Good rail connections make York much more accessible from central London than you might think, given its 210-mile distance (the National Railway Museum must have chosen York for good reason). It’s a bit heavy for a day trip from the capital. But if you’re in the UK for a very short visit and don’t mind spending four hours on trains (roughly two hours each way), you could spend some time in this popular walled city.
York is also in a prime position on the national motorway network and in the middle of the popular route between London and Edinburgh. Use these travel instructions and tips to decide between transportation options.
Getting to York by train
Virgin Trains runs three to four trains an hour along the East Coast Main Line to York Station from London’s King’s Cross Station. Most are direct services, but an hourly train stops at Doncaster and involves switching to cross-country service for the last leg to York. There is little time difference between direct services and between countries, and the trip takes about two hours. This is a popular route, so trains leave London regularly from 6:15 am to after 10 pm Cheapest round-trip fare in advance (round trip), included in the sample for April 2018, it was £ 38 when purchased as two single (or one-way) tickets.
Round-trip tickets for this route can cost up to three times as much, so remember to book day tickets separately and book a few weeks in advance if you can.
UK Travel Tip The cheapest train fares are designated ‘Advance’: anticipation depends on the journey, as most rail companies offer advance fares on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance tickets are generally sold as one-way or “single” tickets. Whether or not you buy advance tickets, always compare the price of the “single” ticket with the round trip or the “return” price, as it is often (but not always) cheaper to buy two individual tickets at instead of a round trip ticket.
By bus
National Express makes at least four direct trips a day to York (opposite York Rail Station) from London Victoria Coach Station. The trip lasts five and a half hours, but there are several quick trips each day that last five hours and 25 minutes. Longer trips generally stop in Leeds. The round-trip fare is less than £ 40 when booked as two one-way tickets. But, if you book online at least a month in advance, you can get tickets for less than £ 30 roundtrip, including a £ 1 booking fee.
Look for the “Low Rates” box on the National Express home page for the lowest online rates.
New for 2018, you can now pay for National Express bus tickets with Amazon. If you have an Amazon account, you can pay for tickets quickly without having to open an account with the bus company or enter your payment details again.
UK Travel Tip: Before booking your ticket, please check the Low Fare Finder box on the National Express home page. The company offers a limited number of travel tickets on its most popular routes that cost £ 5 each way. Destinations change often and you might not find York on the list, but it’s worth checking out. If there are special offers or discounts available when you want to travel, you will also find them on this page.
By car
York is 210 miles north of London via the M1 / M62 motorway network. It takes 4-5 hours to drive. Keep in mind that gasoline, called gasoline in the UK, is sold by the liter (just over a quart) and the price can be around $ 5.50 per gallon or more. Use the Automobile Association Route Planner to map a route with suggested stopovers and gas stations.
UK Travel Tip : York is a medieval walled city that is very popular with visitors. If you plan to drive to York, use the city’s Park & Ride service. Parking is free at one of the six Park & Ride facilities that surround the city. The round-trip fare by bus to the city center and back, in 2018, cost £ 3.10. A paying adult can take up to three children under 16 for free with that standard ticket, a real boon for family travelers. Once you are within the walls of the city of York, you will not need to drive.
