York is an ancient cathedral city with a history that dates back to before Roman times. It is situated in the heart of Yorkshire in North Yorkshire with some of the best preserved historical buildings and structures in Europe.
York is a fairly small city - well worth a visit but anything longer than 4 days and you will probably have had enough.
York is known as England's "City of Festivals" as there are regular cultural festivals every year. The official festivals are the Viking Festival, the Roman Festival, the Ghost Festival, the Festival of Angels, Jazz, Early Music, Late Music, Digital Arts, Horse Racing (the "Ebor Race Meeting"), Learning Festival, Multicultural Food and Arts, Chinese New Year, Lesbian Arts, Christmas St Nicholas' Fair, and the Food and Drink Festival. It's a romantic city for a weekend break. York is full of magic and a wonderful place to bring children!
PLACE TO VISIT
Battle of Fulford 1066 tour - In 1066 the greatest shield wall battle in world history took place - no, not the Battle of Hastings, but in fact the Battle of Fulford, fought just outside York on the 20th September 1066, just a few weeks before Hastings. Discover the background to 1066, including the great last Viking invasion of England, and the foul deeds and bloody history surrounding the monarchy at the time.
York Minster - The largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, York Minster dominates the skyline & has a history of building that dates back to the 8th century at least. The one place that everybody visits. Stay for Evensong service if you can, especially if you've never been to a church service before. Adult £5.50, concession £4.50, child under 16 free.
Jorvik Viking Centre - An amazing recreation of the Viking settlement at York, on the site of the Coppergate archaeological excavations of the 1970s. Not to be missed, some say, while others are much less enthusiastic. Bear in mind this lasts approx 15mins, not something for the day out, and works out roughly £2 every 5 mins, you may be queued for longer than you are actually in there. £6 and upwards.
National Railway Museum - The largest railway museum in the world, responsible for the conservation and interpretation of the British national collection of historically significant railway vehicles and other artefacts. Contains an unrivalled collection of locomotives, rolling stock, railway equipment, documents and records.
York Castle Museum - An award winning museum of everyday life with exhibitions to appeal to all ages. Exhibits include Kirkgate, a Victorian street; Half Moon Court, an Edwardian street; and costumes and toys through the ages. Built in part of the former prison there is also an opportunity to explore the old cells and see where Dick Turpin spent his last days. Adult £8, concession £7, child free with adult.
Clifford's Tower - This imposing "tower" represents the medieval castle of York, located in the centre of town, originally built by William the Conqueror to subdue the rebellious north, then rebuilt by Henry III in the 13th century. Fantastic panoramic views of York and the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower. £2.50.
Merchant Adventurers' Hall - Built 1357-1361 and of international importance, this building is Europe's finest medieval Guildhall and scheduled as an ancient monument. Nowhere else can be seen in one building the three rooms serving the three functions of a medieval guild: business, charity and religion. Above is the superb timbered Great Hall, below is the Undercroft or Hospital and Chapel. Audi guides available. Adult £2.50.
Eboracum Legion Bathhouse - A great venue for food, drink and entertainment - complete with a Roman period bathhouse in the cellar. One of York's oldest attractions, visitors can see the remains of ancient York, with insights into Roman military life and hygiene. Adult £2.
York Dungeon - Entertaining, though perhaps not for the faint hearted or for young children, there is little blood or gore, and some may find it suitable for children. Definitely worth the entrance price, however check out the pubs beforehand, as you may find 2 for 1 beer mats in the Kings Arms, a pub on the banks of the River Ouse near the Yorkboat landing (Kings Straith).
York Maze - A very large maze (the largest in the world, they say) and it's made of maize. Give it at least a couple of hours. There are other activities, such as a mini-maze for children, and games (such as Crazy Mazey Golf). Only open during the summer months.
Walking tours and ghost walks - There are many ghost walks that run throughout the year during the evenings. Walks normally start from 6PM onwards and last for around an hour - just look for the posters and billboards posted throughout the city centre for details and the meeting point for that evening. Walking tours free, ghost walks around £4.
Walk around the city walls - One of the best vantage points for the medieval city of York is from the ramparts of its medieval city walls, built on Roman era foundations. Alternatively walk the York snickelways, the famous medieval (and later) alleys and narrow streets that thread the center of the city.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - The nearest major Airport to York is Leeds-Bradford International Airport (LBA) about 30 miles away. Jet2 and KLM are amongst the major carriers at this airport. There is no longer a bus route from the airport to York but passengers could, if they choose, travel by train to Harrogate or Leeds and catch a bus from there.
Manchester Airport is well connected to the York by an hourly direct train service that runs throughout the night. Doncaster-Sheffield, Durham-Tees Valley and Newcastle Airports are also relatively close. Heathrow and Gatwick Airports will require a change in London if using the trains, and probably Leeds if using the National Express coach service.
By train - York is one of the main hubs of the UK rail network, with a large range of services and destinations to choose from. The station itself is an attraction, and was voted the 'nicest' station in the UK in 2007. Because of the number of lines that pass through, services tend to be frequent. While intercity trains can be expensive, regional services are relatively affordable.
By bus - York is served by National Express coaches. The information and ticket office is inside the Tourist Information office at the railway station.
