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Edinburgh's Skyline from Castle Hill (2) - geograph.org.uk
Photo: David Hillas · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Destination template · 8 days

Edinburgh & York in 8 days

2 sightseeing days in Edinburgh, a dedicated relocation day, then 5 days in York. Includes Edinburgh Castle and National Railway Museum, with guide-listed dining suggestions.

Adapted from community travel guides · Researched Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

Route data adapted from Wikivoyage contributors, with our own selection and suggested timing; shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source pages link to contributor histories. This is an editorial multi-day schedule; the source community has not rated this itinerary.

  • Stay in Edinburgh for the first 2 sightseeing days; move to York on day 3, then stay for 5 sightseeing days. Book accommodation in both bases rather than returning each night.
  • The 258 km figure is approximate straight-line separation, not transit distance. The relocation day reserves room for travel and check-in without promising a direct service or a same-day connection. Verify the journey before booking this two-base plan.
  • City visits and restaurants are adapted from the linked retained community-guide material, not newly verified opening hours, live menus or first-hand visits. Suggested times are editable planning blocks. Check closures, reservations, accessibility and dietary needs.
  • Cover photo shows the first city. Original source and photo credits remain attached. Adapted community route selections retain CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution; source research dates remain in the individual stop and dining notes.
5 local dining picks added to this itineraryDining sources

These picks have positive travel-guide coverage or a named professional recommendation; they are not live customer ratings. Suggested times are not reservations. Confirm service days, dietary needs and prices. Other days remain open for your own food discoveries.

  • Day 1 · Hendersons — Vegetarian. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 2 · Hermitage Bar — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 4 · Countess of York — Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 5 · House of the Trembling Madness (Lendal) — Regional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 6 · Arras — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗

Sources checked 2026-10-30. Community-guide dining data is adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; source pages link to contributor histories.

Edinburgh & York itinerary: 8 days at a glance

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle & Royal Mile

  • · Edinburgh Castle · 120 min
  • · Royal Mile · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Hendersons (Vegetarian) · 75 min

Day 2: Edinburgh: National Museum of Scotland & Calton Hill

  • · National Museum of Scotland · 120 min
  • · Calton Hill · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Hermitage Bar (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 3: Edinburgh → York: travel and check-in

  • · Relocate: Edinburgh → York · 600 min

Day 4: York: National Railway Museum & York Army Museum

  • · National Railway Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to York Army Museum · 30 min
  • · York Army Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Countess of York (Traditional) · 75 min

Day 5: York: York Castle Museum & Yorkshire Museum

  • · York Castle Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Yorkshire Museum · 30 min
  • · Yorkshire Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: House of the Trembling Madness (Lendal) (Regional) · 75 min

Day 6: York: Murton Park & Yorkshire Air Museum

  • · Murton Park · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Yorkshire Air Museum · 30 min
  • · Yorkshire Air Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Arras (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 7: York: York Art Gallery & York Museum Gardens

  • · York Art Gallery · 120 min
  • · Transfer to York Museum Gardens · 30 min
  • · York Museum Gardens · 120 min

Day 8: York: York Minster & Snickelways

  • · York Minster · 75 min
  • · Transfer to Snickelways · 30 min
  • · Snickelways · 75 min

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Day 1
  • 10:00120m
    Edinburgh

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Edinburgh

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    7 Barclay Place

    Vegetarian. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily noon-10PM. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Map pin unavailable; use the address to locate the restaurant. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh/South (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5405727; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 2
  • 10:00120m
    Edinburgh

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Edinburgh

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    1 Comiston Road EH10 6AA

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Sun-Thu noon-11PM, Fri Sat noon-1AM. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Edinburgh/South (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5405727; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 3
  • 08:00600m
    Edinburgh → York

    Dedicated relocation day from Edinburgh to York; no transport is booked. The city centres are approximately 258 km apart in a straight line, not a measured road or rail route. Choose and book a suitable flight, train, bus or ferry; confirm operating days, total door-to-door time, luggage rules and arrival before making reservations. This full-day block is reserved time, not a timetable. Move the following day if your journey needs longer.

Day 4
  • 09:30120m
    Leeman Road.

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    York

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (1.17 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    3 Tower Street, YO1 9SB

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Leeman Road, YO26 4XJ

    Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Tea served at noon, 2PM, 4PM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 1.1 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393394; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 5
  • 09:30120m
    Tower Street, YO1 9RY

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    York

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.91 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Museum Gardens, Museum Street, YO1 7FR

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    14 Lendal, YO1 8AA

    Regional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 10AM-11:30PM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 0.2 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393394; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 6
  • 09:30120m
    Murton Lane, Murton, YO19 5UF

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    York

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (4.93 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Halifax Way, Elvington, YO41 4AU

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    The Old Coach House, Peasholme Green, YO1 7PW

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Tue 6-9:30PM; Wed-Sat noon-2PM, 6-9:30PM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 8.2 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393394; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 7
  • 09:30120m
    Exhibition Square, YO1 7EW

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    York

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.22 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    York

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 8
  • 09:3075m
    Deangate, YO1 7HH

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    York

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.32 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    York

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/York (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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