Museum Gardens image

Museum Gardens

Tourist attraction Park Museum Garden Botanical garden

One of the Most Revieweds in York


Address

Museum St, York YO1 7FR, United Kingdom

Website

www.yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk

Contact

+44 1904 687687

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (7.8K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Monday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Tuesday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Wednesday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Thursday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday: 9 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: gardens (28) York (26) ruins (23) garden (19) walk (19) beautiful (19) museum (18) visit (16) park (15) lovely (14)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Amy H. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice garden to walk around, though I definitely wouldn't call it a botanical garden. More a park around the museum, with some ruins to have a wander around. There were lots of squirrels when we visited which were cute and fun to watch. The ruins are really nice to look at and interesting, however it would be nice if there were some information boards nearby with some of the history around them.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kirste G. 2 years ago on Google
    Really lovely setting, at this time of year the gardens are full of daffodils and there are plenty of birds and squirrels around. Great place to sit and have a coffee or lunch, very peaceful too.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Scot C. 7 months ago on Google
    Such a serene and peaceful place to casually walk through history. I couldn't think of a better name to adequately describe this place. It is such a wonderful park with detailed ruins from the ages.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sue W. 5 months ago on Google • 253 reviews
    Very pleasant, well maintained gardens in York Centre. I visited to see the exhibition of ghosts in the garden. It was a bit of fun seeking them out, and some were very effective. The gardens are right next to the river. There are also abbey ruins and the Yorkshire Museum located inside.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jamie M. 7 months ago on Google
    The garden was clean and vibrant, with flowers and green grass. There is a variety of things you can see in the park; there is a museum as well, so make sure to book tickets to enter the museum. We also saw an owl who was rescued. The Museum garden is open to everyone. Lovely place to visit in York. It’s near the York Cathedral as well.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ben M. 2 years ago on Google
    Been here a few times in the last few weeks. Really easy to get to, giving you a lovely park to walk around and visit some local history (with St. Leonard’s Hospital, Multangular Tower, York Observatory & St Mary’s Abbey in the gardens). This is definitely a place I’d like to visit in all the seasons to see the changes they make. There are a lot of cute squirrels around (hunting for food when I’ve been), as well as other wildlife/nature so I have been practicing with my camera. Plenty of room if your trying to social distance.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Irina A. 1 year ago on Google
    A peaceful place to take a stroll or picnic amongst the medieval ruins of St. Mary's Abbey. The entrance is free. Rest here and be thankful. Also there's an opportunity to visit Yorkshire's oldest working Observatory and award-winning Yorkshire Museum. Beautiful garden, indeed.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anne Stagg H. 10 months ago on Google
    I do love the Museum Gardens! There is always something new to see in the planting and of course the ruins are great to explore. Visiting today, a Bank Holiday, it was busy but not crowded. For anyone unsteady on their feet please be aware that the Gardens are over different levels but slopes are very gentle. PS Look out for the cheeky squirrels; they love to be photographed!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 R H. 8 months ago on Google
    Really enjoyed my time there. Peaceful and calm place in York to walk around with beautiful scenery. Lovely!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marcel H. 1 year ago on Google
    We climbed off Clifford's Tower, walked back to the entrance of the old city centre and walked into a beautiful suprise, the Museum Gardens. A beautiful garden with a mix of ruins, a cottage, a church, some Roman ruins, an observatory and ofcourse, lots of green and flowers. Well done that the city has made this an haven of peace and quiet. Bravo 👍🏻.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Atlas 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful park on the north side of the city centre. Attached to the museum which was closed on my visit (possibly due to nearby flooding). Lots of benches to sit on and wide open areas so you can avoid people if needed. There was a bird of prey display in the gardens which was really cool.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Holly M. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful gardens very well maintained. The ruins of the abbey are well worth a visit. Plenty of benches and sun spots to enjoy some time here. The birds of prey charity were there and their donation suggestions for holding/flying are very reasonable. The flowers had just come out around the gardens and they were just stunning, you can see the gardeners put in a lot of time and effort
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Linda S. 4 months ago on Google • 96 reviews
    Beautiful place, grass is so green. Nice place for taking pictures. It was lovely to take a break in the sun there after walking all day.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Docs On V. 1 year ago on Google
    Can you spot the 'ghosts' in these pictures? 👻 In this park, cleverly installed by artists are 'ghosts', which is in line with York's theme of being the most haunted city in the world. 'Haunted' is a term most nonchalantly used here. I stick with the word 'serene'. 🌸 York Museum Gardens is located in the heart of York, just next to the River Ouse. The ruins in the pictures, St Mary's Abbey, have lasted a millennium - since 1088. Truly, York is a quaint city filled with history and lore. 🏰
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Naveena R. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely lil garden well maintained with lots of history to see. Everything except the museum is free and you can walk around and enjoy the beautiful views. Went while it was raining and it was still pretty. Make sure to read some history about the place while you are visiting or beforehand to enjoy the place more. Good for nice little walks and good for a date for history nerds. Must visit when you are in York. York is a very historical city and hence this must be on your list of places to see in York.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel B. 1 year ago on Google
    A lot of effort has went into keeping this Park and Gardens looking tip top and the end result is fab. The planters and the flowers were ace and compliment the old ruins and remains well. Some quiet places to sit and relax and some superb views out over the River as well. A lovely area right in the City.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 William M. 8 months ago on Google
    Stunning and very peaceful. A beautiful place to relax on a wonderful afternoon.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lynn Mills (. 11 months ago on Google
    First visit to the gardens (will do the museum on my next visit). A nice little wander around the gardens. The ruins are great. Family friendly and I even got to hold an owl.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lucha de B. 3 years ago on Google
    It is a wonderful place, I recommend you to check the weather first, because sun here is very important 😉, one of the best things is that is free, amazing place to go with the family or friends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Febriana Wulan S. 3 months ago on Google New
    This beautiful garden is a must visit in York. Squirrels everywhere. They are so cute. Too bad I visited on a rainy day. The view must be very good on a sunny day.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Colin K. 4 months ago on Google • 140 reviews
    Wonderful area to catch your breath. Nice grass gardens with the museum, ruins, the river to look at. Coffee and tea stall on hand. Squirrels everywhere that do their thing, ignoring the people. Free to get in.

  • 5/5 Carolyn Elizabeth C. 1 month ago on Google • 100 reviews New
    A tranquil and beautiful area that I have visited many times. Observe the abbey ruins or just take a amble near the river. Or maybe you would prefer to bring a picnic. Whatever you choose, the gardens are close to the train station and transport links. This is a particularly pleasant and memorable area to visit..

  • 5/5 oslaskid 3 months ago on Google • 62 reviews New
    Well maintained park with ruins of saint Mary's abbey in it and also York museum and another building called the hospitium which is sometimes used for weddings and craft fairs,as well as a small astronomy observatory which has been open to the public on on occasion. There are several entrances to the park, one on lendal an another on at Mary's with others next to to the river, though these can be locked when the river is in flood. The gardens are a good spot any time of year to sit and watch the squirrels though some areas do get muddy. Open all year round apart from new year's day, there is a coffee kiosk near the entrance at lendal and occasionally a bird of prey stand there. dogs are to be kept on a lead at all times and drinking alcohol is not permitted although at the moment there is a thors tipi tent bar there for Christmas.

  • 5/5 Gareth Q. 2 months ago on Google • 50 reviews New
    Great place with great architecture, its amazing to see old builds and the history they hold! We would of loved to go to the museum here but it was only open to residents of York thst day

  • 5/5 Amie B. 5 months ago on Google • 27 reviews
    Very nice walk. They had 'ghosts' dotted around so we went to look for them all and took photos. I think we got them all haha. They look really good.

  • 5/5 Dean R. 2 years ago on Google
    What a lovely place to sit after walking around York! The riverside walks were closed due to recent flooding, but the park was still beautiful. I imagine it is fantastic when the trees are green again.

  • 4/5 Debra W. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place, only fault was we could not see any obvious information signs to tell us about the ruins

  • 5/5 Molly M. 2 years ago on Google
    Really lovely place in the heart of the city. We only walked through to get back to our car but so glad we did, it was a really nice short walk and even when we took refuge from the rain under a tree the squirrels came down to say hello.

  • 4/5 Kevin L. 11 months ago on Google
    The gardens are well kept, only later on in the park will you find little signs naming the plants. Some lovely old buildings in the park but nothing telling you about the buildings. Would really be nice with a few more informational boards

  • 5/5 Angie W. 1 year ago on Google
    Really enjoyed the museum thank u national windows for the free pass a lovely place for what people did in the war I was astounded with the planes my mind was wow in a beautiful way but with respect to the place of remberance well worth a visit my only down fall was the cafe very disappointing the specials they had when I ordered was told that was yesterday specials then I asked about the special on sandwiches same reply yesterday so ordered sandwiches they were horrible to much salad and ordered coffee only very small coffee and the price was very dear moan over but was a enjoyable time paying our respects

  • 5/5 Ryan O. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovley bit of squirrel

  • 5/5 Tomomi H. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) My favorite garden! I go for a walk many times, but the colorful flowers are always in bloom, and the traces of Abby are cool. The first recommendation is the botanical garden in the back! You can relax 😊 (Original) 大好きなガーデン!何回もお散歩がてら行きますが、いつも色とりどりのお花が咲いていて、Abbyの跡がかっこいい。1番のおすすめは、奥の方にある植物園!ゆっくりできます😊

  • 5/5 Andrew W. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful place. Great for a walk round and a great place to chill out. The museum is well worth a visit and the ruins of the Abbey very impressive. Currently hosting most of the #ghostsofyork and they're great.

  • 4/5 Edwin S. 3 years ago on Google
    Interesting place to look at on a walk round the historic parts of York.

  • 5/5 lianne k. 8 months ago on Google
    A beautiful well kept garden. Somewhere to go and take a relaxing stroll away from the hustle of the city. It has a very layed back atmosphere with people chilling on benches or under trees. Lots of beautiful flowers, plants and old ruins and buildings to look at for free.

  • 4/5 Kyle M. 9 months ago on Google
    The Museum Gardens are right on the banks of the Ouse river, and have an amazing green field to have a relaxed day in the sun. The place also has the Royal Observatory of York and the York Museum within its premises that make it the perfect tourist location to address many options at one place. It has a pub within the garden that overviews the river and also has the banks for one to join a boat along the Ouse River. If your lucky you may see an Owl there.

  • 5/5 Donna T. 6 months ago on Google
    I visited for the silent disco on Sunday, and it was so much fun! Will definitely do it again. There was a big queue for the bar at first and there maybe could have been a few more toilets but I was happy enough with bar prices and the organisation was great. What a lovely outdoor venue for something so unexpected, even the rain didn't dampen spirits!

  • 5/5 Ellie H. 7 months ago on Google
    Beautiful gardens. Stunning ruins. The Museum is great l, its over 3 levels with lifts too. A craft room for the little ones. There's lots of places for them to dress up and play toom very interactive. Staff are all lovely too.

  • 5/5 Amy W. 7 months ago on Google
    The gardens were well kept and it was great to see so much history still visible. There was a lot of open space, which allowed for a peaceful walk. Lovely place to get away from the busy city streets for a short-time!

  • 5/5 Luke 7 months ago on Google
    Great place for a free, casual walk, in York. Not too far from the train station and the City Centre. All of the ruins are incredible and I was blown away by the scale of some of them and imagining what it would have looked ike in front of me all them years ago.

  • 5/5 Stanly P. 3 months ago on Google New
    A beautiful garden consisting of York museum and St Mary's Abbey in York. The entry to the garden is free but the Museum requires a ticket. You can find lot of squirrels here and there is an entry from.the park for rivers side walk.

  • 5/5 Rency c. 2 months ago on Google • 7 reviews New
    It has an amazing scenic view.. one should visit this place to refresh your mind and experience calmness around..

  • 4/5 Marcus B. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to chill out and take in the scenery. Very well maintained.

  • 5/5 Mark W. 3 years ago on Google
    Pleasant walk through to get to the town centrr

  • 5/5 Luciano Ferrari P. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Very beautiful (Original) Muito bonito

  • 5/5 Stuart H. 3 years ago on Google
    Delightful! Here is a free-to-enter, green, leafy place right in the city centre and extending down to the River Ouse. Even in winter, when we visited, these gardens were immaculately maintained and gave us a lovely place to eat our picnic.

  • 5/5 Rachel B. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely place. Beautiful and well maintained.

  • 5/5 Joanna K. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic place

  • 5/5 Nick B. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a peaceful place surrounded by plant,trees and squirrels in the centre of a busy city.

  • 3/5 世界の出ベソ 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) I went in June. A woman was sunbathing with a piece of underwear. Vitamin D is being manufactured. (Original) 6月に行った。女性が下着一枚で日光浴していた。ビタミンDを製造中。

  • 5/5 Sofron D. 3 years ago on Google
    So relax walk . So beautifull .

  • 5/5 Ruba S. 3 years ago on Google
    My favourite place for tranquility and walks

  • 4/5 Ann M. 3 years ago on Google
    Interesting garden with thought provoking modern sculptures. Visited in December so cannot comment on garden displays.

  • 4/5 Sandra O. 3 years ago on Google
    A very beautiful park in the heart of York City. I love the benches that you can sit on and the well-kept grass where you can have a picnic on a warm day. Unfortunately the museum is not open because of COVID-19 but you can have a wander through the grounds.

  • 4/5 Shelagh C. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful gardens with lots to do and see. Plenty of seating areas to relax and enjoy your day out 😊

  • 5/5 Krisztina S. 3 years ago on Google
    Stunning place! So much fun at any time of the year!!! To just sit there and enjoy the view or explore it. With ot without children. Anyone can enjoy it

  • 3/5 Dawn O. 3 years ago on Google
    Gardens were well maintained and took lots of pictures. Not too many people so social distancing was not an issue. Great place for a picnic.

  • 5/5 Lee M. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice old gardens with plenty of History, with some ancient ruins and a good walk around....

  • 5/5 Barbara W. 3 years ago on Google
    A lovely place in the centre of the City. Whatever the weather it's still beautiful. It's wonderful to see the changes of the seasons, seeing the leaves falling, the bare trees, the beginning of winter flowers coming through. Then begins the spring, the best time of all.

  • 4/5 Brendan V. 3 years ago on Google
    The Museum Gardens are a fantastic place to go, with the old Minster ruins, beautiful flowers and plants and some wonderful history and installations. Unfortunately the flooded Ouse River has taken a toll and I can't wait for it to be fully open again.

  • 5/5 edward w. 3 years ago on Google
    Like many places in York, the Gardens are a walk through time an history. Its a Architectural historians dream, a landscape photographers perfect playground and if you appreciate a good tree then you'll be right at home. The museum in the grounds is well worth a visit an has an amazing array of artifacts, from Romans times in particular. The walled garden is a botanist delight, which leads on to the York Gallery for all the art lovers. The kids will probably just love running around an exploring. The local resident Grey Squirrels can even be persuaded to eat out of your hand.

  • 5/5 marian n. 3 years ago on Google
    What a pleasant place. Open to all, free entry and well kept. The gardens have ruins of St Mary's and lots of old church or chapel foundations. Sweeping gardens on a slope with well kept grass and boarders. There a re a few benches to sit in or out of the sun. We found ourselves going back there each time we fancied a rest from walking round the town. There was a great surprise to see a roman army representation. I was great.

  • 5/5 Denise G. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely walk,beautiful gardens

  • 5/5 Andrew M. 3 years ago on Google
    Always love museum gardens even though today it was raining

  • 5/5 allison p. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place. Lovely to walk round.

  • 5/5 Susan C. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a surreal place to relax beautifully kept gardens being going since I was a young girl take my grandbairns now .

  • 4/5 Helen C. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely gardens and historic remains

  • 5/5 Andy H. 3 years ago on Google
    ....and it's free!

  • 5/5 Mary Ann D. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely autumnal colours. Beautiful little sqirrels everywhere

  • 4/5 Andrew P. 3 years ago on Google
    Stunning,as always!

  • 5/5 İbrahim �. 3 years ago on Google
    unbelievable

  • 3/5 Laura O. 3 years ago on Google
    It's a really great place, but (considering it is the only open green space in central York) they are terrible with kids. Even toddlers get told off if they do much as look at a ball and no climbing on absolutely anything. Rules enforced with an iron rod. My kids love going (call it the dinosaur park), but the York Museum Trust who run it, do not seem to love them back. It's a real shame. I'd love this to change. Maybe as a peace offering they could put some climbing things (dinosaurs) in the park. Please YMT! Kids aren't that bad.

  • 5/5 David P. 3 years ago on Google
    Tranquil oasis in a beautiful city. Visited mid January and although the bulbs weren't flowering yet it was picturesque. With Covid-19 the museum was closed, but at least the coffee trailer was still operating. Well worth a visit to relax and unwind.

  • 4/5 Bruce M. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful, Atmospheric Park and gardens with easy access from City Centre and Riverside, Buy a pie or try a Bacon Wrapped Sausage Roll from Apple ons in Lendal just opposite and enjoy in the gardens..

  • 5/5 Istvan N. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovley and everyone social distancing. Love the little garden behind the museum.

  • 5/5 Julie S. 3 years ago on Google
    Love museum gardens to just sit and watch the world go by x

  • 5/5 Nicola P. 3 years ago on Google
    Went for a shopping trip with my partner has a lovely day out with some lovely views

  • 5/5 Isobel A. 3 years ago on Google
    We went here for wedding pictures and the gardens were beautiful. You don't have to pay to access and it's all well maintained

  • 5/5 arundhathi a. 3 years ago on Google
    Great vibe!

  • 5/5 Andrel C. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful and doggie friendly as long as they are on a lead

  • 5/5 Stephen M. 3 years ago on Google
    So peaceful and right in the middle of the city

  • 5/5 Alison B. 3 years ago on Google
    Just a really nice place to be any time of the year.


Call +44 1904 687687 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Trends



Last updated:

Similar Tourist attractions nearby

Last updated:
()