BOOK
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Plan Your Visit

Opening Hours

Tickets

Friday Guided Tours

Group Visits

Location

Accessibility

Reviews

FAQs

Opening Hours

Opening Hours

Monday: 10-5pm (last admission 4.15pm)

Tuesday: 10-5pm (last admission 4.15pm)

Wednesday: 10-5pm (last admission 4.15pm)

Thursday: 10-5pm (last admission 4.15pm)

Friday: Guided Tour at 11am, General Admission 12pm-5pm (last admission 4:15pm)

Saturday: 10-5pm (last admission 4.15pm)

Sunday 11-4pm (last admission 3.15pm)

Planned Closures

We have no upcoming planned closures.

Tickets

Ticket Prices

For the price of just one visit, your ticket will give you 12 months’ general admission to Fairfax House. Tickets are valid for a full year from the date of your first visit and they can be used as many times as you like.

Tickets are personal and not transferable. You will be asked to sign your name on the ticket and you will be asked for ID on your return visit. Your ticket will only be accepted for re-admission if it has been signed on the day of your first visit.

We recommend booking online, particularly for Friday Guided Tours, however you are welcome to walk-in on the day you wish to visit.

Bookings are limited to 8 people. To book a larger group please contact info@fairfaxhouse.co.uk.

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Friday Guided Tours

Guided Tours take place at 11am.

Step inside the splendour of Fairfax House on Fridays, without the crowds. These special guided tours offer access when the house is closed to the general public. Led by our expert volunteer guides, you’ll uncover the fascinating stories, hidden details, and rich history of one of York’s finest Georgian townhouses. It’s the perfect way to see Fairfax House in a more intimate and immersive setting.

Tours take approximately one hour.

Guided Tours include an Annual Ticket that will give you 12 months’ general admission to Fairfax House. Tickets are valid for a full year from the date of your first visit and they can be used as many times as you like.

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Groups

Fairfax House offers a number of different group tours for private parties, group organisers and the travel trade. Contact us to discuss the arrangements for your tour.

You must arrange a group visit for bookings of over 10 people. Our group tour options are as follows:

Self-led Tour

Explore Fairfax House at your own pace, discovering its stunning Georgian interiors and fascinating history with the help of our informative room hosts.

  • Minimum 10 visitors
  • Visit during our opening hours

£10

per person

Join one of our expert volunteer guides for a journey through Fairfax House, uncovering its rich past, exquisite design and hidden stories.

  • Minimum 10 visitors
  • Visit during our opening hours

£12

per person

Experience Fairfax House through the eyes of our curator, who will provide an in-depth exploration of its history, architecture and unique collection.

  • Minimum 10 visitors
  • Visit during our opening hours
  • We require at least two months’ notice for bespoke events and curator tours, as they take time to plan and organise.

£18

per person

Enjoy exclusive access to Fairfax House like an eighteenth-century guest of the Fairfax family.

Led by our curator, this bespoke tour is tailored to your interests with behind-the-scenes insights into the collection and the option for an atmospheric candlelit tour.

  • Minimum 10 visitors
  • Exclusive access to the house, we will close the museum to the public for your visit.

  • We require at least two months’ notice for bespoke events and curator tours, as they take time to plan and organise.

£35

per person

The perfect addition to any tour! Enjoy a selection of refreshments such as tea, coffee, and biscuits. We can offer mince pies and mulled wine at Christmas.

You can also take home a beautiful Fairfax House guidebook for just £5 per person. It’s packed with fascinating insights into the house, its history, and its stunning collection.

From £5

per person

For the ultimate special experience, we can host your corporate or private dining event in our gorgeous Georgina Saloon. Please get in touch via the contact us page to discuss your private dining requirements

Our magnificent Georgian rooms are available to hire – from photoshoots to private events. Get in touch to discuss how we can accommodate you.

Group Visit FAQs

Is there a maximum group size?

Our rooms can hold around 15 people per tour. We are happy to accommodate larger groups, which will be taken around the house in smaller groups with a 15-minute gap between tours.

Your tour will last 40 minutes to 1 hour. Please allow extra time for any specific questions.

Yes, a deposit of £20 – £50 depending on a tour’s type is required at the time of booking to secure the date. Final payment is due 7 working days before the tour’s date.

We do not offer discount or concessions on group booking, this includes Historical Houses Association passes and National Art passes. Thank you for your understanding.

We offer these discounts during our general opening hours.

We have no onsite coach parking but drop off is available in front of the Hilton hotel, adjacent to Fairfax House. There are two nearby Coach Car Parks:

  • St. George’s Field Coach Park – the nearest – just 6 minutes walking distance from us.
  • Union Terrace Coach Park – about 20 min. walk from us.

View Coach Parking Map for York.

We offer a 25% discount on all tours above for student and educational groups.

All tours last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. Tours are available to book for a minimum of 10 people, or a minimum of 8 people for the Exclusive Candlelit Evening Tour. If your group has a special area of interest please let us know as we may be able to cater the tour to your interests. Contact us to discuss the arrangements for your tour.

Contact

Location

Fairfax House is located on Castlegate in York city centre, just minutes from major attractions and opposite Cliffords Tower. York has great road and rail links, with direct trains from London, Edinburgh, and Manchester in about two hours. Nearby airports include Manchester, Newcastle, and Leeds/Bradford.

Arriving by Foot

Fairfax House is easy to reach on foot and just minutes from York’s top attractions. It’s opposite Clifford’s Tower and The Hilton, and close to Jorvik Viking Centre, Coppergate Centre, and York Castle Museum. Follow signs to any of these to find your way to the House.

York has a convenient Park & Ride Bus service with five sites around the city. You can park for free and take a frequent, wheelchair-accessible bus to the centre, with low fares and free travel for up to two children under 16 with an adult. More info: www.york.gov.uk/parking/ride

Daily local buses are also run by First Bus and Transdev York.

Fairfax House is less than a 10-minute walk from York Railway Station, which has direct trains from London (under 2 hours), Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and the South West. Plan your journey at National Rail.

Taxis are usually available outside the station without booking. Buses to the city centre and beyond also stop just outside.

York is midway between Edinburgh and London, just 20 minutes from the M1/M62, making it easy to reach from most parts of the UK.

To find Fairfax House by Sat Nav, use postcode YO1 9RN.

Parking is nearby—Castle Car Park is directly opposite, and Fenwick’s car park is two minutes away. More info: www.york.gov.uk/transport/Parking/Car_parks

Bicycle parking (uncovered, Sheffield Stands) is available directly adjacent to Fairfax House.

Accessibility

Fairfax House is currently not wheelchair accessible. Entry is via six stone steps with a handrail.

  • Pushchairs aren’t allowed inside but can be stored at reception.
  • The house has two floors, with stairs (29 steps) to the first floor.
  • Each room has a chair, and lightweight seats are available to borrow from reception.
  • There are no toilets on-site.
  • Free lockers are available.
  • Disabled parking is in the nearby Castle Car Park.
Contact Us

Reviews

You’ll find Fairfax House on TripAdvisor and Google, where many happy visitors have had memorable experiences:

Philip H.
“Well worth a visit if you like old houses with lots of character. Tons of stuff to view and great stories from the volunteer staff.”
rjcjtraveller
“First visit to this beautifully restored property. Very reasonable admission price which covers visits for a full year. Several knowledgable guides explaining the history. Well worth a visit.”
Thomas Stratford
“ This Georgian townhouse is simply stunning, it has been beautifully restored. There are plenty of interesting items to look at and learn about. The staff were very helpful and friendly. Well worth visiting if you are in York.”
Charlotte Jackson
Absolutely brilliant, volunteers in each room were so kind and gave us so much information about the place. Bonus - tickets are valid for a year.

FAQs

Here’s a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you make the most out of your visit to Fairfax House

Do I need to pre-book?

We recommend pre-booking during our peak times (e.g. school holidays, special exhibitions, Christmas) to avoid waiting. Walk-ins are always welcome, but you could be asked to come back at a quieter time in the day.

We strongly recommend pre-booking our Friday Guided Tours as they have limited capacity.

Tickets are valid for unlimited visits* for one year from the purchase date. They’re non-transferable and apply to all members of your original party. You will be asked to sign your ticket upon arrival, so make sure to bring your ticket and ID each time you visit again. Annual tickets only apply to paid tickets.

*Excludes tours and special events

Unfortunately, if you have lost or forgotten your annual return ticket, we cannot replace it.

We offer free entry (including Friday Guided Tours) to holders of Historic Houses Passes, National Art Passes, and York Passes, as well as Fairfax House/York Civic Trust members. York Cards and Museum Association passes receive a 20% discount on admission. Carers enter for free when visiting with the person they care for.

We do not currently offer Bluelight or Military discounts.

Visits around the house generally take between 45 minutes to 1 hour.

If you are running late or early for your booked time slot, please be assured that your ticket is still valid. Just speak to our front of house team or call us on 01904 655 543, especially during peak times or for Guided Tours. If you arrive after our last entry, you may be asked to come back another day, so please check our opening times.

Pushchairs and large items aren’t allowed in the museum due to the size of our rooms, but our team will gladly store them at the front desk during your visit.

Yes! Our gift shop is the very first stop on your visit, alongside our visitor services desk.

Yes, we offer free lockers with keys for smaller items. Larger bags or suitcases can be left with our front desk team.

We highly encourage our visitors to take photos of the house and collection; however, we ask that you do not use flash photography.

Yes, check our page on the Bloomberg Connects App to learn all about our house in your own language. A QR code will be at the front desk, and more will be throughout the house.

No, there are no dogs allowed in the museum apart from assistance dogs.