Highlights of York Minster
York Minster, also known as York Cathedral, is officially called “The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St Peter in York.”
The history of York Minster can be traced back to a wooden church built in the 7th century. After being destroyed by 2 fires, the Gothic building seen today was completed in 1472.
The Church of England is literally England’s established church, and the British monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth) also serves as its supreme governor. Within the Church of England,York Minster has jurisdiction over northern England.
Incidentally, southern England is under the jurisdiction of Canterbury Cathedral, famous for The Canterbury Tales. Canterbury Cathedral is not called “Canterbury Minster”.
Looking up from the streets of York's old town, the towers and long outer walls of York Minster rise above the surrounding townscape.
Gothic Architecture and Stained Glass
It is one of the finest examples of English Gothic architecture.
This is the previous photograph viewed from inside. The large stained-glass window in the center of the west front is called the "Great West Window".
The design at the top of the stained-glass window is also lovely, with what looks like a combination of heart shapes.
This is the south aisle.
Several round columns overlap to form 1 thick pillar.
This is a rose window, commonly seen in Gothic churches. It is on the south side of the transept. In France, the birthplace of Gothic architecture, stained glass is often designed around the rose window, but here it is treated relatively modestly.
This is another lancet window, commonly seen in Gothic churches. It is on the north side of the transept. Its upper section is pointed.
It is given the special name "Five Sisters' Window" (the window of the 5 sisters).
In the center of the east face is the "Great Eest Window". It is one of the largest medieval stained-glass windows in the world.
Chapter House and Undercroft
This is the Chapter House, accessible from the north side of the transept. It offers the luxurious experience of being surrounded by stained glass as far as the eye can see in 360 degrees.
This is the crypt.
This is a mosaic of William FitzHerbert, Archbishop of York during the Norman period in the 12th century. His sarcophagus is in the foreground.
William fiercely contested the archbishopric with the Cistercian Henry Murdac. Fountains Abbey, which was once a centre of the Cistercian order in England, is inscribed as “Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey” on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located in the town of Ripon in North Yorkshire.
This is also a relic from the Norman period, known as “Doomstone.” The demon carries a cauldron on his shoulder in which people are tormented by the flames of hell.
A frog has its head stuck into a nostril. This is now completely beyond comprehension.
This book has a wooden cover with intricate carvings and sturdy metal clasps, making it impressive in the best sense and rather attention-seeking in the less flattering sense. It certainly does not look easy to fit on a bookshelf.
It is called “The Kings Book of York Heroes”. It records those who died in the First World War.
View from the central tower
The entry time shown on the ticket has arrived, so at last we are going up the long-awaited tower.
First, you climb from the southern end of the transept up to roof level, then cross along the roof to the central tower. Along the way, you can see the flying buttresses, a characteristic feature of Gothic architecture, up close.
There is no elevator in the tower. You climb the entire way up a spiral staircase. If you have concerns about your mobility, it may be wiser to skip it.
We have finally reached the top of the tower. If you walked straight from the station to the cathedral, you must have come this way. The tower of St Wilfrid's Catholic Church is clearly visible.
Dean's Park extends north of the cathedral. The building in the centre is the Deanery, after which the park was named.
Dean means the person responsible for running York Minster.
Dean Fujioka therefore means Dean Fujioka in this context.
In the back left of the photo, you can see Clifford's Tower, another York landmark. Unfortunately, it overlaps with the towers of All Saints' Church and St Mary's Church.
This is Petergate. From this angle, York’s distinctive architectural style is easy to see: the 2nd floor projects farther over the street than the 1st floor, and the 3rd floor farther than the 2nd.
St Helen's Square and Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of York.
Basic information about York Minster
The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
- You can check visiting hours, the worship schedule, tickets and access information here.
Plan your visit | York MinsterPlan your visit to York's magnificent Gothic cathedral. Find opening times, ticket types, specialist tour options, ...yorkminster.org
- 📍 Address
- York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
- 🕒 Opening hours
-
- Monday–Saturday tourist visit admission 9:30–16:00
- Sunday tourist visit admission 12:45–14:30
⚠️ These are admission times, not the building’s closing time. Tourist visits may be suspended for worship services.
- 🚫 Closed days
- Open 365 days a year for worship, events and tourist visits, but tourist visits may be suspended for worship services and other reasons.
- 💶 Admission fees
-
- Cathedral only adults and seniors £20 / students not studying in York £16
- Cathedral + Central Tower adults and seniors £26 / students not studying in York £22 / ages 8–17 £6. Only visitors aged 8 or over may climb the Central Tower.
- Cathedral only freeYork residents and York students, up to 4 people under 17 per 1 paying adult (proof of eligibility required)
⚠️ Admission for worship, prayer or lighting a candle is free.
- 🎫 Tickets
- Advance booking is recommended for tourist visit tickets. Validity information varies by page, so check the conditions shown on the purchase screen.
- ⏱️ Time required
- The official website recommends allowing at least 2 hours for the visit.⚠️ If you combine the Central Tower, the Undercroft Museum and a guided tour, also allow for your reservation time.
Getting to York Minster
As its name suggests, York Minster is located in the English city of York.
From London's King's Cross Station, it takes 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours to reach York by LNER (or GrandCentral).
It is easy from York Station.the east exit of York Station and head northeast, crossing the bridge over the River Ouse along the way. After about 12 minutes on foot, you will arrive at York Minster. The route is almost entirely straight, so you are unlikely to get lost.
According to the official access information, it takes about 10 minutes to walk from York station to York Minster, and the nearest bus stop is at St Leonard’s Place. The cathedral has no dedicated parking; if you are driving, use a park-and-ride service or one of the public car parks nearby.
The related guide “【ヨーク】観光スポット・グルメ・交通・モデルコースを解説” is currently available only in Japanese.
