# Bishopthorpe Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Visit Bishopthorpe, a riverside village near York with Bishopthorpe Palace, Ouse towpath walks and easy access to York city centre. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Riverside village life on York's doorstep Photo © Leila Gata Garlobo, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants) Bishopthorpe sits on a bend of the River Ouse just two miles south of York city centre, close enough that many visitors treat it as a quiet, green extension of a York stay rather than a separate destination. The village grew up around Bishopthorpe Palace, and its Main Street, church and riverside paths still carry the unhurried feel of a place that has stayed a village even as York's suburbs have crept closer. What makes Bishopthorpe worth a visit in its own right is the combination of genuine history and easy access to open countryside. The Ouse curves right past the village, and a level towpath links Bishopthorpe to York's Millennium Bridge and the city centre beyond, making it a favourite for walkers, runners and cyclists who want green space without leaving York behind. Add three village pubs, a historic church and one of the most important ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England, and Bishopthorpe punches well above its size for a short break or day out. ## Getting to Bishopthorpe Bishopthorpe lies just off the A64 and A19 to the south of York, around two miles from York city centre. York railway station has direct services from London King's Cross, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh, and Bishopthorpe is easily reached from there by taxi, bus or a scenic riverside walk or cycle. Regular local bus services run between York and Bishopthorpe, and the village's riverside path means a bike is often the quickest way to reach the city centre without needing a car at all. ## Best time to visit Bishopthorpe Spring and summer are the best times for the riverside walks and gardens that make Bishopthorpe appealing, with long daylight hours for exploring both the village and nearby York. Fine weather brings the Ouse towpath and village pub gardens to life, while quieter autumn visits suit those who prefer to combine a peaceful walk with sightseeing in York without the summer crowds. Winter can bring high river levels and occasional flooding on the lower paths, so it is worth checking conditions before a riverside walk at that time of year. ## Where to stay in Bishopthorpe [All hotels in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/hotels) About staying in Bishopthorpe Bishopthorpe makes a peaceful, riverside alternative to staying in the middle of York, ideal for visitors who want easy access to the city without the noise or cost of a central hotel. Accommodation options in the village itself are limited, generally consisting of small bed and breakfasts, so many visitors choose to combine a look at Bishopthorpe with a hotel stay in York, only two miles away and well connected by bus, bike path or taxi. York offers everything from boutique townhouse hotels near the Minster to larger chain hotels close to the railway station, plus a good selection of guest houses and self-catering apartments in the surrounding streets. Choosing a hotel on the south side of York, towards Bishopthorpe Road or the racecourse, puts you within easy reach of both the city centre and the Bishopthorpe riverside walk, giving the best of both a York city break and a quieter, village-edge stay. Families and couples looking for a short break often find this combination — a hotel in York with an afternoon or morning spent walking or cycling the towpath to Bishopthorpe — gives a good balance of sightseeing and fresh air. Whichever option you choose, booking ahead is worthwhile, particularly during York's busy summer season, race days at York Racecourse, and the Christmas markets period, when accommodation across the wider area fills up quickly. [9.0 ★★★★★5 star Middlethorpe Hall & Spa Bishopthorpe Road, two miles south of York from £210/night](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/middlethorpe-hall-and-spa) [Holiday Inn York Tadcaster Road, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/holiday-inn-york) [The Ship Inn The Flat, Hauling Lane, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-ship-inn) [Blacksmith Arms Main street, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/blacksmith-arms) [Delta Hotels York by Marriott Tadcaster Road, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/delta-hotels-york-by-marriott) [The Plough Inn 48 Main Street, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-plough-inn) [★★★3 star York Pavilion Hotel, BW Signature Collection 45 Main Street, York from £84/night](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/york-pavilion-hotel-bw-signature-collection) [The Saddle Inn 37 Main Street, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-saddle-inn) ## Things to Do in Bishopthorpe [All attractions in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions) Top things to do in Bishopthorpe Bishopthorpe rewards a slow pace. Most of what there is to see can be covered on foot in an afternoon, with the riverside providing the main draw for a longer stay. - **Bishopthorpe Palace** — the official residence of the Archbishop of York since 1241, built by Archbishop Walter de Grey on the site of an earlier manor house. The Grade I listed palace and chapel are not generally open to the public, but the gatehouse (built in 1765) and grounds can be admired from the village, and the palace's long association with the village gave Bishopthorpe its name. - **River Ouse towpath** — a flat, well-used path runs along the riverbank from Bishopthorpe into York, popular with walkers and cyclists and connecting to the National Cycle Network route through the city. - **St Andrew's Church** — the parish church, with a path alongside it leading into the village along Chantry Lane; a peaceful spot that reflects the village's long ecclesiastical history. - **York city centre** — with the Ouse towpath or a short cycle ride, York Minster, the Shambles, the city walls and the National Railway Museum are all within easy reach without needing a car. - **Bishopthorpe to York circular walk** — a popular loop that follows the river one way and returns via village lanes and fields, giving a good sense of the surrounding Vale of York countryside. - **Village pubs** — Main Street is home to three long-standing pubs, including The Woodman Inn, giving the village a proper local feel and a good stop after a riverside walk. - **Millennium Bridge** — the cycle and footbridge across the Ouse in York is reached via the riverside path from Bishopthorpe and is a scenic gateway into the city. [Huntfun York ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/huntfun-york) [🎟️Go Karting & Driving Experiences Tockwith Motor Sports](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/tockwith-motor-sports) [Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/yorkshire-s-winter-wonderland) [Cycle the Solar System ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/cycle-the-solar-system) [Energise Leisure Centre ⭐ 3.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/energise-leisure-centre) [CONNECT Festival ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/connect-festival) [Curious About York ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/curious-about-york) [Rowntree Park York ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions/rowntree-park-york) ## Where to Eat in Bishopthorpe [All restaurants in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants) Food and drink in Bishopthorpe Main Street has three well-established pubs, including The Woodman Inn, known locally for its food and beer garden, alongside The Ebor and The Marcia Inn, giving the village a strong choice for a village night out. For a riverside stop, cafés along the Ouse towpath serve walkers and cyclists passing between Bishopthorpe and York. For a wider choice of restaurants, cafés and bars, York city centre is only a short walk, cycle or bus ride away. [Bishopthorpe Palace ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/bishopthorpe-palace) [Bosuns Restaurant ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/bosuns-restaurant) [The Riverfront York ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/the-riverfront-york) [Slim Chickens ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/slim-chickens) [Bubble CiTea ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/bubble-citea) [Five Guys ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/five-guys) [St Edward The Confessor ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/st-edward-the-confessor) [National Trust - Goddards Tearoom ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants/national-trust-goddards-tearoom) ## Attractions Near Bishopthorpe [All attractions in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Bishopthorpe. [0 mi Huntfun York York · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/huntfun-york) [🎟️Go Karting & Driving Experiences 0 mi Tockwith Motor Sports York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/tockwith-motor-sports) [1 mi Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland York · ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/yorkshire-s-winter-wonderland) [1 mi Cycle the Solar System York · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/cycle-the-solar-system) [2 mi Energise Leisure Centre Acomb · ⭐ 3.9](https://staycation.co.uk/acomb/attractions/energise-leisure-centre) [2 mi CONNECT Festival York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/connect-festival) [2 mi Curious About York York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/curious-about-york) [2 mi Rowntree Park York York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/rowntree-park-york) ## Camping in Bishopthorpe [All campsites in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/camping) About camping in Bishopthorpe Bishopthorpe sits in the flat, fertile Vale of York, with the River Ouse forming its eastern edge, and this gentle, low-lying landscape shapes what camping here looks like. As in the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is illegal, so any stay in the area needs to be at a recognised campsite, caravan park or with a landowner's express agreement. There is no formal campsite within Bishopthorpe village itself, but the surrounding Vale of York and the wider York area have a reasonable choice of caravan and camping parks, generally set within easy reach of the river or the cycle routes into the city. These range from simple touring and tent pitches to sites with electric hook-ups, and increasingly, glamping options such as pods, safari tents and static caravans for visitors who want the countryside setting without bringing their own kit. Given the flat terrain and riverside paths, a bike is a genuinely useful way to get between a campsite, Bishopthorpe and York itself. The best time to camp in this part of North Yorkshire is late spring through to early autumn, when the Ouse towpath and surrounding countryside are at their most walkable and the long evenings suit sitting out. Riverside ground can be soft and low-lying areas prone to flooding after heavy rain, so it is worth choosing a site on slightly higher ground and checking recent weather and river levels, especially outside the summer months. Midweek and shoulder-season stays are generally quieter than weekends and school holidays, when demand from York visitors is at its highest. For those without their own tent or caravan, glamping sites in the wider area offer a comfortable alternative, often within a short drive or cycle of both Bishopthorpe and York, combining an outdoor stay with easy access to the city's restaurants, museums and historic sights. [Moor Farm Bungalow Certificated Site ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/moor-farm-bungalow-certificated-site) [Riverside Camping And Caravan (York Marine) ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/riverside-camping-and-caravan-york-marine) [The Riverfront York ⭐ 4.5 · from £39/night](https://staycation.co.uk/york/camping/the-riverfront-york-york) [York Marina ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/york/camping/york-marina) [Moor End Farm ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/acaster-malbis/camping/moor-end-farm-acaster-malbis) [Millbridge Farm ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/millbridge-farm) [Chestnut Farm Holiday Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/chestnut-farm-holiday-park) [Poplar Farm Caravan Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/poplar-farm-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Bishopthorpe [All cottages in Bishopthorpe →](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/cottages) [The Cottage at Manor Farm 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £408](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/the-cottage-at-manor-farm-syk1004158) [🏡Cottage Old Roost Farmhouse 4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £2,090](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/old-roost-farmhouse-syk1083226) [🏡Cottage Grange Garth Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £721](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/grange-garth-cottage-uk39531) [🏡Cottage The Nest 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £887](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/the-nest-uk2596) [127 Bellhouse Way 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £391](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/127-bellhouse-way-syk1190663) [Windsor Jay 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £441](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/windsor-jay-syk1192473) [🏡Cottage Barben House 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £821](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/barben-house-uk51888) [🏡Cottage Ebor Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £597](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/ebor-cottage-uk30377) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Bishopthorpe Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DBishopthorpe%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Bishopthorpe - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/bishopthorpe/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Bishopthorpe [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)