{"id":18727,"date":"2022-05-29T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=18727"},"modified":"2023-06-21T12:29:06","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T11:29:06","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-york-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/best-things-to-do-in-york-england\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Things to Do in York, England – Complete Guide to the City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

York is one of the best destinations for a city break or a weekend getaway in England<\/a>. It\u2019s a super charming city full of many incredible things to see and do, as well as places to eat or grab a drink. In case you were looking for a complete city guide<\/strong> that includes all the top things to do in York, as well as the best tours, restaurants and more useful info, you\u2019ll find everything in the article below! It includes everything you need to know before you visit York!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in York at the beginning of this year for a 4-day trip and I really loved it! York is super cute and walkable – you can see the entirety of inside the city walls in a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But my recommendation is to book a whole weekend away to York<\/strong> – this is kind of a perfect scenario for anyone that is looking for a relaxed getaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, let\u2019s dive right into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Quick info about York, UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is York worth visiting, really? My honest answer is: YES!<\/strong> Definitely! York is a place of rich history and culture where you will find charming streets, cute shops and eateries and interesting museums everywhere you look. Plus frequent festivals and events for those of you that are in for a bit of extra fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust me, there are so many things to do in York! From the impressive York Minster (which is, basically, one of the most well-known York attractions) to the entire stone wall that circles the city, tons of Harry Potter sites, chocolate tours, ghost walks, fine dining restaurants, historic homes and some cute parks, you can already understand that York caters to all types of travellers out there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: 7 Best Leeds Attractions + Restaurants, Hotels And More (England)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Where is York located?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

York is located in North Yorkshire, in the northern part of England. It is only 35 km (22 miles) away from Leeds<\/a>, another cute city that I really enjoyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a map of York so you can better understand its location:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>9 Best things to do in York, UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below you will find my list of the best things to do in York – these are things that any first-time visitor should check out (if time allows) in order to completely understand the charm of this city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP:<\/strong> One thing to know right from the start: if you\u2019re planning to visit most of the popular attractions in York, a very good idea would be to buy a York Pass<\/strong>. It\u2019s an excellent way to save on costs – it includes more than 45 things to visit in York and around. I\u2019ll talk about it in more detail in this special section<\/a> below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1 – Take a York city tour<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Whenever I land in a relatively small, walkable city, one of the first things I do is take a stroll around or book a city tour. I think it\u2019s one of the best ideas if you\u2019re eager to find out more about the city you\u2019re going to spend the following days in right from the start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially true when it comes to a historic city such as York – the city was founded by the Romans after all! And the best part about it is that you have so many options to choose from – from the classic Hop On Hop Off buses to themed York walking tours on the gorgeous cobbled streets – ghost walks, chocolate tours, boat cruises, Harry Potter tours, a cat trail and many, many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t get into detail about them here because you\u2019ll find my complete list of recommended tours of York in this section<\/a> down below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Alternatively, if you want to experience Leeds from a different perspective, I recommend taking a ride in one of the yellow water taxis. The price is only \u00a31\/person\/journey and it takes you from Leeds Docks to Granary Wharf. More information on their website here<\/a>. There is also a shorter, free taxi boat from Leeds Docks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2 – Walk the city wall – The Bar Walls<\/h3>\n\n\n
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One thing you will notice right after you set foot in York is its impressive stone walls. The Bar Walls is the official name for the thick stone walls that go all around the city. These were once Roman fortifications that protected York, now transformed into one of the most interesting \u201cYork things\u201d to do and one of the best-preserved city walls in all of England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although incomplete, walking around the city on these walls is an excellent option for those in search of free things to do in York city centre – and it will only take around 2 hours (3.4 km). Plus, the view over the famous Minster from the walls is worth the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walls are free to visit<\/strong> and open from 8:00 AM \u2018till sunset. Bad weather conditions or repairs might make them inaccessible to explore. You can check out a map<\/strong> of the trail here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ:<\/strong> London Neighborhood Guide – 14 Best Areas for Tourists Chosen by a Local<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 – Visit the impressive cathedral – York Minster<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Except for being one of the best things to do in York, York Minster<\/a> is also one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the entire world, towering over all the buildings in the city – heck, you can see it from literally everywhere you go! And continuing with the fun facts about the impressive building that is York Minster, I must also say that it is the second biggest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe – how cool is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction began in 1230 and it \u201conly\u201d took 250 years to build, so you can rest assured that you\u2019re walking inside a piece of history with its gorgeous stained glass windows and well-preserved artefacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except for admiring it from the outside and a visit inside, you can also step into the crypt of York Minster or climb its central tower. One thing to note, though: there are 275 steps to the top in a narrow, steep spiral stairway, but the view is definitely worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/strong> \u00a312.50\/adult, free for kids under 16. Ticket is valid for a full year after your first visit. There is an extra fee if you want to go up to the tower (\u00a318,50 for the cathedral + tower). Book your ticket in advance here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP:<\/strong> <\/b>If you\u2019re into cathedral-related things, make sure you don\u2019t miss the details on the Great East Window. It\u2019s the biggest mediaeval stained glass in the world and it is definitely gorgeous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4 – Shop on York\u2019s most famous street – The Shambles<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Ask any English person about York, and they will tell you about The Shambles<\/a>. This is definitely one of the most famous streets in the city – it is actually a pedestrianised shopping street dating from medieval times and it is also one of the best-preserved ones in Europe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend at least a short stroll on this street to admire the cute storefronts and fa\u00e7ades. And if you\u2019re looking for a little bit of (grime) history, know that these streets were once scattered with slaughterhouses instead of shops\u2026 Just York things! But hey, at least it\u2019s been transformed into something nice now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the event that you want to hang around for longer, you can enter one of the 85 shops, drink a coffee in one of the cute cafes or grab a beer at Ye Old Shambles Tavern. Except for the iconic shops, at the Shambles Market you can find lots of stalls selling goodies and fresh produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/strong>There are no less than four Harry Potter-themed shops to explore on The Shambles, as well as a \u201cGhost Shop\u201d. More info in the Harry Potter section<\/a> below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FUN FACT: <\/strong>Although I\u2019m not sure this is 100% true, it is said that The Shambles is the inspiration behind Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books and movies. It\u2019s just as narrow, wonky and wonderful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5 – Admire the spectacular view from the top of Clifford\u2019s Tower<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Clifford\u2019s Tower<\/a> is located right in the city centre and, together with York Minster, it is considered one of the unmissable things to do in York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clifford\u2019s Tower is a big piece of history in the city (part of the English Heritage) and it was a true symbol of power – it is one of the few remains of York Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror. Since then, it was burned down not once, but twice, and then rebuilt in the 13th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tower also has a bit of a\u2026 sad history. Its name comes from Roger de Clifford, who was hanged for treason in 1322 right here. Hey, I told you that York has a gruesome history, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that there aren’t any very interesting things to see inside and most visitors just go there to climb to the top of the tower. The view from the top is pretty cool, you can see not only York Minster, but as far as North York Moors National Park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/b> \u00a39\/adult. No need to book your ticket in advance, but you can do so here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: <\/strong>Your Camden Town Guide – How to Explore This London Neighbourhood<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 – See the ruins of St. Mary\u2019s Abbey<\/h3>\n\n\n
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St. Mary\u2019s Abbey<\/a> is part of the York Museum Gardens (which I am recommending in the \u201cFree things to do in York\u201d<\/a> section below) and, for history lovers, it is a wonderful thing to see. You can only see the ruins now of what once was the wealthiest Benedictine monastery in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original church was built in 1055 and you can still see its surrounding walls and the places where the monks used to pray, sing, wash their clothes and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRICE:<\/strong> York Museum Gardens have a free entrance, including St. Mary\u2019s Abbey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7 – Harry Potter everywhere<\/h3>\n\n\n
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York is an extra special place for all Harry Potter fans out there. There are many spots around the city that have inspired or have been inspired by the Harry Potter series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, one of the scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone was filmed here – at York Railway Station, where you can see the famous Platform 9 \u00be (yes, the original platform used in the first film is in York, not Kings Cross!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some magical HP activities and places to visit in York:<\/p>\n\n\n\n