York
York is a walled city in northeast England that was founded by the ancient Romans. A popular attraction is York Minster, a 13th-century Gothic cathedral, which has medieval stained glass windows and 2 functioning bell towers. The City Walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse and offers stunning views of all York has to offer.
Details
Before visiting any town or city make sure you know the basics. General details and important information.
- Emergency Services: 999
- Language: English
- Currency: British Pound
- Country Code: GB
- Travel Visa: None required
- Population: 216 034
Risk Level
Researching various official sources, we perceive the risk to holiday makers and travellers are as follows;
Travellers Tips
Top travel advice and interesting tip bits of information from experienced travellers.
Emergencies
For the Emergency services just dial 999 from any phone, for not so serious situations please dial 101.
Hospitals in York
Tourist Office
Visit York 00441904550099
Travelling Around
York’s city centre is very compact and can be crossed on foot within 15 minutes. It is one of the largest pedestrianised city centres in Europe. York is a cycling city, with few hills, some pleasant traffic free riverside cyclepaths and rides out to the countryside.
Train Station
York Safety
How do I keep up to date with the news?
What are the top travel tips for York?
York has a pub for every day of the year, so take care after closing time when people are leaving the town centre. There may be queues for public transport.
Stag-do’s and Hen-do’s are also common on a Saturday and can become rowdy. Avoid Saturday if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.
Spring is a lovely season to visit the city, the flowers and blossoming trees are beautiful. Summer is the best time to visit York, the English weather can be unpredictable at the best of times.
If travelling from outside the city, parking can be quite expensive. There are park and ride options, which you can find more about here.
Where do I need to take care in York?
There are areas of every city where you can feel less safe. If you are aware before you visit you wont find yourself caught by surprise. Always ask the locals as they know better than anyone.
Beware of the rivers, in York they are prone to flooding. Strong undercurrents run under the surface of the water, take extra care if walking along the river banks as some areas are not fenced off.
You are safest in bright, well lit and busy areas. Don’t walk alone in badly lit areas after dark.
Improve Your Personal Safety
Knowledge – the more you have the better equipped you are.
Awareness – the more you see the safer you become.
Response – the right reaction can change a situation.
Annual Events
York is known as the City of Festivals and with a major event happening every month, there’s entertainment and experiences to be had around every corner. If visiting at this time, make sure you have your accommodation booked and are always aware of your surroundings when travelling around.
York Highlights
Quick bite and a pint recommendations?
York is home to over 360 pubs, one for each day of the year. Here are a few of our recommendations:
Bar with tiled floors and walls for real ales, plus an airy pizzeria and weekend live music.
Stonegate Yard promises an intimate and relaxed dining experience that offers something different to local and foreign patrons and ensures you.
A historic and vibrant market situated in the heart of York, it is a source of exceptional fresh produce, unique crafts and essential merchandise.
Fine dining recommendations?
York is well-known for its vast fine dining options, here are a few that we recommend:
Skosh serve eclectic food in the form of snacks and small plates allowing you to graze as you go, or if you prefer, being served course by course for a complete dining experience.
A stunning new sharing-plate restaurant that brings Tommy Banks’ Roots right into the heart of the city. Inspired by ingredients grown and foraged on the family farm; plenty of tradition and culture, cut through with a modern creative exuberance.
Situated alongside York’s historic Lendal Bridge over the River Ouse, The Star Inn The City is within easy walking distance of York Station and, via Museum Gardens or the riverside path, Marygate Carpark.
The Park Restaurant serves a Tasting Menu of modern British food with pin point accuracy of flavour and texture as well as an stunning Four-Course Menu.
What else can I do in York?
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the Science Museum Group. The museum tells the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society.
The Jorvik Viking Centre contains lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city. Visitors are taken through the dioramas in small carriages equipped with speakers. It was created by the York Archaeological Trust in 1984.
York’s Chocolate Story is an entertaining and informative guided tour through the history of York’s most famous chocolate-making families and their finest creations. You’ll uncover a host of surprising secrets and fascinating facts behind York’s greatest chocolate products, from the Chocolate Orange to the globally famous KitKat.
What are the highlight attractions?
York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, it is an amazing sight and feet of building and architecture. The west front holds the heart of York.
The York Museum Gardens are botanic gardens in the centre of York, England, beside the River Ouse. They cover an area of 10 acres of the former grounds of St Mary’s Abbey.
York City Walls. They extend for 2.5 miles and enclose an area of 263 acres. The walls still retain all four of their impressive gateways into the city, called bars, as well as 34 of their 39 interval towers.
The Shambles is an old street in York, England, with overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century. It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles, probably from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels, the word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat.
Clifford’s Tower is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. In 1190, York’s Jewish community, some 150 strong, was besieged here by a mob and committed mass suicide.
York Dungeons
York’s funniest and scariest attraction brings together 11 live shows, 75 minutes of fun and 2000 years of history. The York Dungeons reopened in March 2013 after a period of closure due to severe flooding.