Things you must do on a city break in York

Things you must do on a city break in York

Heading to York for a city break is a top choice for so many tourists. In fact, the historic city was voted as the best place to live in the UK 2018 by The Times, and it looks like people want to know why! It isn’t as sprawling as some cities, being only half the size of Leeds, and is perfectly situated between city giants Newcastle and London.

If you’re driving over to York, we’ve put together the perfect guide of must-see attractions, with the help of Mercedes A-Class finance providers, Lookers. Fill up the tank and let’s get going!

A spot of lunch

You might be a little peckish after your travel to York. If you are, you’re in luck, as the city has so many brilliant places to grab a bite to eat!

Head to Greek Street Food Souvlaki York for a top-tier TripAdvisor experience, as the Silver Street business has been voted the number one place to eat on the website. They cook up fast Mediterranean style food, with the gyros being a huge favourite among guests.

If you’re looking for more of a sit-in style meal, check out Circles Café and Gin Bar. This eatery has, of course, a number of gins to complement your choice of meal, whether you opt for a light bite or a full meal. Plus, it has stunning views of the River Ouse to enjoy while you eat.

Want to really push the boat out? Arras Restaurant at the Old Coach House is for you. The restaurant claims to serve “tongue-in-cheek” variants of classic British banquets. If you love history mixed with a contemporary twist, this is the place for you.

Things to see

Now that you’ve refuelled after your journey, it’s time to head out and see the sights! Here are the must-see attractions for any York visitor:

The famous street of Shambles

As one of the world’s most famous streets, Shambles is absolutely packed with historical value. There are timbre buildings from 13th century to gaze at, as well as an array of independent retailers offering up all kinds of goods for you to tak e back home. Take a look at the history of Shambles so you can truly get a sense of the street before you walk down it.

Lost in the best way at York Maze

If you love rides and shows, take a turn around the corner in York Maze. This amazing area has been crafted from over a million maize plants and is the nation’s largest maze! Perfect for a family trip, the York Maze is filled with rides, shows, and attractions. From quad bikes to straw bale mountains, you’ll definitely find something new to do! Just be sure to check their website before you book to get to grips with all the different things to do here.

A classic view of the York Minster

You really can’t go to York and not check out the York Minster. It’s one of the world’s most breath-taking cathedrals, and stands as a centre pillar of Christianity for the North of England. Even If you’re not religious, you’ll adore the handcrafted stonework that adorns the cathedral, along with the glimmering stained glass windows. The website has up-to-date information on events and activities, so be sure to check before you go!

If you are religious, the cathedral has daily masses available for you to attend and enjoy the cathedral the way so many Christians before you have.

Things to do

Sail away with the York Boat

Let’s face it, tour buses are done in every city. But York isn’t every city — it offers a tour boat as well!

The York Boat will take you through a beautiful sight-seeing tour of the city and countryside of York. There’s a number of boats operating at different points of the day, so you’re sure to find a time to suit you. Fingers crossed for sunshine and you can take advantage of the vessels’ open top decks!

Of course, if you like the idea of crafting your own path, you can hire your own self-drive boat and sail down the River Ouse at your leisure.

Walk along the York City Walls

The city is renowned for its walls, and they make for a fantastic walking route. As the longest stretch of medieval walls in any English city, the walk will take you along 3 kilometres of York. Of course, you don’t need to walk the full length of them — enjoy a shorter burst at your own pace.

There’s also a number of walking tours available in the city, so if you’re still itching to walk around after that, be sure to look out for them!

York is a gorgeous city with so much history to partake in. Make your next day out to the city a fun one with this guide on hand.