York in - The Ultimate 2025 Cycle Guide
All you need to know for a fab York Bike ride in the Sunshine
Fancy a ride that mixes city charm, peaceful countryside, and a dash of Georgian grandeur? Here’s the local lowdown on the best pedal-powered day out and around York, with trail tips, café stops, and friendly shop shout-outs.
York → Poppleton → Beningbrough Hall
Part of the Yorkshire Slow Tour, this loop heads out of town along the Ouse, through Poppleton and Skelton, and finishes at the stunning Beningbrough Hall & Gardens—a proper Georgian beauty.
Pick a shorter or longer route to suit your mood. By the end, you’ll deserve a pit-stop at the Home Farm Shop & Café—the perfect spot to refuel with seasonal snacks and scenic views.
Millennium Bridge → Naburn → Solar System Trail
Start by zipping across Millennium Bridge—York’s sneaky-footbridge-for-cyclists—and follow the river south. You’ll hit the old railway-turned-Sun & Planets Trail, complete with a full-size solar system model.
Stop at Brunswick Organic Nursery for ice cream or coffee. Bonus: it’s a great local charity supporting people with learning difficulties, and their nursery shop is full of loveliness.
Independent Cycling Shops to Know
CycleStreet (Layerthorpe): Great for e-bikes, spares, and knowing nods from the team.
Cycle Heaven (Fulford, Station, Angel on the Green): Quality gear, top kit, and a café at the Fulford branch.
Twisted Cogs (Bishopthorpe): For when something’s squeaking or seriously broken—quick fixes, great attention.
Other Top Cycle Routes that will take you a few miles out of York
York → Beningbrough (10 miles, mostly traffic-free): Pop over Scarborough Bridge, and follow Route 65 alongside the Ouse. Villages, meadows—classic North Yorkshire scenery.
York → Naburn (<5 miles, family-friendly): Another traffic-free old railway route—part of the solar-system trail. Ideal for little legs and easy pedalling.
York → Stamford Bridge (20-mile loop): Head east past Tang Hall and Osbaldwick, then out across quiet lanes and farmland until you’re at Stamford Bridge. Treat yourself to a pint and Wolds views.
Pocklington → Huggate (~16 miles round-trip): Start with a bus ride (you can take your bike!) and cruise along the Wolds. Rolling hills, rapeseed fields and great cake spots—Huggate tea room and Millington’s Ramblers’ Rest.
York Cycle Tips
Mix smooth, traffic-free routes with short road stints to keep it interesting.
Break it up with café stops—cake AND scenery go a long way.
Buy gear and get winter-ready at local shops that actually know bikes. Extra tip: Cycle Heaven’s Fulford café is bliss after a long ride.
Bottom Line
York’s cycle scene is easy to fall in love with—historic lanes, riverside views and snack stops galore. Whether you’re an e-bike enthusiast, family pedaller, or weekend warrior, there’s a route here that’ll feel like your perfect ride. Just bring snacks, water—and a camera for the view. So go get that bike out the garage or bring it with you if you are coming to York - and remember, if you need a place to stay then check out our 3 holiday homes at www.houseofyork.org.
Want to read about more great places to eat for your next visit to York?
Then download a free copy of our book York Local Knowledge Must-do Top Tens & the vouchers to get them for less where you will discover the historic UK city of York like a local with tips, top tens, and guidance on where to find the best discounts and vouchers, so you can experience it all without breaking the bank!
You can download it for free from the Apple iBooks Store here
You can download it for free from the Google Play Books Store here
This isn’t your average guidebook—it’s a laugh-out-loud, down-to-earth companion, packed with top-ten lists covering everything from essential attractions and hidden gems to entertainment, dining spots, walks, tours, festivals, and shopping, all enriched with a local’s insider knowledge.
With insights, amusing anecdotes, and a sprinkling of puns and dad jokes, Alistair’s love letter to York will help you see the city in a whole new way. Grab a copy and start planning the York adventure you didn’t know you were missing!
With over 240 pages, this guide is ideal for families and groups of friends planning a trip to York and includes:
Up-to-date information on everything in the ever-changing city of York—this is the 2025 edition.
Top ten lists of York’s best tourist attractions, entertainment spots, food and drink, walks, tours, festivals, and independent shops.
Beautiful photography accompanying every recommendation.
Answers to visitors’ top questions, from “Where’s the best place for ice cream?” to “Where can I find a great takeaway curry?”
Recommendations on where locals go for up-to-date information about York.
The best places to stay, from five-star hotels to holiday homes and houseboats.
Details on where to find discounts and vouchers for York restaurants, attractions, and experiences.
Want to hear a great podcast about York?
A fab podcast for tourists and locals looking to find out more about York History, must do York Top 10's and money saving tips to do it all for less.
Just search your podcast app for York Must Do Top 10s or click on this link for the show on apple podcast here
Book one of our Holiday Homes for your next trip to York
Are you looking for a great place to stay for your next trip to York. All 3 of our holiday homes are next door to each other which means you can hire them individually for up to 6 people or together for up to 12 (107 & 109 together) or even 18 people (Spencer House & 107 & 109 together).
To check availability and book just visit www.houseofyork.org
We pride ourselves on being couples and family friendly and we try to take any of the stress out of your stay so you can focus on enjoying yourselves and magnificent York.