York Travel Guide
Too often cities are called ‘unique’, but there are few that can be considered as truly unique as York. After all, how many rest on the foundations of both a Roman fortress and a vital Viking settlement? How many were a linchpin of both the Norman conquest and English Civil War? Ancient, attractive and enduring, York stands alone.
For several hundred years, this was England’s second city, the gateway to the north, crucially positioned between the rivers Ouse and Foss. Today, it still wears the marks of its remarkable history – with typical Yorkshire pride.
Walking the cobbled streets of the medieval-conjuring Shambles or scaling the old city walls, you can feel history at your feet, while every time someone digs up the ground, the past comes bursting to the surface.
Most visitors start with the extraordinary York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Its soaring spires gleam in the sun and imbue the city with mystery at night, brooding over the skyline.
Then there’s the formidable Clifford’s Tower (started by William the Conqueror), which is reminiscent of a French castle, and the famous ‘Bars’ – medieval gatehouses that punctuate the old city walls. Finally, there are many impressive museums exploring the potency of York’s past lives.
Of course, York is also a modern city that doesn’t depend only on tourism. Straight-talking and friendly, the locals appreciate the city’s incredible past without being paralysed by it.
While exploring the shadowy medieval alleyways between streets, stopping in at old rickety pubs and quaint tea rooms, you’ll also find noisy bars and live music venues catering to the sizable student population, as well as a few bohemian cafes and little art galleries.
Meanwhile, York’s restaurant scene is dynamic and well respected, with some superb examples of British gastronomy and plenty of top-notch pub grub.
Ultimately, though, this fascinating city is dominated by its venerable architecture – York is truly one of the most beautiful places in Britain. Especially so in autumn and winter when, despite the cold, the medieval atmosphere and looming Minster make it even more mysterious and alluring than usual.
Archaeological discoveries suggest that the area surrounding the city has been inhabited for as long as 10,000 years, but York didn’t really get going until the Romans arrived. In 71AD, the Ninth Legion marched here from Lincoln and set up a city called Eboracum. Parts of the Roman fortress can still be seen, particularly the Roman baths and remnants found under the York Minster cathedral.
Two Roman Emperors died in Britain, both of them in York – Septimius Severus in 211 and Constantius I in 306. The city was an important strategic base for the Romans in their northern campaigns until the withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century.
Soon after, the Anglo-Saxons took over the region and renamed the city Eoforwic. In 601, Pope Gregory sent a mission to convert the British to Christianity with York as its religious centre, leading to the construction of churches. In 867, the Vikings captured the city and renamed it Jorvik, from where the name York stems.
In the 10th century, York became part of the Anglo-Saxon state, but invasions from Scandinavian forces were frequent. In fact, the routing of a Norwegian occupation of York by King Harold in 1066 was a direct factor in the Norman Conquest.
When William the Conqueror met Harold at Hastings, he faced an English force weakened and tired after its engagement in the north.
York was subdued by the Normans and the Minster was rebuilt. Clifford’s Tower was constructed in 1244 and the city walls were completed in the early 14th century. But after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, York’s churches fell into disrepair.
Having been one of the most important English cities in the Middle Ages, York began to decline in the 15th century. During the English Civil War, it was besieged by parliamentary forces for its support of the Royalists, after which it lost its prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1942, Nazi Germany’s Baedeker Blitz dropped bombs on the city. The Guildhall and the Bath Assembly Rooms were damaged, but many of the city’s historical buildings were left unscathed.
The House of York was one of the most powerful in England and produced three kings, including Richard III, who was defeated in the Wars of the Roses in 1485.
York’s iconic Clifford’s Tower once formed a part of the medieval Norman castle, but later became a jail.
The city’s location was selected by the Romans for being near the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss, giving it strategic superiority.
York is filled year round with events to attract shoppers, horse-lovers, foodies and culture vultures.
In
winter, temperatures fall to around 1°C (33°F) and rise to around 21°C (69°F) in the summer.
Spring and
summer are the best time of year to visit this northern city, with its annual Race meetings starting in May and continuing until October over dedicated weekends.
The city tends to be heaving with visitors in the summer but the same is true in the run-up to Christmas, when visitors descend on the atmospheric old town festooned with Yuletide decorations for festive gifts.
Getting around York
First
Telephone: +44 1904 883 063
website: www.firstgroup.com york is York’s main bus company.
The Red Line 7 ‘Park and Ride’ bus travels from the York Designer Outlet to York Railway Station daily, stopping off at the city centre en route. You can buy single tickets, day passes and weekend passes from the driver.
There are taxi ranks at York Railway Station, one under the station portico and another in the middle of Station Road. Taxis stop in streets throughout York but two of the main taxi ranks in the city are on Piccadilly and St Saviourgate. You can pre-book taxis from companies like
Fleetways
Telephone: +44 1904 365 365
Streamline Taxis
Telephone: +44 1904 656 565
York Cars
Telephone: +44 1904 765 765
It’s easy to walk around York but if you choose to drive, it’s a small but busy city, so roads can be congested, especially during the rush hours. A set of wheels does give you the option, of course, to get out and see some of the surrounding countryside and stately homes.
The car parks at Bishopthorpe Road, Castle Mills, Foss Bank, Marygate, Monk Bar, Nunnery Lane, St George’s Field and Union Terrace have free car parking between 08:00 and 11:00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Cycling around York is a pleasure – there are over 100km (62 miles) of cycle routes in the city centre and North Yorkshire’s surrounding scenic countryside. You can hire bikes from:
Cycle Heaven
ِِAddress: Hospital Fields Rd, Fulford, York .
Telephone: +44 1904 622 701
Website: www.cycle-heaven.co.uk
Giant Store York
Address: 13 Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 622 868
Website: www.giant-york.co.uk
Things to see in York
Attractions
Stone walls coil around York for 3.5km (2 miles) and are the longest medieval town walls in England that are still intact. The stretch from Monkbar to Petergate is particularly picturesque and walking the whole length will take about two hours. There are interpretive panels at 16 key points along the route, five historic gateways and 45 towers. The highest and most impressively crafted of the gateways is called Monk Bar and dates back to the 14th century. A self-contained fortress with an arch, it also contains the new Richard III Experience, dedicated to the House of York’s infamous last king. Meanwhile, Micklegate Bar continues the story with the Henry VII Experience.
Address: Unnamed Road, York.
Opening times: Daily 08:30-18:00.
Website: www.york.gov.uk
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This is the largest railway museum in the world and boasts a broad range of railway icons and artefacts – from Mallard, the world’s fastest steam engine, to the legendary steam locomotive, the Flying Scotsman. Take the fun Road Trink, linking the museum with York Minster, which leaves every 30 minutes. The museum is also home to the Yorkshire Wheel, a 54m (177ft) wheel that contains 42 enclosed capsules carrying up to eight people each, and offers great vistas over the historic city.
Address: Leeman Road, York.
Telephone: 0844 815 3139
Opening times: Daily 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.nrm.org.uk
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
It may be far more advanced than York’s Roman equivalent, but the Jorvik museum can’t hide how rudimentary the Vikings’ technology was by comparison, despite arriving centuries later. However, York – or Jorvik – was an important trading hub in the Viking world, which in part contributed to it becoming England’s second city. Constructed by the York Archaeological Trust on the site of the famous Viking dig, the museum displays numerous artefacts including tools, jewellery and fine-crafted combs. There are also impressive interactive multimedia installations, and a glass floor at the entrance that allows visitors to look down at the Viking town lying beneath. The centrepiece is the sophisticated ride in rollercoaster-style capsules, which flies you through a recreation of Jorvik, complete with authentic huts and inhabitants brought to life by animatronics.
Address: Coppergate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 615 505
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
York’s undisputed icon is also the largest medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe: York Minster is over 500ft (152m) long and 100ft (30m) wide, and has some of the oldest and finest stained glass in the country. The city’s first church was thought to have been built on the same site in the 7th century, while the heart of the ancient Roman fortress also lies beneath the Minster, remnants of which be glimpsed by delving into the bowels of the cathedral. The classic Gothic style was cutting-edge at the time of construction (between 1220 and 1472), and the masons weren’t sure of the load-bearing capacity of the pillars, so they built the impressive vaults in wood (an early example of no-nonsense Yorkshire practicality). Today’s restoration efforts use limestone from the same quarry as the original.
Address: Deangate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 557 200
Opening times: Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 12:45-17:00.
Website: www.yorkminster.org
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Positioned on a high mound, Clifford’s Tower was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, and is nearly all that remains of the old York Castle. Other than an important defensive position, the imposing round structure has been used as a prison and seat of government. Today, the tower is a tranquil spot, and contains interesting information as to the history of the old castle. Climbing stone steps up the narrow staircase concealed within the walls takes you up to the ramparts, from where there are fantastic panoramic views of the city.
Address: Tower Street, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 646 940
Opening times: Daily 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Hordes of people flock to The Shambles, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping streets, to peer into its original shop-fronts leaning precariously towards each other. Now filled with whimsical cafés, restaurants and boutiques, it was once a busy street full of butchers. It is also the home of the Shrine of Margaret Clitherow, a 16th-century Catholic who is York’s very own saint.
Address: The Shambles, York.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Overlooked by Clifford’s Tower, this impressive building once housed the courts of York. Today it contains exhibitions of Yorkshire local history, with examples of rooms from different periods belonging to the various social classes. The highlight of the museum, though, is Kirkgate, a painstaking recreation of a Victorian street including a police station, schoolroom, barbers, hat shop and even a horse and carriage. Temporary exhibitions are renowned for their quality.
Address: Castle Area, Eye of York.
Telephone: +44 1904 687 687
Opening times: Daily 09:30-17:00.
Website: www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
As with so many sites of historic importance in York, the so-called Barley Hall was rediscovered during building works in 1980s. Formerly home to the Priors of Nostell and Mayor of York, much of the structure is surprisingly intact despite being lost and forgotten for so long, with stunning exposed timber framing and an impressive great hall. It’s quite easy to tell which parts of the structure are new but even so, the building has been lovingly restored. With numerous hands-on items and artefacts, this is a rare glimpse onto England’s medieval past.
Address: 2 Coffee Yard, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 615 505
Opening times: Daily 10:00-16:30.
Website: www.barleyhall.co.uk
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
As one of the most complete examples of York’s Roman past, these baths were actually discovered when the pub above was digging a new cellar in 1930. A leisure centre for soldiers who watched the fortress that once loomed over the rivers ofOuse and Foss, it includes the Tepidarium (warm room), Caldarium (steam room) and Frigidarium (for cooling off). Get togrips with a Roman soldier’s life by seeing where they would have bathed, socialised and defecated, and don’t miss the chance to try on armour, helmets and shields. As the base of the ninth legion, who waged campaigns against the Brigantesand Caledonians, the York fortress even hosted Emperor Septimius Serverus for three years until his death in 211 AD.
Address: 9 St Sampsons Square, York, YO1 8RN.
Telephone: +44 1904 620 455
Opening times: Mon-Sat 11:00-16:00.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Visit York Information Centre
Address: 21 Parliament St, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 909 487
Opening times: Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun: 10:00-16:00.
Website: www.visityork.org
The official tourist office of York is located near the Minster and furnished with lots of magazines, leaflets and information about tours and events, as well as city maps. A full team of helpful staff are all also on-hand to give you advice. Consider buying the innovative Smell York guide, each page of which offers a different tantalising fragrance of the city.
Tourist passes
The York Pass (
Website: www.yorkpass.com ) permits free entry into more than 30 of York’s attractions for one, two, or three days, also granting discounts on selected restaurants and cafés, walks and bus tours, car and cycle hire. Reduced child tickets also available.
Things to do in York
- Cruise the Ouse and Foss at dusk
Arranged around the Ouse and Foss rivers, the city’s iconic architecture shines from the water. Setting off from Kings Staith Landing.
York Boat’s
Telephone: +44 1904 628 324
Website: www.yorkboat.co.uk dusk cruises show the Minster bathed in golden light. For a little romance, couples should embark on a floodlit evening cruise.
For something a bit different, take a tour through the history of chocolate in the city.
York’s Chocolate Story
Telephone: +44 845 498 9411
Website: www.yorkchocolatestory.com guides visitors through the lore of the city’s prestigious chocolate-making families, whilst on-site chocolatiers will show you how to make your own to take home.
- Scare yourself silly in the world’s most haunted city
According the Ghost Research Foundation International, York is the most haunted city in the world, and the city’s enduring medieval battlements and Gothic cathedral certainly feel spooky at night. If you’re feeling brave, take the renowned
Original Ghost Walk of York
Telephone: +44 1904 764222
Website; www.theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk and uncover its ghouls.
- Start your own archaeological dig
Dig
Telephone: +44 1904 615 505
Website: www.digyork.com comes from the same stable
As Jorvik Viking Centre and offers participants the chance to grab a trowel and take part in excavations. Ideal for children, real and simulated artefacts from Roman to Victorian times are buried, ready for visitors and budding archaeologists to uncover.
- Try a pub-crawl with a difference
York has some great watering holes, and you can tour its oldest taverns with
Footprints
Telephone: +44 1904 826 551
Website: www.footprintsyork.com
Guides will explain the history of beer, how it built the Egyptian pyramids and why Popes have blessed it. You may need a stiff drink after – some of the pubs are haunted.
York tours and excursions
York tours
York City Sightseeing is a hop-on, hop-off bus service that travels around the city centre.
Telephone: +44 1904 655 585
Website: www.yorktourbuses.co.uk
There are dozens of tours in York. free daily guided walking tours of a more conventional nature from the Association of Voluntary Guides.
Telephone:
+44 1904 640 780
The International Ghost Research Foundation announced that York was ‘officially’ the most haunted city in Europe in 2002 and there are plenty of ghost tours around the city to impart insights into York’s resident ghosts. Some of these tours rely on trickery and theatrics, whilst others opt for a more straightforward historical approach. The best is The Original Ghost Walk of York which departs from outside the King’s Arms pub, 3 King’s Straith, on a nightly basis.
Telephone:
+44 1759 373 090
Website: www.theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk
There are also various sightseeing boat tours, offering daytime and evening cruises.
Telephone:
+44 1904 628 324
Website: www.yorkboat.co.uk
York excursions
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The railway traverses stunning windswept scenery along 29km (18 miles) of preserved steam railway.
Telephone:
+44 1751 472 508
Website: www.nymr.co.uk
This is one of England’s grandest remaining baroque mansions. There are many such stately homes in North Yorkshire.
Telephone: +44 1653 648 444
Website: www.castlehoward.co.uk
The northeast coast is not far from York and veers from traditional fun at Scarborough in the form of funfair rides and fish and chips, to the charming, cobblestone Whitby, with its somewhat gothic reputation – the town inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula.
Website: www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com
Haworth was the hometown of the Brontë sisters and typifies the gorgeous villages that pepper the verdant, rolling Yorkshire Dales.
Website: www.yorkshiredales.org.ukShopping in York
Shopping in York is a major attraction. Besides the usual high-street chains, York is filled by little independent shops, particularly art, antique and antiquarian bookshops.
York boasts an abundance of designer labels and independent shops within the old historic streets near the Minster, while the real commercial centre next to the river features high street names and big brands.
York’s daily Newgate Market, situated in Newgate, adjacent to The Shambles, has over 100 stalls, with particular emphasis on local produce.
Head to the York Designer Outlet, at St Nicholas Avenue, Fulford, for top fashion brands from the UK and beyond. Expect up to 60% off labels like Escade, Reiss, Ted Baker and more. There’s also a Food Quarter with chain restaurants, cafés and even fish and chips.
Shops are usually open Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:00, or later, with shortened opening times on Sunday.
Be it a Viking comb or a Medieval remedy, you’ll find all manner of replicas and ornaments in the well-stocked gift shops of the various museums. Known for its chocolate, York is also well served by chocolate-makers such as Monk Bar Chocolatiers at 7 The Shambles. A trip to Betty’s, at 46 Stonegate, is also must as the company’s famous teas, breads and cakes make good souvenirs.
VAT is added to most goods at 20%.
Restaurants in York
York’s culinary scene is impressive for a relatively small city. There are rafts of restaurants showing off British cooking to the large tourist numbers, ranging from gastronomic to quality pub food. There are also various Italian, Indian, Chinese and other international cuisines to try. The restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three different pricing categories:
Expensive (over £40)
Moderate (£20 to £40)
Cheap (up to £20)
These prices are based on the cost of a three-course meal for one and a half-bottle of house wine or equivalent (where applicable). Tip 10% if the service is good and it hasn’t already been added to the bill.
Expensive
Cuisine: Italian
York’s Ask, of pizza and pasta fame, is no ordinary chain restaurant. Situated in the Grand Assembly Rooms, possibly the earliest neoclassical building in Europe, the interior threatens to overwhelm the food with lofty ceilings, giant chandeliers and opulent marble pillars garnishing this Palladian space. You may not fancy a high street name while visiting one of England’s most venerable cities, but through Ask, a national treasure lives on.
Address: The Grand Assembly Rooms, Blake Street, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 637 254
Website: www.askitalian.co.uk
Cuisine: British, international
This elegant bistro serves some of the best food to be found in York, and despite the local sophisticates that frequent, there’s nothing pretentious about Café No 8. Small without being too close, the interior is dotted with large plant pots, wooden floorboards and timber beams suggestive of an old townhouse, but it’s cleanly decorated, with a fresh, modern feel. Try the grilled halloumi to start, while the main of pork belly (a small but delicious cube of tender slow-cooked meat that melts in the mouth) is delightful. Ask to sit in the pretty garden in summer, which extends up a set of old stone steps.
Address: 8 Gillygate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 653 074
Website: www.cafeno8.co.uk
Cuisine: British
The most-talked about hotel in York is The Judge’s Lodging, which opened in summer 2014 after a six-month renovation. Its eclectic basement bar and front terrace are already becoming a popular spot for a drink but the hotel restaurant is also worth a visit. Ask to sit in the so-called ‘monkey room’ (with high ceilings and quirky primates-on-pillars wallpaper) by the big windows looking onto the garden or next to the fireplace. The food is quality English pub grub and the premium steaks are superb.
Address: 9 Lendal, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 638 733
Website: www.judgeslodgingyork.co.uk
Moderate
Cuisine: British
If you fancy a less showy alternative to the famous Bettys tea rooms, head to this quaint café not far from the Minster. Little more than a handsome nook from the outside, there are a surprising number of old, wooden and reclaimed tables within, and even a pleasant little courtyard offering glimpses of the cathedral. The large selection of teas includes Dale’s ‘with Yorkshire water’, Darjeeling ‘first flush’, and spiced Masala chai. Take it with delicious crumbly scones topped by clotted cream and fresh jam. Ideal for afternoon tea, Mannion is also a great brunch stop with bacon and sausage sandwiches.
Address: 1 Blake Street, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 631 030
Website: www.mannionandco.co.uk
Cuisine: Korean
For something a bit different, head to York’s first Korean restaurant. With a welcoming bistro atmosphere, husband-and-wife team, Soang Ho and Ross Sinclair, run this hidden gem nestled within the tangle of streets north of the Minster. The sushi is delicious and fresh, the goyza dumplings delicious and the bulgogi (beef marinated with pears, ginger and garlic) keep the locals coming back.
Address: 9 Franklins Yard (upstairs, Fossgate, York.
Telephone: +44 7729 649 333
Website: www.oshibi.biz
Cuisine: Italian
For the most entertaining dining option in York, head to this one-of-a-kind Italian. There are more glamorous options for pasta in the city, but don’t be put off by the green-white-and-red sign outside and garish décor as Il Paradiso is the real deal. Run by Sardinian native Paolo Silesu, the team are friendly (especially to women) and the food is incredible. The starter of burrata campana (a Sardinian cheese a bit like mozzarella) is ‘flown in special’, has a two-day shelf-life and is sublime, while any one of the mains such as busa con triglie (chunky pasta strips with red mullet in a rich spicy sauce), bauletti all’astice (lobster-stuffed ravioli) and maialetto al mirto (slow-roasted suckling piglet) could make your day, if not your entire stay.
Address: 34 Fossgate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 611 444
Website: www.ilparadisodelciboyork.com
Cheap
Cuisine: British.
Craft beers, steaks & burgers served at a chic restaurant that has a sophisticated vibe. Known for its iconic Northern locations, timeless design and elegant settings, The Cut & Craft combines contemporary steak and seafood dishes with a premium list of locally-crafted drinks. Our team is always sourcing the best seasonal produce from the local area to support neighbouring producers, be that local farmers, brewers or spirit makers.
Address: 8 St Sampson’s Sq, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 593 500
Website: www.thecutandcraft.co.uk
Cuisine: Modern European
Mediterranean dishes served in an exposed-brick interior with lots of clocks set to 8 o’clock. Situated in the heart of York and nestled down an arched alleyway draped in fairy lights; Ate O’Clock Restaurant offers a wonderland like surprise upon entry. Once inside, the restaurant boasts indoor dining areas as well as a cosy courtyard, which has been uniquely adapted to ensure it is warm and cosy in winter and makes the most of the sunny days in summer. We welcome all types of guests in our restaurant, whether it be a romantic date, a catch up with friends, a family meal or grabbing a bite whilst out seeing the sights of York.
Address: 13a High Ousegate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 644 080
Website: www.ateoclock.co.uk
Cuisine: Fast Food
Classic, long-running fast-food chain known for its burgers & fries. Try the improvements our Crew are making to the classics a little more ‘Mmmm’. MyMcDonald’s Rewards is McDonald’s UK customer loyalty scheme, exclusively available with the McDonald’s app. With MyMcDonald’s Rewards you earn 1 point for every penny you spend on our menu items at participating restaurants and can unlock free rewards. Alternatively, if you don’t fancy one of our food or drink products as a reward, you can even donate the value of your rewards points to one of our partner charities
Address: 14, 16 Blake St, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 647 693
Website: www.mcdonalds.comYork Nightlife
York is known for its venerable old pubs stocking local brews in historic buildings. But the city also benefits from a sizable student population. The liveliest nightlife centres on Micklegate, which has its own brewery and is lined by pubs. For the latest listings of what’s on in York, look at the What’s On York
Website: www.whatsonyork.com
Bars in York
The famous York Brewery owns several pubs within the city, the best-loved of which is Last Drop Inn. Set within a historic building, it serves a range of quality ales, and friendly staff are on hand to help you choose. The brewery was born in 1996 within the old city walls, and is the first to offer traditionally brewed ales in nearly half a century.
Address: 27 Colliergate., York.
Telephone: +44 1904 935 521
In a beautiful timber-framed building near the Shambles, which dates back to 16th century, Pivni is named after a Czech beer in homage to its cosmopolitan selection of drinks. There are more than 80 draught and bottled beers to choose from and several wonderful cask ales. Wander up the creaking stairs and take a seat in the corner beneath dark timber beams – the perfect place to conspire over a rich stout or rare ale.
Address: 6 Patrick Pool, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 635 464
Website: www.pivni.co.uk
Dating back to the 15th century, this atmospheric Tudor inn is a sight in itself. But far from being just a tourist attraction, The Black Swan is a thriving old tavern, with live music most evenings, including everything from jazz to ever-popular folknights. It also serves hefty plates of British pub food.
Address: 23 Peasholme Green, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 679 131
Website: www.blackswanyork.com
Clubs in York
For some laid-back fun, try the Evil Eye Lounge, with its louche, lamp-lit rooms and broad range of cocktails and (beware)absinthe. It’s probably the most eccentric drinking hole in the city, with influences from as far-flung, disparate places as Morocco, Brazil and Haiti. Proudly offering a ‘sanctuary from the norm’, Evil Eye isn’t just a bar – there’s a cinema m and even wooden beds to hide in upstairs.
Address: 42 Stonegate, York.
Telephone: +44 770 641 2079
Website: www.evileyelounge.com
One of the coolest spots in a city renowned for its oldie pubs, The Habit is a café-bar with assorted, reclaimed furniture, relaxed vibes and a decent selection of guest ales and beers. One of the main attractions, though, is the regular live music and hip DJs, making it quite popular with the city’s student population. Head up stairs to the terrace in the summer, where you’ll also find The Habit’s renowned graffiti wall.
Address: 40 Goodrumgate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 611 072
Website: www.thehabityork.co.uk
Dating back to the 18th century, and housed in a Grade II-listed building once used as a hospital and mortuary by the Roundheads, this is reputedly the oldest pub in York. Set down a little alley (indicated by an old sign hanging over the main street), it’s slightly ragged around the edges and other pubs in York have a wider selection of drinks. But for a bit of history in a city so steeped in it, Ye Olde Starr Inn is worth dropping in for a pint or two.
Address: 40 Stonegate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 623 063
Website: www.greeneking.co.uk
Theatres in York
City Screen York is considered to be one of the finest cinemas in the country, if not Europe, with superb quality in sound and vision, not to mention comfort. Apart from its beeline in independent art-house films, there are live screenings of opera, ballet and theatre. Not just a cinema, City Screen is also well known for its live music venue, The Basement: an intimate spot for bands, comedy and poetry, which also doubles as an art gallery promoting local artists.
Address: 13-17 Coney Street, York.
Telephone: +44 2073 262 649
Website: www.picturehouses.com
The premier choice for theatre in York, the Royal puts on the land’s best plays and performances, while attracting many stars of stage and screen. Opened some 250 years ago by the Keregans, the building boasts a Victorian façade, Georgian interior, structural elements of a former 12th hospital, and even a Roman well concealed beneath the stage. The stunning main theatre seats more than 800, while a second, smaller playhouse has room for 100. Having recently gained funding from the Arts Council, the Royal is undergoing a major redevelopment from 2015.
Address: St Leonard’s Place, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 623 568
Website: www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Culture in York
Despite being a Grade II-listed building, this theatre and music venue isn’t the most glamorous in York, at least from the outside. Inside, it’s a handsome red-and-gold affair befitting its century of history. Originally set up to show films (the first place to do so in York), it reopened as the Grand Opera House in 1989 with a performance of Macbeth. Today it hosts popular theatre productions and musicals, and is one of the city’s main live music venues.
Address: Cumberland Street, York.
Telephone: +44 844 871 3024
Website: www.atgtickets.com
- National Centre for Early Music
Situated in St Margaret’s Church on Walmgate, the centre attracts some of the finest in jazz, folk and world music within a medieval church. Converted in 2000, the project received several conservation awards. The raison d’etre of the NCEM is to put on early music performances of the highest quality possibility. Expect European music of medieval, Renaissance and baroque origins and influence.
Address: Walmgate, York.
Telephone: +44 1904 632 220
Website: www.ncem.co.ukYork Food And Drink
Food In York
One of the most popular dishes in York is the Yorkshire pudding. This dish is made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk and is typically served as a side dish with roast beef. Another classic dish is the York ham, which is a cured ham that is traditionally served with English mustard.
A gingerbread cake made with oatmeal and treacle.
The Cromer crab has been caught in Norfolk for centuries and has long been an industry that attracts tourists from around the globe who are keen to sample this prized Norfolk delicacy. Plentiful in the county, the Cromer crab can also be found on high-end restaurant menus across the country and further afield.
A crumbly cheese that’s often used in cookery, Wensleydale is made from cow’s milk and has a mildly sweet flavor.
A variety of Wensleydale cheese that’s infused with blue veins for a more pungent flavor profile.
- Chocolate ( KitKat chocolate bar )
The city of York was once known as the Chocolate City, the air would smell of chocolate and a thick chocolate dust would cover every surface as it erupted from the city’s chocolate factories. Every York family had a connection to Terry’s, Rowntree’s, Cravens or Lazenby. The city is home to the KitKat chocolate bar, which has been produced by Nestle in York since the 1930s. Another popular sweet treat from York is the famous Yorkshire Curd Tart, which is a sweet pastry filled with curd cheese, sugar, and spices.
Drink In York
Bitters and lagers are the most popular beers in England. Cider is a favourite amongst many people.
Gin is often the choice spirit, and Pimms, a gin-based drink made with lemonade, fruit, cucumber and mint is often prepared in the summer.
Find fruity cocktails and a flavour of gin for every occasion in York. Experience the magic of York’s locally made gin or the finely crafted flavour experiences conjured by local cocktail wizards.