15 BEST things to do in York for couples in 2024
Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Lauren Allen
With so many amazing things to do in York for couples, you should totally consider visiting for a romantic getaway!
Known as one of the most beautiful historic cities in England, it should come as no surprise that York is a popular destination for those heading on a trip with their better half.
Having grown up in Nottingham, York was always the first place that we would visit on our drive up to the Yorkshire Moors and I still find it captivating to this day. From its breathtaking architecture, down to its kind locals, there is no better place in England to whisk someone away to.
It isn’t easy to pick out just 15 things to do in York for couples. However, from personal experience, these are some of the best!
York was voted as “the UK’s third most romantic city” in 2023 and I’m not surprised! The activities listed in this post will ensure you leave the city feeling happy and in your own bubble of love. How lovely does that sound?
A quick note: This is a guest post from the lovely Georgia from First Step Europe – feel free to check out her blog!
Things to do in York for couples
1 | Rent a boat from Kings Staith Landings
From Kings Staith Landings, many companies (such as City Cruises) offer the chance to self-drive one of their lovely boats along the River Ouse. Along your journey, you will have a chance to take in the sights of York’s historic skyline. Millennium Bridge and Clifford’s Tower being two of the best sights you will see.
Costing as little as £35, you can grab your favourite snacks and enjoy this calming activity without breaking the bank. Time this with the backdrop of a spectacular sunset, and you’ll experience one of the most romantic things to do in York.
2 | Head out on a cycling tour of York
A cycling tour is one of those fun things to do in York city centre that you will remember for years. Taking you to lesser-known spots that you won’t get to see on ordinary tours, your experienced guide will use their best storytelling skills to share just how interesting this city is.
The overall tour can cost under £30 per person, lasting 2.5 hours. A great activity to partake in on one of York’s typical cloudy days; make sure to plan a good lunch after this as you will no doubt work up an appetite.
Worried that this activity isn’t for you or your partner due to activity levels? Don’t fret! The tour guides take it at a leisurely pace, with your safety and comfort at the forefront of their mind.
3 | Join a chocolate bar workshop
As well as learning all about the production of chocolate and the art behind chocolatiering, this workshop allows you to create and decorate your very own chocolate bar.
A master chocolatier will guide you through the process of creating these delicious treats, with plenty of samples to taste throughout the 1-hour workshop. This activity is an incredibly fun thing to do in York for couples and really allows you to get your creative juices flowing!
It’s the perfect mid-morning activity, allowing time in the early afternoon for lunch. Grab a picnic from a nearby supermarket and head to York Museum Gardens for a stroll around the stunning botanical gardens, before settling down to enjoy your food and sweet treat for dessert.
4 | Join a hidden gem food tour
Starting at midday, you’ll be guided to local eateries serving up a variety of dishes. The places you’ll visit are real hidden gems, so you can expect to dine with locals rather than tourists! How good is that?
Most tours are capped to under 10 people, allowing you to socialise with the rest of your group easily whilst you eat and walk to your next destination. Furthermore, all locations are within 1 mile of each other through the cobbled alleyways of York city centre, meaning you can let your tastebuds enjoy the journey!
We loved this tour and had a fantastic group of people to enjoy the experience with. Your spirits will be high after getting to know everyone, but you will enjoy the company of your partner even more once it is just the two of you again.
5 | Prepare to be spooked at York Dungeons
Probably not the most romantic thing to do in York, but definitely a different one!
From the Vikings to the Plague, York Dungeons takes you through the darkest times in history, using humour and actors to bring the experience to life. You will be taken through 10 rooms, each with a different story to tell; the whole experience takes around 90 minutes.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the incredible sets and activities you will partake in will have you belly-laughing with your other half. We’ve personally been to the London Dungeons, but much prefer this one. Make sure you don’t miss out!
If you’re feeling brave, there are also 18+ evening events with even more horror and risque humour than their regular attraction.
Alongside the ticket for the Dungeons, you can also purchase a dual ticket that will get you a 1-day “hop on hop off” bus ticket around York. With 21 stops and audio guides on board, it is a very fun thing to do in York and a great way to see as much as possible, especially during a shorter stay.
6 | Enjoy a film at Everyman Cinemas
With fewer people in each room, Everyman Cinemas offers a more personal experience when it comes to watching the latest movies. Rather than the typical fold-up chairs with brands such as Cineworld, Everyman offers luxurious cuddle chairs and armchairs for their guests to cosy into.
The exterior of the Grade II listed building is that of a traditional cinema, and the refurbishment inside the York site leaves it looking vibrant. However, you can still see the bones of the original 1930s layout.
If you’re wanting to cuddle up and enjoy some of the newest movies out there, then Everyman Cinemas is the place for you and your partner.
7 | Look for the perfect keepsake in The Shambles
It’s only natural that you’ll want a souvenir from your trip to York and The Shambles offers plenty of opportunities to find the perfect one!
Allegedly the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, this mediaeval shopping street is famous for its beautiful shop fronts that look like they’re straight out of a movie.
Here you will find gift shops, coin and stamp dealers, boutiques and even sweet shops. Spend some time arm-in-arm with your partner just wandering in and out of the shops, looking for a keepsake.
It may seem simple, but it’s also a very romantic thing to do in York. That quality time spent chatting and shopping will just bring you both closer together!
Wanting to take the opportunity to have a photo session on The Shambles? Then we recommend heading there just after first light or later on in the evening. While it’s most picturesque throughout the day, you will have fewer people in the background of your photos during these times.
8 | Admire beautiful art at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience
Based in St Mary’s Church, this experience is a super fun thing to do in York City Centre, especially for artsy couples!
For just £18 you can walk through Van Gogh’s works of art via a 360-degree light and sound experience. Over 200 of his works are featured, with some literally being brought to life, just as they were intended to be.
You will learn about his family, his mind and his relationships: all of which influenced his style significantly. There is also the option to use a VR headset to really feel the experience.
9 | Join a York Ghost Tour
If you haven’t guessed already, York has a very macabre history. So it should come as no surprise that York has previously been voted the most haunted city in England!
Join a 90-minute walking tour with The Original Ghost Walk Of York where you will be taken to all the popular haunts, with tales and legends being brought to life by your guide.
Tickets are only £7.50 per adult, making for a budget-friendly, fun thing to do in York city centre for couples. This spooky activity will leave your partner pulling you close for comfort, walking through the dark streets as you search for anything paranormal.
10 | Walk the York City Walls
Surrounding the wonderful city of York are its 13th-century limestone City Walls. Every day, from 8am until dusk, you can walk along the entire 2-hour length of these walls, stopping for photos along the way.
The City Walls is the best place for views of York Minster and you can also catch a sight of the railway. As one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in York, it’s also one of the best places for a couples’ photo shoot.
And the best thing? It’s completely free to visit! Taking a leisurely stroll whilst seeing the ancient city from its original fortification is without a doubt one of the best free things to do in York.
It sets a very romantic tone for your evening, especially if you’ve just left a romantic dinner and chose to walk the streets (which we highly recommend doing).
In the evening, after the walls have closed, you will see them illuminated around the entire city. On regular days it’s a beautiful white light. However, specialist lighting is used for certain events, with Christmas lights being added throughout December.
11 | Dine at Lucia Restaurant before a show
Located just minutes away from York Minster is Lucia York: a vibrant Italian restaurant, lounge, and wine bar.
On a warm summer’s evening, Lucia’s offers al fresco dining on their terrace – the ultimate romantic setting for your dinner. On colder nights, they also have a very stylish, boujee restaurant and a lounge bar.
Lucia’s are known for their bespoke cocktails and for just £45 you can enjoy their All Day Bottomless Brunch which consists of 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks and a choice of food from 3 dishes. They also cater for vegans and those with gluten intolerance.
This is the perfect start to your evening and should be followed by a show at York Theatre Royal. With comedy, Opera and classic Shakespearean performances, this 18th-century theatre offers something for everyone and would be a great addition to any romantic date night in York.
Unique Date Ideas In York
With so many unique things to do in York, there are some great date ideas that make for some amazing memories with your partner!
12 | Join a River Ouse floodlit evening cruise
You’ve had the opportunity to drive your own boat on the River Ouse, but you may not be convinced. If you would rather someone else be in charge of guiding you down the river, this evening cruise is the ideal date night for you.
During a 70-minute peaceful glide down the River Ouse, you can sip on your complimentary glass of prosecco and enjoy the soft music playing in the background. The floodlights on the boat illuminate the riverbanks, creating a romantic atmosphere for you and your lover.
There are many bars and restaurants along the riverside, including Slug and Lettuce – a chain cocktail restaurant offering delicious food and happy hours! The riverside branch is sat right next to the cruise’s departure point of King’s Staith Landing, so would be a great place to dine before (or after) embarking on the cruise.
13 | Partake in a cocktail-making class
If you’d rather be more hands-on with your drinks, a cocktail-making class may be a better option! There are several dotted around the city and we personally took part in the one at Revolution Bar which cost around £30 per person.
This 90-minute class took us through the ingredients and techniques used to make our favourite cocktails and was led by an experienced mixologist.
It’s a unique date night for couples in York and is incredibly fun, we had a blast! It’s also great that all the techniques you learn can be taken away with you to enjoy more intimate date nights once you are back home.
14 | Jump on the York Afternoon Tea Bus
Every Saturday, the York Afternoon Tea Bus takes you on a 60-minute tour through the city. You will pass all the main sights whilst being served a delicious and classic afternoon tea.
Enjoy scones, sandwiches, pastries, a glass of prosecco, and a selection of tea whilst taking in the vibes of this converted double-decker bus. The price is just £55 per person and they also cater for vegetarians.
This is the ideal activity to enjoy when you pair it with browsing through some of York’s many vintage stores. A unique date idea for your trip to York, it’s perfect for those who really want to immerse themselves in British culture.
15 | Explore Clifford’s Tower and Tower Gardens
The mediaeval Clifford’s Tower sits upon a mound, overlooking the historic city of York. Priced at just £8.50, you will explore rooms that have been opened to the public, providing a glimpse into the past; some of these rooms have been closed off for centuries.
Located right across the road from the tower is Tower Gardens, which is where you should begin your date. The gardens are free to enter and are one of the quieter public parks in York city centre.
It’s perfect for a romantic stroll, taking in all the wildflowers that grow within the garden. There’s also a pretty view of Skeldergate Bridge from here, making for a picturesque backdrop for your photos.
Once you have seen every inch of the gardens and soaked up the last of the Vitamin D for the day, it’s time to head a few minutes away to York Cocoa House to buy one of their famous hot chocolates to go!
With hot chocolate in hand, stroll back to Clifford’s Tower, and make your way up to the viewpoint at the very top to watch the sunset over York. Whilst this isn’t a typical date night, and is more DIY in regards to planning, it makes for an even more romantic thing for couples to do during their visit to York!
FAQs about romantic things to do in York
Absolutely! With so many couple-friendly activities in York, it’s one of the best places in England for a romantic getaway.
Yep, a city break with your partner in York offers the opportunity to enjoy a whole wealth of romantic things to do! There’s a reason it was rated so high on the list of romantic cities in England.
A trip to York can be as cheap or expensive as you like. If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful experience, consider where you stay and the activities you partake in. There are lots of free things to do in York if you are on a budget.
There are several things that make York so popular. One of the main things is the incredible architecture scattered around the city. Places such as The Shambles and York Minster are a feast for the eyes and are two of the main things to do in the city.
Conclusion for the best things to do in York for couples
Simply put, there are many amazing things to do in York for couples. Whether you’re both a fan of art or want to hit up the top attractions, there are lots of things to see and do in this incredible English city!
What’s your favourite thing to do in York? Feel free to share it below!
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