Jorvik Viking Centre, York: Hours, ticket prices, access & visitor tips

First time visiting Jorvik Viking Centre? This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, how to get there, what to expect — and nearby attractions.

Overview of Jorvik Viking Centre

The Jorvik Viking Centre stands on a site in York where archaeologists uncovered remains of a Viking Age settlement, including houses, workshops, artifacts and even traces of Viking-era everyday life. The Centre reconstructs part of that settlement — with life-like displays, reconstructed buildings, artifacts and immersive exhibits — to give visitors a sense of what York (then called Jorvik) was like during the Viking period. The exhibits combine finds from archaeology with carefully designed reconstructions to show domestic interiors, trade items, tools, pottery and other aspects of everyday life.

The Centre also presents artefacts recovered from the dig: everyday objects, tools, coins, jewellery and remains that offer direct evidence of how people lived, worked and traded in the 9th–10th centuries. The combination of reconstructions and real archaeological finds lets visitors understand both the physical environment of Viking-age York and the human stories behind the settlement.

Because the displays are indoors and compact, visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre is feasible even in poor weather or winter months. The layout allows visitors to move from display to display, combining detailed artefact interpretation with slightly cheesy immersive scenes that you pass through in a boat-like ride.

Ask any kid within a two hour radius what they remember from their school trip, however, and they’ll mention the coprolite – a terrifyingly enormous fossilised poo from the 9th century.

Jorvik Viking Centre opening hours

Jorvik Viking Centre is open daily. The usual opening time is 9:00 during peak periods and school holidays, but 10:00 otherwise. The closing time is annoyingly variable, but it’s usually 16:00 or 17:00. Hours may vary on public holidays or during special events, so it is recommended to check the official website before visiting.

Jorvik Viking Centre ticket prices

Standard adult tickets cost £17.50. Discounted tickets for children (ages 5–16) cost £12.00. Family tickets (two adults + two children) are available for £49.00. Children under 5 enter free. Advance online booking is strongly recommended to guarantee entry and to avoid queues. In summer, in particular, if you don’t book a time slot, you can be waiting a very long time. Having made this mistake with an impatient six-year-old in tow, I don’t recommend it.

What to see at Jorvik Viking Centre

Inside the Jorvik Viking Centre you’ll find life-sized reconstructions of Viking-era dwellings including timber houses, workshops and street scenes. The reconstructions are based on the archaeological evidence found on site and are accompanied by artefacts recovered during excavations: tools, pottery, everyday objects, coins and personal items that belonged to Viking-age residents of York.

There is a ride-through “time capsule” experience that simulates a descent into the Viking settlement and passage through its streets under dim lighting — with smells, sounds and visuals designed to recreate the environment of the 10th-century city.

This immersive attraction is especially effective for understanding how densely built and busy the settlement was. Audio-visual displays and information panels provide context about Viking trade, crafts, domestic life and burial practices. Visitors can compare reconstructed Viking dwellings with the actual artefacts unearthed by archaeologists, giving a tangible connection between past and reconstruction.

How to get to Jorvik Viking Centre & visitor facilities

Jorvik Viking Centre is located at Coppergate, in York city centre, within walking distance from York Railway Station and most central-area parking. There is no dedicated on-site car park, but several public car parks lie within a short walk. Public transport and walking are the most practical options for most visitors as parking in York City Centre is eye-wateringly expensive.

The Centre includes visitor facilities such as a small gift shop and toilets, but does not offer on-site cafés or restaurants. Given the compact nature of the museum, there is limited room for luggage or bulky items, so travelling light is advisable.

When to visit Jorvik Viking Centre

Morning opening periods and mid-afternoon tend to be less crowded, making it easier to view exhibits and move through the immersive ride at a relaxed pace. If possible, avoid late afternoons close to last entry time, as queues for the ride and exit can build up. Visiting in winter or on rainy days also works well, since the exhibits are indoors. Booking tickets in advance helps ensure entry at preferred time slots.

Nearby attractions around Jorvik Viking Centre

• York Minster — the large medieval cathedral a short walk from the Centre, offering Gothic architecture and panoramic tower views.
• The Shambles — a historic medieval street with timber-framed buildings, shops and narrow alleys, representative of old York’s urban layout.
• York City Walls — walkable historic walls surrounding the old town, giving good views over rooftops and the layout of medieval York.
• York Castle Museum — a nearby museum offering exhibits on social history, Victorian streets and the city’s past beyond the Viking era. Clifford’s Tower is right outside, if you want to combine the two.
• National Railway Museum — a short ride away, offering a different historical dimension focusing on Britain’s railway heritage. It’s designed for trains, not cars, as the nearby parking prices attest.

Visitor tips for Jorvik Viking Centre

• Book tickets online in advance — this avoids often lengthy queueing and locks in an entry time.
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before your booked time to allow for ticket check-in.
• Travel light: avoid bringing large bags or bulky items, as space inside is limited.
• If visiting with children, check ride suitability: the immersive ride simulates underground streets with occasional loud sounds and dim lighting.
• Combine your visit with a walking tour of central York — most key historic sites and attractions are within easy walking distance.

Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. Book through them, and I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

More Yorkshire travel

Other Yorkshire travel articles on Planet Whitley include:

• Do I need to book York Dungeon tickets in advance?
• All you need to know about visiting the York Bird of Prey Centre.
• What first time visitors need to know about visiting Whitby Abbey.
• A practical guide to visiting the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby.
• How to visit Hardraw Force, England’s tallest waterfall.