The Yorkshire Museum is where York keeps its oldest and most precious finds, and the Museum Gardens around it are one of the loveliest green spaces in the city. The museum, a Greek revival building from the 1830s, explores Roman, Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval Yorkshire through objects dug up in and around York, and it has a strong focus on the Viking North, with displays of Viking-age silver and metalwork found across the region. Alongside the permanent galleries, the museum changes its exhibitions regularly, so there is usually something new to see. The Museum Gardens are free to enter and surround the museum with lawns, mature trees and flower beds. They contain the remains of St Mary’s Abbey, once one of the richest Benedictine abbeys in northern England, and a stretch of the old city wall with the Roman Multangular Tower, the only Roman tower still standing in the city. Squirrels, picnickers and wedding parties are part of the scene, and the gardens link the Minster area, the river and the railway station. The tickets for the museum are good for twelve months, so you can return as often as you like.
How to visit
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and is closed on Mondays. Pre-booking is not essential, though you may need to queue at busy times, and adult and child tickets last twelve months from the first visit. Children under five go in free and there are concessions for students, young people and eligible groups, so check the museum’s prices page when you book.
The Museum Gardens are open to walk through without a ticket, and the entrance on Museum Street is only a few minutes from the Minster and the railway station.
What to expect
Allow about ninety minutes for the museum and another half hour to wander through the gardens and the abbey ruins. The galleries are well labelled and good for older children and adults, and the Viking material is a good companion to a visit to JORVIK. The gardens are at their best from spring to autumn, with picnic spots, and the ruins of the abbey make a romantic backdrop for photographs. The Roman Multangular Tower is on the edge of the gardens beside the walls and can be viewed from outside.
Making the most of it
Begin with the museum to get your bearings in York’s Roman and Viking past, then walk through the gardens to the abbey ruins and out through the gate towards Lendal Bridge or the walls. It is a good wet-weather option and a calm break from the crowds on the Shambles. The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus stops at the gardens, which makes it easy to combine with other sights.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided archaeology museum with Roman, Viking and medieval galleries, set in free botanical gardens with abbey ruins.
Best time
A weekday morning, followed by a walk through the gardens in the afternoon when the weather is dry.
How long
About ninety minutes for the museum plus time in the gardens.
Tips
Remember the museum is closed on Mondays, keep your ticket because it lasts a year and bring a picnic for the gardens.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and archaeology fans and anyone who wants a green, quiet break in the middle of York.
- Families
- Open lawns, squirrels and ruins suit children, and the museum is a good rainy-day stop.
- Couples
- A stroll among the abbey ruins and flower beds is a calm contrast to the busy medieval streets.
- Pair with
- JORVIK for more Viking history, or the City Walls beside the gardens.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes to two hours.
Good questions
Are the Museum Gardens in York free?+
The gardens can be entered without a ticket and are a pleasant place to walk, picnic and see the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey. The Yorkshire Museum itself is ticketed.
When is the Yorkshire Museum open?+
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and closed on Mondays. Check the museum’s site for special openings.
How long is a Yorkshire Museum ticket valid?+
Adult and child tickets are valid for twelve months from the first visit, so you can return as often as you like.
What can you see at the Yorkshire Museum?+
The museum covers Roman, Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval Yorkshire through finds from the city and region, with temporary exhibitions that change.
Is there a Roman tower in the Museum Gardens?+
Yes, the Multangular Tower stands on the edge of the gardens beside the city walls and is the only Roman tower still standing in York.
