Yorkshire Travelers Recommend

One of England’s greatest ancient and medieval cities, York boasts a rich Roman and Viking heritage and long lineup of historical monuments, all entangled in a web of cobbled streets and narrow lanes. If you only have a day to experience this sight-packed city, here’s how to see and do it all. 

Morning: Round Up the Sights

Make the most of the morning with a York Pass: a sightseeing card that covers entry to 30 top attractions, including York’s medieval showpieces. Buy a 1-day pass and use it to visit must-sees such as 13th-century York Minster or Clifford’s Tower, the last remaining turret of York Castle. The pass also includes a hop-on-hop-off-bus ticket, which lets you cruise easily between the city’s sights and hop off at any of the 20 stops of interest. If all this sounds overwhelming for a single morning, keep things simple with just a hop-on hop-off tour, walking or cycling excursion, or a cruise on the River Ouse. 

Afternoon: Walls, Dungeons, and Chocolate

This afternoon, focus on the city’s second-tier attractions, perhaps using a York Pass—if applicable—for free entry. Prebook a skip-the-line visit to York Dungeon and trace the city’s dark history through exhibits that spotlight its violent Viking era, plague outbreaks, executions, and more. Alternatively, stride along York’s centuries-old walls on a private tour, or uncover its Norse heritage on a Viking-themed walk. Otherwise, lighten the tone at York’s Chocolate Story: unwrapping the city’s chocolate-making credentials and sampling the creations of its chocolatiers.

Evening: Scenic Boats and Spooky Buses

After a busy day’s sightseeing, slow the tempo with a sundown cruise along the River Ouse. Sail this historical waterway as it winds in and out of the old city: passing medieval towers and peaceful countryside as the sun sinks below the horizon. Otherwise, add a spooky twist to the evening by jumping on a vintage-bus ghost tour. Settle onto a lantern-lit double-decker to seek out York’s creepy corners, such as highwayman Dick Turpin’s grave, all as you learn about eerie local legends and ghoulish sightings.

History-steeped York is home to more than medieval turrets, Roman relics, and half-timbered houses—it beckons with interactive museums, river cruises, and the stunning North York Moors on its doorstep. See below for our ideas on how to explore the city’s highlights in just two days.

Day 1: City Sightseeing

**Morning:**Begin with a hop-on-hop-off-bus tour around York’s landmarks. Pass sights such as Exhibition Square and the Monk Bar gateway, and alight at Clifford’s Tower to roam this last remnant of York Castle. Alternatively, do the rounds on a bike tour, river cruise, or guided walk that includes a foray into glorious, 13th-century York Minster.

**Afternoon:**Now’s the time to focus on York’s museums. Buy a York Pass that includes admission to 30 attractions, choosing a 1- or 2-day pass according to your plans. Then, use the card to unearth York’s Viking legacy at the Jorvik Viking Centre or its medieval heritage at historic gems such as the heavily beamed Merchant Adventurers’ or Barley Hall.

**Evening:**Love ghost stories? York has them in droves. Choose a private walk around its darkest corners with your very own guide to shed light on their paranormal history, or join a vintage-bus tour for a fun-yet-frightening drive around the most haunted hot spots. 

Day 2: Dig Deeper or Venture Farther

**Morning:**Spend today discovering York’s countryside or concentrating further on the city. Book a day trip into the North York Moors that includes a steam-train ride through its windswept moorland, or opt for a private tour showcasing the city’s Roman walls or Viking past. 

**Afternoon:**If you chose against a day trip this morning, this afternoon is great for covering York’s other sights—perhaps with a York Pass that includes admission. Learn about York’s chocolate-making history at York’s Chocolate Story, or roam the York Dungeon where dioramas bring Viking pillages and other grisly events to life.

**Evening:**End your stay in relaxed fashion with a sundown River Ouse cruise. Board a comfortable boat, buy drinks from the bar, and admire York’s sunset-washed towers and countryside as you wend along the river—the perfect finale to your stay.

With a history spanning 2,000 years, York has much to delight visitors, from Roman walls and one of England’s grandest Gothic cathedrals to the pull of Yorkshire’s wild and rugged national parks and coastline. If you’re planning on spending three days in the city, here are our tips for getting the most from your stay.

Day 1: Get to Know York

On your first day, view York’s headline acts on foot with a guide: perhaps walking along its ancient walls or roaming its cobbled lanes and grandiose York Minster—one of England’s greatest Gothic cathedrals. Alternatively, take a bicycle or hop-on-hop-off-bus tour to cover the must-sees in less time. In the afternoon, chart York’s place as a chocolate-making center at York’s Chocolate Story, or reel at the horrors of medieval life at the York Dungeon. If you want to pack in lots of sights during today or throughout your stay, buy a 1-, 2-, or 3-day York Pass, which includes entry to 30 attractions and activities, including a hop-on-hop-off tour. Finish your day aboard an afternoon-tea or sunset river cruise through the city.

Day 2: Discover Yorkshire’s National Parks

On your second day, journey deep into the wilds of the North York Moors National Park and visit the seaside town of Whitby on a convenient day trip, which might include a steam-train ride through the moorland. Alternatively, venture into the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s stone villages and emerald valleys, stopping to sample its famous Wensleydale cheese en route. History buffs might prefer a tour that includes the ruined 12th-century Fountains Abbey, while bookworms might choose one that stops at Haworth’s Brontë Parsonage—the former home of the literary Brontë sisters and where Emily Brontë penned Wuthering Heights.

Day 3: Ease Down or Expand Your Sightseeing Net

Use day three to wind down, discover more of Yorkshire, or pursue any special interests.

If you’re a beer lover, perhaps set off to sample various Yorkshire ales on a sociable bus tour of the region’s breweries. If you’re eager for a final foray into local history, visit the medieval market town of Helmsley and atmospheric ruins of nearby Rievaulx Abbey. As dusk falls, take a ghost tour on a vintage bus to learn why York holds the title of England’s most haunted place.

Founded in AD 71 as the Roman capital of northern England, York has a long and tumultuous history. Today, the city is renowned as one of the grandest in the UK. Here are a few highlights to explore during your visit to the north of England.

York Minster

With its striking gothic edifice, the 13th-century York Minster is widely considered to be Yorkshire’s most famous medieval building and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Highlights include the mighty towers dominating the western flank of the minster and the beautiful stained glass windows.

Castle Howard

Constructed in the 17th century, Castle Howard is a beautiful stately home hidden in the countryside northeast of York. Although not technically a castle, it looks more like a palace than a stately home. Make a stop to admire the impressive baroque facade, and don’t miss the chance to take a walk through the landscaped gardens.

York City Walls

The majority of York’s top historic sites date back to the medieval period, but few enthrall travelers the way the 13th- and 14th-century city walls do. The ancient walls were built to prevent attacks from present-day Europe and today shine a light on the former layout of the city. The well-preserved remains of the walls include four ancient gatehouses—including the monumental Micklegate Bar and the Monk Bar, which now houses the Richard III Museum.

Clifford’s Tower

Overlooking York and the Ouse River, the 13th-century Clifford’s Tower was once part of the now-destroyed York Castle. With such a central location, it’s the perfect place from which to start exploring the city. Visit the mighty towers, walk along the top of the fortified walls, and learn of the unfortunate prisoners held captive here over the centuries—including infamous highwayman Dick Turpin.

Jorvik Viking Centre

The Jorvik Viking Centre is named after the Old Norse name for York—Jorvik—and tells tales of Viking activity in the United Kingdom during the ninth century. Learn about fearsome Viking invaders including Ivar the Boneless and King Halfden, and see ancient jewelry and treasures from this turbulent time in York’s history.