York Minster
York Minster
4.5
Architectural BuildingsChurches & Cathedrals
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Dating back to medieval times, this splendid Church of England cathedral features magnificent 14th- and 15th-century stained glass, stonework and elaborate tombs.
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  • Dankatem31
    Skipton, United Kingdom281 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible building
    Absolutely stunning building to visit. The architecture and craftsmanship is awe inspiring. We paid to walk to the top of the tower and the views from the top are incredible. It’s definitely not for someone who struggles with mobility issues.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 September 2023
  • flowerleather
    London, United Kingdom39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    York visit
    Great place to visit. Use the bus or walk around as parking can be a problem.. visited the Railway museum which was interested. Rather costly to visit the Minster cathedral and other areas. We walked the wall that surrounds the city. York is very busy area in August. My husband went to the Ebor festival (horse racing) which was good.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 September 2023
  • Slo01
    England, United Kingdom248 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very informative visit. Excellent
    Having been so disappointed by the lack of information at Canterbury we were so impressed with what you can learn from a visit around the Minster. First revisit for many years. Great recovery from the road that used to go alongside the building. The public realm is now excellent. Well worth a visit. Allow 2 hours
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 September 2023
  • Mary F
    17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not to be missed.
    If you love, or at least like, history and architecture the Minster is not to be missed. We didn't mind paying L16 to see and help preserve such a historical place. There are free guided tours by volunteers. Our guide, Mark, obviously loved sharing his knowledge of the Minster as we went over the hour the tour was supposed to take. It is amazing and awe-inspiring to take in all the details of the stained-glass windows, the ceilings and carvings throughout the church. The history of its construction and the repairs required after the three fires was very interesting.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 September 2023
  • lbayle299009
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning place of worship
    Went to the minster for Evensong after the Mothers' Union Annual Gathering meeting. What an amazing place. The cathedral is so well kept and presented. Well worth a visit. It was an honour to be a part of worship in such a spectacular place.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled on business
    Written 24 September 2023
  • Gardenlad
    Ottawa, Canada318 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful visit
    York Minster is definitely worth a visit. Participate in a free guided tour to really understand the history and significance. As the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe it should not be missed. The gift shop was very good as well.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 25 September 2023
  • ste141
    Exeter, United Kingdom174 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    My visit
    I left the car at the park and ride and took the bus into York. It stopped not far from the minster. There was a lot to see and I had to walk round very slowly to see everything and there was a guide book, which I bought. They offer guided tours, but I didn't have the time to join one. If you are ever in York, this one place not to be missed.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 September 2023
  • Charlie T
    Deeside, United Kingdom144 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking
    What an experience to visit the York Minster. Priced at £15 an adult initially it seems quite expensive but the reward is fantastic as you really do feel blown away by the beauty and serenity of the building. Well worth a visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 October 2023
  • James H
    Arnold, Maryland962 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    A very nice cathedral and well worth a visit BUT I was not overwhelmed. I'd just visited Lincoln Cathedral several days before and I felt York Minster paled in comparison. I will say that the carving is spectacular and well worth close up observation. Lovely town, Lovely cathedral.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 October 2023
  • TheBurgers
    Brookmans Park, United Kingdom1,148 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Experience
    What an awe inspiring building - whilst it's vast the detail around the minster is incredible. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours wandering around but that did include joining one of the free tours which we would thoroughly recommend - there are so many things that we would have missed if we hadn't joined the tour. Our tour guide, Clive Jackson, was so knowledgable and an inspiration given he retired as a school teacher and became a guide and has now been guiding visitors for more than 30 years ! I can't recommend the minster enough for anyone visiting York.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 October 2023
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles16,928 reviews
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Thorfrost
Gloucester, UK141 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
The outside of this building is amazing. The first view of it was breathtaking.
We paid to go in (total - £27.50!) because my husband wanted to climb the Tower to get photos of the City from above.
While he did that I said i'd keep myself busy by walking around the inside.
Scaffolding everywhere in the middle, closed off. There was work going on to the organ pipes which took up another huge space, fenced off.
Walking past all of that, I saw the Crypt stairs and went down, absolutely the best part of the inside.
After 10 minutes down there reading everything I was surprised to find my husband waiting for me at the top of the stairs, his "20 minute" tower trip was done in 10 but he did have some gorgeous photographs.
The Rotary club seemed to have taken over the entire far end of the building and so it was impossible to walk around there or see anything because of the sheer volume of people (and noise).
After walking back down the left side and reading a few bits we realised that everything else was blocked off and so we left.
Don't get me wrong, the building itself is beautiful but I think the inside is lacking. We live near Gloucester Cathedral and that is definitely better inside with more to see.
I'm Pagan, I didn't visit this site as a place of worship, however I always respect other religions and beliefs, but it really doesn't sit well with me that a Church is charging people to enter for worship.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lumpymoo
Wolverhampton, UK30 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
Due to Covid-19, we had to book two separate time slots for 1.30pm & 2pm. However, when we arrived for 1.30pm, there was a long queue to get in, but the member of staff said we could both enter at the same time, as we had proof of our booking. As a result of only two people being allowed in at a time, we didn't get into York Minster until around 1.50pm. It's a beautiful building, but as there a major renovation works taking place, there was scaffolding and coverings in place, and no access to the tower. I think the entrance fee of £11 should be reduced until access to all parts of the building is available.
Written 7 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

342SteveO
Princes Risborough, UK453 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
It never fails to take my breath away when you first enter the square and see this beautiful building from the outside.
It is equally stunning on the inside, although a bit pricey to go around (£11 each, although this allows further multiple entries for a year)
Worth signing up for a guided tour if you do go in. Our guide was very knowledgeable, emphatic to the size of the group and fun, mixing interesting historical facts with amusing anecdotes and pointing out unexpected oddiites within the building.
The Undercroft Museum is also worth visiting (included in the price), helping to bring to life the ancient history of the site and the fascinating more recent work to stabilise the building.
Written 4 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Phil
Stamford, UK6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
My Booking was for the 11am slot. You can access the booking and Minster by showing the ticket ton your phone or printed at home. when opening the doors it is a lining up by the side of the Entrance then one family, personal or couple at a time.
The Minster is so beautiful inside and outside including the Gardens near the West Entrance.
I'd recommend really take your time walking round and take in it's history.

Also York Minster is near the City Wall so you can achieve a full day of fun and history
i Paid 11.50 and wall fully worth it.

Please please Enjoy
Written 22 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DangerMouse79
Manchester, UK48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This is the largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps and is truly a sight to behold. It is immense in scope (bigger than Notre Dame) and incredibly beautiful. There is an entrance fee of 11.50GBP but this gives you entry to the Minster and its crypt museum as well as a guided tour. Our tour guide spent over an hour talking us through this amazing building and giving context to what we saw. The tour alone would have been worth the entrance fee. Your ticket also allows you limitless access to the Minster over a calendar year so all in all, excellent value. The Minster has the oldest and largest surviving panel of Medieval stained glass in Europe so that alone is well worth the view. I can't recommend this Minster highly enough. A truly wonderful experience
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tops Henderson
Silverstone, UK10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My wife and I joined two Chinese ladies (mother & daughter) and a young lady from Seattle on a guided tour of this amazing building, our guide was David Haw who has the broadest Leeds accent imaginable, his historical knowledge of not only the building but people throughout the ages was incredible, David managed to keep our eclectic group attentive for one hour and twenty minutes.
A modest man who was quick to point out some of his fellow guides were more knowledgeable about the Minster itself. David also does the White Rose York tour (Free Tour) York Minster well worth the visit
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chantelle N
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
I visited with my partner only to be told we needed to book a slot online and today is sold out, this was at about 1pm. How ridiculous in a building of that scale... Interestingly they didn't seem as bothered about the crowded gift shop. I poked my head out of the gift shop into the Minster just to have a look and was spoken to in an appalling tone by one of the guides. I'm not sure how I feel about a church charging £25 for two people to enter. I know such a large building requires upkeep but... That seems beyond the joke.
Written 18 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BickersExplores
Cowbridge, UK601 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
Right - its a beautiful building and the stain glass is worth the entrance fee alone. If it was just this then I would give it 5 stars.
Our issue is how people are treated during these troubling times. We are a middle aged couple who are tech savvy. We booked our tickets off our smartphones 40 minutes beforehand. We joined the queue about 10 minutes before our slot, there were approximately 20 people in front of us and when our time arrived around 10 behind. At the allotted slot 'staff' went along the queue and only at this point visitors were told they had to prebook. It was done in such a dismissive manner that it visibly upset a number of people. These were all of the older generation who, if like my elderly Mum, have never even touched a computer let alone a smartphone.
Why signage couldn't make this clear, why in what is supposed to be a symbol of Christianity are people let down in such a manner and finally why hasn't the Minster come up with a solution for those most in of a bit of spiritual uplifting come up with a way they can be helped in making a visit.
I know its difficult times but surely it is now we need to show the most compassion and help and at least speak to.people understanding their predicament.
We love architecture and art. Strange that as atheists we were the only ones who did not feel comfortable in the treatment of visitors. Shame - staff inside were lovely.
Written 18 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rosenau65
Haxby, UK127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Solo
This is an absolute ‘must’ if you are visiting York. In fact very much worth a journey on its own merits.
The building is inspiring and breathtaking and if you go on one of the guided tours - included in the fairly priced admission - you will be regaled with a great mixture of history, architecture, stories, stained glass, laced with humour and extensive knowledge. And even better go up the Tower to get the wonderful panoramic view of York.
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul T
Waterlooville, UK458 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
We purchased tickets to view inside the Minister and were not disappointed, and once inside they fully complied with the latest Covid regulations and social distancing was also fully in place. The staff were very friendly and helpful, we certainly learnt a lot more on its history after we went inside. You could write 1000 plus words on our visit but only one word comes to mind magnificent and would certainly recommend a visit.
Written 9 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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York Minster

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