York Minster is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, built over some 250 years from the 1220s and famous for its medieval stained glass, above all the Great East Window. As of October 2026 entry costs £20 for adults and seniors and £16 for students not studying in York, and up to four children aged 17 and under go free with each paying adult. Tickets are valid for 12 months. Climbing the 275-step central tower costs £26 for adults (£6 for ages 8–17). Sightseeing hours are Monday to Saturday 9:30–16:00 and Sunday 12:45–14:30, when tickets must be booked in advance.
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Tickets and tours for York Minster
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Why York Minster matters
Christian worship on this spot goes back to 627, when King Edwin of Northumbria was baptised in a small wooden church, probably inside the old Roman fortress. Today’s cathedral replaced a Norman one, and its builders worked from the 1220s until the building was finished in the 1470s. Between 1405 and 1408 the glazier John Thornton created the Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the country, about the size of a tennis court. The Minster has survived fires in 1753, 1829, 1840 and 1984; in the last, the Rose Window endured temperatures of around 450 °C and cracked in some 40,000 places. It is still a working cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of York.
What you’ll see
- The Great East Window: the vast window behind the high altar, telling the story of the world from Creation to the end of time.
- The Five Sisters: five tall lancets of 13th-century grey-green grisaille glass in the north transept.
- The Rose Window: in the south transept, now the subject of a major conservation appeal, Rescue the Rose Window, as its stonework decays.
- The Undercroft museum and crypt: 2,000 years of history under your feet, from the Roman fortress to the Norman foundations, with treasures from the Minster’s collection.
- The Quire and the King’s Screen: the stone screen with statues of the kings of England from William I to Henry VI.
- The central tower: the highest point in York, with views of the rivers Ouse and Foss, the city walls and, on clear days, the moors.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and rules from York Minster’s official website, as of October 2026:
- Minster only: adults and seniors £20; students not studying in York £16; up to four children aged 17 and under free with each paying adult. York residents enter free with proof of address.
- Minster and central tower: adults and seniors £26; students £22; children aged 8–17 £6. Climbers must be at least 8 years old.
- Valid 12 months: keep your ticket, and you can come back as often as you like within a year, for Evensong, a tour or the tower.
- Hours: sightseeing Monday to Saturday 9:30–16:00 and Sunday 12:45–14:30. Sunday tickets must be booked in advance. Services are free to attend, including choral Evensong, and some areas close for services and events.
- Free guided tours: every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday, with no need to book; ask the Visitor Welcome Team for the meeting point. Hidden Minster tours to normally closed spaces cost extra.
- Bags: wheeled bags and bags bigger than hand luggage can’t be taken inside. Use a left-luggage service in the city, such as Yorbag.
Climbing the central tower
The climb takes around 10 minutes, up 275 stone steps in a spiral staircase with a handrail on the left, plus narrow corridors and uneven steps. Climbs run at set times and depend on the weather, so book a slot online or when you arrive, and be at the meeting point 10 minutes before your time. It is not suitable if you dislike tight spaces or heights, and there is no wheelchair access to the tower.
Accessibility
Most of the Minster is accessible to wheelchair and mobility scooter users, with a choice of ramped or stepped access from Precentor’s Court to the admission desk. Lifts lead from the south transept to the Undercroft, which is level or ramped throughout, and a platform lift reaches the Treasury and Crypt. In the Quire only the first section is step-free. Carers go free and can book a carer’s ticket through the bookings team on 01904 557200. Induction loops cover parts of the building, and sensory materials such as stained-glass samples are available on request.
Getting there
The Minster stands inside the city walls, a ten-minute walk from York railway station; LNER trains from London King’s Cross take about two hours. Much of the centre is closed to cars during the day. The nearest pay-and-display car parks are Monk Bar, Union Terrace and Bootham Row, and Park and Ride buses from six sites around the city stop a few minutes away on Museum Street.
Combine it with
Climb onto the city walls at Bootham Bar and walk to Monk Bar for the classic view of the Minster over the rooftops. The Shambles is about 300 metres away, the Jorvik Viking Centre about 500 metres and Clifford’s Tower about 700 metres; the free National Railway Museum is about a kilometre west, beyond the station. Our York travel guide has the details. Heading north by train, see Edinburgh Castle; heading south, Westminster Abbey in London.
York Minster FAQ
How much does it cost to visit York Minster?
As of October 2026, £20 for adults and seniors and £16 for students not studying in York. Up to four children aged 17 and under go free with each paying adult, and tickets are valid for 12 months.
Can you climb York Minster’s tower?
Yes, on a Minster and tower ticket: £26 for adults, £22 for students and £6 for children aged 8–17. It is 275 steps, takes about 10 minutes and runs at set times, weather permitting.
What are York Minster’s opening hours?
Sightseeing is Monday to Saturday 9:30–16:00 and Sunday 12:45–14:30, as of October 2026. On Sundays, tickets must be booked in advance.
Is York Minster free to enter?
For services, yes, including choral Evensong. Sightseeing needs a ticket, except for York residents with proof of address and children with a paying adult.
Are guided tours of York Minster free?
Yes. Free guided tours start every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday, with no booking needed. Hidden Minster tours cost extra.
Is York Minster wheelchair accessible?
Mostly. There is ramped access at the entrance and lifts to the Undercroft, but the central tower has no wheelchair access and only part of the Quire is step-free.