What to do in York when it rains
York packs centuries of history under cover — railway and chocolate museums, snug tearooms and the covered Shambles when the heavens open.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- National Railway Museum York Leeman Rd, York YO26 4XJ, UK
- JORVIK Viking Centre 19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT, UK
- York Castle Museum Tower St, York YO1 9RY, UK
- Museum Gardens Museum St, York YO1 7FR, UK
- York's Chocolate Story King's Sq, York YO1 7LD, UK
- Yorkshire Museum Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York YO1 7FR, UK
- Railway Museum Road Train National Railway Museum York, Leeman Rd, York YO26 4XJ, UK
- Murton Park Murton Ln, York YO19 5UF, UK
Historic houses
Tour the grand historic interiors — opulent rooms and not a drop of rain.
- Clifford's Tower, York Tower St, York YO1 9SA, UK
- York City Walls York YO1 7LJ, UK
- Merchant Adventurers' Hall The Hall, Fossgate, York YO1 9XD, UK
- Bootham Bar 2-4 High Petergate, York YO1 7EH, UK
- Barley Hall 2 Coffee Yard, York YO1 8AR, UK
- Monk Bar 129 Monkgate, York YO31 7PD, UK
- York Cold War Bunker Monument Cl, Holgate, York YO24 4HT, UK
- Walmgate Bar Foss Islands Rd, York YO1 9UB, UK
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Shambles Market 5 Silver St, York YO1 8RY, UK
- Tesco Extra clifton moor centre, Stirling Rd, York YO30 4XZ, UK
- Tesco Express 9-11 Low Ousegate, York YO1 9QX, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Express, 71-73 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LS, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco Express, 34 Piccadilly, York YO1 9NX, UK
- York Christmas Market 4-6 Parliament St, York YO1 8SE, UK
- Tesco Petrol Station Tesco Stores Ltd, Askham Bar, Tadcaster Rd, Dringhouses, York YO24 1LW, UK
- Tesco Petrol Station clifton moor centre, Stirling Rd, Rawcliffe, York YO30 4XZ, UK
Tearooms
Find a snug tearoom and wait it out over a pot of tea and something baked.
- Bettys Café Tea Rooms 6-8 St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 8QP, UK
- Marks & Spencer 17 Pavement, Heathfield Rd, York YO1 8NB, UK
- Asda York Superstore Monks Cross, Jockey Ln, Huntington, York YO32 9LF, UK
- Marks & Spencer Unit A Martello Way, Vangarde Retail Park, Huntington, York YO32 9AE, UK
- Brew & Brownie 5 Museum St, York YO1 7DT, UK
- Partisan 112 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX, UK
- YHA York Hostel 42 Water End, Clifton, York YO30 6LP, UK
- Robinsons Cafe 7 Bishopthorpe Rd, York YO23 1NA, UK
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Monks Cross Shopping Park Monks Cross Dr, Huntington, York YO32 9GX, UK
- Vangarde Shopping Park Vangarde Way, Huntington, York YO32 9AE, UK
- Clifton Moor Retail Park Stirling Rd, Rawcliffe, York YO30 4XY, UK
- Coppergate Shopping Centre 12 Coppergate Walk, York YO1 9WY, UK
- Foss Island Retail Park Unit 3 Foss Islands Rd, York YO31 7UL, UK
- BoConcept Monks Cross York Monks Cross, Shopping Centre, Unit 1b Julia Ave, Huntington, York YO32 9JR, UK
- Monks Cross North Colenso House, Monks Cross Shopping Park, Monks Cross Dr, Huntington, York YO32 9GW, UK
- Office Hub Tiktok 11 The Horseshoe, Dringhouses, York YO24 1LY, UK
Indoor tours
Join an indoor or undercover guided tour to learn the city's stories while staying dry.
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 40 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.