Date spot in York

National Railway Museum

Wander huge halls of locomotives at the free railway museum, from a Japanese bullet train to Queen Victoria's royal carriage.

A streamlined brown and cream railcar on display under the roof of a museum hall

Leeman Road, behind the station

Address: Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
  • Culture
  • Rain-proof ☔
  • Free

Why it's a good date: Free, enormous and full of beautiful machines, whether or not either of you is into trains. It's a short walk from the station, so it's an easy rain plan.

Photo: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)

More from our York guide

  • Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street with a cobbled road, gas lamp and shopfronts, softly lit indoors

    York Castle Museum

    Tower Street, by Clifford's Tower

    Address: Eye of York, York YO1 9RY
    • Culture
    • Rain-proof ☔
    • Mid-price

    Walk down Kirkgate, a full-size Victorian street with shops you can step into, then visit the old prison cells in the museum by Clifford's Tower.

    Why it's a good date: Kirkgate is like stepping into a period drama, and there's plenty to talk about. Clifford's Tower is next door if the weather holds.

  • Clifford's Tower, a round stone keep with lobed walls, on top of a grassy mound against a blue sky

    Clifford's Tower

    Tower Street, by York Castle Museum

    Address: Tower Street, York YO1 9SA
    • Culture
    • Outdoors
    • Cheap and cheerful

    Climb the steep steps up the mound to the 13th-century stone keep of York Castle, then walk out on its roof deck for a view over the city to the Minster.

    Why it's a good date: A short, sharp climb with one of the best views in York at the top. Go on a clear day, and save the Castle Museum next door for when it rains.

  • The ruined Gothic arches of St Mary's Abbey across a green lawn, with white roses in the foreground

    Museum Gardens and St Mary's Abbey

    Museum Street, by Lendal Bridge

    Address: Museum Street, York YO1 7FR
    • Outdoors
    • Free
    • Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
    • Romantic

    Stroll the botanical gardens by the river and the ruined arches of St Mary's Abbey, with the Yorkshire Museum's columns behind.

    Why it's a good date: A calm, green spot right in the centre, ideal for a picnic or a slow walk between other plans. The abbey ruins are especially lovely in late-afternoon light.

From our guide to date ideas in York

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