York in England’s West Yorkshire district is famous for a lot of things. But the best part is that it has something for everyone. The city is famous for its rich Viking history and it also has a ton of bars, restaurants, and tea shops. This article will tell you how to best spend a day in York.
Why choose this city?
This medieval city is not just about history. There are plenty more reasons why you should visit.
- A day is enough! You probably won’t do everything that York has to offer. That’s why you can easily take a day trip and make the most of it.
- Easily accessible: There are plenty of buses and trains that go to York. We took an early bus from Leeds and it took us just about an hour to read York’s city centre. You could even choose to drive.
- You can walk around: The streets are very pedestrian-friendly. Whether you arrive at the train station or by bus, you can easily walk around the city and visit all the sights.
A day in York
We suggest that you begin your day early. This will give you a chance to enjoy the city without the crowds descending.
Walking through Shambles
Shambles is perhaps the most famous street in York. The legendary Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter films was modelled on Shambles.
You will find many Harry Potter-themed shops here, some with very clever names. Walking through Shambles will take you back to the Harry Potter universe. The open market area in Shambles is also a place where you can grab a quick coffee and breakfast before you go on to explore the rest of the city.
Visit York Minster
One of the most prominent buildings here is the York Minster Cathedral. The ‘Minster’ is the epitome of England’s incredible Gothic architecture. You can purchase a ticket to see the cathedral from the inside and also catch panoramic views of the city from the tower at York Minster.
We choose to admire it from the outside only and spent a lot of time in the cathedral’s garden.
Enjoy the buskers
Busking is big in England, but simply huge in this medieval city. You can see entire bands performing mini-concerts on the beautiful streets of York. The city’s vibe, coupled with the music everywhere, will make you just want to be outdoors to enjoy the weather and do nothing in particular.
Explore the museum gardens
York has many great museums to choose from.
- The Jorvik Viking Centre is all about the city’s rich Viking history. It is the must-visit place for anyone who is obsessed with all things Vikings.
- York’s Chocolate Story is a museum dedicated entirely to chocolate, its history, and its story.
- One of the free museums to visit is the National Railway Museum. It is a must-visit for all train aficionados.
- York Art Gallery is another museum that you can choose to visit.
But the icing on the cake was the visit to the Museum Gardens outside the Art Gallery. We spent a considerable amount of time exploring the ruins around the gardens. If you are lucky to visit York on a sunny day, you can even have a picnic lunch in the beautiful gardens and easily spend a few hours here.
Walk on the city walls
The city walls are another major attraction. This activity is free and offers some amazing views of the city from various vantage points. You can access the wall from one of the access points and just take a stroll along the walls of the ancient city.
We would love to hear about your adventures in York in the comments section below. You can also read more about our life in England here.
