Considering its modest size, York is a tourist powerhouse – and rightly so. This historical city may not pack the political punch it used to, but as a gateway into our past, York and the surrounding area is unrivalled in the north of England.

Founded by the Romans in 71AD, Eboracum, as it was then known, became the capital of Britannia Inferior, the name given by colonists to the pesky northern half of the island that wouldn’t capitulate to foreign rule quite as easily as its inhabitants’ soft southern counterparts. Much of York’s two millennia history has been maintained in the shape of numerous attractions, all of which have a story to tell. Romans, Vikings, Britons, Anglo-Saxons – all of these groups (and many more) are represented in the fascinating timeline York shows us.

York’s small size and abundance of historical attractions make it ideal for a short getaway. You won’t need a car – indeed, walking around the city is one of its great pleasures – and there are plenty of things to do at night once you’re dosed up on history. It’s also been dubbed the ‘City of Festivals’, thanks to a jam-packed calendar that includes the Viking Festival, the Festival of Angels, the Early and Late Music festivals, and the Food and Drink Festival. Romance, history, culture, food. York has it all.

Must See Attractions


York Minster

Any history buff who visits the city generally makes a beeline for York Minster, the biggest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Everyone else finds inevitably finds themselves there eventually because it’s impossible to miss. Even now, in an age when vertiginous buildings are to cities what grass is to fields, York Minster dominates the skyline, so it’s not difficult to imagine how imposing it must have been to 8th Century eyes and minds. An Evensong service at York Minster is one of the most profound experiences of Britain’s religious landscape. Everyone, the faithful and the faithless alike, should experience it.

Nearby hotel: Cedar Court Grand Hotel

Jorvik Viking Centre

As one of the UK’s premier Viking excavation sites, Jorvik brims year-round with school parties and amateur archaeologists. More than 16 million people come here every year for a look at life in England after the Romans left but before the Norman invasion, when marauding Norse warriors successfully controlled large tracts of Northumbria, including the most important stronghold of all. Learning about Viking life in the rolling hills of what is now Yorkshire is an important and timely lesson on the nebulous, fragile nature of apparently static borders. From the time the city was sacked by Ivar the Boneless in 866 to its ultimate annexation by England in 954, this was a Scandinavian colony through and through.

Nearby hotel: Lady Anne Middletons Hotel

National Railway Museum

The world’s largest railway museum is exactly where it should be: in the industrial heartland of the country who invented the train. If you want to see an unrivalled collection of locomotives, railway equipment and historical records relating to trains and the lives of navvies, look no further.

Nearby hotels: The Churchill Hotel - Holgate Hill Hotel

York Castle Museum

Award-winning exhibits include recreations of everyday life throughout history. The Victorian Era is brilliantly replicated in Kirkgate, so too the Edwardian age in Half Moon Court. Built on the grounds of an old prison, the museum also afford visitors the chance to explore the cell where Dick Turpin saw out his days.

Nearby hotel: Lady Anne Middletons Hotel

Where to eat


Michael’s Brasserie

Centrally-located (and a stone’s throw from York Minster), Michael’s specialized in English and continental cuisine, served up by friendly staff schooled in cut-above customer service.

Nearby hotel: Hedley House Hotel

Dean Court Hotel

Also situated in the shadow of the cathedral is this, one of York’s finest hotels, with two restaurants and the same number of AA Rosettes Awards. A great place to unwind after a day’s sightseeing.

Ambience Café Bar & Bistro

Popular with locals and tourists, Ambience operates as a café par excellence during daylight hours, and a brilliant restaurant offering a diverse menu at night.

Nearby hotel: Hotel 53

Nightlife


The Black Swan

As you might expect from a city known for historical preservation, York’s nightlife is all about the traditional English pubs – and they don’t come much better than the Black Swan, which dates to the 17th Century. There’s something immensely satisfying about continuing the grand tradition of pub socializing and imbibing alongside dark wood panelling, log fires and the standard resident ghost.

The Old Starre

Even older than the Black Swan (and just as haunted), the Old Starre is known to date back to 1656, when it operated as a coach inn. The former stable area is now a beer garden, the food and drink is traditional, and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

After a late night in the historic city of York make sure you end the night off properly with a stay in one of our hotels near York city centre or a hotel near York Minster.