Date spot in York
Bettys
Queue for afternoon tea, a Fat Rascal scone and a pot of Yorkshire tea in the famous tea rooms on St Helen's Square.
St Helen's Square
Address: 6-8 St Helen's Square, York YO1 8QP- Café
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Cosy
- Foodie
Why it's a good date: A proper old-fashioned treat, with waiting staff in uniform and cakes in the window. The queue moves, but go mid-morning or late afternoon to keep it short.
Photo: Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
More from our York guide
The Original Ghost Walk of York
The King's Arms, King's Staith, by Ouse Bridge
Address: The King's Arms, 3 King's Staith, York YO1 9SN- Event
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Halloween
- Big night
Meet outside the King's Arms on the river at eight for the ghost walk that's been leading people round York's darkest corners since the 1970s.
Why it's a good date: Spooky enough for a good excuse to hold hands, with plenty of laughs too. Go in autumn or winter when it's properly dark, and warm up in the King's Arms afterwards.
A cruise on the Ouse
King's Staith, by Ouse Bridge
Address: King's Staith, York YO1 9SN- Activity
- Mid-price
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
- Outdoors
Take a boat from King's Staith along the River Ouse, past the old warehouses and under the bridges, with a skipper pointing out the sights.
Why it's a good date: An hour of sitting back and letting the city drift past. The evening cruises are the romantic choice, so book one for a summer night.
Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Squeeze into York's smallest pub, two tiny rooms on Fossgate that haven't changed since an Edwardian refit, with real ale and no music or TV.
Why it's a good date: There's nothing to do here but talk, which makes it perfect for a date. It's small and doesn't take groups, so it's best for just the two of you.
Photo: Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
