12 Things to do in: York, England, UK

York, England, UK

The Adventure City that is York is half-way between Edinburgh and London, with Wolds, North York Moors and The Yorkshire Dales right outside. York is a unique English City. York is famous for many of its historical aspects and it’s no surprise that York was voted The best place to live in the UK by the Sunday Times.

From the cities roman roots to its Viking past, there is so much to see and do in York! … So if you’re looking for your next trip, book York and you won’t be disappointed.

Now, here are 12 of the BEST things to spend your time doing in York.

Walk along York’s City Walls…

York City Walls are a major feature of York’s history and identity. The walls are elevated above the city, taking you on a circular route around its surroundings by foot. The historic walls are free to enter and roam along all year round and can be accessed at several different points.

Opening times: The gates open at 8am daily except Christmas day (25^th December) and will also be closed if there is bad weather conditions or repairs taking place. The gates close at dusk daily, click here for seasonal closing times and further information.

Fancy another walled city? Check out our Chester blog.

Postcode: YO1 9SA

Visit The Minster and appreciate the stunning architecture…

The Minster is the most stunning cathedral we’ve ever seen, and it is known as one of the most magnificent in the world! When you see it in person you will see why, its architecture is just beautiful.

York Minster dates back to the 7^th century, as the north of England’s centre of Christianity and is still used today for prayer and worship. York Minster is open for sightseeing and people have been traveling from near and far for over 1000 years to visit.  

Ticket prices: prices range from FREE to £17 depending on your situation and what you would like to see… visit the York Minster website here for more information on prices.

Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week. Visit here for full details on opening times.

Safety Measures: for COVID safety measures visit here.

Post code: YO1 7HH

Wander down the famous Shambles…

The Shambles is a famous street in the centre of York and Is known for the well-preserved 13^th century buildings. The medieval buildings once housed all the butchers of York. But today, ‘Shambles’ is home to many different independent businesses.

You may have heard The Shambles also being related to Harry Potter. The famous Harry Potter shop ‘The shop that must not be named’ is on The Shambles Street. As well as three other Harry Potter themed shops. And it is believed that this street was the inspiration for The Diagon Alley Set in the Harry Potter films. (for the Harry potter fans – there is more below!)

You do feel like you’re back in the medieval times, when walking down ‘Shambles’.

Post code: YO1 7LZ

Take York’s Harry Potter Guided Tour…

As promised, one for the Harry Potter fans… Spend 2 hours on a magical tour of York, exploring the world of Harry Potter. During the walking tour you will visit film locations, while playing games and quizzes along the way to keep up the fun! The interactive experience enables fans to bring out their competitive side when it comes to the quizzes between the groups/houses. As well as all of this, the tour takes you to locations such as Diagon Alley, The City Walls and as a Harry Potter fan, you won’t want to miss out on a visit to the Harry Potter Shops en route.

Tip: As it is a walking tour, comfortable shoes are recommended and dress for the unpredictable weather!! (This is the UK, remember).

Ticket Prices from: £10 per person.

For full tour information click here.

Shop, Eat and Drink at Spark York…

Spark York is a cool, trendy, and unique spot, for shopping, food, drink, art and socializing. We went here for food when in York, it’s great as you can sit at the table and order on your phone from a choice of different food and drink vendors and get it brought to your table. Not sure what you fancy? Order a few different things! It was a great atmosphere for evening food and drinks.

Tip: Upstairs is roof top seating, and while its lovely up there, do wear or bring a warmer layer for while you are sat, it can get a little chilly in the evening.

No need to book and entry is FREE, there may be a queue, especially on a weekend, but it is worth the wait 😊.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm

Post code: YO1 9PB

Go back in time to The Vikings way of life…

The Jorvik Viking Centre is world famous and a must-see when in York. The popular attraction over the past 35 years has had 19million people visiting to enjoy the Viking experience.

York Viking heritage was discovered in 1978. Jorvik opened in 1984, allowing visitors to see how Viking residents of York from over 1,000 years lived. In 2001 an experience was developed that let visitors feel like they were back in time, exploring the Viking-Age of York and it has been loved by many ever since.

Opening times: The opening times for the centre vary from month to month throughout the year. Check out the website for more information here.

Ticket Prices: The prices also vary, but a standard adult ticket is £12.50 for more prices click here.

Postcode: YO1 9WT

Learn about the city’s history in The York Castle Museum…

The award-winning museum hosts over 400 years of York’s past. With history of the prisons to The Cobbles of Victoria Street and even stories from the first world war, there is something for everyone in this historic adventure.

Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Ticket Prices:

Adults £13.00 (Annual ticket)

Children £6.50 (Annual ticket)

Young Adults 17-24years and Students £11.70 (annual ticket)

There are other offers on the website check here for more information.

Postcode: YO1 9WD

Visit The Historic Clifford’s Tower…

Clifford’s Tower holds one thousand years’ worth of York’s history. The raised fortification was built by William the Conqueror and during the massacre of the Jews in 1190 it was sadly burnt down. The tower has been in the city of York since 1245 to the present day and used to be part of York Castle.

Opening times: The tower is currently closed for construction work, however, keep an eye out for updates on the website to see if it is back open for your visit to York, Here.

Ticket prices:

Adults £7.90

Children £4.70

Members FREE

There are also other offers available, such as family tickets. Check the website here for more information.

Postcode: YO1 9SA

Browse York’s Shambles Market…

Home to York’s largest group of independent retailers, the vibrant and historic market in the centre of York is a must for shopping lovers! Why not browse the stalls and take yourself something home while also helping the local traders make a living.

If you don’t like shopping but love food, there is something for everyone, as Shambles Market also has a food court with lots of street food and live music!

Post Code: YO1 7DT

Indulge in York Chocolate Story…

One for the chocolate lovers! York’s Chocolate Story is a mesmerizing, guided tour that runs from the centre of York. The tour takes you through the history of York’s most famous chocolate making families and their best creations.

The tour runs every day of the week from 10am, just check the website during holiday times for any changes. There is also a shop with all sorts of different chocolatey treats that you can purchase before or after the tour, as well as a Café.

Prices for the tour:

Adult: £15.00

Children (4-15): £12.50

Children under 4 go FREE.

They also do family prices and residential deals that you can find on their website here.

Post code: Y01 7LD (At the top of Shambles).

Laugh and scream your way through The Dungeons…

The York Dungeons consists of amazing actors that create scenes, using special effects to tell the story of 2000 years of York’s dark history. The professional cast perform over 9 live shows, with characters such as Billington, Guy Fawkes and Isabella. This exciting adventure will have you laughing, screaming and just having a good time!

Opening times: The Dungeons are generally open from 10am to 4pm in the week and until 5pm on the weekend. But check the website here for walking tour times.

Ticket prices: Prices range from £17.55 to £25.00 check the website here for more specific ticket prices.

Post code: YO1 9RD

Hop on Hop off all day long…

Last but not least… You want to see ALL of these wonderful things while in York, but don’t know how you’ll fit it all in? …The City Sightseeing buses have you covered. You can hop-on and off (if you hadn’t already gathered 😉) all day long. They even have an open roof on the top deck, where you can get the best views of the city!

Ticket prices: £16 per person

The ticket allows you to hop on and hop off as much as you like over 24hours.

Opening times: Click here to see availability and for more information.

Thank you for reading – we hope you find this information useful! If you do, let us know in the comments below, or if you plan to visit York after reading, let us know how it goes.

Lu & Ad

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