York is a gorgeous city founded by the Romans in 71 AD with a medieval wall surrounding the entire city. It later became the Viking kingdom Jórvík (hence the name York). I recently visited York for the first time this March and discovered there are so many wonderful attractions and things to do! It is easy to spend 48 hours in this stunning historic city!
Table of Contents
Where to Stay
Bed & Breakfast hotels are my favorite places to stay and Holmwood House Hotel is no exception! Just a short walk from York Station and the city center, this B&B is located in a lovely 3-story home complete with a delicious English Breakfast every morning.
Pubs, Bars, and Restaurants
My favorite pub in York was The Punch Bowl. It is a 18th century pub with the traditional British pub menu. With very inexpensive prices, I ate at this pub twice during my stay. It is conveniently located just outside the Micklegate Bar, which is the gateway into the medieval city walls.
If you are looking for a local bar, look no further than Crystal Palace. This is a cash only bar with tasty beer and bar games. It is close by Holmwood House and I was pleasantly surprised by the quaint atmosphere. The locals are very nice and will invite you for a fun game of Blackball (our equivalent of Billiards).
The Market Cat is a casual bar and restaurant just outside the Shambles Market. They serve a wider range of beers (not just the English ales) and have a tasty menu. There are two floors available for seating and I highly recommend the second floor (all glass windows with chandeliers!). The top floor also brews Thornbridge beer right upstairs!
If you are craving Italian food, then I recommend tiny restaurant called Lo Spuntino. Fresh garlic bread, tasty spaghetti Bolognese, and delicious Tiramisu! It was some of the best Italian food I have ever had. The prices were reasonable, and the service was excellent!
Things To Do
1. St. Mary’s Abbey and Museum Gardens
St. Mary’s Abbey is situated in the beautiful Museum Gardens and is a ruined abbey built in 1088. It was later destroyed in 1539 and a large part of the abbey walls still remain. The ruins are absolutely beautiful and worth a visit.
2. York Minster
York Minster is the crown jewel of York. This cathedral stands just under 100 ft tall and provides stunning views of York from the top. It is hard to miss York Minster when walking around this medieval city as it is the tallest building around. At night, York Minster has a dazzling light show!
3. Walk the City Walls
Since the Roman times, York has been defended by city walls. About 2 miles of the walls still exist today and you can take a stroll around the entire city. The medieval city walls has three entry points and they are near Micklegate Bar. The Friends of York Walls provides a wonderful walking map of the trail.
4. The Shambles and Shambles Market
The Shambles is the “old street” of York. This dates back to the 14th century when butchers once lined this street. It is now a wonderful, narrow shopping street with shops dedicated to the famous York chocolate and Harry Potter.
Fun Fact: Shambles actually is an old term for slaughterhouse or meat market (which would explain the butcher shops!).
The Shambles Market is also accessed through this street and is a historic farmers market. The market is open every day and features stalls selling clothing, fresh fruit and vegetables, tasty baked goods, flowers, and all sorts of gifts.
5. JORVIK Viking Centre
The JORVIK Viking Centre is a cross between Disneyland and a museum! This is a wonderful attraction that features an actual ride! You go back in time to the year 960 AD to when the Jórvík Vikings walked the streets. It was very cool to see how the City of York looked during that time. After the ride, you get to view all of the artifacts that were excavated where this museum now stands.
6. Fairfax House
The Fairfax House is often overlooked but it is a gorgeous restored Georgian townhouse that was built in the early 1740s. It features Noel Terry’s collection of Georgian furniture and clocks that were donated to the York Civic Trust in 1980, after this death. The entrance price is only £7.50 and the docent’s inside the home have a wealth of information! I truly enjoyed the Fairfax House!
7. Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower is the last remaining portion of York Castle. The tower stands on top of a large grassy mound and was built by William the Conqueror in 1245. It boasts gorgeous views of York from the top!
Until next time,
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