Getting There and Away

A breathtaking view of York Minster's gothic architecture from a nearby garden.
Jordi De Roeck, Pexels

York has excellent transport connections, primarily centered around its busy railway station, a key hub on the East Coast Main Line. While the city does not have its own airport, it is well-served by nearby international airports. Local bus services and Park & Ride facilities are available for travel within the city.

By Train:

Direct trains frequently operate to and from York Railway Station.

  • From London King's Cross, direct services typically take between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours 11 minutes, with advance tickets starting from around £18-£23.60.
  • From Manchester Airport, direct trains are available hourly, with journey times ranging from 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 18 minutes. Advance fares can be found from approximately £6.85, with average tickets around £40.62.
  • From Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), there are no direct train services. Travellers typically take a bus from the airport to Leeds railway station, then a connecting train to York. This combined journey can take about 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 32 minutes, with train tickets from Leeds starting from approximately £7.
  • Direct rail links also connect York with major cities like Edinburgh (around 2 hours 23 minutes), Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sheffield.

By Bus/Coach:

National Express operates coach services to York, arriving at a dedicated stop on Station Road, adjacent to the railway station.

  • From London Victoria Coach Station, journeys can take approximately 4 hours 20 minutes (from Golders Green) to over 6 hours from Victoria, with one-way advance tickets starting from around £12-£18.
  • From Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), direct bus routes to York are not available. A common route involves taking a bus to Leeds Bus Station and then a connecting bus to York, with the bus portion from Leeds taking about 1 hour and costing around £7 for a single ticket.

By Car:

York is accessible via a good road network. Driving from Manchester Airport typically takes around 1 hour 40 minutes via the M62. From Leeds Bradford Airport, driving takes approximately 40-50 minutes. Car rental options are available at airports. Parking in York is offered through 15 public car parks, several private car parks, and Park & Ride facilities located around the city. On-street parking is also available, with charges and restrictions varying by zone.

By Taxi:

A taxi from Leeds Bradford Airport to York generally takes about 50-60 minutes and costs approximately £60-£77.

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