Top 10 BEST Things to Do in York, UK | City Breaks
The Best Things to Do in York
My family and I have been to York several times over the years while visiting relatives in the NE of England. We love it, and visit as often as we can. We are also super vocal to anyone traveling to England on why they NEED to visit York while in the UK! That’s why I created a Top 10 List of Things to do in York, UK!
Most people think of London when visiting the UK, but I suggest reading to find out why hoards of people love YORK too!
Firstly, there are SO many great things to do in the medieval city of York, it’s hard to limit the list to 10 things! It is quintessential Britain; cobbled streets, gothic cathedrals, Tudor style heritage buildings, great eats, etc.
York has an incredibly storied past, with evidence of people living here as early as between 8000 – 7000 BC. York in the UK, is a city steeped in history and culture, offering visitors a wide range of attractions and activities; plenty of them FREE!
Whether you love beautiful architecture, engaging antiquity, the Viking Sagas, or great food and drink – this city has it all, and it’s all available to see on foot!
Attractions:
Let’s dive into some of the AMAZING attractions to see in the beautiful city of York. You’re not going to want to miss out on this list!
York Minster:
This magnificent Gothic cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe and probably the first thing you’ll want to do in York when you arrive. Visitors can explore its stunning architecture, climb the tower for panoramic views of the city, and learn about its rich history.
I’ve visited this cathedral multiple times over the years, and it never fails to impress! Everyone talks about how wonderful Westminster Abbey in London is (and it is impressive), but lately viewing Westminster Abbey feels more like I’m being herded like livestock.
York Minster has the complete opposite effect. Walking in you’re immediately struck by the soaring vaulted ceilings with MASSIVE supporting columns, and intricate ceiling decoration.
It is quiet, and feels like a holy place and not a tourist attraction. The idea behind creating these expansive open spaces was to make you feel small in the eyes of the heavenly father above. York Minster does a fantastic job of reminding a mere mortal of how small we actually are in the grand scheme of things.
You must go see the stained glass at the far end of the cathedral. The Minster has the largest collection of medieval stained glass with some dating back to the 12th century, which is an impressive feat!
Within the Cathedral, there is plenty to do and explore. From viewing all of the apses, chapels, and niches, to climbing up the 275 steps to the central tower.
My favorite thing to do in York is explore the undercroft at the Cathedral. DO NOT MISS THIS! There has been a church on this site for over 1,000 years; you can view the old foundations and more!
From the remains of a Roman barracks, to 1,000-year-old artifacts still used in the cathedral today, visitors can explore two millennia of York’s history in state-of-the-art chambers beneath the cathedral.
You can also view a fantastic bronze monument outside of the Minster dedicated to Emperor Constantine. It was this emperor who brought Christianity to Britain and this site was dedicated to him in 1998.
To find York’s Minster isn’t really that hard, because of it’s sheer scale (you can pretty much see it from anywhere in the city). You can locate it on The Dean Gate. It is open daily, but with varying times and those can be found on the cathedral’s own website: York Minster. Along with information on free guided tours!
The Shambles:
Everybody wants to visit the Shambles when visiting! This is definitely one of the best things to do in York. Wander through several narrow, medieval streets lined with timber-framed buildings that lean towards each other, creating a very picturesque scene!
Today, it’s filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants (and plenty of tourists). Many of the buildings on the street today date back to the late fourteenth and fifteenth century, around 1350-1475AD.
The Shambles was a street of butchers’ shops and houses, many complete with a slaughterhouse at the back of the premises, with blood flowing freely in front of them or so rumour has it.
The Shambles streets don’t close, but most of the shops shut from around 4 or 5pm.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a bite to eat nearby the Shambles, be sure to check out Valhalla. It is a cozy viking style pub with amazing food. We loved the meat and cheese boards along with their fantastic tapas and beer selection! – Located at #4, Patrick Pool. Valhalla York
The City Walls:
A FREE activity that will leave you in awe of the talented stone masons of years past, is the city wall walk in York. Be sure to give yourself lots of time if you’re going to do this activity in York. At least 2 hours.
The medieval City Walls (or “Bar Walls”), are an ancient monument encircling the historic City of York, comprised of 3.4 km of surviving masonry. They are the longest town walls in England.
They were built mainly in the 13th century of magnesian limestone. York’s City Walls offer a splendid elevated walk around the city, giving you time to work off your lunch and have an amazing ‘birds eye view!’
The accompanying moats have largely disappeared but the slopes of the ramparts are well known for the display of daffodils in March and April.
The walls are open to the public starting at 8am everyday unless maintenance is scheduled or there are unsafe conditions. Click the map below to enlarge, or download a free audio guide from this handy website: Wall Trail York.
The Yorkshire Museum:
This was one of my favorite things to do in York! I know you hear “museum” and you think it might some boring old stuffy place, but the Yorkshire Museum does a great job of being incredibly interactive, informative and fun for all ages. Dress up as a Viking or Saxon!
They often have spectacular jewellery displays showcasing locally found “Viking hoards” and the stories behind who found them and where!
I love looking at the intricacy of the old world designs and marvel at their golden splendor. It makes me want to go treasure hunting out in the English countryside myself.
Find out about York’s past, and how it was once the capital of religion, royal power, commerce, art, and wealth across the Anglian, Viking, Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods (impressive resume!).
You can discover how the most powerful people in the world once ruled from within York’s City Walls.
See the most up to date information and what’s on exhibition at the museum on their website Yorkshire Museum. They’re open Tuesday – Sunday until 5pm and located at Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York.
National Railway Museum:
Discover the fascinating history of the railways at this world-class FREE museum, which houses a vast collection of locomotives, carriages, and railway memorabilia. Even if you aren’t a train lover, this fun museum has SO many trains on display, it’s hard not to be enchanted by thoughts of days gone by.
The location is very convenient if you happen to be travelling to York by modern passenger train. It is directly across the street!
The museum is open 7 days a week from 10-5pm. It is recommended you book a spot online for entry if you happen to be going on a day that is a bank holiday.
More information about what’s on at the museum can be found on their website National Railway Museum York.
*Tip After you’ve finished at the museum, there is a handy miniature train that will take you straight into the City of York proper!
Jorvik Viking Centre:
This is such a fun activity to do in York. My mother-in-law had an absolute blast on this one! Step back in time to the Viking age, at this immersive location found in the city center.
Here, visitors can explore a reconstructed Viking village and learn about York’s Viking heritage through interactive exhibits and a engaging ride!
The ride takes you through the reconstructed city of Jorvik (York) from 975AD; it’s filled with 360-degree views allowing you to become fully immersed in the Viking Age.
After, you can visit the state-of-the-art gallery that displays some significant Viking-age artifacts found in the UK. For the price of admission, you can re-enter the museum anytime in the following 12 months.
It is highly advised that you book your time-slot online, don’t wing this one!
They are typically open 10-4pm most days, but more information and the most up to date ticket prices plus opening hours can be found on their website here.
SPARK, York:
This an amazing sustainable initiative is a hub of community, and you have to visit while you’re in York! What is SPARK? ‘Spark York C.I.C’ emerged as a community-driven initiative and idea, born out of a collective desire to revitalize an underutilized space in the city back in 2016.
It includes restaurants with food and drink, art installations, self care, retail, and studio space. The project has so far enabled incubation space for over 65 businesses, with 20 start-ups already graduating on to brick and mortar premises and 80 full time jobs created for the local economy. Check out all the information on the website SPARK*.
Merchant Adventurers Hall:
As an entrepreneur myself, I really resonate with this particular site in the city. Away from the crowds and sometimes commercial feeling of the Shambles, is this classic Tudor property.
It is a Grade I listed building, and an important part of York’s history. This is a great low key activity to do in York.
It has been a hub of innovation for over 600 years! The Merchant Adventurers Hall is one of the finest original medieval guild halls in the world, still home to the Merchant Adventurers unbroken tradition of entrepreneurship, wealth and experience has built York: from the 14th century onwards all the way into the 21st century.
The entry fee is quite reasonable, and they are open daily 10-4, except on Saturdays. Grab yourself an audio guide (you can download it on their website), so that you can fully appreciate the rich history of this property and the city it has served so faithfully! Merchant Adventurers Hall, York.
York’s Chocolate Story:
A yummy activity to do while in the city and perusing all the little streets, is to learn about the sweet history of chocolate in York.
York has a long association with the confectionery industry in the region, and in the country itself. Visitors can take guided tours, participate in chocolate-making workshops, and of course, sample some delicious treats.
There are various places throughout the city that offer tours, but we chose to stop by Monk Bar Chocolatiers while we were browsing the Shambles. Monk Bar is the oldest chocolate company currently serving the City of York. I definitely recommend trying the hot chocolate, it was absolutely decadent – but make sure you arrive at opening! It can get REALLY busy.
Their opening hours are short, Tues-Friday 10-3pm. More information about this family run business can be found on their website Monk Bar.
Clifford’s Tower:
One last activity to do before you leave the charming city of York is to climb to the top Clifford’s Tower; the iconic medieval tower with panoramic views of the region. Originally built by William the Conqueror (he conquered England in 1066!) it offers a glimpse into York’s turbulent past.
Built to subdue the rebellious north by William the Conqueror, Clifford’s Tower has been a royal mint, a medieval stronghold and a Civil War garrison.
In 1190, one of the worst antisemitic massacres of the Middle Ages took place on the site of the tower when York’s Jewish community were trapped there by a violent mob and many Jews chose to take their own lives, rather than be murdered.
The cost for entry is fairly modest, and they are open 10-6 everyday of the week with online booking available on the English Heritage website. Clifford’s Tower, York.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the city York does an amazing job of engaging the public and educating them in the most immersive way. It is fun for the whole family, from the smallest child to Grandma and Grandpa! This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to do in York, there is SO much to be discovered.
I have recommended this city to friends and family for years. Most people think of London when they think of visiting England, but York is not to be missed!! Part of the charm for me is the almost total lack of cars in the center; it really draws you into the history of the place and it’s easier to picture the days of old.
My family will continue to visit as long as we can, for all types adventure – new and old. I hope you enjoy the city and love it just as much as I do.
Happy travelling and Skål!!
xoxo Tanya
Staying Connected
If you’re looking to set up a local SIM while traveling abroad in the UK, I recommend the AIRALO app. I have a whole blog post about setting it up on your phone. For less than $10USD you can have access to all the data you need while traveling.
How to get to York in the UK
How does a person get to York when visiting the UK or Europe? My family has been very happy using Trainline as recommended by a family friend many years ago. Trainline connects passengers near and far, and works with 270 rail and coach companies to offer customers a way to travel to thousands of destinations across 45 countries in Europe.