York Minster

Planning your Visit

We advise that all school visits are booked in advance to avoid times when the Minster may be closed. Sunday morning entry is for Services only.The Centre for School Visits takes bookings to the Minster for pupils and students in full time education up to the age of 18. Office open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.45 pm. For University/Adult groups please see Visiting the Minster

Booking your Visit:
Visit Options 1 & 2: The Centre for School Visits & Guided Tours
Ring us on 01904 557224 to discuss your requirements and check availability. Early booking is essential as these 2 options are often booked a year in advance. We will confirm your booking please bring this with you.

Option 3: Self Conducted Visit:

Online booking is available click here. We will confirm by e-mail.

Preliminary Visits:
Ring the Centre to arrange a time, and free entry to the Minster. Please see our Risk Assessment and guidelines for your visit.

Behaviour & Supervision:
The Minster is an active place of worship, and the whole building is called to silence at regular intervals throughout the day so that prayers may be offered. Please ensure your pupils respect other visitors and the purpose of the building. 
Pupils must be accompanied at all times by an adult and remain the responsibility of their teachers. We suggest an adult to pupil ratio of 1:10.

Payment:
We do not require payment in advance. Please pay on arrival or by invoice.

Parking:
Coaches are not allowed to drop off outside the Minster, or St William's College. The nearest coach park is Union Terrace on Clarence Street.

Toilets:
In the Minster - entry from the North Quire Aisle. Please ensure that children are supervised at all times. Toilet facilities are available for use by disabled visitors.

The toilets at the Centre are only available to schools for the period they have booked its use.

Eating areas:
We regret that there are no covered eating areas at the Minster. Schools are welcome to picnic in Dean's Park or on College Green at the front of St William's College.

Late arrival:
If you are delayed, please telephone us on 01904 557224. If you arrive late your teacher/guide may not be able to offer you the full session as booked.

Facilities for Disabled Visitors:
Almost all of the Minster is wheelchair accessible. Access to the Undercroft, Treasury & Crypt and the Tower are by stairs. The Centre for School Visits is on ground level with wheelchair access. Wheelchairs are available for loan. A loop system is installed in the Minster, and for the visually-impaired there is a touch and feel model of the cathedral. A welcome and information leaflet is available for visitors with disabilities.

Special Educational Needs:
Please let us know if members of your group have any special needs. We will try to tailor our service to accommodate individual requirements.

Additional charges apply to enter:
The Undercroft, Treasury & Crypt and also The Tower

Photography:
The use of cameras at York Minster is welcomed for educational use within schools. Recording images or sound for commercial purposes or to upload onto the internet is not permitted without prior consent, and all commercial rights in all images remain the property of the Dean & Chapter of York.
Photography is not permitted in the Undercroft, Treasury or Crypt or during any act of worship.

Booking Terms:
The Dean & Chapter reserve the right to vary arrangements at the Minster and we apologise if any parts of the cathedral are inaccessible at the time of your visit. A school cancelling a visit and not giving 28 days notice may be charged a cancellation fee. If for any reason the Minster authorities find it necessary to cancel a school booking, The Dean & Chapter cannot be held liable for the cost of transport, accommodation, or any other costs which may have been incurred as part of the visit thus cancelled.