Last Updated on July 10, 2026 by Tavernier’s Travels
In mid-June, we ventured north for a much-needed break and to spend a week in Yorkshire. As well as catching up with family, top on our itinerary was paying a visit to the beautiful city of York.
Over a thousand years old, York’s foundations date back to the Roman period. Today, it’s still possible to see the legacies of the Romans, Vikings and, most of all, the medieval period throughout the city. Wandering around the city, it feels as if you stumble upon important historic sites, beautiful architectural detail and curiously-named alleyways around every corner.
Every inch of York has a different history to tell.
We’d been to York a couple of times before, and every time we’d always enjoyed strolling through the oldie-worldie lanes whenever we’ve visited. This time however, armed with the Visit York Pass, we took the time to explore some new sights we’d previously only walked by. There is so much to offer every visitor; whether you’re a fellow history enthusiast, enamoured with English whimsical charm, a family looking to keep children entertained for hours, or perhaps a couple just seeking a weekend break, the city has something for you.
Here’s how York quickly became a favourite in the one day we spent there.
Morning
Toppings & Co York
Karis:
I’m hard pressed to walk on by any bookshop. The promise a book offers of a new world to be drawn into has never failed to lure me inside, and I seem to have the ability to peruse the shelves for hours, regardless of whatever things I have to do that day. If insatiably browsing a bookshelf for several hours was a superpower, I think it’s fair to say that would be mine. So, when I heard the UK’s largest independent bookshop in York had opened, we had to pay a visit.
Toppings & Company York has operated in various parts of the UK since 2002, and its York bookshop is the latest addition, having opened just a couple of weeks before we visited in mid-June. Fellow book lovers will enjoy exploring the three floors of beautifully curated shelves, with an eclectic mix of genres on offer. Whether you’re searching for your next great read or looking for one of the best bookshops in York, it’s easy to lose a few hours here.
York Minster
Karis:
After a quick browse in Toppings (and boy did I have to stop myself from buying books I had no space in my luggage to bring back!), we continued the short walk to York Minster, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Its imposing Gothic structure is striking from the moment you first glimpse it as you approach; at every new angle, we were stopping to take pictures! As we had York Passes, entry to York Minster was included, and we were able to skip the queue and start exploring almost immediately – and there was a lot to see.
Formally known as the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St Peter in York, I didn’t know much about the Minster before visiting. But being the history buff I am, I was more than a little awed by its magnificent grandeur.
A Brief History of York Minster
Standing in front of York Minster today, it’s difficult to imagine the centuries of history and rebuilding that shaped one of the world’s finest examples of Gothic architecture.
In 627, a recently constructed wooden church on the site of York Minster witnessed the Christian baptism of King Edwin following his marriage to Princess Ethelburga, who was herself a Christian. In 633, a stone church was built around the original wooden structure, and just over a century later, in 735, Ecgbert became the first Archbishop of York.
The history of York Minster took another dramatic turn in 1080. The church that once stood here had been destroyed during the Harrying of the North, prompting Archbishop Thomas of Bayeux to begin constructing a new Norman cathedral on the same site.
However, it wasn’t until 1220 that work began on the magnificent Gothic cathedral we see today. The medieval construction of York Minster took just over 250 years to complete, finally finishing in 1472. Today, the cathedral remains one of the largest medieval cathedrals in Northern Europe and is one of York’s most iconic landmarks.
York Minster today
Entering via the main entrance, you’re immediately greeted with York Minster’s soaring vaulted ceilings, intricate stonework and some of the loveliest medieval stained glass windows to be found in Europe. Everywhere we looked there was another incredible architectural detail demanding our attention.
As we made our way around, our eyes were darting everywhere in a poor attempt to drink in everything at once.
Exploring the York Minster Crypt
We stupidly thought we would spend little more than an hour exploring York Minster – until we descended into the fascinating crypt.
Forming the oldest section of the Minster, the crypt has its foundations in ancient times. Here, you will find the famous Doomstone, a 12th century depiction of hell carved out of stone as a reminder for medieval churchgoers of eternal damnation that awaited sinners.
The tomb of St William of York can also be found here; it’s said that those who pray to him there will experience miracles. So we gave it a go – and boy did we pray hard! 2026 is the 800th anniversary since St. William was canonised. Throughout the Minster you’ll notice signs on the floor and some walls marking ‘St William’s Way’.
Following this path allows you to learn about his life at certain landmarks of the cathedral, such as in a curated exhibition, through a narrative stain glass window (which is one of the largest of its kind), as well as visiting his tomb.
All in all, York Minster is without a shadow of a doubt a major highlight and an absolute must-visit when in York. Be prepared to spend around 2-3 hours there if you want to make the absolute most of your visit, including climbing the Central Tower which has amazing panoramic views of the city – if you can deal with the 275 steps to reach it! Otherwise, there’s a wealth of history and interesting relics to enjoy and learn about that’s well worth the time spent there.
Afternoon
After touring York Minster, we were in desperate need of a coffee and a bite to eat, so we wandered through York’s historic streets towards the Shambles. But the promise of coffee was delayed every few minutes by the need to stop and admire the beautiful shop fronts, charm of the oldie-worldie streets and to take a picture of absolutely every inch.
We had coffee, pastries and a little break at The Cornish Bakery.
The Shambles Market
Cher:
In the centre of York is the award-winning Shambles Outdoor Market, selling many different products, a lot of artisan stalls selling things from paintings to handbags and much more. There are plenty of stalls to browse around, including gorgeous flower stalls and many eateries too.
The Shambles
The Shambles is a narrow, cobbled historic street in York, with timber framed buildings that have jetted floors. It’s so higgledy-piggledy, with its narrow pavements and crooked buildings, and very well preserved.
It was known as a street where butchers sold their produce and was named ‘Great Flesh Shambles’ in the 14th century. The overhung upper floors of the buildings were designed to keep the sun off the meat displayed in the shop windows, and the street was purposely designed to be narrow for the same reason.
Today, the Shambles house a number of cute, independent shops. From lovely sweet shops to shops selling Celtic jewellery. We tried macarons from Florian, and browsed around Celtic Designs.
We had visited the Shambles many years ago on our first trip to York, and it wasn’t nearly as busy. Today, however, the street is heaving with tourists wanting to walk down this world-famous street – which is rumoured to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films series. But please don’t let the many tourists put you off visiting. We were able to get some decent photos without people photobombing!
When you visit, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular with the tourists. It’s a definite must if you’re ever in York. The greatest find for me was St. Margaret Clitherow’s house, which is now a shrine.
St Margaret Clitherow’s House
Cher:
St. Margaret Clitherow is one of the most loved of the English martyrs. St. Margaret lived in York in the 16th century. She was married to a butcher, so of course their house was in the Shambles. As a Catholic, she is a heroic figure; what she did in the name of her faith was truly outstanding.
She had converted to Catholicism which was illegal and dangerous to practice at that time in England. However, she would provide chambers for priests above the shop in her home, hiding them from the authorities, and allowing them to celebrate Mass. She even used her home to open a small school to teach children about the Catholic faith.
In March 1586, Margaret was imprisoned and kept at York Castle for harbouring priests and hearing Mass. She martyred herself by not pleading guilty or not guilty to spare her family. Although pregnant with her fourth child at the time, she was crushed to death on 25th March 1586, which happened to fall on Good Friday that year. In 1979, she was canonised by Pope Paul VI.
At her shrine in the Shambles, Mass is held every Saturday at 10am. Every year in the month of August, St. Margaret and the other martyrs who were put to death at the same time are celebrated by a Mass held at St Wilfrid’s Church and a procession that passes through the streets of York, stopping at her home and onto Ousegate Bridge near where the executions took place. Her hand is held at the Bar Convent in York as a Holy relic; it is unknown of the whereabouts of the rest of her body. The Bar Convent is free to visit with a York Pass.
The Roman Baths
Karis:
This is a hidden historical gem that is no doubt overlooked in favour of the more popular sites. with an archeological excavated site. However, to skip by is to miss seeing some of the very Ancient Roman stones and foundations that have been part of York since the city was founded in 71 AD.
The archeological excavation of the Roman Baths are very easy to miss since they’re actually five metres under a pub. So, while you explore the historical remains of a part of the city, travelling through what once would have been the warm room, steam room and cold plunge room (Trepidarium, Caldarium and Frigidarium respectively), others are upstairs enjoying a pint.
I’d heard a bit about it and, especially as it was around the corner from the Shambles, thought it would be interesting to visit. This was another attraction that was included with our Visit York Pass.
York Castle Museum
Karis:
A 10-15 minute walk from the Shambles, York Castle Museum offers a very unique experience. York has a number of museums to visit, including Jorvik Viking Centre and the National Railway Museum. As we only had one day in the city, we chose to visit York Castle Museum, particularly for the immersive experience it offers.
The museum is set within a former prison which once apparently held Dick Turpin, a romanticised English highwayman. Various exhibitions offer the opportunity to explore York’s history over the past 400 years, including life in the 17th century through to the Swinging Sixties. One feature that particularly stands out is the recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate.
This provides an opportunity to walk through a Victorian street and see what life was like in the 19th century for the inhabitants of York. It’s an amazing reconstruction of Victorian streets, with shops, such as apothecaries and haberdasheries that you can enter and explore.
The museum is a fantastic option for those with children, with plenty to keep them entertained – and yet another attraction that’s free to visit with York Pass.
Clifford’s Tower
Karis:
Just opposite York Castle Museum, you’ll probably notice the imposing remains of what was once the seat of political power in the North, Clifford’s Tower. It is the only part of York Castle that remains standing, a castle that was first built by William the Conqueror. For much of its history, it seems to have served as part of the city’s defences more than as a royal residence.
Like much of York, archaeological evidence suggests the site of Clifford’s Tower has been occupied since the Roman period. Today, the tower is the last surviving part of York Castle and has witnessed centuries of English history, much of it marked by conflict and tragedy.
One of its darkest chapters came in 1190, when around 150 members of York’s Jewish community sought refuge inside the castle before a massacre and mass suicide took place. The tower was destroyed by fire during these events and was later rebuilt, undergoing further alterations over the centuries. It also served as a prison, most notably holding St Margaret Clitherow for almost a year before her execution for sheltering Catholic priests.
Today, you can explore the tower and climb to the timber platform where 360 degree panoramic views of York can be enjoyed.
Early evening
City Sightseeing Bus
Karis:
We’re not usually people who would jump on a sightseeing bus, usually preferring to explore areas on foot, and it’s been several years since I was last on one. However, it was a moment of re-conversion.
We hopped on to one of the sightseeing buses just on the other side of Clifford’s Tower, having just explored York Castle Museum and been on our feet for several hours on what was a very warm summer’s day. It was probably one of the best choices we made that day.
With an informative and amusing tour guide, we were told of pockets of York that could have easily been missed, such as the (possible) site of Dick Turpin’s grave and what might have once been the old station house where train drivers would take a break and enjoy a cup of tea, hence the chimney in such a small building.
If you’re someone who has limited mobility, or have little children who can only walk so far, or, like us, tired of walking around all day, this is a fantastic option, especially as it’s hop-on-hop-off. It’s included in the York Pass, so is the cherry on top.
York Oratory
Cher:
On route to the Antiques Centre, we stumbled upon the York Oratory (also known as St Wilfrid’s Church). We hadn’t heard of this church before, but as we saw it was a Catholic church, and us being Catholic girls, we couldn’t resist going inside and having a look.
As soon as you enter the foyer, there were notices advertising the upcoming pilgrimage for St. Margaret Clitherow. Inside, you’re met with beautiful French Gothic Revival architecture, with Victorian carvings.
The church was originally built in the Middle Ages, but fell into disuse. It was rebuilt and opened in 1864. It was once the Diocese of Beverly, and is now the Mother Church of the City of York, and the heart of the Catholic there. It’s free to enter and has an active community.
The Antique Centre at the Red House
Cher:
Walking around York, I was pleased to see the big pinkish-red building that is the Antiques Centre still there. On our last visit to York, we frequented the Antiques Centre. At the time, I was dealing in antiques and collectibles, so today seeing the centre still open, we just had to venture inside. It sells an array of antiques and collectibles, from jewellery to china to clothes in the vintage market upstairs. If you enjoy antiques, don’t miss out on visiting this place!
Bettys
Cher:
After walking around for most of the day, we strolled over to the ever famous café tea rooms that is Bettys. This is an iconic tearoom I have wanted to visit for many years now.
Earlier in the day (lunchtime), there was a steady queue outside, and through the window you could see it was fully packed inside. So, rocking up a little later, we were gobsmacked but delighted to find that there was no queue; we briefly perused the menu before being ushered in by a welcome host and given a table in the lavish Belmont room.
Venturing inside, you’re met with a classy, elegant environment. The decor is absolutely beautiful, apparently inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner, and very art deco in look.
A Little Bit of History
The first Bettys tea rooms were opened in Harrogate in 1919 by Frederick Belmont, formerly Fritz Butzer, a Swiss orphan who as an adult travelled to Paris to learn how to be a chocolatier. After which, he travelled to England and ended up in Harrogate via Bradford. He married his landlady’s daughter, and the family helped him finance the first Bettys.
There are now five Bettys tea rooms dotted around North and West Yorkshire. If you are ever in York, I suggest paying a visit to Bettys, at least for the experience.
The food we ordered was absolutely delicious, and it was difficult to stop ourselves from ordering an array of mouth-watering treats. I highly recommend the Yorkshire club sandwich and the Breakfast Tea.
We didn’t have Afternoon Tea or sample their famous Fat Rascals (which is basically a cross between a scone and a rock cake with different flavours, a Yorkshire delicacy), or any rascals for that matter – we just didn’t have the room to fit it in, so maybe another visit is essential!
I will warn you – Bettys will put a dent in your pocket money, but arguably, it is worth it. The waiting staff were friendly and attentive, although a little bored at times it seemed.
On the way out, we went through Bettys tea room shop where you can purchase many delightful treats to take home, or to bring back as gifts.
York Pass
If you’re planning to visit several of York’s top attractions, the York Pass can be excellent value. There is so much to see and do in York, and to be honest we were a little naive to think we could pack a lot into one day. You need at least a few days – maybe a week – depending on what interests you. Some of the places we wanted to visit but didn’t have the time were:
The Bar Convent
The Bar Convent is the oldest convent in the UK as well as being the oldest-surviving place of Catholic worship after the Reformation. Its founder, Mary Ward, spearheaded the convent in secrecy as it was illegal to be Catholic in the 17th century. But she believed religious women should be missionaries, and that girls deserved to have access to education just as much as boys did. Sadly, Mary didn’t live long enough to see the Bar Convent come to fruition; in the present day, there are hundreds of schools across the world named after her.
Today, the Bar Convent offers a guest house and is a living heritage centre, holding events and exhibitions, as well as the hand of the Catholic martyr, St. Margaret Clitherow.
York Cocoa Works
As York is known as the Chocolate City, it’s perhaps unsurprising that they have a dedicated chocolate manufacturers and learning centre. York Cocoa Works offers a great experience to learn about chocolate, making it and tasting it. They offer many workshops, or just a day experience for all to enjoy.
Castle Howard
We really wanted to see this beautiful castle which is free to visit with a York Pass. However, it is an hour’s bus ride away from the city centre; the buses aren’t frequent and we didn’t have the time to visit that day.
Be aware, a lot of attractions close at either 4pm or 5pm in York. There are other attractions to venture to in the evening, if you’re not too tired, such as the Ghost Walk and the Witches Tour, and the York Pass also gives you discounts in various participating restaurants and pubs.
Is it Worth Visiting York?
York is, in our humble opinion, one of the most beautiful cities the UK has to offer. It’s the perfect destination for a weekend – especially a long weekend – but even one day exploring the city is worth it. We took the train direct from Bradford that morning and in under an hour, we were in the city. I daresay, even the two hour train journey from London would make York a worthwhile day trip. I’ll say it again, you would need a good few days or even a week in York if you want to make the most of the city and the sites around it.
The city is definitely one I’ll return to, no doubt time and time again. I’ve heard great things about the Christmas market in York, and having wandered down many of the streets in the city, I can only but imagine how beautiful it looks with all the lights on and displays out. Perhaps it’s unsurprising then that I’ll be hoping to pay another visit to York this festive season to see the beauty of Christmas descend on this charming city.
Disclaimer: Our Visit York Passes were provided complimentary from Visit York.
