How long is the train from Thirsk to York?

Between 16 and 23 minutes, roughly hourly, on TransPennine Express or Grand Central. LNER trains pass through Thirsk without stopping, so check the operator when you book.

How far is Thirsk station from the town centre?

About a mile and a half west, at Carlton Miniott. It is a flat 25 to 30 minute walk into the market place, or a short taxi. There is no rank at the station, so book ahead if you are arriving by train.

How much does the bus cost?

A 3 single-fare cap applies across North Yorkshire until 31 March 2027, so most journeys from Thirsk cost 3 each way.

Where can I park in Thirsk?

The Market Place is the closest and the first hour is free. Marage Road and Millgate are both pay and display, three or four minutes away. Market days are Monday and Saturday, when the square fills early.

Can I visit the abbeys without a car?

For now, by car. The Moorsbus M5 linked Thirsk with Coxwold, Byland Abbey, Ampleforth and Helmsley on weekends and bank holidays, and its season ended on 27 September 2026.

Which days out work without a car?

York and Ripon are straightforward. Castle Howard, Pickering and Beningbrough are possible with a change at York. The western Dales, Brimham Rocks and Mount Grace Priory really do need a car from Thirsk.

Getting around

Trains, buses and where to leave the car

Thirsk is on the East Coast Main Line and a couple of minutes off the A19, which makes it an easier base than people expect. Here is what actually runs, how long it takes and what it costs.

Plan a day in Thirsk Find the cafe

By train

From Thirsk station

Thirsk station's platforms and the East Coast Main Line from the footbridge, with shelters on both sides — Thirsk station, at Carlton Miniott

Train times from Thirsk
To	Time	How often	Notes
York	16 to 23 min	Roughly hourly	TransPennine Express and Grand Central. York is the hub for onward buses to Castle Howard, Pickering and Beningbrough.
Northallerton	About 10 min	Roughly hourly	County town, with markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Leeds	About 45 min	Roughly hourly	Usually a change at York.

LNER trains do not stop at Thirsk, so book TransPennine Express or Grand Central.
The station is about a mile and a half west of the market place, at Carlton Miniott. Allow 25 to 30 minutes on foot, flat all the way, or take a taxi.
There is no taxi rank at the station. The rank in town is by the clock on the market place.

Fares move about, so check National Rail for today's price.

By bus

The routes that actually run

Bus routes from Thirsk
Route	Where it goes	How often
70 / X70Hodgsons	Thirsk to Ripon, and Thirsk to NorthallertonCalls at the market place, the racecourse and the railway station, and terminates at Ripon bus station. The easiest car-free trip out of Thirsk after the train.	About 5 journeys a day, Monday to Saturday
30 / 30XCoastliner	Thirsk to YorkAbout 55 to 75 minutes, so the train is quicker if you are only going to York.	Roughly hourly, Monday to Saturday
153Local service	Thirsk to NorthallertonAlso serves the railway station, infrequently.	Limited, Monday to Saturday
M5 MoorsbusMoorsbus CIC	Stokesley to Helmsley via Northallerton, Thirsk, Coxwold, Byland Abbey and Ampleforth, starting from Stockton on Sundays and bank holidaysThe one bus that reaches the abbeys. It runs east towards Helmsley and the Moors, not west into the Dales. For Rievaulx, change to the M4 at Helmsley.	Weekends and bank holidays only, 3 April to 27 September 2026. That season has ended.

A 3 single-fare cap applies across North Yorkshire until 31 March 2027, so most of these journeys cost 3 each way.
From York you can pick up the CastleLine 181 to Castle Howard, the Coastliner 840 to Pickering and Whitby, and the 80 to Newton-on-Ouse for Beningbrough Hall.

By car

Where to park

Market Place

First hour free, then pay and display

On our doorstep

Marage Road

Pay and display

About 3 minutes

Millgate

Pay and display

About 4 minutes

Thirsk sits a couple of minutes off the A19 and about ten from the A1(M), which is why so many people stop here on the way to somewhere else.
Market days are Monday and Saturday. The square fills early and traffic slows, so come before ten or park on Marage Road.
Two places worth knowing about before you set off: Sutton Bank charges 3.90 for up to two hours and 6.20 beyond that, by card or PayByPhone only, and the signal up there is poor so set the app up before you arrive. Aysgarth Falls is 3 for an hour or 5 for the day.

A Thirsk taxi line is 01845 524358. There is a rank by the clock on the market place, but none at the railway station, so book ahead if you are arriving by train.

Without a car

What you can reach on public transport

Worked out route by route rather than guessed. If a day out needs a car, we say so rather than sending you on a three-change journey that does not connect.

York
No car needed
Direct train, 16 to 23 minutes. Everything worth seeing is walkable from the station.
Ripon
No car needed
The 70 or X70 from the market place, several times a day Monday to Saturday.
Northallerton
No car needed
Train, about 10 minutes, or the 70/X70.
Byland Abbey, Coxwold, Ampleforth and Helmsley
Car needed
A car for now. The Moorsbus M5 served them on weekends and bank holidays, and its season ended on 27 September 2026.
Castle Howard and the arboretum opposite
Possible, with a change
Train to York, then the CastleLine 181. The arboretum is across the road from the house.
Pickering and the Moors Railway
Possible, with a change
Train to York, then the Coastliner 840. A long day, so start early.
Beningbrough Hall
Possible, with a change
Train to York, then the 80 to Newton-on-Ouse and about a mile on foot.
Rievaulx Abbey
Car needed
A car for now. In season it is the Moorsbus M5 to Helmsley, then the M4, and that season ended on 27 September 2026.
Sutton Bank
Car needed
A car for now. In season it is the Moorsbus M5 to Helmsley, then the M4, and that season ended on 27 September 2026.
Mount Grace Priory
Car needed
Nearest station is Northallerton, six miles away, with no useful bus.
Brimham Rocks
Car needed
Only via a Harrogate bus to Summerbridge and a mile and a half on foot, or the seasonal 825 Dalesbus.
The Forbidden Corner, Middleham, Aysgarth and Wensleydale
Car needed
The Moorsbus runs east to Helmsley, not west into the Dales. These need a car from Thirsk.

Questions people ask

Getting to Thirsk, answered

How long is the train from Thirsk to York?: Between 16 and 23 minutes, roughly hourly, on TransPennine Express or Grand Central. LNER trains pass through Thirsk without stopping, so check the operator when you book.
How far is Thirsk station from the town centre?: About a mile and a half west, at Carlton Miniott. It is a flat 25 to 30 minute walk into the market place, or a short taxi. There is no rank at the station, so book ahead if you are arriving by train.
How much does the bus cost?: A 3 single-fare cap applies across North Yorkshire until 31 March 2027, so most journeys from Thirsk cost 3 each way.
Where can I park in Thirsk?: The Market Place is the closest and the first hour is free. Marage Road and Millgate are both pay and display, three or four minutes away. Market days are Monday and Saturday, when the square fills early.
Can I visit the abbeys without a car?: For now, by car. The Moorsbus M5 linked Thirsk with Coxwold, Byland Abbey, Ampleforth and Helmsley on weekends and bank holidays, and its season ended on 27 September 2026.
Which days out work without a car?: York and Ripon are straightforward. Castle Howard, Pickering and Beningbrough are possible with a change at York. The western Dales, Brimham Rocks and Mount Grace Priory really do need a car from Thirsk.

Times and routes checked 15 August 2026. Operators change timetables, so confirm before you travel. Tell us if something here is out of date.

Arriving hungry

We are on the market place, a few minutes from every car park and half an hour on foot from the station. See the menu or plan the day before you set off.