York is a historic city in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the ancient Romans and is steeped in history; York is a walled city with lots to see and do. A couple of years ago, in May 2021, I stayed in York as part of a small trip around the North of England. It was a lovely couple of days and, although we only visited for 2 nights, it was enough to see most of the sights that York has to offer. If you’re looking for a day out, or are staying for a longer period, York is a great place to visit. I’m going to share with you what we got up to during our trip to hopefully give you some inspiration for your next visit. I hope this gives you an insight into what this glorious historic city has to offer.
Walk down the River Ouse
The river that runs through York is called the Ouse. It is the sixth longest river in the UK so it spans a lot further than the boundaries of York however, the walk alongside the river within the city is lovely. It is always nice to take that step outside of the hustle and bustle of an inner city, especially during the tourist months as York can get very busy during the summer. I would always recommend walking if you are able, but there are sightseeing tours down the river by boat if that would be preferable. Remember to look back at the view of the city skyline from the banks!
Visit York Minster
This is rather an obvious selection as York Minster is potentially the most famous landmark within the city. It is one of the largest Gothic Cathedrals in Northern Europe. Whether you can appreciate the religious history of the Minster or not, taking in the architecture of the building is also well worth it. Again, this is a tourist hotspot so be prepared for it be busy. We did not stick around for long because of that and didn’t head inside. It is £16 to enter the Minster1.
Chill at the College Green
One of my personal favourite spots to sit and eat lunch was York’s College Green. During our visit, they had a colourful York sign here which was great for a photograph and there were children playing in the sunshine and people just generally relaxing. I’m not sure if this sign is still there but regardless, this is a good lunch spot. If you’re getting a bit tired of doing all those steps exploring the city, come here and have a rest on the grass!
Have a Yorkshire Pudding Wrap
The lunch that we ate at the College Green was a Yorkshire Pudding Wrap. These are pretty iconic to York and I knew I had a try one. As a Yorkshire girl, I do love a Yorkshire pudding and essentially, this is a roast dinner in a wrap but the wrap is the Yorkshire pudding. I believe you can get these in other places in the country now but they did begin to gain popularity in York by The York Roast Co. To be honest, I wouldn’t be clamouring to have another one of these anytime soon but, I’m glad I got to try one in its home city and would recommend you give it a try too.
Visit the Shambles & Shambles Market
The Shambles are the quaint cobblestoned streets that everyone imagines when they think of York. They are home to many independent shops; particularly famous ones include The Shop That Must Not Be Named and The York Ghost Merchants. On weekends and during the summer months you can expect these streets to be teeming with people and to queue to enter some of Shambles most famous shops. As well as the shops, there is a daily market called Shambles Market. This market has been around a long time as it first began in the 1950s after a portion of The Shambles was demolished. The open space is now used for the market. It is well worth exploring both of these areas but, like I said, don’t expect it to be easy to navigate when it is busy.
Clifford’s Tower
Unfortunately, this tower was covered in scaffolding when we visited. Clifford’s Tower is a 13th century castle keep located in the centre of York. It was previously used as a prison but is now an English Heritage site for visitors to the city to explore. It is £8.60 for an adult to enter the Tower without a donation and £5.00 for a child. I can’t comment on whether or not this is worth the price tag to enter but it is not a huge site. I personally didn’t enter the Tower or get a good look at it because of the scaffolding but, if you’re looking to fully explore the history of York then it may be worth a visit.
Walk along the City Walls
As I said earlier, York is a walled city and a large portion of the wall remains for visitors to walk around. The city has extended beyond the wall since it was first founded of course but, it is still worth a walk around. Admittedly, we didn’t walk the full stretch of the wall as it does get a little repetitive. That being said, there are information boards around and its a lot less busy up there than on the streets below. You can pop onto the wall at various places through the city and its well worth a look, even if you don’t complete the full walk like us.
Wander around Museum Gardens
Another fabulous green space to walk around in the city is the Museum Gardens. This is also home to the St Mary’s Abbey ruins which are another interesting part of York’s history as the abbey was first built in 1088. These are botanical gardens so are home to lots of wonderful wildlife and plants, plus they’re free to enter. We didn’t spend a lot of time here but it is nice for a wander around.
Visit the Railway Museum
Moving onto the museums of York. York is home to the National Railway Museum which displays the history of the railway in the UK, including the changes in technology and mechanics that have made our train what they are today. There are lots of old trains and engines here to have a look at and board. This year also marks 100 years of the Flying Scotsman locomotive which is owned by the National Railway Museum. Events are being held to celebrate the centenary. The main selling point of this museum is that it is completely free to enter!
Visit Jorvik
Jorvik is a viking centre and museum in York. It is a staple school trip for a lot of people in the Yorkshire area or, at least it was when I was a child. I remember finding it both interesting and a little scary when I went many many years ago. I still wanted to add it onto the list though as it is a great family activity for those visiting York. It would also be a perfect addition to a rainy day visit. It is a fully immersive experience with displays and interactive elements. The inspiration for the centre came when, in 1978, the Coppergate Dig (an archeological dig) uncovered the Viking history beneath York. In 1984, Jorvik opened its doors to visitors. Entrance fees are £15.00 for an adult and £10.50 for children up to the age of 16 however, there is the option of family tickets too2. Opening times vary month on month so do check the website if you want to visit Jorvik during your time in York.
York is a popular tourist city but, the beauty and historic nature of the city is worth navigating the crowds for. If you can avoid weekends then weekdays are the best time to visit.
Amie x
1https://yorkminster.org/visit/plan-your-visit/#admission-prices
2https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/visit/plan-your-visit/
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