I recently visited York for the first time and I immediately fell in love with this place. With its Roman roots and interesting history, lively city center and beautiful cobbled streets, this ancient walled city is definitely worth visiting. I stayed there for 2 nights in November and I would definitely recommend staying for a minimum of 2 nights as it’s a beautiful place with tons of things to do and see.
HOW TO GET THERE
You can get a train or bus to York from most cities in the UK. I got the train from Leicester for £19 each way and my mum got the train from Edinburgh for £27 each way. The prices will also depend on when you book your tickets. You can also get a coach with National Express and Megabus.
Where to stay
When I visited with my mum, we stayed in The Lighthorseman which cost £60 per night for a double room with a private bathroom and is about a 10-minute walk to the city centre.
There are also a few hostels in the city from £12 per night, which are perfect for solo travellers.
THINGS TO DO
Like I mentioned above, there are tons of things to do in York and a lot of things are free! Here is a list of the things that we did when we were there.
York Minster (£12 or £17 for tower as well. Student discounts available)
Walk down the Shambles
Explore the snickelways (little streets) such as Coffee Yard, Church Lane, and Lady Peckett’s Yard
Enjoy the views from the City Walls (FREE)
Wander around the Museum Gardens (FREE)
Try all the tasty street food at Spark, a food court with bars and eateries in upcycled shipping containers (Vegan and gluten free options available)
Visit the York Castle Museum (£13 for annual ticket, £11.70 for annual ticket for 17-24 years and students, and FREE for Universal Credit claimants)
Find the cats on the York Cat Trail. You can pick up a free trail map at thre York Glass in The Shambles (FREE)
Immerse yourself in the Van Gogh Immersive Experience (£13)
Walk by the river
One of the best things to do in York is to just walk around, look up, and admire all the little streets and buildings. Click here to read my blog post about 10 Instagram-worthy photo spots in York.
WHERE TO EAT
I was pleasantly surprised at how many vegan options there were. Everywhere I looked there were signs reading “vegan” outside cafes and restaurants, whether they were vegan friendly or 100% vegan places. You can find a list HERE of the places we ate at (vegan friendly and gluten free options).
Pin this post for later!
