York is a beautiful city in the north of England. Hordes of tourists visit York in search of a quintessentially British experience. Medieval streets and gothic buildings fill York with history. The beautiful city is the perfect place to visit and with the Yorkshire dales and other beautiful places to visit not too far away it can make for a great road trip.
What better place to start than the central tower. The tower offers the best views of the city and after 275 steps you will find yourself at the highest point in the city. The dramatic Gothic structure of the Minster can be admired en route to the top. The tower also has underground chambers where you can experience audio-visual exhibits of the building's past.
Discover more about the city's history at the JORVIK Viking centre. This centre is one of the most visited tourist attractions in England which is no surprise considering the Viking heritage is one of the most interesting parts of York's history. In the 1970s the remains of a Viking community was discovered beneath a shopping centre. This Discovery lead to the creation of the JORVIK centre where visitors view an interactive exhibition profiling what life was once like.
One of the best preserved medieval streets in the entire world can be found in York.
The Shambles is probably the most famous place in York and is full of history. On either side of the cobbled lanes you'll find most of the buildings date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Some of these buildings are now independent shops, cafes and pubs. Discover the history and beauty of this narrow medieval street.
Along with great history, York is also full of exciting contemporary art galleries. Some of the best art galleries to visit in York include the newly established art of protest gallery where you can view collections of urban and radical art. This gallery is a complete contrast to the York art gallery where you will find a range of exhibitions. Some of the other galleries worth a visit include According to McGee, Fossgate Social and rogues Atelier which are all independent.
Between visiting galleries and learning some history why not stop off for afternoon tea? Betty's tea room has been there since 1936 and offers traditional afternoon teas along with a variety of cakes and pastries for the perfect quintessentially British afternoon break. If afternoon tea isn't your thing then check out the array of traditional pubs. Scattered across the city you're guaranteed to find the perfect pub. Ye Olde Starre Inne dates back to as far as 1644. You will find it's a very traditional small and cosy English pub.
Walk off that full stomach by taking a walk along the city walls/ Built in the 13th century York's city walls are the longest town walls in the whole of England. The two-mile, predominantly elevated walls offer impressive views around the city. The complete route takes roughly two hours but you don't have to do it all.
Don't fancy walking? why not see the city from a different perspective and take a boat ride on the rivers Ouse and Foss. Several cruises of different lengths can be found. Sit back and enjoy the views whilst you hear some interesting facts about the city along the way.
York is also home to the greatest railway museum in the world! If you like trains then the national railway museum is the place for you. Feast your eyes on over a million different objects related to the history of the railway. The impressive collection includes the only Japanese Bullet train outside of Japan. Not sure the kids will enjoy it? Not to worry. The museum also offers a variety of activities to keep them happy.
Phew! That is a lot of information and a lot of great ideas of what to do in York. This is not an exhaustive list of activities and you are almost certain to find something you'll enjoy in York, including sweet factories, book stores and even ghost walks. Why not head up there for a few days, enjoy some stops along the way and even go for some walks in the stunning Yorkshire Dales?
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