visit york minster

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Ticket prices range from £13 to £28.

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Visiting York Minster.

Welcome to York Minster

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Services & Events

General Visiting Times

Admission Prices

Today’s services and events

7:30 am - 7:45 am

7:50 am - 8:20 am

11:00 am - 11:45 am

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

5:30 pm - 6:15 pm

Today at York Minster

Minster only

Adult/Senior - £18

Students (not studying in York) - £16

Child (17 and under)* - free with a paying adult

York resident/York student - free with proof of address

Minster and Central Tower

Adult/Senior - £24

Students (not studying in York) - £22

Child (8-17) - £6

WELCOME TO YORK MINSTER

The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York

York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. Since the 7th century, the Minster has been at the centre of Christianity in the north of England and today remains a thriving church rooted in the daily offering of worship and prayer. The Minster was built for the glory of God. Every aspect of this ancient building - from the exquisite, handcrafted stone through to the unrivalled collection of medieval stained glass - tells the story of Jesus Christ. We invite you to discover this sacred place and the love of God at its heart, which has attracted people from across the globe for more than 1000 years

York Minster to host inaugural Desmond Tutu Annual Memorial Lecture

13 Sep, 2024

Traditional services, beautiful Christmas Trees and spectacular concerts

10 Sep, 2024

York Minster announces chorister auditions for 2025

03 Sep, 2024

Back to school with York Minster’s Learning Team

27 Aug, 2024

York Minster Appoints Leeds-based Company for Pioneering Solar Panel Installation

22 Jul, 2024

Discover York Minster

40 years since the fire of 1984

Reclaimed from the Flames

Worship online

Watch our Sunday services live

Discover exclusive products inspired by York Minster

Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management

Discover more about our world class campus facility for research

What’s on highlights.

19 Oct - 02 Nov 24

PHOENIX: lightshow

Our weekly prayer

God in Trinity,

eternal unity of perfect love:

gather the nations to be one family,

and draw us into your holy life

through the birth of Emmanuel,

our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Plan a Visit to York Minster

At least two million people a year visit York Minster in the medieval city of York. The 800-year-old cathedral that took 250 years to build is just the tip of the iceberg. It occupies on a site that has been connected with history and faith for almost 2,000 years. Its Great East Window, as big as a tennis court, is the largest expanse of Medieval stained glass in the world.

There's a lot to see and, during the summer months and school vacation periods, a lot of people who want to see it with you. So a little advance planning doesn't hurt.

What's New at York Minster

Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft  Don't miss the new exhibition. It's part of a £20 million, 5-year renovation and conservation project, scheduled to be fully completed in 2016, parts of it are already open to visitors. The largest state-of-the-art attraction in any UK cathedral, it relates the history of the cathedral and its site with amazing objects and interactive displays - including the 1,000 year old Horn of Ulf, given to the Minster by a Viking lord.

Did you know?

• Some of York Minster's most interesting ancient history was only discovered in the 1960s and 70s during emergency excavations under the cathedral.
• Constantine the Great, who chose Constantinople the capital of the Roman Empire and made Christianity its official religion, was declared Emperor by his soldiers while in York.
• Minster is an Anglo Saxon word, originally used to describe monasteries with a teaching role. It's mostly used these days as an honorary title for some large cathedrals.

Great East Window Cleaning and Conservation

The work of restoring this immense stained glass window and the stonework of the East End of the Minster will take much longer than the 5-year York Minster Revealed project. At least 311 glass panels, made up of thousands of pieces of Medival glass, are being removed, repaired and reinstalled. It won't be completed until 2018. But in 2016, visitiors will, at last, be able to see it without the protective scaffolding that has covered it for years. 

The restored panels will be visible as they are returned to their positions in the window. Other sections still being restored will be protected with clear glass. Working on these windows is such a massive project that new technology is being used to prolong their lives. York Minster will the first building in the UK to use UV resistant glass as an outer protection for the stained glass.

If you want a challenge, see how many of the stained glass panels your can understand. The Medieval artisans who created it aimed to tell the entire story of the Bible, from Genesis to the Apocalypse, in the one, multi-paneled window.

Take a Guided Tour

• Minster tours - Volunteers lead guided tours, six times a day - at 10, 11,12,1, 1 and 3pm - every day except Sunday. The tours take about an hour and are a great way to discover some of the Minster's hidden treasures and amazing history. The tours are included in the price of admission. If you are coming with a group of 10 or more, or need foreign language help, let staff know 28 days in advance by sending a group tour request to  [email protected]
• Tower trips - Climbing York Minster's central tower is a very special experience if you are fit and fearless. It's the highest point in York and before you arrive at the 230 -foot-high top and step out into the open air, you get a chance to see some of the Minster's Medieval pinnacles and gargoyles close up.
• There are 275 steps to the top. Some are narrow and uneven and some go through narrow passageways.
• The Tower climb is not recommended for people with heart conditions, vertigo, claustrophobia, high blood pressure, angina, breathing trouble (asthma, hay fever, and bronchitis), poor mobility or who are pregnant.
• Health and safety regulations are available to read when you buy your ticket and you must read them before tackling the climb.
• Children younger than 8-years-old are not permitted to climb the tower.
• School groups of ten or more must be accompanied by three adults, or two adults if there are fewer than ten. 
• Trips up the tower take 45 minutes and are limited to 50 people at a time. They leave every 45 minutes or so throughout the day and there is an extra charge for the tower. Ask at the ticket office about tower trip times when you arrive. But before planning to climb, consider these factors:

How to Find York Minster

Just about all roads in  York  lead to the Minster. Head for the center of the small, walled city and you cannot miss it. If you can't see it, just climb onto the city walls at one of the many access points around York for a birds eye view.

Goodramgate, leading to Deangate and High Petergate, all lead to Minster Yard (in York, streets are called "gate" and gates through the city wall are called "bar").

When To Visit

As a working cathedral, York Minster may be closed from time to time for all the normal business of a church - weddings, christenings, funerals - as well as special events and concerts. In general, the Minster is open:

• For services and prayer , daily from 7am to 6:30pm
• For sightseeing, Monday - Saturday 9am to last entry at 5:30pm, Sunday from 12:45 pm. Parts of the cathedral may be closed for evensong preparation or special events during general opening hours.
• For the Undercroft exhibitions, Monday - Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm
• For Tower trips , check on the day you visit. Because Tower trips have an open air element, their scheduling is tied to the weather.

Why Is There an Admission Charge?

People sometimes balk at having to pay for a ticket to visit a place of worship so it is important to consider a few things:

• There is no entrance fee to enter the Minster to attend a service, to pray or to light candles.
• Not counting the restoration and conservation projects, it actually costs £20,000 a day to cover heating, lighting, cleaning and other staffing to keep the Minster open to the public. Most of this has to be raised from admission charges.
• The people of York are admitted free.
• Admission tickets are good for unlimited visits for a full year from the date of purchase.

Other Visitor Essentials

• Admission - as of 2015, tickets for the Minster, Chapter House and Undercroft cost £10 for adults and £9 for seniors and students. Up to four children accompanied by an adult are free. ​Tickets for the Minster and the Tower Trip cost £15 for adults, £14 for seniors and students and £5 for children from 8 to 16. Children under 8 are not permitted to climb the tower.
• Photography and video recording for personal use is permitted everywhere except the Undercroft.
• Visit their Official Website for lots more information and a range of contact information.

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Things to Do, Attractions

York minster.

Discover one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, a masterpiece in stained glass and stone and a sacred space which has been at the centre of Christianity in the north of England since the 7th century.

The Minster was built for the glory of God and this is reflected in every aspect of this ancient building, from the exquisite handcrafted stone through to the unrivalled collection of medieval stained glass.

Marvel at the Great East Window, the largest single expanse of medieval stained glass in the country, take a guided tour filled with stories from the building’s 800-year history or visit the Undercroft Museum to explore the remains of a Roman barracks and the cathedral’s links to Viking York.

Climb the 275 steps of the Central Tower for panoramic views of the city or take a Hidden Minster Tour to discover spaces normally closed to public access. Additional charges apply.

Young adventurers can collect a Little Explorer Backpack filled with gadgets to help them explore the Minster including binoculars, a torch and a compass, or follow a trail or treasure hunt around the cathedral.

The Minster remains a thriving church and everyone is invited to join our daily services, including choral Evensong sung Tuesday to Sunday during term time by the Choir of York Minster, visit to pray or light a candle or simply spend time absorbing the atmosphere of the cathedral.

Exhibitions for 2024

Out of the Ashes - runs until summer 2025

Discover the story behind the 1984 fire that threatened to destroy York Minster through a new exhibition commemorating the 40 th anniversary of the blaze.

The exhibition journeys through the dramatic events of 9 July 1984, when the roof of the South Transept was struck by lightning. It details the heroic rescue efforts, clean-up operation and four-year restoration using eyewitness accounts.

Treasures: Yorkshire’s People and Parishes – runs until spring 2025

Discover silver, gold and diamonds in a new exhibition that showcases treasures of Yorkshire that have survived religious turmoil, fire, and war.

The exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into Yorkshire life with cherished pieces from across the North coming together to form one celebratory narrative. The objects are proudly local but tell national and global stories as the exhibition travels across counties and through parishes, charting changing cultures and traditions in churches. Learn more here.

Light, Glass and Stone: Conserving the St Cuthbert Window – runs until winter 2024

See at close range medieval stained glass from the St Cuthbert Window, one of the largest surviving narrative windows in the world, and learn about the Minster’s major project to conserve the window and the stonework of the South Quire Transept. Learn more here .

All exhibitions are included with general admission.

Opening Times

General visiting:

Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 5pm (last admission 4pm)

Sun: 12.45pm – 3.30pm (last admission at 2.30pm). Please note these opening hours are subject to change. Please check our website for the most up to date information.

• Disabled toilets
• Facilities for hearing impaired
• Facilities for visually impaired
• Wheelchairs available
• Children welcome
• Education/study area
• Facilities for educational visits
• Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
• Public toilets
• Smoking not allowed
• Regional Tourist Board Member
• Groups welcome

Events at York Minster

Christmas day services.

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the magi, the obedience of Mary and Jose…

Midnight Mass

Experience the First Eucharist of Christmas with choral music sung by the St William’s Singers. The Very Revd Dominic B…

Crib Service

Hear the Christmas story in a fun and accessible service for families with carols, musical accompaniment, and blessing …

Nine Lessons and Carols

Two services consisting of nine special readings, music sung by the Choir of York Minster, and well-loved Christmas car…

Sankta Lucia: Festival of Light

An atmospheric, candlelit procession and carol service for all the family based on the traditional Swedish Lucia celebr…

The Nutcracker

Enjoy a festive treat for all the family with a magical performance of The Nutcracker in York Minster’s spectacular Nav…

Advent Procession

Join York Minster’s worship to mark the start of Advent with an atmospheric and breath-taking candlelit service of musi…

Minster Mash-Up: Lights switch-on

Join our worship for young people and families – Minster Mash-Up – and get ready for Advent! For this special event, fa…

Christmas Tree Festival

Experience York Minster’s popular Christmas Tree Festival, set inside the medieval Minster, with 70 trees on display in…

Evensong: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata 140, Sleepers, wake

The Choir of York Minster gives its traditional annual performance of Bach’s popular Cantata 140, ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns…

Tickets are available to book HERE or by calling 01904 557200. Experience York Minster in a new light this autumn when …

Fire anniversary guided tours

York Minster’s general admission tickets include a free guided tour of the cathedral. Throughout the summer months, our…

Offers at York Minster

Free admission for york residents to york minster.

General admission to York Minster is free for York residents. Please bring proof of residency upon your arriv…

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