Museum Gardens and the Yorkshire Museum
Botanical gardens with abbey ruins, a Roman tower and peacocks, free, with the Yorkshire Museum inside.
Ten acres by the river with the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, the Multangular Tower from the Roman fort and lawns where the city eats lunch. The Yorkshire Museum in the gardens has the Roman, Viking and medieval treasures, including the Middleham Jewel, for a ticket. The gardens themselves are free and open daily.
When it works
Outdoors: pick a dry day. Best morning, afternoon, evening. Gardens free; museum ticketed.
Good for kids, a date, a first visit and step-free visits.
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Opening hours and prices change; the official site has the current ones. See everything in York ranked for right now.