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Today we are open from
First admission
9:30 amLast admission
4:00 pmTicket prices range from £13 to £28.
AdmissionsSee our What's On section for upcoming services and events
What's onVisiting York Minster.
Visit
York Minster is an unforgettable destination for family days out with a range of activities to help you discover more than 2000 years of history.
The Minster is yours to explore with annual family passes starting from just £20!
Get hands-on with history at York Minster with live performances, cinematic experiences, LEGO® masterclasses, creative craft activities and plenty of space to run around and play.
Enjoy all of this, and more, with your annual family pass:
Enjoy Seasonal Activities and Events
Join us for all 13 weeks of the school holidays at York Minster as we hold special seasonal events to keep the whole family entertained.
From Living History in the half term to LEGO® masterclasses, and from special bespoke craft activities to our festive Christmas Tree Festival, there is something for everyone to enjoy across the seasons, all included with your sightseeing ticket.
What's On
Take on the Tower Challenge
Are you ready to take on the Tower Challenge?
If you’re aged 8 and above, take on the challenge and climb all 275 steps to the very top of York Minster. Go to the highest point in York where you can see for miles and miles across the city, the North Yorkshire Moors and beyond.
Don’t forget your camera!
Book Here
Discover the Undercroft Museum
Descend underground to get hands on with history in our Undercroft Museum and Treasury, where modern technologies combine with ancient artefacts to create a state-of-the-art museum experience.
Discover the legacy of craft inspired by St William of York reimagined in a new film produced in collaboration with York-based studios Hewitt and Walker and Viridian FX, whose special effects brought you blockbuster’s including HBO’s House of the Dragon and Netflix’s Kaos.
Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, touch archaeological remains uncovered over the centuries, and explore changing exhibitions in the Treasury. Feeling strong? See if you can lift a replica of ‘The Horn of Ulf’, a 1,000-year-old elephant tusk gifted to the cathedral by a Viking lord!
Adventure through the medieval minster
Adventurers at the ready! It’s time to explore York Minster, and we’ve got the tools to help you on your journey.
Grab a Little Explorer Backpack free of charge from the Welcome Desks. We pack each backpack with a variety of gadgets to help you on your adventure through the medieval Minster, use the binoculars and magnifying glass to spot hidden details or the torch and mirror to investigate the nooks and crannies.
Pick up one of our specially designed trails and search the clues as you hunt for special patterns, places, and people around York Minster. Perfect for keeping little brains busy!
Speak to one of our expert guides who love to see children enjoying this magnificent cathedral, and are always on hand to bring to life the story of York Minster. And don’t forget to strike a pose at the King’s Screen selfie station before you go!
Find Places to Picnic
Relax in one of our green spaces, the perfect places for a picnic and to enjoy the fresh air. Choose from Dean’s Park, Minster Gardens and College Green all vibrant green spaces nestled in the heart of York offering unbeatable views of the Minster. Well-behaved dogs welcome in all these spaces.
Or head over to the nearby York Minster Refectory restaurant, situated in a converted Victorian school, where you can enjoy 10% off with your York Minster ticket. Make sure to check out their Little Pilgrim Menu for young diners!
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are welcome throughout the cathedral. We ask that families save food and hot drinks for our outside areas.
Visited over Easter with kids ages 7 and 9. The Minster was surprisingly excellent with children. The kids searched and found stuff and had such a great time! They also really enjoyed exploring the undercroft museum. – Tripadvisor April 2023
We always visit cathedrals and found it awe inspiring. We were surprised and very pleased to be offered a child back pack for the children in the group. This contained a torch, binoculars, tape measure etc and kept the children very amused throughout our visit! – Tripadvisor May 2025
Can we bring a buggy?
Yes. There is ramped access at the main entrance to the Minster at Precentor’s Court and the main areas of the cathedral – except the Tower – have level, ramped or lift access.
Do you have toilets and baby changing facilities?
Yes – you can find our toilets and baby change facilities on the ground floor in the North Quire Aisle. See our map of the Minster for more details.
Toilets are self contained cubicles equipped with hand-washing facilities, mirrors and sanitary bins.
There are also baby change facilities, open to all.
Is the cathedral breastfeeding friendly?
Yes. Breastfeeding is welcome throughout the cathedral. The St Nicholas’ Chapel is set aside for family use.
How much does a family ticket cost?
York Minster is a great value day out.
An adult ticket costs £20 and includes entry for up to four children aged 17 and under. Your ticket lasts a whole year, so you can return to York Minster as many time as you like.
Do you welcome children with additional needs?
Children with additional needs are welcome at York Minster. We offer special ‘Sensory Backpacks’ with ear defenders and other sensory aids to help children and adults enjoy the cathedral comfortably.
Lots more information can be found on our Accessibility page: Accessibility | York Minster
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