# Naburn Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Naburn, a quiet North Yorkshire village on the River Ouse near York, famous for its historic lock, riverside walks and the Trans Pennine Trail. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/naburn (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A riverside village where York's history flows quietly by Photo © Derek Kleur, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants) Naburn is a small village of around 500 people on the eastern bank of the River Ouse, about four miles south of York city centre. It has stayed remarkably rural for somewhere so close to a major city, with farmland running down to the riverbank and the tower of St Matthew's church visible for miles across the flat Vale of York landscape. For centuries the village was almost entirely owned by the Palmes family, whose hall still sits at its heart, and its fortunes were long tied to the river trade passing through Naburn Lock. That maritime history is still the reason most visitors come today, along with the old railway line that once ran through the village and is now a peaceful path for walkers and cyclists. ## Getting to Naburn Naburn sits just off the A19 south of York, making it a short and straightforward drive from the city or from the A64/A1(M). There is no railway station in the village itself since the line closed in 1983, so the nearest mainline station is York, about four miles away, from where a taxi or a ride along the old railway path on a bike will get you to Naburn easily. Local bus services also run between York and villages south along the Ouse. ## Best time to visit Naburn Late spring through to early autumn is the best window, when the towpaths are dry, the lock gardens are in bloom and days are long enough for a proper walk or cycle ride combined with time by the river. Summer weekends bring more visitors to the lock and the Trans Pennine Trail, so a weekday visit or an early start gives a quieter experience. Winter can be atmospheric but the riverside paths are often muddy and the Ouse is prone to flooding after heavy rain, so it is worth checking river levels before setting off. ## Where to stay in Naburn [All hotels in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/hotels) About staying in Naburn Naburn makes a peaceful, low-key base for exploring York and the Vale of York without staying in the city itself. The village has very little accommodation of its own, so most visitors treat it as a day-trip destination from York, Selby or one of the surrounding villages, arriving on foot or by bike along the old railway path that is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail, or by car via the A19. Hotels in York itself, a few miles north, range from budget chains to characterful townhouse hotels near the Minster and city walls, and give easy access back out to Naburn for a riverside walk or an afternoon at the lock. For a quieter stay, small guesthouses and B&Bs in the villages along the Ouse south of York, such as Acaster Malbis and Stillingfleet, put you within easy reach of Naburn Lock and the towpath while avoiding the city crowds. Wherever you base yourself, the flat terrain of the Vale of York makes Naburn an easy add-on to a longer cycling or walking trip, and the Blacksmiths Arms pub in the village is a natural stop for food partway round. [Blacksmith Arms Main street, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/blacksmith-arms) [The Ship Inn The Flat, Hauling Lane, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-ship-inn) [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) [Westergate House Deighton, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/westergate-house) [Deighton Lodge Rush Farm, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/deighton-lodge) [The Plough Inn 48 Main Street, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-plough-inn) [The Parsonage Hotel & Spa Escrick, York](https://staycation.co.uk/york/hotels/the-parsonage-hotel-spa) [★★★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) ## Things to Do in Naburn [All attractions in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions) Top things to do near Naburn Naburn rewards a slow pace. Most attractions are outdoors, following the river or the old rail line, which suits families, cyclists and anyone after a proper lungful of Yorkshire air. - **Naburn Lock** — Built in 1757 and enlarged in 1888 (the new lock was opened by Prince Albert Victor, Queen Victoria's grandson), this marks the divide between the tidal and non-tidal Ouse. The lock island has a banqueting hall, old navigation offices, a sensory garden and riverside benches, and is free to visit with parking on site. - **River Ouse towpath** — The riverbank at Naburn is a good stretch for a walk or a paddle, with views over to the opposite bank and plenty of birdlife. The stretch around the lock is home to the rare tansy beetle, found almost nowhere else in the country outside the Ouse and the East Anglian fens. - **The Trans Pennine Trail / old railway path** — Naburn once had its own railway station on the line from York to Selby, closed in 1983 when the Selby Diversion opened. The old trackbed is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail (Sustrans Route 65), a flat, traffic-free route for walking and cycling that runs north into York and south towards Selby. - **York city centre** — With the Minster, the Shambles and the city walls, York is only a few miles away and an easy cycle or short drive from Naburn, making the village a quieter alternative base for exploring it. - **Naburn village and St Matthew's Church** — A short wander around the village takes in the parish church and Naburn Hall, plus the general feel of a working Yorkshire village that has kept its identity despite York's growth. [Huntfun York ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/huntfun-york) [🎟️Go Karting & Driving Experiences Tockwith Motor Sports](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/tockwith-motor-sports) [Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/yorkshire-s-winter-wonderland) [Cycle the Solar System ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/cycle-the-solar-system) [Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/askham-bryan-wildlife-and-conservation-park) [CONNECT Festival ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/connect-festival) [Curious About York ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/curious-about-york) [Rowntree Park York ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions/rowntree-park-york) ## Where to Eat in Naburn [All restaurants in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants) Food and drink near Naburn The Blacksmiths Arms on Main Street is the village pub, a riverside spot popular with walkers and cyclists off the Trans Pennine Trail, serving pub food, Sunday carvery and cask ales, with a beer garden looking towards the Ouse. Beyond the pub, options in Naburn itself are limited, so most visitors combine a stop here with a wider trip into York, which is only a few minutes away by car and has a far broader choice of cafes and restaurants. [Tea by the Lock ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/tea-by-the-lock) [Bosuns Restaurant ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/bosuns-restaurant) [The Riverfront York ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/the-riverfront-york) [Bishopthorpe Palace ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/bishopthorpe-palace) [Slim Chickens ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/slim-chickens) [Five Guys ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/five-guys) [Bubble CiTea ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/bubble-citea) [Sizzling Plate ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants/sizzling-plate) ## Attractions Near Naburn [All attractions in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Naburn. [1 mi Huntfun York York · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/huntfun-york) [🎟️Go Karting & Driving Experiences 1 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) [2 mi Cycle the Solar System York · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/cycle-the-solar-system) [3 mi Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/askham-bryan-wildlife-and-conservation-park) [3 mi CONNECT Festival York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/connect-festival) [3 mi Curious About York York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/curious-about-york) [3 mi Rowntree Park York York · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/york/attractions/rowntree-park-york) ## Camping in Naburn [All campsites in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/camping) About camping in Naburn Naburn sits in the flat, gentle landscape of the Vale of York, a few miles south of the city along the banks of the River Ouse, and while there is no official campsite in the village itself, the surrounding countryside and the nearby city of York offer a reasonable spread of camping and glamping options for anyone wanting to explore this quieter corner of Yorkshire. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal, so it is always worth booking an established site or asking permission directly rather than pitching up on riverside land or farmland around Naburn. The terrain here is level and easy, following the old railway line that is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail and the towpath along the Ouse, which makes the area popular with touring cyclists looking for a straightforward, scenic stretch to camp near. Sites tend to be a short drive or ride away in the villages around York and further into the Vale of York, offering everything from simple grass pitches for tents and campervans to more comfortable glamping pods and static caravans for those who want the outdoors experience without packing a full kit list. The best time to camp near Naburn is from late spring to early autumn, when the ground is drier underfoot and the long evenings suit a walk down to the lock or along the river before dark. The Ouse can flood after heavy rain, so it is worth checking river levels if visiting outside the summer months. Glamping options in the wider area, including shepherd's huts and pods on farms around York, are a good alternative for anyone visiting in cooler weather or simply wanting a softer landing after a day cycling the old railway path into the village. [York Marina ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/york/camping/york-marina) [Millbridge Farm ⭐ 4.3](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/millbridge-farm) [Poplar Farm Caravan Park ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/poplar-farm-caravan-park) [Chestnut Farm Holiday Park ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/chestnut-farm-holiday-park) [York Naburn Lock Caravan Park ⭐ 4.6 · from £26/night](https://staycation.co.uk/york/camping/york-naburn-lock-caravan-park) [Moor End Farm ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/acaster-malbis/camping/moor-end-farm-acaster-malbis) [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) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Naburn [All cottages in Naburn →](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/cottages) [🏡Cottage Grange Garth Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £721](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/grange-garth-cottage-uk39531) [Copmanthorpe Hall 6 bed · sleeps 12 · from £2,328](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/copmanthorpe-hall-syk952878) [The Cottage at Manor Farm 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £408](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/the-cottage-at-manor-farm-syk1004158) [🏡Cottage Barben House 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £821](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/barben-house-uk51888) [🏡Cottage Old Roost Farmhouse 4 bed · sleeps 8 · from £2,090](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/old-roost-farmhouse-syk1083226) [🏡Cottage The Nest 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £887](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/the-nest-uk2596) [Windsor Jay 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £441](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/windsor-jay-syk1192473) [127 Bellhouse Way 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £391](https://staycation.co.uk/york/cottages/127-bellhouse-way-syk1190663) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Naburn 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%3DNaburn%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Naburn - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/naburn/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Naburn [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)