The York City Walls are a circuit of medieval defensive walls enclosing the historic city centre of York, North Yorkshire, England. This guide covers opening hours, entry costs, access points, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Last updated: May 2026.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Multiple access points; main entries at Bootham Bar (YO1 7HH), Micklegate Bar (YO1 6JU), Monk Bar (YO1 7JF), Walmgate Bar (YO1 9TL) |
| Opening hours | Daily from 8:00am; closes at dusk (see seasonal closing times below) |
| Entry price | Free |
| Nearest train station | York station — approximately 5–10 minutes’ walk to Micklegate Bar or Barker Tower |
| Parking | No parking on the walls; city centre car parks and Park & Ride sites available |
| Typical visit length | 2 hours for a full circuit; shorter sections possible |
York City Walls opening hours
The walkway gates open daily at 8:00am, except on 25 December and when weather conditions make the surface dangerous. The walls are inspected at 7:00am on cold mornings. If ice or snow is found at any of three test locations — Bishophill, Lendal Bridge, and Lord Mayor’s Walk — the walls may remain closed all day.
The gates close at dusk. Locking takes approximately one hour, starting at the following times:
| Month | Gate locking begins |
|---|---|
| January | 3:30pm |
| February | 4:30pm |
| March (before clocks change) | 5:30pm |
| March (after clocks change) and April | 7:30pm |
| May | 8:00pm |
| June and July | 9:00pm |
| August | 8:00pm |
| September (early to mid) | 7:00pm |
| September (mid to end) | 6:00pm |
| October (before clocks change) | 5:00pm |
| October (after clocks change) | 3:30pm |
| November and December | 3:30pm |
For unplanned closures on the day of your visit, check with Visit York at 21 Parliament Street.
Five great things to do while you’re in York
- 🧭 Discover York’s highlights on a small group walking tour.
- ⛵ Drift along the Ouse on an evening happy hour boat cruise.
- 👻 Delve into ghosts and gruesome history on the Shadows of York tour.
- 🏞️ Take a day trip to the North York Moors and Whitby.
- 🍫 Make your own chocolate bar at York Cocoa House.
York City Walls ticket prices
Entry to the York City Walls walkway is free. No tickets are required and no booking is needed.
The York City Walls are not included in any city pass scheme. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official City of York Council website and last updated in May 2026.
Note that some attractions within the bars charge separately. Monk Bar houses the Richard III Experience, which has its own admission charge. The Micklegate Bar museum (City Walls Experience) closed permanently in 2024 and is no longer operating — some older guides still list it as open.
How to get to the York City Walls
By train: York station is on the East Coast Main Line, with direct services from London King’s Cross, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester. The station is approximately 5–10 minutes’ walk from the nearest wall access points at Micklegate Bar and Barker Tower.
By bus: York has a comprehensive bus network operated by First York and Arriva. Multiple routes serve the city centre, with stops near all four main bars. The Park & Ride scheme operates from six sites around the city; buses run every 10–15 minutes into the centre and stop near Exhibition Square (close to Bootham Bar).
On foot: York city centre is compact. All four main bars are within 15–20 minutes’ walk of each other, making the walls easy to incorporate into a walking day around the city.
Why book the Visit York Pass?
- 🎟️ Access to 40+ Top Attractions: Enjoy entry to York’s most iconic sites, including York Minster, JORVIK Viking Centre, York Castle Museum, and Clifford’s Tower.
- 💰 Significant Cost Savings: Save a substantial amount on admission fees compared to purchasing individual tickets at each attraction gate.
- 🚢 River Cruise or Bus Tour: Includes a choice between a scenic City Cruise on the River Ouse or a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket to navigate the city with ease.
- 📱 Instant Digital Delivery: No need for paper vouchers; receive your pass instantly on your smartphone for a seamless, contactless entry experience.
- ⏱️ Tailored to Your Trip: Choose from 1, 2, 3, or 6-day options, providing the flexibility to explore York’s medieval streets and Viking history at your own pace.
Parking at the York City Walls
There is no dedicated parking for the City Walls. Several city centre car parks are within walking distance of the main access points, including Marygate Car Park (near Bootham Bar) and Nunnery Lane Car Park (near Micklegate Bar).
The Park & Ride service is recommended for visitors arriving by car. Six Park & Ride sites surround York, each with free parking. Buses from the sites drop off at key points in the city centre, including near Bootham Bar. Check current prices and routes on the official York transport pages before travelling.
How long to spend at the York City Walls
A full circuit of the walls is approximately 2.8 miles (4.5km) and takes around 2 hours at a relaxed pace. The circuit is not fully continuous — walkers must descend to street level at the rivers Ouse and Foss, and at some gaps in the walls.
Shorter sections are possible by starting and finishing at any of the access points. The section between Bootham Bar and Monk Bar is popular for its views of York Minster and takes around 20–30 minutes.
Accessibility at the York City Walls
The walkway is not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, or prams. All access points involve stone steps, and some sections are narrow with unguarded inner edges.
Dogs are not permitted on the walls, except assistance dogs.
The most accessible close-up views of the walls are at the Multangular Tower within York Museum Gardens, which is at ground level. The walls can also be followed from the pavement around much of the circuit.
Visit the AccessAble website for detailed step counts and measurements at each access point.
What to see at the York City Walls
The four main bars (gateways)
The circuit includes four principal medieval gateways, known locally as “bars”:
Bootham Bar (YO1 7HH) — the northern gateway, close to York Minster. A popular starting point. Public toilets are located nearby in St Leonard’s Place.
Monk Bar (YO1 7JF) — the tallest and most elaborate of the four bars, designed as a self-contained fort. Its portcullis is still in working order. The Richard III Experience museum is inside (separate admission applies; check current hours before visiting).
Walmgate Bar (YO1 9TL) — the only surviving city gateway in England that retains its barbican (a fortified outer enclosure). The barbican is accessible from street level.
Micklegate Bar (YO1 6JU) — the traditional ceremonial entrance to York from the south. The museum previously housed inside (the City Walls Experience) closed in 2024 and is no longer open to visitors.
The walkway
The elevated stone walkway provides views across the rooftops of the city centre. The section from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar offers clear views of York Minster. Between Monk Bar and Bootham Bar there are continuous inner railings, making this the most family-friendly stretch. Other sections have unguarded inner edges; children must be closely supervised.
Other features along the walls
The Red Tower — the only brick structure on the circuit — operates as a community hub run by Red Tower CIC. Walmgate Bar’s Gatehouse Coffee serves drinks from within the bar itself. The Friends of York Walls operate Fishergate Postern Tower on select open days throughout the year.
A free York City Walls Audio Trail app is available from the Friends of York Walls website.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check the seasonal closing time before you go | Closing times range from 3:30pm in winter to 9:00pm in summer. Arriving late in the day in winter risks being locked out of a section. |
| Start at Bootham Bar in good weather | The Bootham Bar to Monk Bar section has the best views and is fully railed on both sides, making it suitable for families and less confident walkers. |
| Wear suitable footwear | The walkway is uneven stone with steps at every access point. It can be slippery in wet or icy conditions. |
| Check for closures in advance | Sections close periodically for filming, conservation works, and weather. A closure near Micklegate Bar was in effect from 27 May 2026. Check the council website or contact Visit York before your visit. |
| Carry a map or use the audio trail | The circuit is not always clearly signposted where walkers must descend to street level. The free Friends of York Walls audio trail app and the QR codes posted along the route both help with navigation. |
Frequently asked questions about the York City Walls
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are the York City Walls suitable for children? | Yes, with supervision. The Bootham Bar to Monk Bar section is fully railed. Other sections have unguarded inner edges and require children to be closely supervised at all times. |
| Do you need to book to visit the York City Walls? | No. The walkway is free and open access; no booking or ticket is required. |
| Are the York City Walls open all year? | Yes, daily from 8:00am, except 25 December and during weather or conservation closures. Closing times vary significantly by season. |
| Are dogs allowed on the York City Walls? | No, except assistance dogs. |
| Can you walk the full York City Walls circuit? | Yes, though you must descend to street level in a few places where the walls are interrupted by the rivers and other gaps. A full circuit is approximately 2.8 miles and takes about 2 hours. |
Things to do near the York City Walls
- York Minster (YO1 7HH) — The Gothic cathedral is immediately adjacent to the walls near Bootham Bar. Entry charges apply for the interior; check the official website for current prices and times.
- York Museum Gardens (YO1 7FR) — Free public gardens containing the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, the Yorkshire Museum, the Multangular Tower (a section of the original Roman city wall), and York Observatory. Open daily 9am–6pm.
- Clifford’s Tower (YO1 9SA) — A 13th-century royal tower managed by English Heritage, close to the walls near the river Ouse. Entry charges apply.
- The Shambles (YO1 7LX) — A well-preserved medieval street of overhanging timber-framed buildings, a short walk from the walls near Monk Bar.
- National Railway Museum (YO26 4XJ) — Free entry; approximately 10 minutes’ walk from Micklegate Bar and the station.
What to visit tomorrow: similar historic city walls within two hours
- Chester City Walls, Chester (~2 hours) — A 2-mile continuous circuit of Roman and medieval walls around Chester city centre, free to walk and generally considered the most complete Roman walls in Britain.
- Lincoln Castle Walls, Lincoln (~1 hour 30 minutes) — Walkable walls around a Norman castle with views over Lincoln Cathedral. Entry charge applies for the castle grounds.
- Berwick-upon-Tweed Walls, Berwick (~2 hours north) — Elizabethan ramparts in near-complete condition, free to walk, with views over the town and the River Tweed.
- Conwy Town Walls, Conwy (~2 hours) — A medieval walled circuit in North Wales, one of the best-preserved town walls in Europe. Free to walk; maintained by Cadw.
- Ripon City Walls remnants, Ripon (~30 minutes) — Partial remains of medieval walls in a compact market city, free to view at street level and combinable with a visit to Ripon Cathedral.
More York travel
Other York travel guides include:
- The National Railway Museum in York: A parking guide.
- Practical guides to visiting the Yorkshire Museum, Clifford’s Tower, the York Castle Museum and Jorvik Viking Centre
- A practical guide to visiting York Minster – one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals in the UK.
- What to expect at the Bar Convent, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York Mansion House and Fairfax House.
- What you need to know before visiting the York Cold War Bunker.
