The red brick and stone front of York Explore Library and Archive in York, with LIBRARY and ARCHIVE banners beside the columned entrance
Photo: Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Looking up through the oval light well inside York Explore Library in York to a round glass lantern, with iron railings and globe lamps
Photo: Malcolmxl5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Facts at a glance
- All ages
- Toilets
- Baby changing
- Café
York
England
YO1 7DS
United Kingdom
Quick answer
York Explore is a city centre library and archive just off Museum Street, with free drop-in storytimes for under 5s and a family-friendly café. It is indoors and open seven days a week, so it suits a rainy day. Explore says anyone can come in without joining, and joining is free if you live, work or study in York. Storytime is at 10.30am. The York Explore page lists Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, but Explore’s storytimes page lists only Thursdays and Fridays for York. The York Explore page lists no parking spaces, though the AccessAble access guide records 2 Blue Badge bays.
Is it right for my child?
- Babies and under 5s: Explore says storytimes suit 0 to 4s and their grown-ups, sharing stories and rhymes. They are free, with no need to book.
- Stay and Play: York Explore lists a drop-in session every Wednesday from 1pm to 2.30pm. Explore says the toys suit 0 to 3 years, a childcare worker is on hand, and a parent or carer must stay throughout.
- Toy Library: Explore lends story sacks and toys, from ride-on toys to building bricks. Reserve them through the online catalogue.
- Ages 5 to 10: Explore says children who join get free access to books from the children’s library. Explore mentions clubs such as Lego Club at some libraries, but the York Explore page does not list one.
- Sensory notes: the AccessAble guide says no background music is played, and notes large repeating patterns on the atrium flooring.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Check the hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
- Aim for storytime at 10.30am. Thursdays and Fridays appear on both official pages. Mondays appear only on the York Explore page, so check before a Monday visit.
- Join in person. Explore says membership is free at any age if you live, work or study in York.
- Do not drive expecting a space. The York Explore page lists no parking spaces. The AccessAble guide records 2 Blue Badge bays, so call ahead if you rely on one.
- Need the Changing Places toilet? The AccessAble guide says the key comes from staff.
- Plan lunch early. The café closes before the library every day.
Prices and tickets
The York Explore page says all its listed activities are free unless otherwise stated. Explore says anybody can come in without joining.
- Joining: Explore says it is free at any age if you live, work or study in York. Adults can join online, but a physical card for borrowing print books means a library visit.
- Borrowing: Explore says there is no charge to borrow books. Members can borrow up to 20 books at a time, for three weeks.
- Late books: Explore’s under 5s pages say it does not charge fines for late books. It still asks you to renew or return them on time where possible.
- Toys: Explore says Toy Library items are free to borrow for three weeks.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Getting in: the AccessAble guide notes a very short, steep ramp before the first doors. A second steep ramp with handrails follows the automatic inner doors.
- Lift: a customer lift serves the ground and first floors. The guide gives its size as 109cm by 140cm. The official pages do not mention pushchairs directly.
- Toilets: the guide places the standard and accessible toilets on the first floor, near the lift. It says there is not level access to them, and records a slight ramp after the lift.
- Baby changing: the guide lists a first-floor parent and baby room with a baby change table and a toilet. Staff need to be told before you use it.
Food and drink
York Explore Reading Cafe describes itself as spacious and family-friendly. It serves hot and cold drinks, handmade sandwiches and cakes. The AccessAble guide says you order at the counter.
Café hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 3pm. Food and drink are not allowed in the Archives and Local History area, except lidded drinks in the Family History Room. Explore says York Explore has a garden space where dogs are welcome.
Getting there and parking
- Address: York Explore, Library Square, York YO1 7DS, just off Museum Street.
- By bus: the York Explore page lists Park and Ride buses 2 and 2a and First York buses 5 and 5a, stopping on Museum Street. It says the stop is a minute or two away. Explore’s archives page names First routes 1 and 2 instead, so check before you travel.
- By train: Explore’s archives page says the building is ten minutes’ walk from York railway station.
- By car: the York Explore page says there are no parking spaces, only bicycle storage.
- Blue Badge: the AccessAble guide records 2 Blue Badge bays in front of the building, free for badge holders and not bookable. This differs from the York Explore page, so call before relying on a bay.
When to visit
- Open seven days: Monday to Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
- Under 5s Storytime: 10.30am to 11am, drop-in. The York Explore page lists Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Explore’s storytimes page lists Thursdays and Fridays for York.
- Stay and Play: Wednesdays from 1pm to 2.30pm, drop-in.
- Christmas and New Year: on 12 November 2026, the York Explore and café pages listed no Christmas or New Year hours or closures. Contact the library before a holiday visit.
Additional needs and disability support
These features come from the AccessAble guide linked from the York Explore page, unless stated otherwise.
- Changing Places toilet: ground floor, about 25m from the main entrance, with level access, for the sole use of disabled people. It has a powered overhead hoist and a height-adjustable changing bench. Ask staff for the key, which is not a RADAR key.
- Changing Places limits: the guide says there is not a clear 200cm by 180cm manoeuvring space, and the door may be difficult to open. When surveyed, its emergency pull cord was out of reach and the floor was not non-slip.
- Accessible toilet: on the first floor, with a RADAR key from staff or a volunteer. The guide says that when surveyed, its emergency alarm was not fully functional and the cord was out of reach.
- Hearing: the Marriott Room has a fixed hearing loop, which could not be tested when surveyed in March 2024. Library reception has no hearing assistance system.
- Assistance dogs: Explore says registered assistance dogs are welcome.
- Not mentioned: the official pages do not list relaxed or sensory storytimes. The guide says a BSL-trained staff member is not normally on duty.
Frequently asked questions
Is York Explore library free to visit?
Yes. Explore says anybody can come in without joining. It says joining is free for anyone who lives, works or studies in York.
When is storytime at York Explore?
Under 5s Storytime runs from 10.30am to 11am, free and drop-in. The York Explore page lists Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, while Explore’s storytimes page lists only Thursdays and Fridays.
Is there baby changing at York Explore?
The AccessAble guide lists a first-floor parent and baby room, reached by the lift. Tell staff before you use it.
Is there a Changing Places toilet at York Explore?
Yes. The AccessAble guide places it on the ground floor, with a hoist and adjustable bench, for the sole use of disabled people. It says the key comes from staff.
Can you park at York Explore?
The York Explore page says there are no parking spaces. The AccessAble guide records 2 Blue Badge bays in front of the building. The sources differ, so call before relying on a bay.
Is York Explore open on Sundays?
Yes. The library opens from 11am to 4pm on Sundays, and the café from 11am to 3pm.
Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Explore York pages for York Explore, York Explore Reading Cafe, storytimes, Stay and Play and joining the library, plus the AccessAble access guide. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
Map and directions
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