York & The Shambles
There is so much to see and do in York and The Shambles has been named Britain’s most picturesque street.
Visit York and be enriched in one of Europe’s most inspiring cities…If you are looking for a cultural getaway or romantic weekend break then visit York and be inspired. Renowned for its exquisite architecture, tangle of quaint cobbled streets and the iconic York Minster, York is fast developing a flourishing, cutting-edge scene. Delve into the city’s vibrant café culture, take time out to enjoy some of the country’s most talented street entertainers or simply watch the world go by while sipping a drink by the river.
A city of contrasts and exciting discoveries, York is a place where the old encompasses the new and the commonplace meets with the unexpected. Broaden your mind with a visit to world class museums or a variety of festivals held throughout the year catering for all ages and interests.
Top 10 Favourite York Experiences as recommended by VisitYork
York Minster
York Minster is one of the great cathedrals of the world. We invite you to enjoy its vast spaces, filled with music and revealing the human imagination at work on glass, stone, and other fabrics.
York Pass
Buy a York Pass for all your sightseeing in York and beyond. Choose to visit over 50 Attractions in and beyond York. Save time and money with prepaid entrances. Complimentary guidebook containing lots of special offers and discounts.
Yorkshire Museum
The Yorkshire Museum is home to some of Britain’s finest archaeological treasures and the history of England until 1550 can be traced through its galleries.It also specialises in geology and biology and its rocks, fossils, animal and plant materials are often used in our special exhibitions.
York Castle Museum
York Castle Museum is one of Britain’s leading museums of everyday life. It shows how people used to live by displaying thousands of household objects and by recreating rooms, shops, streets – and even prison cells. It is best known for its recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate, which combines real shop fittings and stock with modern sound and light effects, to evoke an atmosphere of Victorian Britain.
York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery combines a distinguished history of displaying fine
paintings and ceramics with a modern-day welcome to all through a busy calendar of exhibitions, events and outreach work. Paintings are displayed in six areas over the two floors of the gallery and are divided into themes such as portraits and landscapes.
Clifford’s Tower
As one of the most important cities in England, and an important base for holding and administering the north, York was the site for two of the castles William the Conqueror built in the years immediately following his conquest. The principal castle was begun in 1068, as part of a campaign to subdue anti-Norman sentiment in the north.
Charlotte O’Gram – Walking tour of York and in support of York Minster
Charlotte O’Gram is a good friend of ours and has lived in Yorkshire for all her life and over dinner one evening we were talking about York and then realised that we just didn’t know the city! What an admission to make after living at Low Penhowe for over 21 years and within 25 minutes of York! The following week Charlotte gave us a conducted walking tour around York. What we liked about our walking tour was the informal nature of the tour rather than the stereotyped typical tour whereby the guide goes through the same old spiel! Charlotte’s only request would be that you give a generous donation to her for the “Sponsor a Stone” appeal for York Minster. To give you some guidance, Charlotte would be looking for a donation of £50 based on two to four guests from Low Penhowe. At the end of your walking tour you will really feel that you have discovered York and at the same time will have made a substantial contribution to the “York Minster Sponsor a Stone” appeal.
Fairfax House
Fairfax House is the finest Georgian townhouse in England. The house is owned by York Civic Trust who carried out major restoration work in the 1980s to return this magnificent building to its former glory.
The Merchant Adventurer’s Hall
Built over 650 years ago, explore the Hall and its many uses; the Great Hall for business and feasting; the Undercroft for charity; and the Chapel for religious worship. See collections of furniture, silver and art, listen to an audio tour or try interactive computer exhibits.
The Shambles
The way that fifteenth century buildings lean into the middle of the cobbled street means that the roofs almost touch in the middle. Mentioned in the Doomsday book (making it date over 900 years), we know Shambles to be York’s oldest street, and Europe’s best preserved Medieval street. It really is a very special place.
Jorvik Viking Centre
Explore Viking history on the very site where archaeologists discovered the remains of the Viking city of Jorvik. Meet resident Vikings (staff), and see 800 of the items found during the dig. You can even journey back to a reconstruction of York in the year AD 975, complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the Viking-Age!
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
York Food and Drink Festival – 17th – 26th September 2010
York Food and Drink Festival is unique because it is set in and around the City’s many amazing historic venues. The Festival’s main focus is Yorkshire food and drink. It is run by an independent ‘not for profit’ organisation.
There are two principle elements to the event. Parliament Street (free entry) consists of the markets, demonstration area, beer tent and information point – we also enclose the city’s fountain in Parliament Street with a marquee and make this an evening venue for events. Secondly there is both a day time and evening programme of events in York Guildhall, Mansion House and in venues across York.
http://www.yorkfoodfestival.com
Treasurer’s House & Garden
Fine 17th and 18th-century house in the heart of historic York Minster
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-treasurershouseyork
York Boat
YorkBoat Daytime City Cruises operate every day from February – November giving you the opportunity to see the sights of York in comfort whatever the weather!
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the world with a huge collection of millions of railway artefacts. The museum traces the history of the railway from the Rocket to Eurostar.
Yorkshire Air Museum
Over the past few years the Yorkshire Air Museum has become one of the most interesting and dynamic Museums of its type in the country. A unique collection of over 40 internationally recognised aircraft and fascinating displays all combined into a historic site.
Betty’s Café and Tearooms
When Bettys opened its doors for the first time in 1919 it was just as our founder, Frederick Belmont, had visualised – customers were greeted by a tempting array of delicious Yorkshire and Continental confections in the shop, and an elegant Café Tea Room served teas and meals in the traditional English style. It was an immediate success.
Barley Hall
Barley Hall is a stunning medieval townhouse, once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York. Until the 1980s the house was hidden under the relatively modern facade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was going to be destroyed was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history uncovered.
The Grand Opera House
The Grand Opera House is a theatre in the City of York, England. It is currently operated as part of the Live Nation UK group. It plays host to touring productions of plays, musicals, opera and ballet, one-off performances by comedians, and other theatrical and musical events.
www.grandoperahouseyork.org.uk
The Mansion House
The Mansion House is the city’s premier building and home to the Lord Mayor of York during his or her term of office. In 1998 the Mansion House was restored by York Civic Trust and with their expertise the house underwent an amazing transformation to be brought back to a standard worthy of the city of York. The Mansion House has also recently benefited from the installation of a new lift that provides access for those with mobility problems.
www.york.gov.uk/council/Council_departments/buildings/mansion_house
Sutton Park
Sutton Park was built in the eighteenth century by Philip Harland. It is now the family home of Sir Reginald and Lady Sheffield. When the Sheffields bought the house in 1963 they moved much of their collection from Normanby Park in Lincolnshire. Large parts of this collection were originally from Buckingham House, the family’s London home built by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham, now known world-wide as the Queen’s official residence – Buckingham Palace.
Quilt Museum & Gallery
The Quilt Museum and Gallery is Europe’s first museum dedicated to quilt making and textile arts. Situated in the medieval guildhall of St Anthony in Peasholme Green, York, the Quilt Museum and Gallery is home to The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles and its world-famous Heritage Quilt Collection.
York Racecourse
Racing at York. Award winning modern grandstands, characterful Listed buildings, manicured lawns and home grown flowers set the scene for the best of racedays. See the leading horses and jockeys perform.
York Theatre Royal
The York Theatre Royal is a theatre in St. Leonard’s Place, York which dates back to 1744. The theatre currently seats 847 people.
Walking Tour of York
Join our fully trained voluntary guides for a walk around Roman York, on the medieval walls, through the ancient streets with history brought to life.
www.btinternet.com/~york.touristguides
York City Tour
York Pullman Bus Company offers sightseeing tours of York throughout the year. With each tour lasting 45 minutes and passengers enjoying the freedom of a hop on/hop off service it is a popular way for visitors to see the city for the first time. Full commentary giving a historical and fascinating insight into the history of York.
York City Sightseeing Tours
Multilingual tours are now available on some buses. Please check for languages available.
http://www.city-sightseeing.com/index.phtml?command=search&clear-search=true&destinations=York
Yorkwalk
The best way to see York is on one of our fascinating walks. Let our qualified guides inform and entertain you as they personally conduct you around the ancient City of York.
The Ghost Trail of York
Multi award winning. An entertaining walking tour around the ancient centre of York. Dare you travel back in time, cross the centuries and experience the tantalizingly terrifying stories that make up the history of York’s ghostly tradition? Departs at 7.30pm (prompt) every night from the West Doors of York Minster (whatever the weather) and lasts 70 minutes (approx.). Est. 1994.
The Ghost Detective Tour
Follow me along narrow passageways and dark streets to hear bloodcurdling tales of scandal and death…
www.insideyorks.co.uk/ghostdetective
The Ghost Hunt of York
The Ghost Hunt of York offers an evening walking tour of York’s haunted locations, it lasts approximately an hour and a quarter. Whatever the weather and always on time, the Victorian guide with his frock coat, top hat and Gladstone bag manifests himself at the strike of half past seven at the bottom of Shambles, England’s most famous mediaeval street.
Original Ghost Walk of York
Believed to be the first exclusive Ghost Walk in the World! We offer a night of History and Mystery to capture the imagination and inspire the mind. This is the genuine, the authentic, the magical and the famous…
www.theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk
Park & Ride York
Five Park & Ride sites currently operate in York. They allow you to travel to York by car, park for free in secure car parks and complete your journey into the city centre by bus.
Yorkshire Museum of Farming
The Museum holds a fantastic regional agricultural collection. Displays show a detailed look at how agriculture has shaped and influenced both society and the landscape. The collection includes many thousands of objects, photographs and archival material dedicated to the tools and techniques that have produced our ‘daily bread for over 250 years.
Beningbrough Hall
National Trust – 18th-century house with interactive galleries and National Portrait Gallery paintings. Grounds and working walled garden
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-beningbroughhallandgardens
