England: What to do in York – 1 day itinerary

 

New York is a well-known city in the United States, but few people have thought of including “Old” York in the script. It is in the north of England and is steeped in history. Check out tips for attractions in the city of York.

YORK CITY

York is a historic city located at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North East England. It was founded by the Romans in 71 AD under the name of Eboracum. York has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop for the country's major political events. In the Middle Ages, the city grew as an important wool trade center. In the 19th century, it became a center of the railway network and a confectionery center.

In more recent years, York University and health services have become major employers in the city, while tourism has become an important element of the local economy. The city still has parts of the old wall that surrounded it in the past, houses several museums and has a historic cathedral with incredible colorful stained glass windows.

WHAT TO DO IN YORK

We've put all our suggestions on the interactive map below to help you plan your trip to York. There are tips on attractions, varied museums, gardens and places to eat and shop. Below, we talk more about each of them.

1. ANCIENT WALLS AND CITY GATES

One of the most interesting things to do in York is to walk along the ancient walls that surrounded the city. There are several sections where you can go up and admire the beautiful view of the city and learn a little more about the history of York and England.

In addition to the walls, it is possible to visit the city gates. O Micklegate Bar is the most important of York's four main medieval gates. This was the main entrance to the city for those arriving from the south. At least half a dozen reigning monarchs passed through this gate and, by tradition, they stopped at the site to ask the Lord Mayor's permission to enter the city. The lower part dates from the 12th century, the two upper floors from the 14th century. For centuries, the severed heads of rebels and traitors have been displayed above the gate. At Micklegate is Henry VII Experience, named after the first English king of the Tudor dynasty, who assumed the throne after the War of the Two Roses (between the York and Lancaster dynasties).

Be sure to walk along the stretch of wall located behind the Cathedral, accessed by the Bootham Bar because the view is very interesting and the walk extremely pleasant. Moving on, you'll reach the gate. Monk Bar, which houses the exhibition Richard III Experience, in honor of the last Englishman of the York dynasty, defeated in the War of the Two Roses. Both “Experiences” (Henry VII and Richard III) can be viewed together for a cost of £5.

The last gate is the Walmgate Bar, the best preserved the 4 gates and the furthest from the city center. Its oldest part is a 12th century stone arch, the walled part in front dates from the 14th century, the wooden gates from the 15th century and the wooden building from the 16th century.

2. LEGENDARY BRIDGE

Lendal Bridge is a 53 meter cast iron bridge with Victorian England Gothic detailing. It connects two medieval towers: Lendal Tower on the east bank and Barker Tower on the west bank. The bridge was designed by civil engineer Thomas Page, who also designed London's Westminster Bridge. The bridge's ornate parapet features the white rose of York, the crossed keys of the Diocese of York, and the lions of England.

3. YORK MINSTER

York Minster is the name of York Minster, the main church in the city. Dedicated to St. Peter, it is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Some highlights are: the West Window, built in 1338, and the Capela da Senhora where the Great East Window is located (finished in 1408), the largest extension of medieval stained glass in the world. The church is huge, with beautiful stained glass windows, a crypt, and a historic exhibition area. The church's central tower is 72 meters high and can be included in the visit for an additional fee. Outside the church is an ancient Roman column and a statue of the ancient Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.

• Address: Deangate, York YO1 7HH
• Schedules: daily from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm / Sunday from 12:45 pm to 5 pm
• Entrance: church only £10 / church + tower £15 / ticket valid for 1 year
• Tours: Monday to Saturday at 19:00h, 11:00h, 12:00h, 13:00h, 14:00h, 15:00h from Monday to Saturday (no additional costs beyond the entrance price)

4. YORK SHAMBLES

Shambles is an old, narrow street with wooden buildings, some dating back to the 14th century. In the past, there were several butcher shops on the street, but nowadays none are there anymore. However, it is full of shops, gift shops, goodies (chocolate, fudge), cafes and restaurants, as well as a bakery and a bookstore. this street served as the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films and for that reason, many of the series fanatics visit the place. Recently, a store with products from the most famous wizard in the world was opened on the street (see more information at the end of the post). The only problem is being able to take a picture without a crowd of tourists invading the alley.

5. YORK CASTLE – CLIFFORD'S TOWER

York Castle was a fortified complex comprising a string of castles, prisons, courthouses and other buildings on the south side of the River Foss. The castle was built in 1068 after the Norman conquest of York. After the castle's destruction by rebels and a Viking army in 1069, York Castle was rebuilt and reinforced with extensive water defences, including a moat and an artificial lake. After a major explosion in 1684, the remaining military defenses were rendered uninhabitable, but York Castle continued to be used as a prison and prison until 1929. Today it lies in ruins and what remains is Clifford's Tower, which can be visited today.

• Address: Tower Street, York, YO1 9SA
• Schedules: daily from 10 am to 6 pm
• Entrance: £5

6. MUSEUMS

In just one day it is impossible to visit all the museums in the city, but it is possible to choose those that interest you the most in order to visit them. We have selected 8 interesting museums and recommend that you choose two of them to visit if you only have one day in York:

• National Railway Museum York: Discover 300 years of history at this museum with an exhibition of over 1 million objects that changed the world in the UK's largest railway museum. (Address: Leeman Rd, York YO26 4XJ / Hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm / Admission: free)
• Yorkshire Museum: A museum with an eclectic collection that involves several areas such as biology, astronomy, geology and archeology. (Address: Museum St, York YO1 7FR / Hours: daily 10am to 5pm / Admission: £6.81)

• York Art Gallery: Art gallery with a collection of paintings from the 14th century to the present day, including an exhibition of watercolors, drawings and ceramics. (Address: Exhibition Square, York YO1 7EW / Hours: daily 10am to 5pm / Admission: £6.81)

• York Castle Museum:  The museum is located in the old castle of York. It was founded in 1938 and is housed in buildings that were used as a prison in the 18th century (using stones from the castle ruins). Exhibits include Victorian street recreation; old children's toys; life in the former prison and an insight into the First World War. (Address: Tower St, York YO1 9RY / Hours: daily 9:30am to 5pm / Admission: £9.09)

• JORK Viking Center: Visitors are taken back to 975 AD, in a time capsule, and then embarked on a tour of a reconstruction of an ancient Viking settlement. In addition, there is an extensive area that combines an exhibition with interactive displays and the opportunity to learn about 10th century life. (Address: 19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT / Hours: daily 10am to 5pm / Admission: from £ 10.25)
• Fairfax House: This is a Georgian house built in the early 1740s for a local merchant and in 1759 it was acquired by Charles Gregory Fairfax, the 9th Viscount Fairfax of Emley. After the Viscount's death in 1772, the house was sold and subsequently passed through several local families. The property was purchased by York Civic Trust in the 1980s and completely restored to its former grandeur. Fairfax House is now a museum open to the public (Address: Castlegate, York YO1 9RN / Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00; Saturday 11:00 to 16:00; Monday by guided tours only at 11:00 and 14:00; closed at Sundays / Admission: £7.50)

• mansion house: The Mansion House has been the seat of the Honorable Lord Mayor (Mayor) of York since 1732. It was built for the Lord Mayor to entertain distinguished visitors visiting the city and also to house the beautiful art collections. To this day it is used for exactly the same purpose. It is possible to discover (through guided tours) its gold and silver collection and the beautiful Georgian cuisine. (Address: St. Helen's Square, York YO1 9QL / Hours: Currently closed for renovation)
• Treasure's House: Treasure's House is a historic house that was built directly on one of the main Roman roads that lead York to the north of England. Between 1897 and 1930, it was restored by Frank Green, a wealthy local industrialist. In 1930, the house and its rich contents were handed over to the administration of the National Trust when its owner retired and moved away from the city. Since then, it has been open to the public. (Address: Minster Yard, York YO1 7JL / Hours: daily 11am to 4:30pm / Admission: £7.70)

7. GARDENS

• Tower Gardens: Close to what remains of the old castle of York are the gardens of the Tower, on the banks of the River Ouse. A good option to walk along the river and enjoy the scenery of the city.

• Museum Gardens: A good day is to visit the gardens opposite the Yorkshire Museum even if you do not intend to visit it. There are lots of green areas to sit and relax, lots of colorful flowers and the ruins of the old Abbey of Santa Maria.

8. BREWERY YORK BREWERY LTD

For those who enjoy visiting craft breweries, a good opportunity is to visit York Brewery. In addition to tasting a beer, it is possible to take guided tours to get to know the brewery's facilities and check its operation through an observation platform.

• Address: 12 Toft Green, York YO1 6JT, UK
• Schedules: Tours from Monday to Saturday at 12:30, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00
• Entrance: £8

NICE TOURS AND EXCURSIONS IN YORK

WHERE TO EAT IN YORK

COFFEE AND BAKERY

• Bettys Café Tea Rooms (46 Stonegate, YO1 8AS / 6-8 St. Helen's Square, YO1 8QP)
• The Cornish Bakery (6 Coney St, YO1 9NA /29-30 Colliergate, YO1 8BN)

BARS

• House Of The Trembling Madness (48 Stonegate, YO1 8AS, UK)
• The Old White Swan (80 Goodramgate, YO1 7LF, UK)

RESTAURANTS NETWORKS

• Pizza Express (17 Museum St, YO1 7DJ, UK)
• Zizzi (2 Legend, YO1 8AA, UK)
• Bella Italia (89 Low Petergate, YO1 7HY, UK)
• Byron (11 High Ousegate, YO1 8RZ, UK)
• Nando's (12 High Ousegate, YO1 8RZ, UK)
• bill's (12 Coney St, YO1 9NA, UK)
• price (1-3 Clifford St, YO1 9RG, UK)
• Carluccio's (Coppergate Shopping Centre, YO1 9NY, UK & 3-5 St. Helen's Square, YO1 8QW, UK)

WHERE TO BUY IN YORK

For those who want to take advantage of their passage through York to do some shopping, an interesting place is the Coppergate Shopping Center, full of shops (12 Coppergate, York YO1 9NT). It is right in the city center and is open daily.

The Shambles it's that little shopping street that was the inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, which we mentioned earlier. There is the The Shop That Must Not Be Named ("The Lodge that cannot be named", a clear reference to the story of the books/films in which Lord Voldemort is "the one who cannot be named"). The shop sells all kinds of products related to the Harry Potter universe, from clothing, wands, mugs, books, t-shirts and many gift items. Needless to say, it gets crowded with “pottermaniacs”, right? (30 Shambles, York YO1 7LX)

Another really fun place is the Shambles Market (5 Silver St, York YO1 8RY, UK), a street market selling groceries, food, fun t-shirts, old records, flowers and more!

WHERE TO STAY IN YORK

I visited York on a day trip from London. However, for those who want to stay longer in the city or who want to spend the night there, here are some situations for staying in York.

• The Main York (5 stars)
• Best Western Monkbar Hotel (4 stars)
• Guy Fawkes Inn (4 stars)
• Park Inn by Radisson York City Center (3 stars)
• Hampton by Hilton York (3 stars)
• middletons (3 stars)
• Hotel 53 (3 stars)

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HOW TO REACH YORK

It is very easy to get to know York by train. I visited the city on a round trip from London from the station London King's Cross, disembarking at York station. The route of approx. 2 hours, is made by the company Virgin Trains East Coast through high speed trains. A tip is to buy the ticket a few weeks in advance through the TrainLine. see more Tips for traveling by train in England.

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