York Parks and Gardens

(York, North Yorkshire, England, UK)



The city comes with a series of gardens and riverside parks, offering recreational spaces around central York and beyond. Many of the most appealing green spaces come with views of the River Ouse and the city itself, with popular choices including Clarence Gardens, Hull Road, Rowntree and West Bank. Dean's Park is especially popular, due to its proximity to the Minster and the city centre shops.

If you have a car and are prepared to travel a little outside of York, then a number of further options present themselves, such as the stately grounds of Stewart's Burnby Hall in nearby Pocklington, Beningbrough Hall in the neighbouring village of Beningbrough, and Burton Agnes Hall in the Driffield area. Close to Selby and around 35 minutes to the south, the Yorkshire Garden World is a real highlight for those with green fingers.


View of the lake at Stewart's Burnby Hall Gardens on the outskirts of York

Stewart's Burnby Hall Gardens

Address: August Cottage, 48 Burnby Lane, Pocklington, YO42 2QE, England
Tel: +44 (0)1759 302068
Burnby Hall Gardens is situated on the far easterly outskirts of the city and lies in the nearby town of Pocklington. This spectacular estate boasts a walled garden, Victorian-style planting, rockeries, a bandstand, a café, seating, pathways and a gift shop. The gardens are spread over 8 acres / 3 hectares and include two sizeable lakes, which contain a national collection of water lillies. Regular summer band concerts reliably draw large crowds on Sundays (twice a month), while the onsite Stewart Museum is on hand for those interested in learning about the life of renowned traveller and philanthropist Major Percy Marlborough Stewart. Children will particularly enjoy feeding the hungry koi carp in the lake - special fish pellets can be purchased from the nearby kiosk.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

Clarence Gardens

Address: Haxby Road, York, YO31 8NS, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 621756
Located on Haxby Road and within the Grove district, Clarence Gardens is owned and maintained by York City Council. With many colourful flower beds, large open expanses of lawn, mature trees, manicured bowling greens, an exceptional playground, plentiful seating and nearby parking for cars, this park is especially family orientated.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to 22:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 22:00
Admission: free

Picture of St. Mary's Abbey ruins in York's Museum Gardens

Museum Gardens

Address: Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 629745
Covering around 10 acres / 3 hectares, the Museum Gardens are located in the city centre, next to the Yorkshire Museum, Ayscoughfee Hall, the Hospitium, the Central Library and the River Ouse. Dating back to the 19th century, the gardens provide lots of interest, with visitors being able to explore St. Mary's Abbey ruins and the Kings manor. The city's observatory is also based within the grounds, along with St. Olive's Church.
Open hours: dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Dean's Park

Address: 4 Deangate, Minster Yard, York, YO1 7JA, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 621756
Centrally located Dean's Park is close to York Minster and provides a peaceful oasis right in the heart of the busy city. With benches, lawns and flowers, this spot soon fills up at lunchtimes, when both locals and sightseers come here to enjoy their lunch. Plenty of bakeries and sandwich shops are extremely close by, along the streets of Petergate and Stonegate.
Open hours: dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Duncombe Park

Address: Helmsley, YO62 5EB, England
Tel: +44 (0)1439 770213
Duncombe Park can be found a little under an hour to the north of York and dates back almost 300 years. This historic parkland covers more than 35 acres / 14 hectares and features mature landscaping. Notable attractions include vast areas of woodland, an important nature reserve, temples and terraces. The Helmsley Walled Garden is another highlight and features a small farm, while the onsite manor house is also likely to be of interest, being full of antique furniture and paintings.
Open hours: May to September, Sunday to Friday - 10:30 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

Homestead Park

Address: 40 Water End, York, YO30 6WP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 629241
Located in the north-westerly Clifton area and only a matter of minutes from central York, Homestead Park offers large areas of grass suitable for sports, along with benches, pathways, picnic areas, mature trees and colourful flowerbeds. There is also an impressive children's playground with excellent play equipment, including large slides, swings, climbing frames and much more besides.
Open hours: dawn to dusk
Admission: free



Sutton Park in York photo

Sutton Park

Address: Sutton on the Forest, York, YO61 1DP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1347 810249
Only a 20-minute drive to the north of the city, Sutton Park dates back to the early 18th century. These award-winning grounds are based around a Grade-I listed Georgian court house, next to the village of Sutton on the Forest. The estate comes with enormous flowerbeds, pathways, nature trails, lush planting schemes and a tearoom. Nearby, the Rose and Crown public house is on hand should you fancy a hearty lunch.
Open hours: April to September, daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

Beningbrough Hall

Address: Bembridge, Beningbrough, YO30 1DD, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 470666
To the north-west of York city centre and just a 20-minute drive away are the stunning gardens of Beningbrough Hall, an 18th-century Georgian manor house close to the River Ouse. With landscaped gardens, mature trees, scenic views, lawns, seating areas, a gift shop and a restaurant, the hall is known for its opulent Baroque-style interior and impressive collection of paintings, a number of which are on permanent loan to the National Portrait Gallery. The estate also features a wilderness play area, a large orchard, an Italian-themed border and a well-supported annual arts and food festival.
Open hours: Saturday to Wednesday and Friday - 11:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, National Trust members are free

Yorkshire Garden World

Address: Main Road, West Haddlesey, Near Selby, YO8 8QA, England
Tel: +44 (0)1757 228279
Situated to the south of York, in between Brayton and Eggborough, the Yorkshire Garden World covers around 4 acres / 1.6 hectares and is made up of a series of glorious individual gardens. Highlights include rockeries, conifer collections, heather borders, a historic knot garden, wild flowers galore, a children's maze, large rose beds, a gift shop, a museum, a pets' corner area and a café.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:30 to 17:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

Burton Agnes Hall

Address: Burton Agnes, Driffield, YO25 0ND, England
Tel: +44 (0)1262 490324
Located next to the market town of Driffield, the Burton Agnes Hall estate is more than 400 years old and can be found to the east of the city, being approximately 30 miles / 48 km away and reachable in some 50 minutes. Encircled by grand gardens, highlights inside this historic Elizabethan manor house include paintings, antique furniture and period features. Look out for the giant open-air chess board and other games, as well as the various sculptures and changing outdoor art works.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

West Bank Park

Address: Hamilton Drive, York, YO24 4NS, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 613161
West Bank Park is located on the westerly side of the city and is close to the Holgate Methodist Church, being best reached via Holgate Road (A59) and Acomb Road (B1224). With basketball courts, bowling greens, lawns, benches, pathways and walking trails, other attractions at West Bank include landscaped gardens and fragrant rose borders.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Hull Road Park

Address: Alcuin Avenue, York, YO10 3TQ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 613161
Covering roughly 25 acres / 10 hectares, Hull Road Park is based within the westerly Layerthorpe suburb, being close to the university and bounded by Alcuin Avenue, Flaxman Avenue, Melrosegate and Millfield Avenue. With a stream, ducks and vast expanses of lawn suitable for sports, sunbathing and picnics, as well as mature trees, seating and pathways, this is a popular place for ball games. A basketball court, tennis courts and a bowling green are all based onsite.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Rowntree Park

Address: Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1904 613161
Rowntree Park lies on the southern side of central York, alongside the River Ouse and just across from Bishopthorpe Road, where it features large lawns, a small lake, colourful flower borders, tennis courts, bowling greens and a well-equipped playground. Additional highlights include seating areas, pathways, a café and a bandstand.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to dusk
Admission: free