Best York Photography Locations | Where to Take Aesthetic Photos
Are you visiting York and want to know what the most Instagrammable places in York are?
Well, look no further! As I’m going to show you the best places in York to take Instagrammable photos and some cool York photography locations. You’ll be able to find some of the most beautiful spots in town and snap pictures that will make your friends jealous.
Plus, I’ll give tips on how you can get the perfect shot at each location. So, get ready to explore some of the coolest photo-worthy spots in York!
Where to Take Photos of York for Aesthetic Backgrounds – Instagrammable Places in York
If you’re looking to take pictures of York, then you’re in for a real treat. There are hidden gems located all over the city.
So, pick up your camera for Instagram and head to some of these locations for a chance to take some breathtaking shots of the city.
York City Walls
York was once a walled city which was a method used to fortify the area. Although the city has since outgrown its walls, the remnants remain.
They act as one of the most historical locations in the city, drawing many tourists every year.
But one of the best things about these historic walls is that they provide a walkway that you can stand on to take pictures of some of the best landmarks in York.
These include the railway, York Minster, and the iconic River Ouse.
This is one of the best York places to see that provides you with insight into what the city was like centuries ago.
It’s both an attraction and a means to an end. Although it works as a great stand when taking photos of York landmarks, the walls are photographable themselves with their old-world charm.
Shambles
Shambles is a quaint street in York that draws hundreds of tourists every day. The pedestrian street is lined with artisan shops and looks like something straight out of a Harry Potter movie.
Although the location is often mistaken for Diagon Alley, the real filming location is in London. However, it still gives you a good idea of what the street really looks like.
It’s one of the major York places of interest and makes for a stunning location for your next photo for Instagram.
But, before getting the perfect shot, you’ll face one major hurdle. As Shambles is so popular with tourists, it’s incredibly difficult to get the place to yourself to capture the ideal photo.
For this reason, you’ll need to get strategic about when you visit Shambles. It’s best to visit in the early morning before 7:00. But you might get lucky in the evening too when many of the day tourists have gone home.
York Castle Museum
The York Castle Museum is certainly one of the most unique attractions in York. The museum aims at showing off how the locals lived in the past, so you get to immerse yourself in an incredible 400 years of York history.
There are interactive displays containing actors that act out the role of Victorian York locals. You can see these actors making a Victorian meal, setting a dining table, or simply sitting on a bench street corner in the Victorian Street display.
And this is the location of your winning photo at the York Castle Museum.
The Victorian Street is a recreation of what a usual street would look like in York during that era. It’s incredibly quaint, complete with lanterns and horse-drawn carriages.
If you’d like a chance to capture the street without loads of tourists, it’s advised that you head to the York Castle Museum about half an hour before closing time. This way, you might have the display all to yourself.
York Minster
York Minster is a must-see place in the city that is incredibly photographable. This Gothic cathedral is built with the most intricate architecture, making for an absolutely stunning photograph.
However, it might prove to be quite the challenge to fit the entire cathedral into a photo because it is rather large.
The York Minster’s towers reach up to the sky, and its stained-glass windows cast interesting lighting onto the floor.
While the cathedral is no eye-sore from the outside, it’s also a good idea to venture inside where you can take a tour of the towers.
Although you can purchase a ticket to this attraction alone, a great way to experience it is on a walking tour of York. This allows you to not only see the York Minster but learn about it too in a small group setting conducive to learning.
Merchant’s Hall
Although this may not seem like a usual city attraction, Merchant’s Hall is a guildhall with an old-timey feel. It’s decked out with wooden struts and looks like a house from Stratford-Upon-Avon.
If you take a peek inside, it makes for the perfect backdrop for some themed Instagram posts.
It’s best to go to this shooting location in the evening when you just might be lucky enough to have the place all to yourself.
York Market
York Market, also known as Shambles Market, is one of the largest of England’s open-air markets. If you’re hoping to do a little shopping during your trip to York, this would be a great opportunity to do just that.
But shopping isn’t the reason this market made the list of the most Instagrammable places in York.
The market itself looks pretty much like any other modern-day market, but the surrounding buildings make this area one of the most photogenic locations.
The old buildings that surround the market make for the perfect photo backdrop for any Instagram image.
The market is open seven days a week, so there are plenty of people around. For this reason, it’s easier to take photos in the mornings or evenings when you’re more likely to get a reprieve from the crowds.
Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower looks like a broken-down castle, and it is actually a castle of sorts. The building is located on a grassy hill and acted like a castle back in the 13th century. It was used as both a prison and a royal mint.
The castle itself makes for a lovely backdrop to any photo, but the real shooting location becomes available to you when you climb the tower.
This does come at a small fee, but if you have a York city pass, this activity comes included.
Once you’re at the top of the tower, you’ll be provided with panoramic views of York below you.
This gives you incredible photo opportunities as you can capture some of York’s most loved attractions from above.
Heavenly Desserts
Heavenly Desserts is an exquisite eaterie in York that allows visitors to kill two birds with one stone.
If you are in the mood for something sweet, you can satisfy your cravings with one of their many sweet treats or decadent delights.
But that’s not where the fun ends. This little eatery is Instagrammable inside and out. From the balloon train that acts as an archway into the eatery to the flower wall and puffy pink couches – everything about this place is photographable.
If you plan on being in the photos, keep in mind that the interior theme is blue and pink, so coordinate your outfit accordingly.
And after all the photos, tuck into an absolutely delicious dessert that will have your mouth watering at the mere thought for many months to come.
York Train Station
This might seem like a strange place to go to take photos, but York Train Station is no ordinary train station. It is a great place for street photography and was even used in the shooting of the famed movie series Harry Potter.
The building has an interesting architecture which makes for a fantastic backdrop for your Instagram photos.
There are many little spots in the station that could work for photos, so use your creative eye to come up with the very best compositions.
Apart from the architecture, there are also old steam trains that pass through the station regularly that make for intriguing subject matter.
So, keep your eyes peeled for a few extra photo opportunities while at this train station.
Micklegate
Micklegate is a quaint street that is lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. Although it doesn’t have the same type of charm as Shambles, it encompasses what York daily life is really like. And as many have come to realise, authenticity is everything.
So, if you want to show off a picture that is a true reflection of York, this is the place to take it.
If you use your creative eye, you’ll find many nooks and crannies along the way that make for excellent Instagram photo backgrounds.
The River Ouse
The River Ouse is a beautiful river that winds its way through the city of York. The riverside area is bustling with tourists during the summer months. If you’d like a wonderful photo opportunity, it’s recommended that you join them.
You can head to one of the many bridges that take pedestrians from one side of the river to the other.
From the top of the bridge, you can take undisturbed photos of the River Ouse running underneath you.
There are often rowing teams and boat cruises using the river at their leisure, but these simply add to the picturesque potential of the river.
If you’d like to take photos of the river from a different perspective, then why not take a River Ouse city cruise for some close-up shots of nature at its finest.
St. Leonard’s Place
St. Leonards Place is the main road that enters York and is known for its long line of luxury houses that were once council houses. The street is also home to Theatre Royal and a few other interesting looking buildings.
But why is this location listed as one of the most Instagrammable locations in York? The houses that line the road make for wonderful white backdrops for your Instagram photos.
This is particularly true if you need to show off an outfit, in which case you can’t go wrong with a white background.
Rowntree’s Park
Rowntree’s Park offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city living and is an oasis of greenery, streams, and lakes.
The park is popular among families as the open space provides the perfect opportunity for kids to use up their excess energy.
But the beautiful natural surroundings make a wonderful shooting location as well. Not only is there ample greenery, plants and flowers, but there are little bridges that criss-cross the stream, which makes for stunning photographs.
If you really want a cute shot in Rowntree’s Park, pack a picnic and sit down for both a snack and a cute-as-a-button picture in one of York’s most scenic areas.
The Knavesmire
The Knavesmire offers yet another opportunity to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. You may even find some quiet shooting locations away from the crowds. Much of The Knavesmire is used for the York Races, which are worth a watch if they’re on during your time in York.
Many people also use the area to walk their dogs or simply get some fresh air. But the beautiful greenery is certainly picture-worthy, so head to The Knavesmire, camera in hand.
Where to Take the Best Images of York
Whether you’re looking for exquisite shots of the inner city, or you’d like to capture places a little way outside of York, there are plenty of photo locations surrounding this city.
Instagrammable places are not hard to come by, but if you’re going there with the objective of taking photos of the best places in York, then use this post as your guide.
Not only will your visit to these photography locations in York make your trip more memorable, but they’ll allow you to create photo evidence of it too. This way, you’ll remember this trip for many years to come!