Merchant Adventurers' Hall

The basics

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is open to the public who can explore the oak-beamed Great Hall where members gathered both for business and social events. Visitors can also check out the Undercroft, which served as a hospital for the sick, and the chapel. It’s possible to tour the hall independently or with the aid of a free audio guide, which is included in the admission fee. Some tours of the historic center of York make stops at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall as well as sights such as York Minster, the Shambles, and Jorvik Viking Centre. Entry to the hall is included with select York sightseeing passes.

Things to know before you go

• Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is a must for history buffs.
• An on-site café serves coffee and food.
• Allow 45–60 minutes for your visit.
• The hall is wheelchair accessible through the Fossgate entrance.

How to get there

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is in York city center, less than 5 minutes’ walk from Jorvik Viking Centre and about 15 minutes from York station. Enter via Fossgate or Piccadilly.

When to get there

The hall is open daily, but closes early on Saturdays. Peak visitor season is in summer, between June and August. The first hour after opening and the last hour before closing are the most peaceful times to visit.

York’s Medieval Marvels

For an even greater understanding of York in the Middle Ages, head for the nearby Barley Hall, a timber-framed building that has been painstakingly reconstructed to appear as it would have in medieval times. The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar, one of the original medieval entrance points to the city, and the Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar (another medieval-era gate), also chronicle chapters from York’s medieval past.