Romantic things to do in and around York | Date Ideas for Couples
It’s twenty years since I first started visiting York! Back then, I was in a long distance relationship and so this city has always felt romantic to me. You’ll be pleased to know that it wasn’t long until we moved in together, and since then this city has felt like home. Spousey and I have had many dates since then, and it feels like there’s always new things popping up in this beautiful city.
I passionately believe that working with a celebrant should be one of the best parts of planning a wedding, so if there’s one thing you take from my website, please let it be remembering to make time for romance, fun and each other.
As a romantic, fun-times person who loves history, art and culture, here’s some of my favourite date ideas for York. Plus snacks, because no one is at their best when they’re hangry…
Date ideas for history nerds
As a curator myself, I am basically a supressed York tour guide with lots of history tips for couples marrying in York and their guests!!
For eerie history and paranoid mid-century design, I recommend a guided tour of York Cold War Bunker - especially if my pal Jake’s on! Afterwards, pop into Holgate Windmill and grab a bag of freshly milled flour. Located on a suburban street, it’s repeatedly voted one of Britain’s best roundabouts!
Nearby is one of my favourite spots for meeting up with wedding couples over a savoury Danish, Acomb’s Bluebird Bakery.
York City Walls in Spring
Walk on York City Walls
Stretching two miles around the city centre, York’s city walls provide a beautiful walk through almost 2,000 years of history. Largely medieval, it’s possible to see a glimpse of Roman York as you walk along the walls - as well as noseying in some truly gorgeous gardens around the Minster!
I recommend starting near the railway station and walking anti-clockwise so you can finish up at the Perky Peacock (another fave spot of mine to meet couples!) for a hot chocolate in winter or a White Russian in summer. Sit either in the cosy 14th century tower on a cool day or in summer, sit by the River Ouse for prime people watching!
A date for chocolate lovers
York has a very sweet chocolate making history and on certain days, when the wind blows in the right direction, you can literally smell KitKats being made!
York’s Chocolate Story provides a fun and interactive history of chocolate making, and yes, you will leave with some chocolate!
For a deep dive into the city’s confectionary history, visit York Castle Museum. Step into an authentic Victorian sweet shop and learn more about the lives of York’s confectionary factory workers.
Nearby, York Cocoa Works is a shop, cafe and kitchen. Here you can take a tour of their chocolate manufactory, have a tasting experience or book a masterclass.
Or just have some really amazing chocolate ice cream. There’s no bad choices here.
Take your sketch pad to York Art Gallery or borrow one of theirs… I know you can do better than me!
A date for arty types
York Art Gallery is the obvious place to start, followed by a stroll in their artists garden and sensory woods. From there, you can walk through the Museum Gardens down to the river Ouse, where you might catch the ice cream boat, and walk over Scarborough Bridge (and maybe add your own love lock to the growing collection)!
There’s two art festivals I really love in York; the first is York Open Studios which happens every April, where artists open their homes and studios so you can see and buy their artworks and have a good nosey around artists homes! The second is York Print Makers annual September show at York Cemetery Chapel.
For more arty souvenirs, I recommend Pyramid Gallery on Stonegate. As well as art and ceramics they have some amazing jewellery - I bought my husband’s wedding ring here among some other favourite pieces! And there are several antiques shops nearby where you can happily while away time sifting treasure from the wtf is that…!
Date ideas for music lovers
York has some great smaller venues for seeing up and coming bands, as well as the larger Barbican.
The Crescent is an indie venue with social club vibes and a packed events schedule, which regularly punches above its weight for gigs and DJs. More competitive couples can battle it out in the games room over free billiards, pool and retro games!
If your lover is a vinyl junkie or a country music fan, head to Forty Five Vinyl Cafe for daytime food, drinks, music and records, obvs!
For a truly atmospheric and unique date, check out the National Centre for Early Music. Housed in a beautiful medieval church, they host candlelight concerts as well as other unique events.
York date ideas for literary lovers
We’re kind of spoilt for rare books, antique books and charity shops in this city, and you can have a lovely time rummaging through stacks of delicious books.
My perfect book crawl would start at Minster Gate, maybe popping next door for some special tea at Hebden Tea, before heading to Criminally Good Books to get my true crime fix. I’d then wander to The Poetry Pharmacy, a quirky shop selling poetry by theme and ailment - I’m sure they’ll have something for lovers! Finish up at Toppings Books where staff may bring you a nice cup of tea as you browse.
Say Owt spoken work collective arrange slam nights and spoken word events in the city - we’ve seen international hop hop artists Sage Francis and B Dolan in this little city, as well as local and UK acts.
Yorkshire Spa Retreat
Romantic places for wild swimmers
Just outside York is Pool Bridge Farm, a series of wildish ponds where you can swim among lily pads and the odd really big fish! They also have a cafe and horse box sauna, plus changing rooms.
If you want to get closer to nature I recommend Chaloners Pond, a simple pond surrounded by shady trees near the village of Haxby.
And if you prefer your cold water swimming with a touch of luxury, a really good massage and a pond so clear you can see there’s definitely no fishies coming for your toes, there’s Yorkshire Spa Retreat!
Cool places for dinner and drinks
There’s no shortage of cosy pubs and trendy bars in York, and part of the fun is finding your own favourites. Here’s some of ours…
My spouse is a long time real ale beer w*nker and so we spend a lot of time in Brew York’s Beer Hall. I like to wind him up about this but actually it’s got great vibes, an abundance of tasty, fresh IPAs and Yuzu Asian streetfood - heaven!
The Market Cat is a cool place for drinks. They serve incredible pizzas and on summer evenings, their floor to ceiling windows offer amazing views across York.
Malmaison’s rooftop restaurant Sora offers Japanese and sushi in glamorous surroundings - we love their vegan bento box!
But my favourite place for authentic ramen is Hatsu on Low Petergate - I fall in love with their noods every single time!
Afternoon Tea
York is of course famous for Bettys Tearoom, where elegantly dressed ladies serve tiny sandwiches, dainty cakes and Taylor’s of Yorkshire tea. A more luxurious version can be found at The Grand, York’s only five star hotel. Lovers of all things quirky might like to try the National Railway Museum’s afternoon tea, served aboard the Countess of York rail carriage!
LGBTQ+ history, shops and cafes
Step inside Holy Trinity Church to walk in the footsteps of Gentleman Jack aka Anne Lister and Ann Walker who took communion here in 1834 to mark their marriage to each other. A rainbow plaque outside the church celebrates this history,
Pop to The Portal Bookshop for LGBTQIA+ fiction, sci-fi and fantasy before visiting Over the Rainbow Cafe upstairs. If you like your souvenirs with a healthy dollop of camp, try This Shop is So Gay in Parliament Street.
Finish your date with a cosy pint in The Corner Pin, a timber beamed traditional pub known for its friendly, inclusive welcome.
Best proposal spots in York
I passionately believe that the best proposal spot is somewhere that you both feel comfortable, however, if you want to pop the question in an iconic location, York has some strong contenders!
The view from Clifford’s Tower takes in the North York Moors, York’s medieval rooftops and of course York Minster, so it’s a pretty special space, so long as you both love heights and stairs! It’s 55 steps to the entrance and then some more to get to the top of the medieval tower, but the view is absolutely worth it!
Not to be outdone, York Minster’s tower has a mere 275 steps and a 60 metre climb, so if height is your thing, this could be the place.
Closer to ground level, the beautiful Museum Gardens are a more peaceful, chill place to pop the question over a picnic - and if you ask nicely, York Venues will even prepare it for you!
I hope that’s got you feeling inspired!
York is a ridiculously romantic city, so if you ever find yourself planning a wedding here and you want a Humanist celebrant who can craft a wedding ceremony that’s as romantic, silly, fun and joyful as you and your love - let’s chat!
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