Places to visit - our recommendations
Places to visit
Worth going inside to fully appreciate it and see the gothics structure, stained glass windows and experience the atmosphere. You can climb the tower to get great views of the city. You need to book on their website.
209 locals recommend
York Minster
DeangateWorth going inside to fully appreciate it and see the gothics structure, stained glass windows and experience the atmosphere. You can climb the tower to get great views of the city. You need to book on their website.
Medieval church hidden behind the busy street of Goodramgate. Beautiful and tranquil.
7 locals recommend
Holy Trinity Church
GoodramgateMedieval church hidden behind the busy street of Goodramgate. Beautiful and tranquil.
Great views of York (and into some really attractive gardens). The best section is entering via Monk Bar (bottom of Bootham) and leaving at Goodramgate, or vice versa. Free and no booking, but check opening hours for access.
44 locals recommend
York City Walls on Roman Fortress
Great views of York (and into some really attractive gardens). The best section is entering via Monk Bar (bottom of Bootham) and leaving at Goodramgate, or vice versa. Free and no booking, but check opening hours for access.
Medieval building still in use. There's a strong sense of connection and continuity with the past. Beautiful building. Good cafe.
17 locals recommend
Merchant Adventurers' Hall
FossgateMedieval building still in use. There's a strong sense of connection and continuity with the past. Beautiful building. Good cafe.
Good place for a picnic
Restful place for a picnic. Has the ruins of St Mary's Abbey. Closes at dusk, or before sometimes if they're short of staff, so worth checking.
127 locals recommend
Museum Gardens
Museum StreetRestful place for a picnic. Has the ruins of St Mary's Abbey. Closes at dusk, or before sometimes if they're short of staff, so worth checking.
Some of our favourite places to eat
Rustic restaurant. Good selection of very tasty main courses. Check opening hours. Usually not open in the evenings
14 locals recommend
Goji Cafe Vegetarian Cafe & Deli
36 GoodramgateRustic restaurant. Good selection of very tasty main courses. Check opening hours. Usually not open in the evenings
Typical pub although now owned by a chain. Good ales and good food. See Guy Fawkes' birthplace cottage at the back. Opposite the Minster so good for refreshments while visiting the Minster area.
31 locals recommend
Guy Fawkes Inn
25 High PetergateTypical pub although now owned by a chain. Good ales and good food. See Guy Fawkes' birthplace cottage at the back. Opposite the Minster so good for refreshments while visiting the Minster area.
'The' English cream tea experience. Pricey but excellent quality and service. There are usually queues, which all adds to the sense of anticipation. Good quality and nicely packaged baked items in their shop - great for gifts.
147 locals recommend
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
6-8 St. Helen’s Square 'The' English cream tea experience. Pricey but excellent quality and service. There are usually queues, which all adds to the sense of anticipation. Good quality and nicely packaged baked items in their shop - great for gifts.
Beautiful interior. Reasonably priced food in good quantities. The Convent museum is also worth visiting for its history of religious persecution, and understanding of why the Convent needed to be disguised as an ordinary building.
7 locals recommend
The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre
17 Blossom StBeautiful interior. Reasonably priced food in good quantities. The Convent museum is also worth visiting for its history of religious persecution, and understanding of why the Convent needed to be disguised as an ordinary building.
Convenient. 5 minutes walk from the house and serves until 8.30pm. If you arrive late at the house and don't want to venture far on your first evening, it's a decent option.
YHA York Hostel
Water EndConvenient. 5 minutes walk from the house and serves until 8.30pm. If you arrive late at the house and don't want to venture far on your first evening, it's a decent option.
Some recommended museums
Even if you're not a train fanatic, this is such an interesting museum and highly recommended. The engines are magnificent and you get a sense of the changing centre of innovation and social history since the Industrial Revolution. Free but you need to book. It has a cafe.
153 locals recommend
National Railway Museum
Leeman RoadEven if you're not a train fanatic, this is such an interesting museum and highly recommended. The engines are magnificent and you get a sense of the changing centre of innovation and social history since the Industrial Revolution. Free but you need to book. It has a cafe.
Experiential museum. You get sights, sounds and smells of Viking York. You go around in a guided 'car' so it's good as a respite from walking. It's very popular and gets booked up in advance.
181 locals recommend
Jorvik Viking Centre
19 CoppergateExperiential museum. You get sights, sounds and smells of Viking York. You go around in a guided 'car' so it's good as a respite from walking. It's very popular and gets booked up in advance.