Reviews of Merchant Adventurers' Hall. (Museum) in York (North Yorkshire).

Merchant Adventurers' Hall

949 Reviews

389 Comments

Museum

History museum

Fossgate, York YO1 9XD, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Museum in York (North Yorkshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Merchant Adventurers' Hall

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Merchant Adventurers' Hall

W. W.

I was lucky enough to attend a wedding here. What a wonderful venue, dining and dancing in an original medieval guild hall! The timber framed building is stunning inside and outside. It was great to enjoy the garden in the warm sunny day and retreat into the lovely hall for more gluttony.

T. B.

Historic building with a tale to tell. The staff was very welcoming and the audio tour was very informative. The building is amazing and so are the props inside. Worth the price of admission.

K. P.

Fascinating little museum and well worth a visit. The Merchant Adventures hall is impressive not only for the building but for the very history of the organisation and the audio guide and exhibits to a great job of telling the history and some of the many story’s. The guild hall is also the only surviving building of its kind and the main hall is an impressive space, brick lined with a huge interlocking oak beam roof and whittle and daub walls. Stained glass lines the Elizabethan anti chambers additions roughly 200 years after its creation. There are also many excellent examples of York’s local gold and silver smiths of display in the museum.

D. K.

Hidden gem, my parents haven't even heard of this place and they've been coming to York for years. Beautiful architecture and rich in history, the cafe is worthy to be a pit stop after exploring the hall.

S. M.

What a delightful place, coffee and cake served by the lovely Anna was delicious. Anna told us a little of the history inrespect of this Hall, it made our afternoon extra special and we will definitely be returning before we depart. Excellent service with a smile.

E. P.

Beautiful place to visit. A little gem hidden away in the heart of York. I would advise to go there even for just a coffee in the tables othside in the garden. I would recommend a visit if you are in York and you like historical buildings.

J. J.

Really interesting place to visit. When I visited I was really surprised at how empty the museum area was, which made the experience better for me but thought it was a shame given the building's historical significance. The staff are really friendly and helpful and it has a nice garden area to get hot drinks and cakes in.

K. A.

Well worth the visit. Very interesting with good info provided either via audio or via a info handout. Also a lovely cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating.

I. M.

Beautiful building filled with period furniture and lots of information about the city guilds. The ladies loos were lovely

M. D.

Really nice location and setting. I had cake and coffee here with a friend, he had a cream tea. My flapjack was huge and delicious. I'll definitely be here miss often. It's also great to suit outside and there is space for kids to run around.

d. w.

Me and my aunty Shirley went for a cranberry toasted teacake and a pot of tea it was delicious we sat outside a lovely sunny day and looking at all the different coloured flowers

A. W.

Definitely worth a visit. It's a beautiful place with an interesting story and some great exhibits.

D. M.

Very interesting place with a wealth of history and loved the audio guidance. Cafe however service very slow and tables left uncleared. When asked a waitress to kindly chase up our two coffees after 20min plus wait was snapped at No! we are very busy and there is a ticket queue system !

I. H.

What a wonderful place this is. We found it by accident and enjoyed a peaceful cup of tea and soaked up the view, we were lucky enough to get a table under the pergola so had lovely dappled shade on a very hot day. We loved visiting the museum, plenty of history. Worth a visit. It will be on our list to goto next time we are in York.

S. C.

We didn't visit the hall itself,but sat outside and had a coffee and piece of cake each. It's just opposite the back entrance of Primark and is below the street level. A place to avoid the rush sit back and relax,nice gardens and stunning medieval building. Toilets are outstanding as well. Highly recommended.

C. B.

Really interesting building, loads to see, great coffee shop with helpful, polite and friendly staff. Don't miss it.

M. L.

Stopped of here for tea and cake in the cafe. Great spot good service didn’t go round the venue though just took advantage of the location.

D. K.

Amazing hidden gem. 600 plus year old commercial hall giving interesting insights about medieval guild associations and unbroken chain between past present. BeUtifully maintained halls antenna chambers. Good tea room gardens and souvenir shop

S.

A place to revisit the history and the audio guide helps you around with the kind of self narrations of whoever we see on the wall hangings!

L.

A wonderful hidden gem where we enjoyed cream tea including the best home baked scones in the world! Lovely, friendly staff too. Thank you so much. We’ll be back!

D. W.

A hugely impressive building with tons of history.

A. C.

The large merchant hall here is pretty interesting, although the modern chairs they have stacked by the walls dampens the historic atmosphere a bit. There isn’t that much else to see but if you’re into history they do have written and audio guides to fill you in.

K. B.

This is an interesting old building set up for the Guild of Merchant Adventurers - not as exciting as the role suggests - they were merchants who traded abroad.

L. M.

Beautiful building, plenty of history and the cream tea is delicious and very good value

J. J.

Really nice medieval building. Interesting exposition inside. If you have the English Heritage membership the entry is just £3.

L. P.

Delightful medieval hall that has survived the centuries, wars, loss of importance of the institution which owns it. The audio guide explanations are very good and short and it was free on our visit.

H. C.

A great place to escape the hubbub of a busy day in York. The well kept garden is a below street level haven . Cafe has above average fare, with a pleasant outdoor seating area in the garden.

I. R.

Just popped in for a bite to eat and a drink, two sandwiches, two scones and a drink each were £28. That said they were really filling and tasty, and i would consider going again if in York

M. E.

This old building is a interesting place to visit if you go to York. If you are interested in historic buildings then pop in for a visit. The staff are lovely very helpful and there is a cafe so you can get a snack and sit outside if the weather is fine 🙂

P. M.

The building is lovely, we only visited the cafe but the lady serving was just horrible like we had really put her out.

J. S.

I only had a light lunch at the cafe here so my review is for that, the food was very nice and the staff were polite and very pleasant. There was plenty of seats inside for eating but I sat outside in the beautiful gardens whilst the sun was shining. I did however use the toilets and I saw a glimpse of the hall and it is worthy of a visit another time.

P. S.

Hidden gem. Beautiful building. Well worth a visit. Nice cafe too.

N. C.

We stumbled on this place by accident while wandering around York and decided to have a look. While it may have fewer artifacts than some of the other museums it was still a fascinating place to visit and the staff were lovely. We didn't stop to enjoy the treats available from the cafe but judging by the large numbers of contented people tucking into their food and drinks while soaking up the sun I'd say that it must be pretty good too.

P. S.

Found the cafe by accident and stayed for lunch sitting in the lovely, peaceful gardens. Tasty and generous Ploughman's Lunch.

m. M.

Magnificent Grade 1 listed Hall, very well maintained. Great cafe serving Karen's superb cheese scones!!

C. C.

Very nice place however making sure the board is kept updated is important as I was served with a soup that I didn't order but it was acceptable. When soup is finished the board should reflect it! Decent bread to go with it and coffee was very good.

K. H.

Absolutely stunning building and history. The audio tour is very good. It doesn't 'drone' on but gives good factual information. Well worth the £6.50 entry fee.

L. B.

A ticket gets you a years entry (which we're grateful for only having half an hour for a quick look round) and on first glance, the place looks interesting but fairly empty. However, the details on the tour sheet/audio are fascinating and upstairs has a lots to see and learn about. Cafe is also a nice way to start or begin the little tour.

S. T.

Passed lots of times, but this time we went in for coffee & cakes, excellent. Next time we'll have a look around.

D. H.

Nice little cafe and a chunk of history all in one place.

M. L.

Due to covid restrictiond we were only able to visit the outdoor cafe , but we did enjoy our drinks & snacks. The hall did look superb from the outside and it was a shame we could not visit properly but will try again in the future

H. S.

Fantastic place. Fascinating merchant history. Try and guess who the emblematic standards of the various trades belongs to. Nice quiet cafe that you can visit without having to pay the entrance fee.

j. I.

I only actually use the coffee bar. That is excellent. Coffee n cake Staff v friendly

J. V.

Absolutely amazing building, over 650 years of trading history, as a fairly regular visitor to York I cannot believe I missed visiting before. There is wheelchair access including a lift and a very good café in the undercroft

S. E.

Really lovely experience, so nice to sit and have lunch and coffee with beautiful surroundings. The staff that served us were all really friendly and polite. The ploughman's lunch was good too!

J. T.

What a lovely wedding venue, made our day very special and dealt so professionally!

D. K.

On first impression I thought we would be in and out within 15 mins but actually we were in the building nearly 1.5 hours - its deceptive and the free audio guide is excellent. Well worth the visit and the cost of entry. Lots to learn and see. Fantastic building.

E. W.

This place is amazing! We had an award ceremony and dinner party here. The atmosphere is exciting, especially if you are from America as it has detail and character that you would never find there. I have not been here as part of the museum tour, just for the party.

V. A.

Beautiful and historic Guildhall. Amazing history and informative throughout. Nice cafe and shop too..Nice staff very helpful.

J. M.

Amazing building with a great history, the audio tour is a must!

S. M.

First visit, I will be back, lovely friendly helpful staff. Pot of tea and cream tea very well presented and reasonably priced thank you for making my day.

D. C.

Had a great visit here today, staff were lovely and very knowledgeable. Glad we didn't take the children with us, not sure they would have appreciated it, but we certainly did.

P. F.

Well worth a visit if in York one of the best examples of medieval timber frame buildings in existence in UK dating from construction commenced in 1357. Seems pricey for the size but it all goes back into maintenance of the hall and you are only going to visit once so give it a try.😊😊😊

D. L.

Lovely venue and cafe. But often have weddg venues on sat so if want quiet viewing of really lovely building sunday am is best 😊

R. G.

Attended a wedding celebration. Hall is absolutely beautiful, latout for the wedding meal was well set out and organised.

C. I.

This place is great for anyone who is interested in the past, very keen staff who will help guide you around the hall, there is also a fantastic cafe to suit all tastes, from snacks to meals, affordable prices and tasty cakes.

M. A.

It was a good experience to say the least. They had many pictures and artifacts from old ages. Great for children

A. B.

So much history... such uneven floors! A "Proper" Medieval Wibbly wobbly Building ( and that's an architectural definition!). Very friendly staff and very knowledgable. Cafe service could have been a bit quicker... but we weren't bothered because it was raining outside!

L. “. F.

A very interesting visit. The supplied audio guide was very informative, plus information boards in case you didn't have the audio guide. Very big and spacious inside. It doesn't look.much, but there's alot of history behind this building.

K. B.

Didn't go beyond the coffee shop. Had a coffee in the gardens, which was very pleasant.

K. T.

A well cared for medieval Hall, good food and drink and disabled access

M.

Amazing example if a 14th century medieval banqueting hall There is not a 90 degree angle on the place!

J. W.

Nice coffee place. Shame you have to pay so much to get in to see the building.

M. C.

This building is beautiful. It is in fantastic condition, and still used for it's original purpose. Some of the artifacts in the antirooms are amazing. I got here late, so I only had half an hour to get round, which wasn't quite enough. Very well worth the visit.

A. S.

Incredible historical insight to one of the oldest guild halls still in existence. Beautiful building with an interesting history

A. B.

Found this down a little alley while exploring the city and what a find. Beautiful gardens and an informative museum, available at a cheap price. Staff were incredibly friendly and willing to help. The museum itself provides a different history of York to the other museums, good for changing it up and skipping the more touristy spots and their queues.

E. W.

Only went for a mocha in cafe. Sat outside in the sun. Lovely friendly service. Mocha was perfect. They had decaff coffee as well.

C. R.

What an amazing space this is! My daughter enjoyed the activity sheet prepared for kids. She says the place was phenomenal. Really nice shop and cafe.

S. D.

Beautiful building. Great history well explained.

A. P.

Very historic, suggest you get audio or the free printed guide to guide you around the large building. There is a cafe and souvenir shop.

K. B.

Beautiful place, the toilets are clean and something to admire too.

p. p.

Had a great cream tea and the service was excellent. Would definitely recommend and go again!

V. I.

We got married here on the 12th March 2022, after COVID lockdowns meant we had to postpone twice. Throughout the whole organisation and reorganisation the Hall staff (and especially Rob) have been good humoured, helpful and totally willing to help find ways to make the day special. The day went off without a hitch, it's a truly beautiful venue and a hidden treasure. The enthusiasm of the team for the building cannot be overstated, and really brings the history to life.

S. K.

A smaller but cosier museum, a good way to explore renaissance trading.

M. G.

I had my wedding reception at Merchant's Adventurer's Hall in September and it was incredible! The setting is absolutely beautiful and definitely made the wedding. The gardens and the hall itself are second to none in York. Rob helped us with the initial viewing and booking and he was so helpful with all the questions we had and recommending caterers! Nothing was too much trouble for him! I would definitely recommend here for a wedding!

P. D.

A lovely historic building, beautifully preserved. Useful audio guides available. Cafe and small pretty gardens also on site.

D. A.

Excellent value and interesting ancient building in the centre of York.

M. H.

A really interesting bit of York's history, realising how The Guilds worked in regulating trade and professions, all housed in an old and interesting building. Unfortunately didn't get time to sample to café but it looked good.

J. P.

Stunning building with great Audio tour which gave lots of information. Beautiful building, when in York recommend a visit

E. B.

This gorgeous building is just fantastic to be inside. The beautiful timbers throughout and the history of all the various craft guilds of the city is just fascinating. Love visiting for a cup of tea at their outside cafe and especially love it when the Jorvik Viking Festival is on and you can wander round this gorgeous building filled with historic traders. Highly recommended 👌

D. L.

Good to visit. Not a amazing amount to see but was ok value. Staff are polite and helpful.

J. E.

Had lunch, coffee and cake here a few times. Excellent service, lovely food and an interesting building to investigate too. Good for anyone not wanting to spend hours walking round a large museum.

A. A.

Called into the very well laid out walled garden in front of the Hall, for coffee and scones with friends. The tables were suitably distanced and the service first class. Nice fresh scones enjoyed.

n. c.

Amazing place and really good things to see inside, would highly recommend

J. A.

A hidden gem Lovely audio tour, fascinating history, inyetrsting architecture, and peaceful place to take tea in the garden

C. M.

Very interesting, informative historic place over 2 floors with indoor and outdoor seating for food and drinks. In the centre of York with easy access to transport. Friendly, knowledgeable staff.

E. B.

The Merchant Adventurers Hall really is an incredible venue and made our wedding even more special and memorable. So many of our guests have commented on how beautiful the venue was and how perfect it was for a winter wedding. We just wanted to say a huge thank you for accommodating our wedding at a time when the Merchant Adventurers Hall is normally closed. Rob was so helpful on the run up to the day and Bruce the hall keeper was great on the day. A big thanks to everyone at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Ed & Kate.

J. B.

In total awe of the wonderful wooden construction and that it is still standing and looking magnificent over 600 years after being built.

J. L.

Super old guild hall, in this case for the Merchant Adventurers of York. The ancient timbered construction is notable for a lack of straight lines and right angles. If you were worse for wear, you might all roll to the same lowest point. There's an old guild chapel, interesting stained glass and some old silver on display. Flood height markers remind us of the city's vulnerability to flooding. We have had a couple of successful family wedding receptions there, using one of their designated caterers.

A. R.

Enjoyed being inside. Very atmospheric, service slow but very busy.

G. C.

Only visited the cafe, very nice lunch

p.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon and sitting in the garden was an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of the city. However I must point out that the sausage in my bun was stone cold. When I order something like that I expect it to be hot. Fortunately the cranberry teacake I had was delicious.

j. p.

Beautiful setting outside for the cafe. Wonderful service. Staff attentive and professional. Sarah was the hostess with the 'service with a smile" that you don't experience a lot anymore. Good value and tasty cakes

j. e.

Amazing beams!

S. M. (.

Fascinating place. Fabulous building. Pleasant cafe as well.

J. W.

We did not visit the hall on this occasion. We did, however, sit in the very pleasant garden for a lovely cup of tea and a sandwich. Four stars only because we found it somewhat noisy next to the busy road.

J. P.

Well worth the visit. A good interesting informative historical site.The cafe style dining was very nice calming and relaxing.The food was enjoyable and staff friendly everything clean and the use of facilities were all covid19 safe .

H. W.

We only went as far as the coffee shop (late afternoon visit, not time to do the hall justice). If the hall architecture is as good as what you can see from coffee shop, then well worth adding to your itinerary.

L. H.

A great gem of history and well worth using the audio tour. It gave a fantastic explanation of what you could see and the history of the hall and artifacts.

E. M.

Had lunch alongside this beautiful building and grounds. The service was excellent but the egg mayonnaise sandwiches were very well presented but bread was dry and filling was tasteless. Sorry don't usually put anything negative.

J. S.

Worth a look if in York.

R. H.

Lovely service, amazing location. Lovely coffee!!

A. G.

Stunning hidden gem of a place...Tudor grade 1 listed Ancient monument with 600 years of history. Well worth a visit!

J. H.

Weren't able to go inside, in fact had to buy something from the cafe in order to walk around the garden (extreme social distancing or opportunistic money making scheme?)

L. F.

Great venue, museum and such friendly staff. A man spoke to us for ages and we were so grateful for his talk and knowledge. Really made the visit.

N. T.

Fascinating grade 1 listed mediaeval hall.

K. D.

Went for a wedding reception. Very nice.

S. M.

I went for a cup of tea and a sandwich before catching the bus. It was very pleasant to sit outside in the sun with my drink. Considering how close you are to the city centre it was so peaceful as well

A. B.

Worth seeing for sure. Thinking of all the history that took place there

L.

Perhaps not an obvious York tourist site but interesting nevertheless. Also has a cafe, small shop, toilets. No pre booking necessary. You will get a guide with information on the rooms when you enter.

p. h.

Vert interesting and definitely recommend using the audio tour.

A. H.

Peace and quiet along with history

M. M.

What a fascinating building. Excellent audio commentary. Lovely welcoming staff. The great hall alone is worth the visit

P. A.

First time in today firstly lovely welcome from the lady of reception and was lovely as we left too. A beautiful place to look around, we stay about 2 hours in here, lovely place to relax and enjoy the exhibits especially the family silver. Toliet was beautiful too. Had a nice coffee in the cafe too and sue had a tea and cheese scone. Will return.

G. S.

Fascinating place, awesomely old and still standing as built.

D.

Was interesting, lots of information on local history and very old guild hall with allot of character. The carved wooden chairs were my favourite. Pretty reasonable for the price too.

C. M.

We were supposed to have our wedding at the Hall in April 2020 and rearranged the date 3 times, not including various changes to guest numbers in between. We finally had our wedding in April 2021, and the Merchant Adventurers Hall have been fantastic all the way through. Special thanks to Rob, who was amazing at answering questions and helping with all the rules and changes we had to work with, he was incredibly helpful and we are so grateful. Thank you!!

A. S.

What a beautiful place. Fully wheelchair accessible, good size to get round. Portable your guide clear and easy to follow. Interesting rooms, furniture and history. Friendly staff,/volunteers.easy to find. Cafe and garden, toilets_very nice. Reasonable entry price.

S. H.

More interesting than it looks from the outside. Cafe was beautiful and food was delicious. Tickets was cheap at only £6.50 per adult, spent a good hour or so just having a look around the rooms and at the antiques they have there.

I. K.

A wonderful historical building, something York must be definitely proud of.

D. J.

Terrific ploughman's and a good beer. Cider with a cheese and chutney sandwich for my wife. Then cake. All delicious and service to march. Great spot for a lazy afternoon. Even better when the hall is fully open again.

D. B.

Nice little cafe spot in the middle of town, a little bit tucked away from the hustle and bustle so seating usually available both indoors and out. Nice menu not too badly priced either. Not an extraordinary spot for coffee and cake but pretty good nonetheless.

C. R. D.

Great piece of history. When I went there it was the first day it opened after being closed for a few months for maintenance, so everything was clean, organised and well preserved. The printed guide was very helpful and the staff was friendly.

G. J.

Great experience, the history was very interesting how far back in time you where taken.The staff a were very helpful and friendly,we stayed for food that was good. Well worth a visit.

S. A.

First visit, what a magnificent place. I love the beams & the lovely furniture. The girl on the till was lovely. We had a drink & a cheese scone in the cafe that was yummy 😋. The toilets are lovely and contemporary not what I was expecting. Well worth a visit

M. F.

Great cup of tea, delish mince pie. Free admission to the hall instead of £6.50. Level access can be found via a passageway next to the Hairy Fig Shop. This also gives an excellent view of the hall

H. H.

We had our wedding here on Saturday and it was more than everything we could have hoped or wished for. Rob at the Hall was amazing with everything, he was friendly, helpful and full of advice for what would and wouldn’t work. We had to replan our wedding because of COVID and this was a really smooth calm transfer to another date and the rearranged date was still with COVID restrictions, however, Rob and his staff ensured we had a safe and enjoyable time. Thank-you!

f. L.

Spectacular building , free and informative tour included in the price of ticket .

B. D.

Wow, what a great living bit of history! Worth a walk around.

V. V.

One of the must see sites if you are visiting York. Worth spending time in there, finding out the history of this beautiful and enchanting building. The courtyard at the front is the perfect place to enjoy a nice cup of tea, superb gardens in the heart of York. The staff are very welcoming and very helpful, passionnate about the building too. I can't wait to return.

M. K.

Lovely venue, great for a ball

R. W.

Lovely place to visit very interesting, included in the York Pass which I highly recommend getting as there’s so many attractions included. Spent around 30-40 minutes. There’s also a cafe if you want a drink and sit in the garden.

C. H.

Absolutely beautiful venue for a wedding. The organisation was spot on and there were enough rooms to usher guests to whilst the rooms were being transformed into the next setting. Looks absolutely stunning at Christmas with all the extra decorations in addition to the wedding set up. Ladies- wear sensible shoes... otherwise you'll be asked to put plastic caps on your stilettos to protect the floor!

C. K.

In a fabulous setting surrounded by a lovely garden. The new coffee house is really nice. Good food and coffee, lovely staff, fabulous decor. The rest of the building is made up of surprisingly diverse elements - the hall, the vaults, the chapel, which is really beautiful. So much history. Often an interesting art exhibition in the vaults. A must do on your places to visit in York.

W. V.

Friendly staff，the content is a little bit less，but i like here

A. K.

Nice surrounding, good friendly service, nice food.

D. M.

Fascinating history of trading and commerce in early York. Shows how the upper crust lived 400 years ago.

H. B.

A stereotypical centuries old building with bucket loads of character.

T. H.

Fascinating place to visit, the architecture is awesome and very interesting

N. S.

Wonderful building with some great items on display.

D. J.

Very interesting place to visit.

A. B.

A truly stunning wedding venue. The staff are fabulous. Access for cars can be an issue but so far the traffic wardens have been very understanding which is greatly appreciated. If you would like to see more photos of our cars please check out our Facebook page at Best Weddings Wedding Car Hire York.

D. D.

Nice medieval building with an impressive hall. When coming from the Shambles it's the entrance is somewhat hidden, but once in the garden you discover the wonderful hall. In summer there is a lovely terrace where you can have a drink admiring the view of the garden and building.

R. M.

I came here earlier today and it is such a beautiful site, and in such good condition too! I really enjoyed the visit and the staff were all very nice, polite and friendly, I personally prefer to have information boards but audio guides are still useful just down to personal preference. Also has a nice little gift shop I loved the Henry and Elizabeth figures!

D. P.

This is an interesting building and had some nice pieces of stained glass and architectural features related to several periods from original to 17th century. It's not a place for kids or to spend a long time, once you've seen the chapel and hall that's pretty much it, the remaining elements are related to the pageantry and self congratulation of the merchant adventurer's, old boys club and their adherence to Queen, country and making money and spending it etc etc.

G. B.

We went for coffee and a cake. Not cheap, and not necessarily the best service we've ever had, but whatever you say, the setting is magnificent. The hall is an outstanding building and has been sympathetically moulded into a space which is at once both stunning and practically effective. Don't miss going to the loo!

L. G.

Stunning building and beautiful little cafe, friendly staff, good coffee, excellent yorkshire rarebit. Top marks from me

H. P.

Very interesting history, reading information and how it began and on the site of roman ruins too

S. B.

I suppose I would give this reading of about 3 and a half stars primarily because of its rather small size and few exhibits. However the Architecture of the great hall was very interesting period 600 years ago when they built the Great Hall they didn't have trees long enough to span the entire width period therefore they had to have a double roof system 4 The Great Hall. We did enjoy learning more about the Merchant Guilds and how they were formed. It was also interesting to see that the original floor was 1 and 1/2 metres below the current floor. That is because of recurring flooding the floors have been raised over time . The garden was a nice break from the crush of people in the streets. We had a lovely scone and cup of tea in the garden .

I. S.

Very interesting and super cafe

J. N.

Really interesting building with good audio tour. Cafe also very good with nice outdoor garden seating.

J. F.

Interesting. Visitors need clearer guidance of which way to go and how to pick up the commentary. A clear numbering system as you go round would be helpful. I wasn't told to go upstairs for example!

Z. D.

Delicious food, eat inside or out.

T. W.

Great cafe. Didn't visit the inside of the hall but certainly enjoyed our coffee and scones in the garden.

D. “.

Attended a wedding here and its an amazing historic Hall. Well preserved and contains a lot of history.

K. T.

I'm ok giving 3 stars due to not actually accessing inside yet as it was crammed to the hilt during the Viking festival. We can't go in crowded venues with our children as it's too much for them but we thoroughly enjoyed the stalls outside.

R. B.

Amazing, early medieval guild hall. It is beautifully preserved with a glorious beamed roof and undercroft. A nice little cafe too and it is right next to the drop off for the Grimston Bar park and ride. Well worth a visit.

S. C.

Came here for a Private Event, the venue was gorgeous, well heated (it was December) and the service was brilliant and staff were very friendly. Bathroom/coat check area was lovely, seats and vanity table/mirror area - great idea!

C. B.

Have been here as a visitor but returned for a wedding, such a beautiful venue. Perfect day and great staff.

J. M.

I love history so found this place fascinating, nice secluded garden and cafe to rest in on a hot humid day.

S. B.

Here for my son's wedding. Beautiful building and grounds. Wonderful day had by all.

K. B.

Interesting historical building and objects, plus a cafe

J. S.

Visited the cafe for lunch, due to the current situation a part of the musuem was being used for seating. Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, sandwich and coffee were really tasty....would definitely go back!

M. T.

My first impression - the beautiful old building was standing on land so much lower than the pavement outside. Great illustration of how the centuries are built on layers. Just standing inside the Great Hall and letting the energy flow over you is an experience to be treasured. We had an amazing lunch afterwards at The Hairy Fig, situated behind.

P. A.

Beautiful place of interest.

E. C.

A little disappointed by the hall as the pictures makes it look a lot more grand than it is. When we visited there were stacks of chairs lining the hall which made it look less historic. The audio guides were informative but overall the experience was a bit lacklustre

A. M.

I had the pleasure of visiting this place for my pre graduation celebrations. This place is beautiful, especially for my graduation pictures. It was a scorching hot day and because the hall is so old there was no air conditioning but also no fans were provided so I was particularly sweaty in my cap and gown which was reflected in my pictures which were expensive. I dont think I'd visit as a tourist thing, although our friends did recently and they really enjoyed it. I guess it depends what you're into.

J. W.

Extraordinary building. Audio guide was very informative, but plenty of interesting things to look at without. Children can do some activities which help to search out objects and bits of information if they like. Would definitely recommend.

G. S.

I was amazed by the 2 story timber framed building. The exterior looks fantastic. Upon entering your are given an audio guide which described each of the rooms with great detail. You start on the ground floor and learn how the guild ran a hospital. It is interesting to see how the floor had to be raised with the increase in the ground water level. Major floods are marked on the wall. The second floor is the actual guild hall, one of the only remaining ones in the country. The timbered roof is visible and very complex. It took about an hour to go through the while thing.

G. H.

Lovely old building and great café.

s. n. w.

Had a lovely pot of tea in this lovely old cosy place. The staff were super friendly and I will be back next time I'm in York. Hopefully next time I'll have the time to be able to sample one of their lovely looking cakes

I. I.

Nice quiet place for short break

S. S.

Always finding something new when visiting.

C. C.

Covid secure meet and greet, cream tea served in sunny flower filled grounds with service and a smile plus WCs not to be missed. Go on spoil yourselves 😉

G. J.

Lovely place to visit in York, definitely a must, steeped in history, plus a lovely café to eat and drink after.

H. H.

Great historical place to visit for adults and children .Would highley reccomend and the cafe food is lovely and very affordable.

R. F.

Stopped off just for a coffee in the Cafe as I was early for my bus. Lovely friendly staff, magnificent venue and very good food & drink. Much better than the big chain coffee houses.

P. C.

Beautiful, quiet place to lunch or visit.

A. L.

A little gem in the middle of York, With an admission fee of £6.50 you can visit the hall as many times you like over the year with those under 16 free. The grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument was built between 1357 and 1361 and is split over two floors, both fully accessible via the stairs or internal lift. Each floor has a number of rooms to explore, the lower floor been the undercroft/ chapel and the upper the main hall. You can explore at your own pace using either the free audio or paper guide. There are many relics and banners from the merchants to see as well as the excellent oak roof. On site there are male/female/ disabled toilets, a small shop and cafe perfect for that quiet outing. All ages would find the hall interesting, as in doors good for that damp day. Access is down the steps in Piccadilly or theres a level entrance in Fossgate. Good picnic area around the outside with seating but do be careful as its also next to the river.

C. J.

Interesting old building. Excellent cafe, Gift shop & friendly helpful staff.

T. P.

Medieval trading hall in York.Dark and moody at the time of my visit, as the Vikings had taken over York for the Annual Viking Festival.

H. B.

Gorgeous old building, well maintained with a nice coffee shop. Also well worth a visit during Jorvik festival to see the range of reenactment traders usually set up here.

K. S.

Very interesting. A little hidden gem. The gardens were beautiful and very well cared for too. A peaceful spot for coffee and cake.

M. S.

Excellent teas and coffees .superb gluten free cake

K. R.

Such a beautiful old building. The history is wonderful and its so well kept. Takes you right back in time from the second you enter

Z. B.

Very beautiful place very informative

N. K.

Not to be missed when in York. A visit back in time filled with beauty, charm, and fascinating history.

M. H.

Went for a Dinner. Beautiful historical building Very interesting .

m. s.

Beautiful building ,cafe does excellent coffee

C. M.

Beautiful location. We had iced coffee in the garden coffee shop. It was very nice but a little expensive and none of the tables around us had been cleared.

V. H.

It's easy to walk past this well-preserved 14th century guild hall as it sits below the level of the street in a busy shopping area. But it's well worth a visit! The undercroft, where the sick and infirm were cared for, is decorated with the banners of York's guilds and there's a lovely chapel right next to it. The Great Hall's oak-beamed ceiling is magnificent and you can still see the medieval carpenter's marks. There are upstairs rooms full of antique chairs and chests, paintings, silver and artefacts relating to medieval trade. I loved the old watercolours of York! The staff were helpful and I learned a lot about the history from the audio guide (included in admission price) and information panels. Had a delicious flapjack and mocha in the friendly little café. Nice gift shop.

A. J.

Vikings were in the hall due to storm Dennis which meant we saw the hall.... glad we did what a stunning building. Cafe nice too.

K. C.

Really lovely. Small but interesting

K. W.

Great audio guide really helped me understand the history of the building!

S.

Stopped off for a drink, amazing hot chocolate.

S. A.

Beautiful building but very expensive entrance fee! Cheaper to go in for lunch/tea and cake in the friendly cafe and you can see the inside anyway!!!

A. O.

Didn't visit the inside, had tea in the rose garden. Service patchy but nice tea and cake when it came.

J. B.

Well worth a visit, disabled entrance at back of Hall, steps only at front. Excellent Cafe, try hot chocolate with cream and Marsh mellows, heavenly.

T. P.

Went to a wedding reception here. Loved everything about this historic old building. It is usually open to the public. Well worth a visit

B. G.

Lovely historic building very interesting some great portraits on the walls, well preserved artifacts and furniture, and good restaurant.

B. T.

Amazing museum. Recommend the audio guide. The merchant adventurer's company history is an example for corporate responsibility and returning something to the society. Was amazed by the history and building itself.

J. V.

Lovely place to sit and have a drink and some thing to eat the staff are friendly will be popping again

S. G.

Superb preserved medieval building. I have only visited it for evening functions but it is open during the day for tours which include a remarkable chapel.

R. S.

Superb place for a quiet tea or coffee. Quiet, secluded. Excellent!

J. B.

Interesting old building from 1357. Sloping floor in biggest hall. Nice cafe outside.

C. H.

Fantastic. For more to see there than expected. Beautiful grounds. Nice cafe. Fascinating part of York to visit.

C. P.

I loved it! The hall is stunning, the staff are friendly, the shop is great and the cafe is really excellent. The food is delicious, and to eat in a historical setting was such a great experience.

S. S.

Great place for a coffee and a snack before going around york.

S. W. E.

Excellent wedding venue, slippery steps though, do take care

D. T.

Good welcome girl behind the counter even brought my coffee outside for me. Also free to look around well worth seeing as not as popular as other attractions in York.

C. G.

Decent coffee shop, not loads of room inside, but plenty outside in the gardens - assuming that the weather is ok!

S. H.

The price was extremely reasonable and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent here as a family. We used the place for a bite to eat and a pot of tea, it was delicious.

J. H.

Really beautiful location with great coffee and food. Staff were really friendly and helpful and it's a good place to take your dog.

M.

Fantastic old building with oodles of character & a lovely Cafe for a cream tea.

A. C.

Really enjoyed visiting here. If you do visit it is well worth using the audio guide that you are offered as it really brings the history to life.

G. S.

Lovely quit spot near Yorks city center overlooking the waterfront, perfect for having tea.

M. Y.

Very good atmosphere. Welcoming, pleasant and efficient staff. Great drinks, food and cakes. Caters for coeliacs/gluten free.

S. “.

Lovely cafe. The Hall itself was very interesting. I must have walked past so many times without really noticing it. Worth the entrance fee.

C. M.

Lovely surroundings and somewhere different to have coffee and cafe, which was absolutely gorgeous. Very clean. The staff are very friendly too.

P. N.

Fantastic piece of history.

M. C.

Beautiful place full of history which is well presented. Staff very friendly. Worth a visit.

r. b.

Very nice inside worth a visit.A lot of history about the place.

L. R.

Great period building stepped in history.

H. D.

Such a beautiful building. Staff were lovely.

B. W. (. B.

An oasis, friendly servers, good sandwiches coffee's teas cakes, tucked away from the hustle and bustle.

B. V.

Lovely shots cake, tea and G&T on the peaceful gardens

P. A.

A little oasis in a busy town, good value and what a fantastic historical building.

O. L.

Beautiful building and gardens. A really nice slice of tranquility next to the Foss right in the centre of the bustling city.

a. h.

really interesting both historically and architecturally with useful audio guides

D. B.

Brilliant, great place, very enjoyable, and a good lunch. Very knowledgeable young lady on the reception desk.

J. G.

Interesting, plenty of history. Lovely building.

P. C.

One of my favorite places we visited in York. Such a grand old building with so much history.

M. D.

A historically important timber framed building that is almost certainly unique. If you would like to see medieval construction at its best. Merchant Adventurers hall is a must.

R. G.

Fascinating roof structure

E. S.

Very interesting. Well kept. Cafe very nice. Good toilet facilities. Enjoyable afternoon.

B. E.

Lovely building, especially for a Richard 111 AGM

D. B.

A lot of York's history is tied up with this Guild, and it's great to see how the organisation and its building changed over time. Easily the highlight of my trip to York.

M. E.

Really great place to visit as we were on a coach trip didn't have a lot of time to see it all fantastic building

F. D. P.

Very interesting tour. I recommend listening to the audio guide as it provides a lot of information about the Company and the building itself.

s.

Fabulous place. We went in for coffee and what a fantastic building. Worth a visit

S. W.

Very interesting, far more than I thought they'd be before going in. Got 50% discount with English Heritage membership.

C. P.

Lovely seating outside. Nice cake

D. B.

What a gem of a place, great quality information on the trading history of York..interesting to see the marks on the wall showing how high the flood water came in 2015..great timber framed building.. Not to be missed...

E. M.

Fantastic venue, great food and super service from everyone

P. A.

Absolutely beautiful venue with excellent staff.

F. v. T.

A fantastic place to be.

R. W.

Very interesting to learn of the history. Excellent small cafe with reasonable prices

V. G.

Really fascinating place, gorgeous cafe in the garden

P. S.

Amazingly old building with some wonderful antique artifacys6

K. C.

Not the oldest, but perhaps the best preserved and most impressive medieval timber framed building in York. Must see the inside.

R. P.

Very interesting, well restored,good audio tour, unique place to visit.

E. W.

A fantastic place to visit.

J. H.

Went to am event here the space and building is amazing and unless you know where it is very easy to walk right on past it

R. S.

You have to go in to appreciate this building. Awesome

M. C.

Fantastic atmosphere and a well preserved example of a medieval guild hall. I like it so much I have booked my wedding here next year.

S. I.

Helpful and friendly staff great welcome nice ambiance good menu

L. J. u.

Me and my wife visited here, and enjoyed the building and also the cafe, staff very friendly and helpful 😊

L.

Excellent place to just take in the atmosphere and at the end of it sit in the sun and drink a good cuppa and have a chat.

D. A.

Very friendly staff. Plough man's meal well worth the money . social distancing in place .

d. n.

Lovely cakes,Great service and nice rest room all attached to really interesting historic site

M. S.

Beautiful place and nice cafe with good food, the hall is really nice, outside of the building is beautiful well worth a visit

A. S.

Great drinks and food, lovely staff and garden

P. R.

Very historic stunning building, well worth a visit

J.

Lovely museum, went with our 6 year old who enjoyed it too.

S. G.

Really interesting tour and a lovely cafe for lunch

M. T.

Have really good outside catering facilities and helpful staff.

s. g.

Very olde world, a beautiful place to visit or even get married there, full of character and charm.

K. W.

Amazing venue, we attended a brilliant wedding here. I need to return when sober to take it in properly.

B. 3. C. O.

Full of fascinating history, very interesting

B. P.

Good outdoor cafe whilst Covid issues. Ploughman's lunch looked good

R. M.

Great place to learn about the history of the merchant adventurers.

A. b.

Lovely setting obviously not well known as a little off the beaten track. Very tasty cakes and treats

L. B.

Fabulous well kept piece of history

R. H.

Great old place, steeped in history.

L. F.

Really nice to explore, however it was quite expensive for what it actually was. Loved the main hall, really impressive.

M. K.

A touch expensive in the cafe but the delicious scones made it okay, just.

C. M.

Fascinating bit of York's history. Great cafe there too.

T. E.

Historic site in York, well worth a visit. Instructive on development to modern times.

K. B.

Well preserved medieval hall with an interesting history. Part of the York Pass so we went in on a whim when passing and were glad we did.

S. F.

Nice pleasant service in a nice tudor building very historic

K. M.

Nice historic place lots of history

T. W.

Lovely surroundings too sit in and very friendly staff. Cakes are excellent as well.

A. E.

Gorgeous venue and newly opened cafe for visitors during the day.

T. P.

we attended a wedding at this stunning historic location. The food was superb

C. B.

Very interesting place, lots of reading but also recorded guides. Lots of York history.

C. B.

Stunning venue, surrounded by history. Such a treasure to have survived in the heart of York.

M. L.

Amazing piece of history hidden in the city. The architecture and history of the hall is a must see!

L. K.

Pretty neat

S. W.

A wonderful place to take a break from seeing the sights of York, however, the options offered are limited.

A. D.

Very interesting. We'll worth a visit

M. C.

Very well organised in this time of covid. Good coffee and cakes.

T. C.

Its a lovely building some 400 years old

K. W.

Fantastic café. Didn't visit the building but looked interesting.

F. B.

Most impressive medieval guild Hall. Excellent free audio guide : I recommend you use it, to understand the history.

L. O.

Very interesting.Also lovely respite at the cafe away from bussling city.

A. Z.

Absolute gem of a place in a wonderful city. Great ploughman's too!

A. K.

Exterior looks revamped and no longer feels the heritage.

S. B.

Ideal place for coffee just after getting off the Grimston Bar park and ride bus.

M. S.

This is a lovely historic building and grounds, with plenty of history to tell.

P. C.

Very nice lunch here in the café. Never actually got.into the hall!

H. A.

Amazing old building with great story to tell. One of the jewels in York's crown.

S.

Beautiful historic building, well worth a visit.

G. M.

Wow, amazing survivor from a very bygone age 👍😎

G. G.

A very nice museum in a great historical city.

E. F.

Such an interesting story about York's entrepreneurs and their influence and charitable work

J. P.

Fantastic

A. L.

Fascinating place .very interesting.

U. D. K.

Very interesting historical place to visit. Can be done in 1 hour.

R. R.

Nice place for tea and cake

P. D.

Beautiful place great coffee and delicious scones

m. h.

Grate service good coffee and scone.

L. h.

Beautiful building. Great coffee at Cafe no.8

R. H.

Amazingly well preserved 14th century building, still serving its original owner, the guild of merchant adventurers of york

J. C.

Informative with audio or paper guide. Friendly staff and lovely cafe

D. D.

Great venue for a group function. Lovely food and great staff.

M. W.

Fabulous building and good coffee

c. r.

Impressive hall, need to see it in person, interesting nooks, lovely rooms

k. B.

Lovely place to have a quick bite to eat and a coffee

M. B.

I went here for the Viking market so I can't say what the whole hall is like, but the bits of it I saw were very nice.

l. u.

A hidden gem. We used the audio sets to explore. They were very informative.

P. K.

Wonderful medieval Hall. We had a magnificent dinner here

B. T.

Could have more information dotted about but really cool to visit.

C. W.

Brilliant place! Fantastic history, don't miss this.

L. H.

Well would a visit lovely cafe

R. L.

Great place

S. R.

A must see if you are visiting York. Nice Cafe

R. F.

Very interesting. A great building and interesting history

A. B.

Served by Karen, she's absolutely brilliant.

R. D.

Wonderful medieval building

S. L.

Economic importance to York and it's still functioning... should be number one on everyone's list

X. F.

It's really worth to visit. Amazing place.

W. C.

Been when you could see everything also with 10th century market on good both times

P. (.

Studding building and architecture. A warm and friendly place to hold your function.

R. C.

Stunning old building, well worth a visit.

M. A.

Lovely historical sight reasonably priced ticket

F. D.

Loads of history good for a reception but poor drink choices

D. L.

Incredibly historic building with lessons to learn for today's entrepreneurs.

E. T.

Beautiful place absolutely fantastic and very interesting.

K. C.

Lovely Hall, we nipped in for a cuppa in their cafe.

J. r.

Very interesting and the hand held commentary is well done.

S. W.

Lovely coffee and service

A.

Very big and interesting hall.

P. E.

Historical, well located in Fossgate, super garden and cafe

j. c.

Very nice friendly staff, lovely place to eat

G. U.

Cracking ploughmans and good coffee. Staff are lovely.

D. P.

Chilled out gardens, nice scones n cream 😎

G. E.

Real place of character especially for a wedding. Only one minis the bar.

L. S.

Amazing, has a lovely coffee house.

D.

Very interesting old building c14 century.

D. H.

Fabulous old guildhall with plenty of history and a fantastic place to hold a function

M. C.

Lovely place for a function

M. M.

Really pleasant place for a cup of tea and a bun

S. F.

I called in yere during the Viking Festival to buy things for my kit as I am a re-enactor.

W. W.

Absolutely stunning! If in York you must see this.

J. L.

Very interesting, well dìsplayed historic exhibits

A. E.

Quite a surprise, fun little historical site that is still in use today!

I. T.

Only went in for a coffee and slice of cake, wasn't disappointed

M. N.

Free audio tour with cost of admission. Great experience

S. R.

Interesting place to look round, abit expensive for what it is only reason it gets 4 stars

J. B.

Loved it a beautiful hall full of history

c. m.

Came here for a wedding, a really nice venue.

R. P.

One of my very favorite buildings in Europe.

D. C.

Well worth the visit. Buy a York card

C. M.

Beautiful location for events would highly recommend

D.

A beautiful historic building in the stunning and historic York.

G. R.

Came across by accident a truely historic treasure. A must see place.

S. A.

Didn't actually go into the hall but went to the cafe which was quite nice and cheap in prices ☕🍵🍰

W. K.

Always great service and coffee, in a tranquil setting

B. v. d. A.

Nice place, worth a visit. Takes about an hour

M. M.

Got married here, so usually try to visit on our anniversary.

D. R.

It showed the past and gave you an idea of how they used to live

H. X.

pretty cool museum with lots of history

D. S.

Hated history at school but seeing places like this makes it so very different.

S. O.

Incredible building

A. W.

Unique, beautiful building with interesting history.

E. B.

Nice stopover for coffee and cakes in a busy York day

T. J.

Well presented, an informative experience

N. A.

Impressive, if somewhat disconcertingly bowed wooden floor.

J. W.

Great attraction

J. M.

Beautiful place and food

V. L.

Well worth a look at the history of early merchant venture capitalists

K. S.

Fantastic old building full of history

j. b.

Good price good food good staff genuine italian

C. B.

How beautiful!!!

S. A.

What an informative visit.

C.

Very good. Hundreds of years of York history.

J. B.

Fantastic building, amazing architecture

C. H.

Well worth a visit. A hidden gem.

B. J.

A nice look into the history of the building and the merchants.

Contact

Photos