City in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
York
Compact walled city of minster, medieval lanes and Viking history, easy for a first solo trip on foot. Busy with day-trippers, pricey in summer and short on nightlife outside pubs.
At a glance
- Safety5/5Very safeDetails
- Monthly budget$3,040–4,230Comfortable, one person · £2,300–3,200Details
- Value for money20/100Better value than 19% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goMay–Jun, Sep–OctWarmest: Jul, 21°CDetails
- Air quality8.1 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2021) · Fairly cleanDetails
- Internet184 MbpsFixed broadband, United Kingdom medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableSafe and pleasant; pubs must give free tap water on request.Details
- LGBTQ+4/5WelcomingDetails
- Solo travel4/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$79–132Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundUberVery walkableDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessContactless works in nearly all shops, pubs and buses.Details
Where to stay in York
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Within the city walls | First-timers: Minster, Shambles, pubs, everything on foot |
| Bishopthorpe Road (Bishy Road) | Independent cafés and shops; quieter, 15 minutes' walk from center |
| Micklegate | Pubs, bars and cheaper stays near the station |
| Fulford and Heslington | Student areas with cheaper rooms south and east of center |
Apps that work in York
Ride-hailing
| App | Notes |
|---|---|
| Uber | Works in York, with fewer cars than big cities |
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp
- Citymapper: Live transit routes in London and big cities
- Trainline: Rail tickets and advance fares
- Taxis: Local taxi firms and ranks do most trips; fares are metered. Book ahead on weekend nights.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in United Kingdom.
- Practically cashless Contactless works in nearly all shops, pubs and buses. Keep a few coins for some markets and small stalls.
- Currency: Pound (GBP). US$1 ≈ £0.76 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: Most cash machines are free; avoid 'pay-to-use' machines in shops and always decline the machine's currency conversion.
- Tipping: Restaurants often add a 12.5% service charge; otherwise tip 10–12.5%. No tipping at pub bars; round up taxi fares.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere, including London transport with daily fare caps.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Visa-free visitors (EU, US, Canada, Australia and others) need an ETA: £20 in the UK ETA app, usually approved within a day.
- An ETA lasts two years or until the passport expires and covers repeat visits of up to six months each; no work.
- Airlines check ETAs at boarding. Arriving from Ireland also needs an ETA unless you live in Ireland.
Emergency numbers
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999
Plugs
Type G · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Supermarkets, newsagents and phone shops sell prepaid SIMs (giffgaff, Lebara, Three, Vodafone); £10–20 buys a month of generous data. No ID needed. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in United Kingdom
Going to York solo?
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.