Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in York, England

With over 20 acres of extensive gardens featuring more than 7,000 different varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees and described by Monty Don as "a beautiful modern garden created on the grandest possible scale, Breezy Knees is one of the largest gardens in Northern England.

Located in York’s bustling city centre, just off Walmgate, Brew York is a showpiece ten barrel craft brewery alongside its tap room and beer hall, celebrating the best local ales and redefining the city’s position in the UK brewing scene. Featuring 40 taps the Beer Hall can boast the largest and widest selection of beers, lagers and ciders in York and its surrounding area. With its own purpose built kitchen we can deliver some of the best food in the area alongside your beer. In addition to the awesome Beer Hall we have a smaller Tap Room located just next door within the brewery building itself. You can sit within touching distance of the fermenting tanks, even the brewers themselves! Come down and enjoy our beer whilst overlooking our latest brews fermenting away. We operate a no stag/hen do policy on our brewery tours without question.

The Yorkshire Museum, home to some of the richest archaeological finds in Europe, is set amidst its own Gardens, which offer picnic areas and scenic walkways.

FREE ENTRY Home to iconic locomotives and an unrivalled collection of engineering brilliance, we celebrate the past, present and future of innovation on the railways. Dedicated to igniting our visitors’ curiosity about the people, places and engineering marvels behind the railways, we put our passion for amazing stories into everything we do.

Step through 2,000 years of history with one visit to this house of dreams, where rooms are set up and furnished to mirror the grand styles from medieval times to the early 1900s. All created as part of one man's vision for his idea of a historic house. Find out about Frank Green and his particular ways and see his unique collection from his travels. At Christmas find every room filled with scents and decorations. The cafe serves it's award winning Christmas pudding scone for a limited time - served warm with brandy butter. Completing the visit, on selected days, head onto the roof tops on an attic tour or below stairs to see the site of one of York's most famous ghost stories. The place where a legion of ghostly Roman soldiers were spotted marching along a long buried Roman road.

Unlock the splendour of an eighteenth century townhouse and discover one of the finest examples of rococo decoration in England, including the famous Terry collection of Georgian furniture and clocks. With an exciting programme of special events and changing exhibitions, there is always a reason to visit Fairfax House. We are open 7 days a week between Saturday 5th - Sunday 20th December. Visit our website for more information about our dazzling Christmas exhibition, and a link to pre-book!

Famous for its collections of costume, textiles, military and social history, York Castle Museum brings history back to life. Wander through the Victorian streets, venture into the prison cell of notorious highwayman Dick Turpin and discover what life was like on the front line in the First World War. There's something for everyone at York Castle Museum.

Discover one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the world - home to York’s entrepreneurs for 660 years – and counting. Redoubtable tales, fascinating architecture and intriguing, rare artefacts, all under a stunning 14th Century oak roof… delve into York’s entrepreneurial past, present and future following stories of the “mystery of mercers” - business pioneers who made it happen: from the medieval wool trade, via the railways, chocolate and two universities to the 21st century Science City.

Shambles (or The Shambles as it is often referred to) is a street in the city centre of York with a long and interesting past. Dating back to Medieval times it was once the street of the butcher shops. Today the Shambles is Europe's most visited street, attracting tourists, shoppers and business clients.

* Fully open from Sept 1 Discover the history of England's oldest living convent- York's best kept secret since 1686. Discover York's fascinating religious history and how the convent survived times of turmoil, persecution and two world wars in our fascinating exhibiton and stunning 18th century Hidden Chapel. Hear the incredible stories of the Yorkshire martyr Margaret Clitherow, the radical pioneer of women's religious orders and education, Mary Ward, and about the followers of Mary Ward, the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus, who still live in the convent today. Our wonderful cafe serves award-winning breakfasts, light lunches and some of the best cakes and scones in York- on warmer days, don't miss the opportunity to dine in our tranquil private gardens. Did you know you can stay here? For an unforgettable and unique experience, enjoy a break in our guest house, ideally located close to York railway station and at the foot of Micklegate Bar Walls.