It used to be the first port of call for thousands of York visitors every summer.
But now the long-empty former Visit York HQ is up for sale for £1.25 million.
This historic building on the corner of Museum Street and Blake Street dates back to 1860 and commands “spectacular views of the west front of York Minster” from its first floor boardroom.
Owner York Conservation Trust has put it on the market. It bought the property for £700,000 (plus £122,500 VAT) in March 2010.
After restoring the two-storey building, the trust then leased it to City of York Council for use as the Tourism Information Centre. When Visit York was created, it used the building as its HQ.
That organisation moved to smaller offices on Parliament Street post Covid, in December 2020.
And 1 Museum Street has been empty ever since.
History of the building
1860 – Built in Italianate style to designs by Rawlins Gould, 1A Museum Street began as the offices of the York Poor Law Board of Guardians. The spacious entrance hall has a handsome stone staircase decorated with a cast-iron balustrade supplied by the renowned Walker Foundry of York
1929 – Became the HQ of the York Public Assistance Office after the York Poor Law Union was abolished
1951-1984 – home to the York Festival Office
1984 – York City Council offices
2010 – Bought and restored by York Conservation Trust, and leased to the council for use as the Tourism Information Centre / Visit York HQ
2020 – Visit York moves out and the building falls empty
Source: York Conservation Trust
On its website, York Conservation Trust says: “Today, smart phone technology and instant access to information has meant that the large building was not required for the Tourist Information Centre, which subsequently downsized to a much smaller building on Parliament Street in 2020.
“Currently, no. 1 Museum Street is awaiting its next tenant and chapter of its history.”
Now, though, the trust is looking to sell it completely. Offers “in excess of £1.25m” are wanted, say Stapleton Warehouse, which is marketing the property.
The commanding Grade II listed building, with its 11-bay brick-and-stone exterior has 5,775 sq ft office space.
It’s annual rates bill is £31,115. If you want to make an offer, you can find all the details on the Stapleton Warehouse website.