The Ultimate Guide to York in England

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Welcome to my perfect guide to all things York with tons of things to do in York.

I love York, I’ve lived here since 2018 and there’s something about this city that still takes my breath away when I walk past the York Minster.

I will never get tired of exploring new pubs (or going to the same pubs), and I can’t help but get “all touristy” when I show my friends around.

It’s an ancient city that was founded by the Romans in 71 AD (before that, the territory belonged to the Brigantes) and has been invaded by the Saxons and the Normans… yep, the Vikings even got in on the action.

York even went through several names before the Vikings came up with Jorvik, which would eventually become York.

Complete Locals Guide to York, England

Yep, York has been through a lot and was even England’s number 2 city right after London in the 1500s. It’s thriving with history, architecture, and beauty.

York offers many things to do, and it can be quite overwhelming if you’ve never been.

I’m going to break down some places to see, things to do, and hopefully give a little variety for kids, teens, couples, and history buffs.

If you’re big in photography, then check out the BEST Photo Spots in York!

How to Get to York, England

Luckily, York is a huge tourist destination, and there are plenty of ways to get to the city center.

By Train: All the major trains go to York (TransPennine, CrossCountry, Northern, London North Eastern…) and York Station is just northwest of the city walls and York Minster. It only takes 2 hours to get to York from London and about 2 1/2 hours from Edinburgh.

I book all my train tickets through Trainline. It’s super easy!

By Bus: There are plenty of buses once you get into York, but getting a bus from outside of town is a little bit difficult, depending on where you are coming from.

It is possible, but you will most likely need to make connections, have long wait times from bus to bus, and have very slim pickings when it comes to the time you want to leave.

By Car: M1 and M62 are the main motorways around York and will only take you 15-20 minutes to get to the city. Please note that it is pretty expensive to park in the city if you are going to be there for more than a couple of hours or on the weekend.

If you don’t have a hotel with free parking, then you are probably better off using the Park and Ride spots that are just outside of the city center.

It’s free to park, and you pay once you get on the bus. There are stops all over the city center, no matter what Park and Ride location you choose. But check out their website and you can choose the right location for your needs and convenience.

Getting Around the City: Once you are there, getting around the city is really easy. Yes, there are tons of buses and taxis, but you might as well walk. It takes about 15 minutes to get from one end of the city walls to the other. You will honestly end up waiting longer for a bus than it takes to just walk there.

The cool thing is the city center has WiFi, and it’s a pretty good connection, so you can pull up walking maps and get to your location hassle-free.

Note: the WiFi only works on the streets and doesn’t seem to work in any of the businesses or pubs, but most of them have their own WiFi you can use for free.

Where to Stay in York.

There are hotels here that will fit anyone’s budget. Just know that if you stay in the city center, then you will be paying a little bit more, but even if you stay outside of the city, there are plenty of buses to get into the city center.

The Arthouse – Average £200 per night
Railway Terrace, York YO24 4BN
Book the Arthouse here!

I was very lucky to be the first guest to stay at the Arthouse. The location is perfect for couples or friends that want to stay in the city, but want a more local or peaceful stay. This is also great for families that want to rent a house as opposed to a hotel.

The best part about this place? The house features art from local artists, including the homeowner herself!

This newly renovated terrace house is quirky and trendy… ummm hello mini bar and record player! The property is run by Stays York, but it’s so much easier (and cheaper) to book with booking.com!

Grays Court Hotel – Average £200 per night
Chapter House St, York YO1 7JH
Official Website

This is a very classy 5 star hotel and the most expensive choice in York. The building itself dates back to the 11th century and is perfectly located across from the York Minster and next to the city walls.

There are only 11 rooms here, but they are all unique and the bathrooms offer #bathtubgoals. Don’t forget to have some afternoon tea in the garden!

The Grand Hotel and Spa – Average £145 per night
Station Rise, York YO1 6GD
Official Website

This 5-star hotel is located right across from the city walls and it’s a 5-minute walk from the train station (and National Railway Museum). It’s an early 1900s Edwardian building that used to be the headquarters of the North Eastern Railway.

The rooms are cozy yet spacious and the food is de-li-cious. Throw in some afternoon tea and a spa day and you won’t even have to leave the hotel!

Best Western Premier Collection Dean Court Hotel – Average £95 per night
Duncombe Place, York YO1 7EF
Official Website

This 19th century 4-star hotel used to be a clergy house and is a short walk to the York Minster. Seriously. Walk outside and look to your left, it’s right there!! Yes, it’s a Best Western, but it’s not bad.

It’s a boutique-style hotel and has a great award-winning restaurant on site that offers some magical views of York Minster.

The Fort – Average £32 per night for a shared room. Average £70 per night for a private room.
1 Little Stonegate, York YO1 8AX
Official Website

This is a 3-star boutique hostel. I know the word hostel scares a lot of people (even me!), but this one is stylish, comfy, affordable, and in a great location.

You will not get much cheaper than this (even staying outside of the city walls), but this is literally the cheapest accommodation you will find in York.

Where to Eat in York, England

York is filled with a very eclectic foodie scene. Good for you if you like to eat (but who doesn’t?!). There’s a variety of restaurants at every budget level.

If you like Indian, York has some amazing Indian restaurants. If you want afternoon tea, York has some of the best tea rooms. I’m not going to tell you about every place to eat, but I will highlight a few so you can see the variety.

Ambrosia Greek Street Food
The Shambles Market, York YO1 8RY

This authentic Greek food truck, formerly known as Stam and Maria’s Greek Street Food, is located in the The Shambles Marketplace. There is plenty of seating around, although it can feel like a fight with the vultures to get a table on a weekend, it’s totally worth it!

You HAVE to try the chicken gyro, this is my go-to food every time I’m near the Shambles. (Sometimes I go out of my way).

Betty’s Tea Room
6-8 St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 8QP
46 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS

This magical place will give you all the 1920s vibes…. that’s how long they’ve been serving tea!

Betty’s was a staple with the “Bomber Boys” stationed in York during the war and if you walk into the basement, you’ll see the hundreds that inscribed their name into the mirror during the war.

Ye Olde Starre Inne
40 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS

This is one of the most historic pubs in the city and is York’s oldest licensed pub, dating back to 1644.

The steak and ale pie is amazing, and you can grab a pint from their wide selection of beers.

There are multiple cozy and intimate rooms, it’s haunted (of course), and there are two different outdoor areas. What more could you want?!

La Vecchia Scuola
62 Low Petergate, York YO1 7HZ

If you’re looking for a great Italian restaurant, this one is on par.

It’s a great splurge for a budget traveler (main courses are £13.00-£30.00) because it’s high-class dining for less than anywhere you’ll find in London.

Make sure you sit in the conservatory area and order the lobster ravioli… you’ll thank me later.

Things to Do in York, England

The City Walls

Price: Free

These ancient city walls are the most complete in the country that are still standing. It’s free to get on the walls and they close at dusk.

There are multiple entry points around the city including the bars (which were the gatehouses to the city). It’s nice to take an early morning stroll or pre-dinner walk giving you a complete walk-around of the city center.

You also get some great views of the York Minster!

The York Minster

Price: £20.00 for adults. Unlimited return for 12 months.

What can I say about York Minster? It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe and was fully completed in 1472.

Set aside 2 hours to experience York Minster and all its glory. You can climb the tower for an extra £6.00 and get 360 views of the city (beautiful!), but just know that it is 275 steps to the top and they are the awkward tower stairs that go in a circle and make you dizzy!

You can also take one of the free guided tours and learn a little more history about the Minster and then stop by the Undercroft Museum and learn a little more about York’s Roman past.

Treasurer’s House

Price: Starting at £11.00 for standard admission. National Trust members: Free.

The Treasurer’s House is a national trust property that sits in the shadow of the York Minster.

The Treasurer of York Minster lived here from 1091 until the reformation of the Church of England in 1547 (not the original house, however, the walls are original). It was passed through a lot of hands in the next couple of hundred years and almost completely rebuilt in the early 1600s which is what you see today.

The gardens are award-winning and the cellars have a spooky history of ghosts of Roman soldiers marching through (several people have witnessed it and you can even take a tour down there to see if you will spot them for yourself – tours in the cellars are not regular so make sure you check online for availability and times).

The Shambles

Price: Free

This is one of the best preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. Butchers would set up shop from their windows and sell fresh meat. The street is narrow and the houses are super close together (dating back to the 14th century and built to keep the meat out of the sun).

OH, and the shops are super cute… there’s some serious local shopping to be done here!

There is a rumor that this was J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. Even if it wasn’t, it will give all the Harry Potter feels and there are even several Harry Potter shops on this street for you to check out.

Another notable store on this street is York Glass Ltd. This is where you can pick up your very own lucky cat (only about £5.00)… more on the cats later!

*Unfortunately York Glass Ltd. has shut down their shop in The Shambles, but you can still order your lucky cat online!

City Walls Experience

*NEW for 2022*
Price: £3.50 per adult
£6.00 for Museum + Guided Tour

This attraction has replaced the Richard III and Henry VII Experience that was in Micklegate Bar.

The City Walls Experience is York’s newest attraction, and it’s here where you can learn about the 2,000-year history of the walls and the history of Micklegate (this was the entrance into York from the south).

It’s also pretty cool to walk around the rooms that are in the bar (gatehouse).

For a more interactive experience, book the museum and tour. You’ll get a guided tour of a section of the walls and plenty of information to feed your brain!

Fairfax House

Price: £8.50 per adult (ticket valid for a full year after the purchase date)
Guided Tour: £9.50 per adult – Fridays at 11am, 12pm, and 2pm 

Purchased by Lord Fairfax in 1759, this townhouse is a beautiful representation of Georgian architecture, design, and furnishings. Learn about the townhouse’s 250-year history and the people who inhabited it and how they lived (pretty well BTW).

You also find out about all the grand parties that were held in the Georgian period and how city living was back then. Kids will be bored here, but if you’re a history buff, then you’ll love it here!

York’s Chocolate Story

Price: £16 per adult

Here’s one for the chocolate lovers! Seriously.. you learn the art of the chocolatier, you’ll learn how chocolate goes from the bean to bar, and even learn how to taste chocolate like a pro! And if that’s not good enough for you, then you get to MAKE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATE (only available on the last tour of the day).

York made a lot of its money with chocolate back in the day.

Did you know KitKats are made here?! I sure didn’t! You can learn all about the history right here!

Book online to avoid disappointment!! Tours start at 10 am, they are very frequent throughout the day until the last tour, and it only takes about an hour and a half out of your day.

Find the Hidden Snickelways

Huh? What’s a snickelway? My spell check doesn’t know, and neither did I… until I went to York.

They are small alleyways and footpaths that sprout out from the main street but lead you to other streets or secret courtyards with what are now pubs and restaurants.

There was even a book written in 1983 about the snickelways in York! How crazy is that? So clearly you need to find them all!

You can cheat and download a map online, or you can find them on your own!! (Hint: Option 2 is more fun!)

Jorvik Viking Centre

Price: £17.50 per adult

Remember how I mentioned when the Vikings took over, they named the city Jorvik? Yep, the Jorvik center is all about Vikings.

It’s a pretty cool attraction that will take you on a slow (very slow) ride through a Viking village. There’s a mini TV screen in front of you the whole time explaining everything that you are seeing (and smelling).

Once the “ride” is finished, you can walk around and look at all the Viking items on display that have been dug up over the years. There’s also staff on hand, dressed in Viking gear, showing off unusual items and what they were used for.

The staff will even hammer a Viking coin for you to take home!

Tip: Purchase your tickets ahead of time, and you can skip the line.

Clifford’s Tower

Price: £10.00 per adult. English Heritage Members: Free.

Clifford’s Tower is the last remaining part of York Castle. This tower has a dark (VERY dark) history, including the name. It was named after Sir Roger Clifford and he was hanged there!

This tower was built in the mid 1200s because the original wooden tower was burned down with 150 Jewish people in there seeking shelter from an angry mob out to kill them.

Before the mob could get to them, they all killed themselves and the ones that ran were caught by the mob and massacred on the spot. Pretty dark and terrible, right?

On a happier note, Clifford’s Tower just went through a full restoration and revamp! So now floors that were inaccessible are now accessible and you still get the same great views over York!

The River Ouse

Price: Free

The river runs right through the city center and not only does it have some pretty parks along the way, but going for a stroll and checking out all the old buildings and architecture along the river banks is pretty cool.

There are also some pubs along the way if you want to stop and grab a pint.

If you want to spend a little money then you can take one of the city cruise tours for £9.75 per adult, or rent your own little boat for the afternoon.

National Railway Museum

Price: Free

The National Railway Museum is such a cool place… even if you’re not a train nerd!

It’s free entry (with a strongly suggested £5.00 donation) but you can easily spend 2-3 hours here looking at all the cool trains, carriages, and railway memorabilia.

For a big splurge, book afternoon tea on the Countess of York, a full restored rail carriage.

It’s easy to get to and located just outside the city walls (a short walk from the Minster). There’s even a road train (yup, that’s what it’s called) that runs every 20 minutes from outside the Minster to the museum.

York Museum Gardens

Price: Free

These gardens are the perfect getaway from the city center for a little bit. Pack a picnic and enjoy the scenery. Even if you don’t have a picnic, still visit here!

It’s also a filming location used in the Christmas movie, My Dad’s Christmas Date.

You can stroll by the river or admire the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey and don’t forget to take a picture of the Multangular Tower, the most complete of the Roman ruins left in York and part of the original Roman fortress.

Yorkshire Museum

Price: £8.00 per adult

Since you’re already in the gardens, you might as well check out the museum! There’s so much to see here, so set aside at least an hour and a half.

You can explore Yorkshire’s Jurassic past, York’s Roman history, Medieval York and how it became “the capital of the north”, and plenty more!

You’ll even see some more ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey.

Visit a Haunted Pub

OMG. York is filled with haunted pubs. Some claim to be the most haunted in the country. The Golden Fleece takes the award for that title and a ghost hunter TV show even spent the night and filmed some ghostly happenings.

Other ghostly haunts include The Punchbowl, The Snickelway Inn, and The Black Swan.

You can pretty much walk into any pub in York and there will be a ghost story. Talk to the staff and they will let you know the ghostly history of the pub including their own spooky encounters.

York Dungeon

Price: £19.00 per person (when you book online). £20.00 at the door.
*You HAVE to pre-book a timed ticket. If you want anytime entry then it’s £24.00

The dungeons are a chain around the UK and it’s a fun way to learn about the gruesome past of England, which can sometimes be boring if you’re reading an information board.

It’s not just for kids, though; adults enjoy it too!

They even do over 18 nights with alcohol!! It takes about an hour to walk through this fun house.

You go from room to room and each area has a different “show”, whether it’s about the Vikings, the hauntings at the Golden Fleece, the plague, or the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot. You will definitely be entertained.

Barley Hall

Price: £9.50 per adult

The first record of Barley Hall is from the mid-1300s when it was used as a monastic hostel for Nostell Priory.

Since then, it has been through many additions and renovations, so many that the medieval roots have been covered up. In the late 80’s a full restoration started and now it stands with all its Tudor glory.

Explore the great hall, the chambers, and where the servants cooked the grand meals that were served here.

Your ticket is also good for up to 12 months after your purchase date.

York Castle Museum

Price: £17.00 per adult (when booked online)

I am a huge museum nerd and this is unlike any museum I have been in.

There are multiple exhibitions, including The Sixties, 1914, and Toy Stories. You can check out the York Castle Prison (because that’s where it was in the 18th century) and learn about the previous inmates – including Dick Turpin!

The highlight will definitely be Kirkgate: The Victorian Street…. yup, it’s literally a recreated Victorian-style street with businesses to go in, back streets to explore, and plenty of 19th century goods to check out… and the store fronts are THE REAL THING.

Fun fact: This street was the centerpiece of the museum when it opened in 1938.

Oh, and they even did a summer exhibition a few years ago with a personal collection of Vivienne Westwood’s shoes – no joke.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

Price: £7.50 per adult
English Heritage Members: 50% off admission

This guild hall (apparently one of the finest in the world) is a good stop for the history buffs because it’s fully intact from the 14th century and has a wonderful timber ceiling in the great hall.

The hall was built in 1357 by a religious fraternity, which by the 1430s consisted of mercers who set up a trading association and guild.

At one point in time, the undercroft of the hall was used as a hospital for the ill and poor that the guild took care of. They became known as the Merchant Adventurers and the fraternity still exists and meets in the hall today.

York Lucky Cat Trail

Price: Free

York Glass (which I mentioned above) was located in The Shambles and was home to the cat trail. Unfortunately, they closed down during the pandemic, but their website is still going strong! You can download your York Lucky Cat Trail map and bring it with you!

So why cats? York has been associated and fascinated with the luck of cats since York was York.

They were placed on buildings to scare rats and mice away, which carried the plague and also ward off evil spirits and bestow good luck on their inhabitants.

Take this walking tour around York and see if you can spot the cats on buildings… you’ll never notice them without the map, I promise! It’s also a great way to get to know the city.

Shopping

There’s so much shopping to be done in York!

You can easily find the major shops here, but every turn you take, you’ll come across a cute local business.

It could be a craft shop, a used book shop, a hand-blown glass store, or my personal favorite, a shop full of things you don’t need but want… It’s called Give the Dog a Bone and it’s located on Fossgate if anyone is interested. I highly recommend it.

York Races

Price: Varies

A day at the races might be one of the most British things you can do when you come to England and York Races will not disappoint!

Immerse yourself in the excitement and pick up a race day program. Check out the parade ring, place a couple of bets (if you wish), and cheer on your horse as it crosses the finish line!

I’m not an expert in horse racing, and I’m not a gambling person… in fact, I place my bets on whichever names I like the best. Sometimes they win and most of the time they lose! If you are gambling, then treat it like you would in Vegas… only bet what money you don’t mind losing.

Even if you don’t want to gamble, it’s still a great day out! You get to dress up (even wear a fancy hat if you want) and have cocktails on the balcony or a bottle of celebratory champagne.

Go to ladies’ day and if you’re the best dressed, you’ll win a prize! Or check out the summer concert series. I’ve seen Five and Busted at the races! Remember them?!

Festivals and Special Events

There’s always something going on in York no matter what time of the year. Trust me. You can keep track of all the events at Visit York. Check out the new flower festival, Bloom!, or the thespian festival, The Great Yorkshire Fringe.

There’s a food and drinks festival, York Fashion Week, a Viking festival, local artisan festivals, and the “Haunted York” event during Halloween, and let’s not forget all the Christmas markets during the holidays (which will take an entire day to explore)!!

A few of summers ago, they set up a Shakespeare Theatre in the Clifford’s Tower parking lot and put on 2 plays a day, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, and Macbeth. It was at York AND Blenheim Palace the following summer, so you can read up on Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre and prep yourself for when it comes back to York! It’s DEFINITELY worth it!

City Passes and Multi-Attraction Tickets

If you are visiting for the weekend and plan on experiencing all the sights York has to offer, then you can buy a multi-attraction ticket for some places.

City Sightseeing Bus

If city sightseeing hop-on-hop-off buses are your thing, then you can pick up a ticket for £14.00 and it’s valid for 24 hours, has 20 stops, and is available in 10 different languages.

If you just want to stay on the bus, it takes 60 minutes to do a full circle, and buses run 9:00 am-5:30 pm every day. I’m not a fan of the sightseeing bus here because it’s easier to walk around. Also, don’t you want to experience the city and all its culture and architecture?

York Pastport

This is a pass that the Jorvik group offers. So if you are going to visit Jorvik Viking Center, Barley Hall, DIG (an archaeological exhibit geared towards kids), the City Walls Experience, then you can purchase a pass and it’s valid for a year!

York Pass

The York Pass is pretty much every attraction in York. If you are going to visit everything, then I recommend purchasing the pass. *Check the website for up-to-date prices*

You also get a handy dandy guidebook to go with your pass and you can purchase 1, 2, 3 and 6 day passes. Included in the ticket are some of the attractions I have mentioned above (York Minster, York Dungeon, Jorvik Viking Center, York City Cruise, and more).

You also get the city sightseeing bus included. However, you cannot exceed the pocket value of £70.00 for a one day ticket…. So you can’t go too crazy, but you really won’t get to everything in a day – I promise.

On top of York’s attractions, there are also other attractions in Yorkshire like visiting Castle Howard and taking a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Day Trips from York

What’s great about York is its location. You can base yourself in this city and take day trips all over Yorkshire (or even down to London if you want).

If you’re looking for easy… I got you! Check out my 10 Easy Day Trips from York!

OR visit some of the more secret locations in the area, with these Hidden Day Trips from York!

Other great day trips are:

• Malham Cove – Harry Potter filming location in the Yorkshire Dales. Great trails for gentle to moderate walks
• Flamborough Head – Beautiful coastal area with a great hike to Bridlington
• Knaresborough – Picturesque town on the River Nidd with a Victorian viaduct
• Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal – UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautiful gardens and a ruined abbey

If you’re more into exploring the area, check out my EPIC one week Yorkshire road trip!

Are you heading to York? Want some more advice, I’m here to help!! Let me know in the comments below!!

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