Acaster Malbis

Acaster Malbis is a small village and civil parish on the west bank of the River Ouse, around five miles south of York. It takes its name from the Norman Malbysse family, who held the estate here for some 200 years before it passed to the Fairfax family around 1360, and the village itself appears in the Domesday Book as 'Acastre'. Today it remains a peaceful, low-key spot with a population of only a few hundred, best known locally for its riverside setting rather than any particular attraction.

The village sits right on the Ouse, and the river has always shaped life here. During the siege of York in the Civil War, a bridge of boats was built across the river at Acaster Malbis to link the two besieging armies. The riverbank itself has flooded more than once in modern times, most notably in 2000 when the village pub was badly damaged. That pub, the Ship Inn, is a 17th-century building and remains the main hub of the community, reopening in 2009 after extensive repair work.

Top things to do near Acaster Malbis

Acaster Malbis is a village to slow down in rather than a place packed with sights, but its riverside position makes it a pleasant base for exploring on foot, by bike or by boat.

• River Ouse towpath — the riverside path along the Ouse is popular with walkers and cyclists, following the water north towards York and south towards Naburn and beyond.
• The Ship Inn — a 17th-century riverside pub with moorings alongside, making it a natural stopping point for anyone exploring the Ouse by boat.
• Holy Trinity Church — a Grade I listed medieval church housing the effigy of Sir John de Malebisse, who died in 1316, and a rare survival from the village's Norman past.
• Naburn Lock and Naburn Riverside — just across the river, this former Victorian lock-keeper's complex has been turned into gardens, a café and picnic spot, reachable via the towpath or the passenger ferry that has historically linked the two banks.
• York city centre — with its Minster, city walls and Shambles, York is only around five miles away and an easy cycle or short drive from the village.

Getting to Acaster Malbis

Acaster Malbis lies just off the A64/A19 corridor south-west of York, with the village reached via country lanes from Bishopthorpe or Naburn. There is no railway station in the village itself; York railway station, around five miles away, is the nearest and has regular mainline services from London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. From York, the village is a straightforward drive or an easy, largely flat cycle ride along or near the river.

Best time to visit Acaster Malbis

Spring and summer are the best times to visit, when the riverside paths are at their driest and most walkable and the Ship Inn's riverside garden comes into its own. The Ouse is prone to flooding in wet weather, so low-lying paths and moorings can be affected after heavy rain, particularly in winter. Early autumn also has its appeal, with quieter towpaths and the surrounding Vale of York farmland turning golden.

Where to stay near Acaster Malbis

Acaster Malbis itself has no hotels, but its proximity to York means a full range of accommodation, from budget chains to boutique townhouses, is only a short drive or cycle away. Riverside campsites and caravan parks in the surrounding villages, including nearby Naburn, offer a quieter alternative for those who want to be close to the water without staying in the city.

Food and drink near Acaster Malbis

The Ship Inn is the village's main food and drink option, a traditional riverside pub with moorings for boaters. Beyond that, options are limited within the village itself, but York's wide choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants is only a short trip away, and nearby Naburn Riverside has a café geared towards walkers and cyclists.