York: a first-timer's guide to England's medieval city

Why go

York is the perfect stop on a rail trip through Britain. In a day or two you can walk the city walls, stand beneath one of the largest medieval stained glass windows in the world, explore a Viking village and finish with tea and cake in a timber framed tea room. It is small, friendly and easy for first timers.

The main sights

**York Minster** is the city's masterpiece, a Gothic cathedral with the Great East Window and a tower climb with views over the rooftops. Walk the **city walls**, the longest medieval town walls remaining in England, free to walk and open most days. **The Shambles**, a crooked lane of overhanging timber buildings, is beautiful early in the morning before the crowds.

The **Jorvik Viking Centre** recreates Viking age York on the site where it was excavated. The **National Railway Museum**, free to enter, holds royal carriages, the Mallard and a Japanese bullet train. **York Castle Museum** has a recreated Victorian street, and **Clifford's Tower** sits on its mound nearby. The **Merchant Adventurers' Hall** is a superb medieval guildhall.

Food and drink

York is famous for tea rooms, with **Bettys** the best known. Try a Yorkshire pudding with a roast, Wensleydale cheese, and parkin, a sticky ginger cake. **Shambles Market** has good street food stalls, and old pubs like **The Golden Fleece** and **Ye Olde Starre Inne** have plenty of history and ghost stories.

Ghosts and evening walks

York calls itself one of the most haunted cities in Europe, and evening ghost walks are a fun, family friendly way to hear its stories. Most meet near the Minster or the Shambles with no booking needed.

Getting there and around

York station is a short walk from the walls. Trains from London King's Cross take around two hours, and Edinburgh is about two and a half hours north. The centre is best on foot, and the river paths along the **Ouse** are lovely for a stroll or a short boat trip.

Where to stay

Stay inside or just outside the walls to walk everywhere. The area near the station and **Bootham** are convenient, and guesthouses line the roads around **Clifton**. Book early for race days and December weekends.

Day trips

The **Yorkshire Dales** and **North York Moors** national parks are close, with stone villages, waterfalls and moorland. **Whitby**, with its ruined abbey and Dracula links, is reachable by bus or the heritage railway from Pickering. **Castle Howard** is a grand stately home within easy reach.

Fitting York into your trip

York links neatly with London, the Lake District and Edinburgh. Use the free trip planner to set your route.

When to visit

York is lovely in any season. Spring brings daffodils on the grassy banks below the city walls, summer is lively with river cruises and outdoor cafés, and autumn is quieter and golden. In February, the **Jorvik Viking Festival** fills the streets with Viking reenactors, battles and family events. From mid November, the **St Nicholas Fair** Christmas market makes the centre festive, though weekends get very crowded. Race days at **York Racecourse** fill hotels quickly, so check the fixtures before you book. Find more tea rooms, pubs and stays on our places to visit page.