# University of York campus
**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
### [Visit campus at an Open Day](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/visit/)
### [Explore student accommodation](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/accommodation/)
### [Interactive campus map](https://www.york.ac.uk/map/)
### [How to get to campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/transport-maps-parking/)
York is a campus university renowned for its green spaces and lakes.
Our campus is home to an abundance of wildlife, hundreds of works of art, and plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. It's located within walking distance of York's historic city centre. The campus has grown significantly since the first of our buildings rose from Heslington's marshes at the beginning of the 1960s. Today, we continue to invest in our campus to ensure it's a great place to live, study and work.
## Related links
- [AccessAble guides](https://www.accessable.co.uk/university-of-york)
- [The Quiet Place](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/quiet-place/)
- [Campus Safety](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/campus-safety/)
- [Art on campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/)
- [History of the University](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/)
- [Opening times](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/opening-times/)
500 acres of green space
with ponds, gardens, parkland and two lakes.
[Green Flag-awarded campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/about/awards-recognition/)
since 2013, in recognition of the quality of our green spaces.
[20+ places to eat and drink](https://www.york.ac.uk/eat-drink-shop/)
across campus, plus two supermarkets.
## Campus photo highlights
Our campus is home to many landmarks including listed buildings, colleges and Central Hall.
Heslington Hall is a Grade II\* listed building, constructed as a country house in 1568. It was rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries, and formed part of [our foundations](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/foundations/).
Central Hall is a tiered auditorium and has a capacity of 1,190. It's used for graduations, concerts, conferences and other events.
Greg's Place is a outdoor lakeside community space located next to Central Hall. Opened in 2016, it's named after our former Chancellor, Greg Dyke.
The JB Morrell Library houses most of our collections, including over 1 million print items.
The [Quiet Place](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/quiet-place/) is an area of stillness and quiet in the grounds of Heslington Hall.
[Derwent College](https://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/derwent/) is one of our two founding colleges. It was opened in 1965 by Queen Elizabeth II and is named after the River Derwent.
[Anne Lister College](https://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/anne-lister/) is one of our newest colleges and the first to be named after a woman, as well as someone who was part of the LGBTQ+ community.
[York Sport Village](https://www.york-sport.com/) facilities include a competition-standard 25 metre swimming pool, Astroturf pitches, fitness suites and gym.
Growing in a courtyard garden within the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology lives a remnant of Isaac Newton's past - [an ancient apple tree](https://www.york.ac.uk/physics-engineering-technology/about/newtons-apple-tree/).
The Piazza Building offers Starbucks coffee in its cafe and a range of hot food options in its restaurant, including noodle bowls, burritos and more.
The Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall has some of the finest acoustics for instrumental and vocal performance in the north of England. It hosts performances by professional visiting artists, as well as University ensembles, orchestras and choirs.
[David Kato College](https://www.york.ac.uk/colleges/david-kato/) is our newest college and has been designed to optimise views of the beautiful landscape and surrounding lake.
[Walk the Solar System](https://www.york.ac.uk/physics-engineering-technology/outreach/astrocampus/walk-solar-system/) on campus with our trail and discover scale replicas of the planets.
## Facilities on campus
### [Library and archives](https://www.york.ac.uk/library/)
### [Conferences](https://yorkconferences.com/)
### [York Sport](https://www.york-sport.com/)
### [Free wifi](https://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/tools/wifi/)
## Eat, drink and shop
Campus has a great range of shops and eateries. These are open to students, staff and the public. Grab a takeaway coffee, stock up on grocery essentials, purchase University of York official merchandise, or catch up with friends over a meal at one of our cafés and restaurants.
Profits from our Eat, Shop and Drink outlets are reinvested into the University to improve the facilities and services for all across campus.
- [Eat and drink](https://www.york.ac.uk/eat-drink-shop/eat-drink/)
- [Shop](https://www.york.ac.uk/eat-drink-shop/shopping-services/)
## Wildlife on campus
Wildlife is everywhere on campus. Our lakes and wetlands make it a popular place for many species of birds including ducks, geese, swans, grebes, moorhens, coots and herons. Rabbits and squirrels are a regular sight across our parkland.
[Long Boi](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/long-boi/), an unusually tall male duck much loved by staff and students and a favourite of BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James,called our campus his home. The [Long Boiology](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/biology-art-trail/) art trail celebrates the longest duck on the lake and the outstanding research and education that goes on in the Department of Biology.
## Campus trails
### Tree trails
Campus is home to over 70 different tree species, both native and non-native to the British Isles. Discover more about them with our guided walking tree trails, a great way to explore campus in all four seasons.
- [Campus native tree trail (PDF](https://www.york.ac.uk/media/abouttheuniversity/campus/Campus-native-tree-trail.pdf " (opens in a new window)")
- [Campus non-native tree trail (PDF](https://www.york.ac.uk/media/abouttheuniversity/sustainability/images/Campus-non-native-tree-trail.pdf "Campus non-native tree trail 2023 (opens in a new window)")
### All trails
- [Art of Politics trail](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/art-of-politics/)
- [Biology Art trail](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/biology-art-trail/)
- [Nature walk](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/campus-operations/health-and-wellbeing/)
- [Sculpture trail](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/)
- [Self-guided walking tour](https://www.york.ac.uk/york-giving/get-involved/volunteer/reunion/)
- [Walk the Solar system](https://www.york.ac.uk/physics-engineering-technology/outreach/astrocampus/walk-solar-system/)
- [YorActive trail](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/campus-operations/health-and-wellbeing/)
## Art on campus
Art has always been part of our University. Our collection has grown to encompass over 900 artworks, including works from acclaimed artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Sidney Nolan.
In January 2022, we appointed out first Art Curator and a new era began for art on campus, opening up our collection to visitors and interdisciplinary collaborations.
[Explore our art collection](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/)
## Public events and opportunities
Head to campus and enjoy one of our many public events, lectures or concerts throughout the year.
### [Open lectures](https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/public-lectures/)
Free open lectures on a wide variety of topics and aimed at a general audience.
### [Festival of Ideas](http://www.yorkfestivalofideas.com/)
Offering a huge range of stimulating and diverse events for all ages and interests.
### [YorkTalks](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/events/yorktalks/)
An annual research showcase featuring short, accessible, 15-minute presentations.
### [York Concerts](https://yorkconcerts.co.uk/)
Our annual concert series features acclaimed artists as well as student ensembles.
## Explore campus with our student vlogs
Discover more about what campus has to offer from our students.
Video
### [My favourite study spaces on campus](#uoy_modal_youtube_embed_1069191_1)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXWv1Kb9xZo&list=PLdH6wCr3OSkWy1EIDV492okNmFes4mUcE>
Video
### [Sports facilities on campus](#uoy_modal_youtube_embed_1069191_2)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rj4oOxXdI8>
Video
### [My favourite places on campus](#uoy_modal_youtube_embed_1069191_3)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEHkg1vZtjQ&list=PLdH6wCr3OSkWy1EIDV492okNmFes4mUcE&index=3>
Video
### [Quirky campus tour](#uoy_modal_youtube_embed_1069191_4)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXkBhn8ra5k&list=PLdH6wCr3OSkWy1EIDV492okNmFes4mUcE&index=5>
## Fun campus facts
Jimi Hendrix
performed on campus in 1967 and has a hall named after him.
Anne Lister
went to school at King's Manor at the start of the 19th century and has a college named after her.
The Buddha sculpture on campus
is gifted with coins by students hoping for luck in exams.
## History of our campus
What should a university be, how should it grow, how do its activities interact, and how do people move about? These were the questions Sir Andrew Derbyshire, the University's first project architect, answered in his innovative development plan of the University in 1962. It envisioned an informal, predominantly car-free environment, with covered pathways and college buildings which integrated academic, social and residential activities.
The University opened in 1963 with three buildings. By the end of the 1960s, it had grown to include five colleges, three laboratories, Central Hall, the JB Morrell Library, a sports hall and the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. Many of our original buildings are now recognised as some of the most iconic displays of Brutalism in the UK.
When we started planning the Campus East expansion in the early 2000s, we looked back at Derbyshire’s original plan. We decided to use its key ideas again, focusing on community and landscape as the heart of the new development.
- [History of the University](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/)
- [Investing in our campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/campus-investment/)
- [Sir Andrew Derbyshire](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/people/andrew-derbyshire/)
A model plan of the University.
## Rules of campus
To help maintain the standard of our campus please:
- keep dogs on leads at all times
- only take assistance dogs into buildings
- stick to the paths and walkways
- use your bike on designated cycle routes.
Read our [Rules of the use of campus grounds (PDF](https://www.york.ac.uk/media/abouttheuniversity/campus/UoY_Campus_Rules_2017.pdf "Rules of the use of campus grounds (opens in a new window)") for more information.
York city guide
Find out more about contemporary and historic York.
[Explore our city guide](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/student-life/york-yorkshire/)
Living on campus
Student accommodation is centred around 11 colleges.
[Discover our range of rooms](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/accommodation/)
Staying on campus
Accommodation for visiting academics is available on campus.
[Apply to stay on campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/accommodation/visitors/)
Campus Safety
Our Campus Safety team support everyone on campus.
[Stay safe on campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/campus-safety/)
## Related links
- [AccessAble guides](https://www.accessable.co.uk/university-of-york)
- [The Quiet Place](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/quiet-place/)
- [Campus Safety](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/campus-safety/)
- [Art on campus](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/)
- [History of the University](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/history/)
- [Opening times](https://www.york.ac.uk/about/opening-times/)