Our historic city has woken to the welcome sound of footsteps on the cobbles and to the rattle of shopkeepers starting to re-open their doors. The great news is that from 4 July, attractions, restaurants, cafés and hotels will follow shops and reopen for the first time since we went into lockdown.

While some things may have changed, we are delighted to start welcoming you back to York. You can still Feel at Home in our historic city and enjoy the unique #OnlyinYork experiences that await you.

When you’re ready to return, here’s a handy list of what to expect and tips on how to make the most of your trip to York.

Plan ahead 


To help you manage your visit we ask you to plan ahead. Things will be a bit different on your next visit, some experiences may require pre-booking, opening times may vary and social distancing measures will be in place. The last thing we want is for you to miss out on meeting Vikings at the JORVIK Viking Centre or the chance to take a stroll along the iconic city walls.

Please be patient with businesses and other people as we all learn together how to adapt to this new world. The City of York Council has produced a helpful video to give you an idea of the measures in place around the city. Businesses such as City Cruises York have created their own video explaining what to expect when you visit. Please go online and check out the websites of the attractions, shops, restaurants and hotels that you plan to visit. 

What’s open in York


We’ve created a handy section that highlights what is open in the city, covering everything from food and drink, shopping and visitor attractions. This page will be updated frequently to give you the most up to date information in line with the latest government guidance.

We’re Good to go

As you start to build your York itinerary ahead of your visit, you may have noticed the ‘We’re Good to Go’ logo (pictured above). Businesses presenting the logo will have been awarded this by VisitEngland as a means of reassuring you that a high standard of measures are in place, following Government and public health guidance.

All businesses that are open will have their own measures in place, so we advise you to go online and find out more about their own standards.

Expert advice from our award-winning experts

Just over a week ago we opened the doors to our York Visitor Information and Gift Shop. Our award-winning team are back to give you great advice on making the most of your time in York, so do pop in and say hi. You can even pick up great York themed gifts and locally made products. If you’re looking for a bargain check out some of the exciting gifts in our sale. 

Keep up to date with the latest Visit York news


Whether you’re planning to visit York later in year or in the coming weeks, to help you with your planning get signed up to our newsletter. Once a month you’ll receive the latest news, updates and special offers. Sign up now. 

We hope the pointers above will help you make the most of your trip to York. We can’t wait to see you again and give you a warm York 'EY UP’.