5 First Date Ideas For York

Need date ideas in York? I’ve got you. I went on plenty of dates before I met my partner — we met on Tinder and now have a house, a baby, and a wedding to plan — so I know what works and what doesn’t.

York is genuinely one of the best cities in the UK for a date, first or otherwise. Here are my recommendations.

My partner and I had our first date in Leeds, as I was living there at the time. But as we live in York, we’ve been on many dates in this beautiful city over our almost 5 years together! The photo above is of the two of us outside of York Minster after a day spent in the romantic city of York, walking the York City Walls and visiting the York Castle Museum.

We actually had our second date in York.

I know what it’s like when you start chatting to a guy and then he pops the question (I was never confident to suggest it first!). Then you’re wracking your brain for ideas for a first date. Do you go for a standard drink? Dare you commit to a full meal of sitting opposite a stranger? Or do you want to do an activity?

I wanted to share some first date ideas for York.

Date Ideas in York: First Dates and Beyond

York Minster and Gardens.

York Minster is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and one of the most beautiful in the world. You can’t miss the enormous building, it towers over York’s skyline and you can see it from multiple places.

There are always crowds of people outside taking photos and it is the perfect place to have your first photo together! You can spend hours inside the Minster viewing the beautiful architecture. Learn about its role in Roman and Viking York in the Undercroft museum which gives you the 2000 year history of York. If you’re willing to spend a bit extra, then you can go on one of the root top tours and see York from high in the sky.

Deans park is a green oasis right next to the Minster, a lovely place to stroll after your visit. If it’s a warm day you can pack a picnic and chow down. One of the cutest date ideas in York!

Yorkshire Museum and Gardens. 

The Yorkshire Museum is another must-see. Visit the life-size plesiosaur in Jurassic World, explore medieval York as well as York back in Roman times and experience York before the Roman invasion.

The Museum sits in the middle of botanic gardens, a beautiful place that contains the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey (1088AD). It covers 10 acres and has a collection of 4500 plants and trees. It’s beautiful all season, especially in spring and in the snow. You’ll often see people on the grass enjoying the sunshine on the warmer days.

Even better, it sits right next to the River Ouse, where you can extend your walk in either direction. The Star Inn the City is on the edge of the gardens. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat on the outdoor terrace, you can enjoy a glass of wine or two.

Visit York Dungeons. 

If museums aren’t for you and you want something a bit more lively, then book tickets at the York Dungeons It’s a great way to break the ice if you are worried you’ll have nothing to talk about.

You can walk through 9 live actor shows which shows the dark history of York’s 2000 years. It’s a bit scary, there’s lots of darkness but it is a fantastic way to start a date – giving you plenty to talk about afterwards!

If you’re feeling a bit nervous, then have a drink in Plonkers bar just down the road before!

Bonus: If you love scary stuff, you can check out one of the many York Ghost or Vampire tours that happen a bit later at night! This really is a fun date idea for York!

Explore Yorks unique pubs & bars.

There are so many places to drink for a date in York. But listen to me, DO NOT get stuck in the main area where there’s there typical bars you see in every town and city. You want to go to the pubs that are unique to York and have that Viking vibe/old fashioned.

There are lots of pubs that still have their historic features, little hidden away nooks and make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Make your date in York feel magical by going to one of these!

Here are some of my favourites – you can click the links to see more about them.

• House of Trembling Madness
• Eagle & Child
• Shambles Tavern
• Pivni
• Brew York

Have a bite to eat at one of York’s restaurants. 

There are so many places to eat in York. Over the past 4 years, we’ve been to many places on dates in York. There’s a selection of places that we’ve been back to a few times.

• Yak and Yeti.
• Red Chili Chinese.
• Little Italy.
• El Gaucho

More Date Ideas in York

Five ideas is a starting point. Here are a few more that have come up again and again over the years of living here.

A boat trip on the River Ouse.

York City Cruises run regular trips and it’s genuinely romantic on a warm evening. Watching the city from the water is a completely different perspective. Good for a date where you want something a bit out of the ordinary without committing to a whole activity.

A ghost tour.

York has more ghost tours than most cities and they’re a great first date option — you’re walking, you’re talking, and there’s built-in conversation material throughout. The Original Ghost Walk of York has been running since 1973 and is probably the best known. The York Ghost Bus Tours are a bit more theatrical if you want something with more of an event feel.

Impossible York on St Helen’s Square.

An immersive cocktail bar with magic tricks, puzzles, and entertainment built into the experience. Good if you want somewhere a bit more interactive than sitting opposite each other at a table.

Sora Sky Bar at the Malmaison.

If you want to impress, the seventh floor rooftop bar with views across York is a solid call. Asian tapas, cocktails, and a view that does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.

An afternoon in Museum Gardens with a takeaway coffee.

Free, low pressure, genuinely beautiful — especially in spring. Walk from one end of the gardens to the other, look at the abbey ruins, then find somewhere for dinner. A good option if you want a first date that doesn’t feel like a formal event.

There are lots of hotels and Bed & Breakfasts in York if you do want to stay longer than just a day so you can do more romantic things in the stunning city of York. If you want to make a proper weekend of it, York has some lovely hotels and B&Bs within walking distance of everything listed above.

If you’re a fan of animals then be sure to check out the Askham Bryan Wildlife Park! It’s not in the centre of York which is why it didn’t make it in this post, but it’s close to the motorway!

There are lots of lists of date ideas for other areas in the United Kingdom. Hopefully, this post has given you a good idea for finding hidden gems in your own home town!

You can also check out my 5 date ideas for Leeds and date ideas for North Yorkshire!

Final Thoughts

York is a great city for a date at any stage — first meeting or fifth anniversary. The combination of history, independent bars and restaurants, and genuinely beautiful settings means you’re rarely stuck for ideas. My advice: avoid the main tourist drag on a Saturday night and pick somewhere with a bit of character. York’s best pubs and restaurants reward the ones who look for them.

Hope you enjoy dating in York! What are your first date ideas?

Related posts:

• Things To Do In York On Valentine’s Day

For the food side of a York date night, I’ve got guides to the best tapas in York, the best pubs in York, and 24 amazing places to eat in York — all worth bookmarking if you’re planning a proper night out.