snaps of incredible landscapes!

The best ways to get from York to The Yorkshire Moors

By car: Travelling to the moors from York doesn’t take long at all. The trip takes around 40 minutes if you drive down the A19.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to make this journey via public transport. That makes it difficult for travellers without a car. However, some tour companies do offer day tours to the Yorkshire Moors which is a great option if you want to see as much of the Moors as possible in a short time frame.

6 | Whitby

One of the coolest places to visit outside of York is Whitby. This seaside town located on the Yorkshire coast is bursting with things to do. For example, exploring Whitby Abbey, hitting up the beach and climbing the 199 steps to admire picturesque views. Lastly, don’t miss visiting the arcades, checking out the Whalebone Arch and eating fish and chips from the much-loved Magpie Cafe.

How to get from York to Whitby:

By car: With minimal traffic, the drive from York to Whitby takes between one hour and 90 minutes. Leave early in the morning and travel back after sunset to make the most out of your day!

Please note: Despite the fact, there are several public transport options from York to Whitby, the journeys take longer than three hours. Due to this, the most convenient method of transportation is a car. That way, you can maximise your time in this super cool seaside town!

7 | The Yorkshire Dales

Another hotspot for nature lovers, the Yorkshire Dales offer many serene locations for long walks. During these treks, you will come across animals, flora and photogenic views. On a nice Summers day, the Yorkshire Dales are without a doubt one of the best day trips to take from York. You won’t want to miss them!

Getting to The Yorkshire Dales from York:

By car: The drive from York to the Yorkshire Dales takes between one hour and 90 minutes. Similarly to the Yorkshire Moors, it is not possible to travel to the Yorkshire Dales on public transport.

8 | Saltaire

Saltaire is incredibly charming and well worth a visit, despite being one of the lesser-known York day trips. The picturesque village has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001 which just proves how beautiful it is. With a day in Saltaire, you can visit the Salts Mill, go window shopping in independent stores and appreciate some great architecture.

By train: Trains run towards Saltaire from York fairly often. However, most journeys require that you change trains in Leeds. The services are run by Transpennine Express and Northern Rail.

By car: Travelling from York to Saltaire by car takes between one hour and 1 hour and 40 minutes.

9 | Sheffield

Sheffield is a vibrant city and well worth visiting on a day trip from York. Some of the best things to do in Sheffield include visiting the botanical gardens and checking out some art at Millennium Gallery. Additionally, Chatsworth House is located nearby and is worth exploring if you have an interest in stately homes and beautiful scenery.

How to get to Sheffield from York:

By train: The train between York and Sheffield takes around 75 minutes. Some services are direct, whilst others will require you to make a change.

By car: Alternatively, driving to Sheffield from York takes between an hour and 1 hour and 40 minutes.

10 | Manchester

Manchester (aka my home town) is one of the coolest cities to visit in England. It’s one of the best if you are on the hunt for amazing food, tasty cocktails and a great music scene. Upon arriving in the city, head straight to the Northern Quarter to eat breakfast at Ezra and Gil. Afterwards, hit up the many vintage stores and shop for new records in Affecks Palace.

Alternatively, football lovers will want to book a tour of Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium. Furthermore, nature enthusiasts may prefer a trip out of the city centre to relax in Heaton Park. Lastly, Manchester is a great city for live music. Do some research in advance and treat yourself to a cheap gig ticket. You may be pleasantly surprised!

How to get from York to Manchester:

By train: Trains from York to Manchester run (approximately) twice an hour. They arrive at both Manchester Picadilly and Manchester Victoria. The journey lasts around 90 minutes to two hours and it’s possible you may need to change trains in Leeds.

By car: The drive from York to Manchester takes around 90 minutes with the usual traffic.

By coach: Alternatively, it is also possible to travel by coach. National Express and Megabus both offer these services. However, these services run a lot less frequently. Furthermore, the times of these services are a lot less convenient than travelling by train or car.

11 | Yorkshire Sculpture Park

For those with a keen interest in sculpture, a trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a must. The park is open all year round (except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) and showcases work from the likes of Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst and many more. Adult tickets cost £6 whilst under 18s receive free entry.

How to get to Yorkshire Sculpture Park from York:

By car: Getting to Yorkshire Sculpture Park from York by car takes between 45 minutes and one hour depending on traffic.

Via public transport: Whilst it is possible to travel to Yorkshire Sculpture Park from York via public transport, this does take up to two hours. Additionally, the routes are not direct. You will need to rely on both trains and buses. Furthermore, the journey length and details depend on your departure time and can vary quite a bit. For this route, I highly recommend checking your options in advance on Google Maps.

Tips for taking day trips from York:

Plan ahead

Planning ahead ensures you are not left disappointed. For example, if you head off on your day trip and one of the key attractions in the city is closed. How would you feel? If you know that you would be gutted, it’s best to plan in advance.

Some things to consider booking in advance include entry tickets, train tickets, restaurants and bars. However, If you know you’ll have a great time regardless of what you do, don’t worry. Sometimes arriving without a plan ends up working out for the best!

Make a note of directions

Directions from Google maps are all well and good until you lose the GPS signal. Once you know the directions, either make a note of them or screenshot them on your phone. That way, if you lose connection, you can still get from A to B without getting lost.

Allow for a bit of spontaneity

As already mentioned, days filled with spontaneous adventures sometimes work out for the better. Although it is best to plan ahead if you have your heart set on a specific activity, allowing some time for unplanned fun is important too. Think about it. You might just end up creating one of your favourite travel memories when you leave things more open to change!

Rent a car

Something that offers more room for spontaneous activities is travelling by car. For example, you could make stops en route to your next destination if you see something that interests you. However, if you don’t own a car or are visiting from another country, your only option is to book a car rental.

Day tours from York:

Sometimes, booking day tours via companies offers a more convenient and hassle-free way of travel. Here are some of the most popular day trips from York on offer:

Day tour to the North York Moors and Whitby

This North York Moors and Whitby Tour from York is one of the best day tours from the city. It gives travellers on a limited timeframe the option to make the most out of their trip to Yorkshire. Spend some time admiring the fantastic views, checking out film locations and exploring the seaside town of Whitby.

Yorkshire Dales day trip from York

Explore the beautiful Yorkshire Dales on this group tour from York. Stop off at several picturesque villages, take in the amazing scenery and check out the medieval Castle Bolton. Enjoy your time visiting some of Yorkshire’s most charming locations.

Are you looking for somewhere to stay in York?

You will need somewhere to rest your head during your York visit. Astor York Hostel is a popular option for budget travellers, whilst Elmbank Hotel and Lodge is perfect for lovers of luxury hotels. Both options are highly rated!

Read more: Elmbank Hotel and Lodge, York | An honest review

Have you got any more ideas for day trips from York? Feel free to share them in the comments section below and share your personal experiences!

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