York Museum Gardens

York Museum Gardens offer ten acres of botanical gardens, ancient abbey ruins and a free day out in the heart of York. 

York Museum Gardens | Parks in York

• Opening Hours:

  • Summer: 7.30am to 8pm

  • Winter: 7.30am to 6pm

  • Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: 7am to 4pm

  • Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

• Location: Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR (close to York Railway Station)

• Suitable for: All ages, families, plant and history lovers

• Booking: No booking required

• Cost: Free to enter the gardens (the Yorkshire Museum itself charges an admission fee)

• Facilities: Wheelchair-friendly pathways, a café within the gardens, no public toilets on site (nearest at Bootham Bar)

• Website: www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk

Highlights

• The medieval ruins of St Mary's Abbey and the Roman Multangular Tower

• The Yorkshire Museum, home to archaeology, geology and astronomy collections

• York Observatory, with its distinctive octagonal building

• The Edible Wood and Artists' Garden, with changing outdoor exhibitions

• Free garden tours every Sunday, 1pm to 2pm, meeting at the Museum Street gates

Established in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society on land granted by the Crown, York Museum Gardens occupy ten acres beside the River Ouse, on part of the former grounds of St Mary's Abbey. The medieval ruins still stand among the borders, creating one of the most atmospheric green spaces in the city.

Beyond the plant collections, families can explore the Edible Wood, the Artists' Garden and the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum itself, with picnics welcome throughout the gardens (just no alcohol or barbecues).

Good to Know

• Dogs are welcome on a lead

• No alcohol is permitted - the gardens are an alcohol exclusion zone

• No ball games, and please don't climb on the abbey ruins

• Cyclists are asked to dismount within the gardens

• Nearest public toilets are at Bootham Bar

Photo credit: www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk