There are a number of small towns within reasonable distance from York, where you can visit different attractions.
We have compiled two lists of places reachable within 30 minutes drive and places where it takes 30 minutes to 1 hour from York.
There is a lot to explore in York, however there are also very nice places not far from York City Centre, places that can be reached within 30 minutes drive from the city centre.
Going out on the A1079 towards Hull (East Riding of Yorkshire) you can visit York Maze, Yorkshire Air Museum (Elvington), Burnby Hall Gardens (Pocklington).
If you fancy a visit to old ruins, Castle and gardens, you can go north/north-east on the A64 to visit the Kirkham Priory, then Castle Howard and The Yorkshire Arboretum (near Malton).
To see a Georgian mansion you can head onto the A19 to Beningborough Hall on the River Ouse.
York Maze is a good entertainment for families with children and provides open spaces, kids’ adventure activities and pig racing. York Maze is opened July to September, for more information and updated opening times visit York Maze – Home.
The Yorkshire Air Museum is one of the largest independent air museums in the UK. Beyond the Museum you can also book in advance a racing experience on the track. Visit Yorkshire Air Museum.
The Burnby Hall Gardens are home to the UK’s national collection of hardy water lilies and contains the largest European natural collection. Visit Burnby Hall Gardens for more information.
Kirkham Priory was founded 900 years ago by Augustinian Canons, was then abandoned in 1539. Its ruins became a tourist destination in the 19th century and was home to secret military research during WW2. Read more at Kirkham Priory.
Castle Howard creation started in 1699 and took over 100 years to complete. The Castle sits surrounded by gardens and woods. Since 1960s Castle Howard has been used as a location for many film and TV productions.
The Yorkshire Arboretum consists of 128 acres, and is home to 6,000 trees, including some rare or endangered. There are families activities, a cafe’, woodland walks, interactive displays and events.
Beningborough Hall is a Georgian Mansion on the River Ouse. It was built in 1716 with Baroque interiors, woodcarvings and ironworks. It houses more than 100 portraits loaned from the National Portrait Gallery.
If you fancy going a bit further and driving up to 1 hour from York, there are a number of places to visit.
Going out from York onto the A64 (east/north-east), you can go up to Scarborough to see the Castle and the coast. Going back inland from Scarborough on the A170 there is Pickering where you could take the train (North Yorkshire Moors Railway) to Whitby through the Moors National Park. Alternatively going north from Scarborough along the coast you can go to Whitby by car to visit the Town, the Abbey and Robin Hood’s Bay on the East Coast.
If you head north from York (along the A19 and then east) you can visit the Rievaulx Abbey in the middle of the North York Moors National Park.
If you follow the A59 (west) and then the A1(M) (north) you can go to Richmond Castle or take a turn west along the way to go and taste some Black Sheep Ale at the Brewery.
Going west on the A59 from York you can visit Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey, Ripley Castle, Harrogate (Spa Town) and Mother Shipton’s Cave.