Road
York is well connected to the national road network, and lies close to several major routes.
From London – Travel up the M1, which takes you to within 15 miles / 25 km of the city. Turn off at Junction 45 on to the A64 and travel East to York. Travel time – 3.5-4 hours
From Edinburgh – Take the A1 Southbound straight down to Junction 47. Then take the A59 Eastbound to York. Travel time – 4 hours
From Leeds – Take the A64 straight to York. Travel time – 30 minutes
From Manchester – Take the M62 Eastbound across the Pennines, and then travel up the A1(M) and then A64. Travel time – 1 hour 20 minutes
From Hull – Take the A63 Westbound, and then change on to the A1079. Travel time – 40 minutes
If you are planning to drive to York, you should be aware that parking within the city is very limited, and the narrow streets are not conducive to easy navigation. The random layout of the city creates constant bottlenecks making driving through the city a tiresome business. Fortunately York is a wonderful place to walk around, with many pedestrianised streets within the city centre.
York Bus Service and Park&Ride
If you are a day-tripper we would recommend using the excellent Park&Ride facilities. This is a spoke & hub service, from 5 terminals positioned on the main routes in to the city. Simply park your car on the edge of town and catch the bus straight in to the heart of the city.
York is the central hub of railways in the North East of England, with the East Coast Mainline between Edinburgh and London passing straight through the city. The station is situated on the edge of the city centre (10 minute walk to the Minster), making rail travel the easiest way to reach York for most visitors.
The nearest major international airports to York are Manchester, Newcastle and East Midlands. There are several also several other regional airports in the area that service the domestic market as well as some European routes.
North Sea Ferries sail in to Hull and Newcastle from several ports in Europe. Hull is approximately 1 hours drive away, and Newcastle is approximately 90 minutes drive away.
There are several major coach tour operators that regularly visit York as part of their itinerary. These include both local and national providers. Choose from a wide range of trips, from a day trip specifically to York to a full tour of the UK.
