York England Tourist Information

What to see and do in Britain's Popular Vacation Destination

Oct 6, 2007

Cliffords Tower - What Remains of York Castle, MK Fleury

York UK offers many museums and historical buildings for all ages to enjoy. Tourism is the city's main industry and it's a must-see when visiting Britain.

Brief History of York

York is located at the junction of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in Yorkshire and was established as a Roman fortress called Eboracum. Through many invasions, the name changed to Eoforwic to Jorvik then to York after the 17th century.

The City Wall and its four gates (known as bars) encircle the old part of the city. Visitors can walk the entire length of the wall which is approximately 3 miles. It is rare to find walls still standing in other cities.

York Museums & Exhibits

Mickelgate Bar Museum depicts eight centuries of York’s vivid past.

York Castle Museum shows prison life as it would have been 200 years ago.

The Yorkshire Museum is surrounded by botanical gardens and features a 15th century guest house known as The Hospitum which displays relics from the past 1000 years.

The Jorvic Viking Center is built on the site of an archaeological dig and the artifacts have been carefully restored and used to recreate life as it was in 948AD.

The York Dungeon features over 2000 years of gruesome history.

Cliffords Tower stands on top of a mound and is the last remaining part of York Castle.

The York Model Railway Museum features an interactive display of thirteen “00” gauge trains.

The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum chronicling the age of steam to modern trains.

The Yorkshire Air Museum is located 5 miles from the city center where a wartime airfield and many planes have been preserved as a memorial to the Allied crews who served in World War II.

Yorkminster is a magnificent church which dominates the skyline of York and contains the largest stained glass window in the world.

York City Art Gallery has a collection of Western European paintings that span seven centuries.

Because there are many excellent attractions, a York Pass may be a good economic solution. One ticket is good for 28 attractions as well as discounts at restaurants and shops.

York Shopping

Downtown York has a variety of shops concentrated in one area and the best streets for shopping are Coney Street, The Shambles, High and Low Petergate, and Stonegate.

Newgate open market is situated between The Shambles and Parliament Street.

Shopping Malls are located outside of the city and are accessible by public transportation.

York Touring

Guided double-decker tour buses allow passengers to disembark at designated stops and then board the bus again. One ticket is good for the entire day.

Guided boat tours on the River Ouse offer daytime and nighttime cruises.

Daytime guided walking tours are available as well as several ghost tours at night.

The Tourism York website has comprehensive information on tours, exhibits, events and maps.

How to Get To York

There is no airport but the nearest one at Leeds offers frequent transportation to York. All major rail and coach services are available as well local bus service to neighboring towns.

Driving in downtown York is restricted because many streets are reserved pedestrians. If arriving by car, it is wise to park at the public parking lots outside the city.

Nearby Attractions to York

The seaside resorts of Whitby and Scarborough are approximately 40 miles from York. To travel through the North Yorkshire Moors, pick up A169 at Pickering. Be sure to make a short side trip to Goathland where the hit TV series Heartbeat is filmed. The Eden Camp museum, Flamingoland amusement park, Duncombe Park and Castle Howard are a short distance away.

If planning a visit to York, be sure to stay several days in order to experience all that this city has to offer.