York oozes history and charm, so it was one of the first places I wanted to take my mum when she came to visit us in England. There are plenty of things to do in York for all ages, no matter what time of year it is, so I knew we’d have a good time there together.
We travelled from Sunderland with National Express and spent a delightful day sightseeing in York and indulging in some good food and drinks. It was mum’s first visit, so I was keen to make sure she got to see all of York’s tourist attractions. I’ve visited the grand old city many times before, so I’ve put together this guide to the top things to see in York to help you plan your own trip.
Tip: Buy a York City Pass if you’re planning to visit a lot of York’s attractions that charge a fee to save money.
Things to do in York city centre
1. Walk the city walls
The two mile walk around the diameter of the city is one of the best free things to do in York. Dating back 2000 years, the walls offer a spectacular perspective of the city.
During the elevated walk, you can spot plenty of York’s architecture, which harks back to the city’s Roman, Viking, and Medieval heritage. There are four grand medieval fortified gateways called “bars”.
The walls are open from 8am until sunset. If you’d like to learn more about the history of the city, hire a private guide for your walk.
2. Wander through The Shambles
A ramble down The Shambles is the one thing you absolutely have to do in York. This is arguably the best preserved Medieval street in England. The ramshackle fifteenth century buildings lean alarmingly into each other – it’s not somewhere you want to get lost after a heavy drinking session! Potter heads will feel like they’ve just shot out from a fireplace and landed in Diagon Alley.
The old fashioned sweet shops make The Shambles even more picturesque and nostalgic. There’s a great little fudge shop where you can pick up some tasty souvenirs. You’ll smell the fudge shop before you see it. Baileys and white chocolate flavoured fudge? Don’t mind if I do.
The street used to be lined with butchers’ shops and if you look closely, you’ll see that some buildings still have the old meat hooks hanging outside.
Just meandering around York’s tangle of cobbled streets is a great way to spend your time there, made even more enjoyable by the fact that York’s city centre is almost traffic-free. I love compact cities, and York is certainly that – it takes no time at all to walk it’s length and breadth.
3. Visit York Minster
Reigning over the city is the gothic York Minster, and I can guarantee it will blow you away when it first comes into view over the city walls. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 275 steps up the Central Tower for the best and highest view of the city.
4. Explore The Treasurer’s House
I didn’t discover the Treasurer’s House until my most recent trip to York. A Grade 1 listed historic house in the shadows of York Minster, this residence has an impressive garden.
You can visit the house on an hour long guided tour to learn the story of Frank Green through 13 period rooms around the house filled with antiques, furniture and textiles.
Tip: Get a National Trust membership to enjoy free entry to hundreds of other British attractions like this one.
5. Have a picnic in the Museum Gardens
It’s not all grand buildings though; the city has plenty of parks and gardens to get lost in. The Museum Gardens are a shaded oasis in the heart of York.
Open from 10.30am until 6pm, this is the perfect place for a picnic lunch with a view of York Minster.
You’ll find the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the botanical gardens, which date back to the 1830s. There was an ‘insect hotel’ there on my last visit, as well as a small sensory garden.
6. Discover the magic of Harry Potter
It’s no coincidence that The Shambles so closely resembles Diagon Alley – JK Rowling based the wizards’ shopping street on York’s famous Shambles!
You’ll find a Harry Potter shop in the city called ‘The Shop That Must Not Be Named’, where you can pick up gifts. There’s also a curious shop called ‘The Potions Cauldron’ next to the fudge shop in The Shambles.
This Harry Potter tour is one of the most fun things to do in York with kids.
7. See Barley Hall
We ambled down a creepy little alley and stumbled upon Barley Hall, a Medieval house which was only discovered in the 1980’s, because it had been hidden by an old office block. It’s been restored to provide a glimpse into otherwise forgotten eras.
Find out more about Barley Hall on the official website.
8. Eat local
One of the best places to eat in York is Shambles Food Court, which is packed with local vendors. It’s the ideal place to grab a bite to eat on the go.
If you’re looking for a sit-down meal, I highly recommend D’Vine – a pizzeria, grill and bar. There’s plenty to choose from on the menu, prices are very reasonable, the ambience is nice and they do a great sangria! \
When Tom and I have visited York in the past, we’ve enjoyed a lovely Italian meal at Lucia.
9. Take a ghost walk
Like many historic cities, York has a dark past – in fact, it’s said to be one of the most haunted cities in the UK. A ghost walk around the ghouls’ favourite haunts will reveal all.
A man in a black suit actually appeared in front of us and conjured a leaflet for one of these tours out of thin air. Safe to say that was scary enough for me, thank you very much.
If you prefer to be driven, you can opt for one of the Ghost Bus Tours instead. Check out these spooky tours available to book in York.
10. Hit the shops in York
York has plenty of small boutiques and local businesses, as well as big brand outlets where you can spend your money. If you’re the type who gets excited about stationary and useless items; York is the place to stock up. There’s also an Antiques Centre (with a tea shop upstairs, obviously).
Don’t ask how or why, but we ended up in a sword shop the first time Tom and I visited York together. Tom was in his element, waving weapons around in a way that made me feel seriously uneasy. I didn’t realise he was quite such a dungeons and dragons enthusiast. Anyway, York Armoury is actually a pretty cool little shop and the staff are very knowledgeable, if that’s what floats your boat.
There’s a covered market in the heart of the city and plenty of independent shops lining the cobbled streets.
Outside of the city, York Outlet is the place to go for designer brands at lower prices.
11. Visit York Castle Museum
Looking for rainy day activities in York? The York Castle Museum offers fun for the whole family.
Boasting everything from a Victorian street to a fascinating permanent exhibition about how fashion, food and fitness have collided over the past 400 years; this is one of the best places to go in York when it rains.
12. Have afternoon tea
I’m a big fan of cities with decent cafe culture, and York doesn’t disappoint. You’ll find a decent cream tea on every corner, though I recommend you try the famous Betty’s Tea Room. The queues are always too long when I visit, but I’ll definitely be back to sample the Afternoon Tea one day.
Check out my guide to the best places for Afternoon Tea in York or book an afternoon tea cruise on the River Ouse.
13. Satisfy your sweet tooth at the York Chocolate Story
If like me you have a sweet tooth, The York Chocolate Story is worth a visit. While other northern cities built their wealth on steel, coal or wool, York’s fame and fortune have rested on chocolate for almost 300 years. Could this city be any more appealing?
Access to the York Chocolate Story is included when you buy the York Pass.
14. Go to York Art Gallery
There’s a huge collection of both modern and historic art on show at York Art Gallery, if you’re looking for cultural things to do in York.
Spanning over 100 years, the art on display ranges from 14th century Italian panels and 17th century Dutch masterpieces to Victorian narrative paintings and 20th century works by LS Lowry and David Hockney.
15. Do a pub crawl
Cosy boozers aren’t hard to find in York, and Guy Fawkes Inn is a favourite among tourists and locals alike. The Exhibition and Punch Bowl will also quench your thirst but if you’re after decent cocktails, try Bobo Lomo, which is a Tiki style rum bar.
All the usual chain pubs are there too: Yates, Revolution etc can be found on the riverside.
16. Have a roast
Proper Sunday roasts aren’t hard to find in York, and there are countless traditional English pubs serving up steaming plates of meat, veg and of course, Yorkshire Puddings. If you’re on the go, pick up something that’ll stick to yer ribs at The York Roast Co.
17. Take a boat ride on the Ouse
The river that brought the vikings to York snakes through the old city, and a boat trip is one of the most unique things to do in York.
You can book a York river cruise here.
If you’re visiting with your partner and you’re looking for romantic things to do in York, you can’t beat a private boat trip together. You can hire small self-drive motorboats along the river for £40 for an hour, or book ahead here.
18. Go to Jorvik Viking Centre
Journey back in time to the ninth century at this unique indoor attraction in York. It’s built on top of the houses, workshops and backyards of the Viking-age city of Jorvik as it stood nearly 1,000 years ago. It has been made to be as authentic and accurate as possible – the reconstructed city even smells like the past!
Best places to visit in York (outside the city centre)
1. Go to Yorkshire Air Museum
The Yorkshire Air Museum and Air Forces Memorial is a fascinating place to visit in York for aviation enthusiasts. Located on a World War II airfield, the museum is home to the only complete restored Halifax Bomber aircraft in Europe.
2. See the National Railway Museum
This museum in York has galleries, brick warehouses designed to look like train depots and 300 restored rail cars. You can also see Shinkansen there — the world’s first bullet train, reaching speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, and other iconic rail vehicles.
You can even have afternoon tea in the opulent Duchess of York carriage!
3. Get lost in York Maze
Did you know that York is home to the largest maze in the UK? You’ll never be short of activities in York to do with little ones! The maze is made up of over a million plants and the theme for 2021 is Mr Men and Little Miss.
You need to book tickets online in advance if you want to visit.
Activities you can book in York
Book your York activities via GetYourGuide below.
Things to do near York
There are plenty of fun day trips from York, if you manage to exhaust everything on this list and want to see somewhere different!
1 Visit the Yorkshire seaside
Scarborough is the ultimate British seaside destination – and it’s only a short drive from York! Read my guide to things to do in Scarborough for more information.
2. Row boats in Knaresborough
One of the most picture-perfect places in Yorkshire, Knaresborough won me over immediately. Find out what there is to do in Knaresborough in my travel guide.
3. Have a day trip to Whitby
Whitby’s gothic past makes it one of the quirkiest places to visit near York. The harbour is a hive of activity no matter what the weather. Check out the top things to do in Whitby to plan your visit.
4. Explore the nearby city of Leeds
Another fun city to visit in Yorkshire, Leeds has fantastic shopping and a cool studenty vibe. Find out what to do in Leeds if you’re looking for a place with a faster pace than York.
How to get to York
We normally drive to York and it takes around 90 minutes from Sunderland. However, that means one of us has to be the designated driver and miss out on York’s cocktail bars! For my day out in York with Mum, we instead took the National Express from Sunderland city centre.
We had a 30 minute stop in Leeds and found the entire journey very enjoyable. The seats are super comfy onboard, there’s free Wi-Fi and charging points for every seat, and plenty of legroom.
National Express have recently redesigned their network with a new full UK-wide timetable that will offer quicker journey times, increased punctuality, and improved connectivity.
Where to stay in York
The first time Tom and I ever visited York for a long weekend, we checked in to a wonderful room with a four poster bed at Marmadukes Town House Hotel. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Read my review of Marmadukes Hotel, York.
Use the map below to find more York accommodation options on booking.com
Booking.comDo you want to visit York, or is there an unmissable place I didn’t include? Let me know in the comments!
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