Staying in Bootham: routes beyond the city gate
Check how far along Bootham your accommodation sits, because the district stretches beyond the short approach to the city gate. Exhibition Square is a useful meeting point, with the art gallery and routes into Petergate beside it. For a different approach to the center, walk toward Marygate and the river, checking garden opening hours if your route passes through Museum Gardens.
At a glance
- Best for
- Quiet, couples
- At night
- Quiet
- Getting around
- On foot; buses on the main road
- Price level
- €€€
Victorian terraces with guest houses just outside Bootham Bar, calmer than the center and a few minutes from the Minster.
Good for
- Couples and quiet stays
- Five minutes to the Minster
- Guest houses with character
Think twice if
- You want a hotel with a bar and a gym
- You want a late night out on your doorstep
What is near Bootham
York Art Gallery
From Bootham Bar, walk about two minutes across Exhibition Square to the gallery entrance. Check the official site for exhibitions and admission arrangements.
Museum Gardens
Allow around eight minutes from Bootham Bar via Museum Street. Paths through the grounds let you combine the abbey ruins with a riverside walk.
Bootham Bar
From the lower end of Bootham, the gate is a two to five minute walk. Steps here lead onto a section of city wall.
Eating in Bootham
Look around Bootham and Gillygate for breakfast or a simple evening meal without crossing the whole center. Roots is on Marygate, useful if you are planning dinner near the river. Book named restaurants directly and check serving days, especially if you arrive early in the week.
Getting around from Bootham
From Bootham Bar, York railway station is about 15 minutes away on foot via Museum Street and Lendal Bridge. Addresses farther north add walking time. Bootham has road traffic, so compare a room's position within the building as well as its distance from the center.
Hotels in Bootham
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Other areas of York
Staying in Bootham: routes beyond the city gate
How do I judge a Bootham accommodation address?
Find Bootham Bar on the map and measure the walk from there. Properties farther along the main road can add considerably to each trip into town.
Can I use Museum Gardens as an evening shortcut?
Only while the gates are open. Check the posted closing time and keep a street route via Museum Street available for your return.
Are the walls suitable for a walk with luggage?
The wall entrances have steps and the walkway is narrow. Use the streets for arrival and departure, then return to the walls without bags.