10 Best Things to Do in York

The Shambles is one of York’s oldest and most fun streets. The buildings date back to the 14th century and have the iconic overhang of that period, but are now so old that they lean over and virtually touch at the top. Be sure to check out the Shambles Market, which is best explored early in the day, before it gets busy, and get your photos before the very narrow, very popular streets fill up too much. This whole part of York, leading up towards the Minster, is a maze of narrow streets, with interesting shops on every corner. Go explore!

Before York was York, it was Jorvik – the heart of the Viking dominion in England. The city was captured in 866 AD and remained under Norwegian control until 1066 AD. The Jorvik Viking Centre gives you the chance to step back to that time and explore the city as it was under Norwegian rule. It combines archaeological finds with dioramas, making it one of the more fun and immersive museums in York. The centre also organises the Viking Festival every February, which goes a step further and brings the dioramas to life. It’s a busy and popular place, so be sure to head their early to avoid the long queues.

Fun fact: an ancient local law ensures that the historical York Minster remains among the tallest building in the city. The Gothic-style cathedral towers over the old part of York, at a height of 235 feet. If you’ve got the energy (and the money to pay the modest ticket fee), climb the 275 steps of the central tower to see the rooftop gargoyles and share their view across the historical streets of York City Centre. Alternatively, if heights aren’t your thing, just enjoy the vaulted magnificence of the interior and the sense of peace it provides.

Yorkshire folk are famous for their no-nonsense attitude, and the York Museum Gardens are a great example of this. It’s basically a museum and a garden combined into one beautiful location in York. This staggeringly simple name conceals a real treasure of the city. The city centre gardens contain the ruins of a medieval abbey and those of a historical hospital, as well as an art gallery, an old observatory and a museum dedicated to the history of Yorkshire, dating back to when dinosaurs roamed the area. The delightful gardens themselves are popular with locals looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy some summer sunshine.

York has been a walled city since Roman times (about 71 AD), but the striking stone walls surrounding the city centre today were mostly built between the 12th to 14th centuries, around the same time as York Minster. They remain in very good condition and walking the ramparts around the city centre is one of the most enjoyable things to do in York, giving you lovely views across the old town within and the newer areas without. The gatehouses (or “bars”) are especially impressive – particularly Micklegate Bar, to the south. Be careful on rainy days, though, as the stones are very smooth from the many feet that have come before yours.

Just outside the city walls, by the glorious historical York railway station, you’ll find one of the largest collections of rail artefacts in the world. The National Railway Museum is amazingly popular as the mighty machines on display have very broad appeal. You can enjoy the sleek lines of the Mallard, the engineering ingenuity of Stephenson’s Rocket and the piston-pumping power of the famous Flying Scotsman. Take a close look at about 100 engines, including several working steam trains.

The horse races in York are among the biggest in the UK, in the same league as those at Ascot. Naturally, that means it attracts the same kind of glamour. The big events, like the Ebor Handicap in August, are important features of the social calendar. The course itself has been a feature of York for centuries, and many locals still know it by its pre-medieval name of “Knavesmire”. History buffs should also check out the site where notorious highwayman Dick Turpin was hanged in 1739, by Tadcaster Road.

Clifford’s Tower is probably the most iconic structure in York. Also known as York Castle, there have been fortifications on the steep-sided hill near where the rivers Ouse and Foss meet since 1068 AD. This has historically been the administrative heart of the city, with the courts, mint and jail all nearby. The only remaining sign of most of these is the nearby Castle Museum, which is itself an interesting place. The really dramatic bit of this area is definitely the tower, though. You’ll need a good pair of legs to get up the hill, but it’s worth it to explore the old fort.

Parliament Street is something of a focal point in York City Centre. This street and the surrounding area forms the central shopping hub. The wide, mostly pedestrianised square is lined with high street stores and cafés, including Marks & Spencer, New Look and Pret A Manger. The nearby Coney Street has a few more big brands while the Shambles Market is a good place to look for some bargains. If there are any special markets or events in York, you’ll certainly find them here.

Bettys is almost certainly the most famous tea rooms in the UK. At any time of any day, you’ll see people queueing out the door and down the street, just to enjoy sandwiches, scones and cakes with the signature tea blend. The classy setting, modelled off ocean liner levels of luxury, is also a big pull. There are 6 Bettys cafés around Yorkshire, including 2 in York. Some locals (who don’t like the long queue) say there are other tea rooms in York City Centre which are even better than Bettys, so consider shopping around.