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WE LOVE ENGLAND GUIDE TO YORK

Built by Romans, captured by Vikings and finally claimed by the English, York is home to 1,900 years of rich and fascinating history. While its carefully preserved past seems to ooze from every beam, brick and flagstone, you'll find all the trappings of a modern, tourism-oriented city.

Yorkshire folk are known for their pride, and who can blame them? York is the grand jewel in the crown of its vast, breathtaking county. And grand she is. Housed within the 13th Century city walls, you'll find the staggeringly beautiful gothic cathedral of York Minster, clusters of winding medieval alleys and an abundance of traditional pubs, elegant tea rooms and smart restaurants where you can sit back and soak up the historic atmosphere.

WLE RECOMMENDATIONS IN york

accommodation placeholder Hotel and Guest House Accommodation header image

WLE logoAccommodation

Whether you're looking for blow-out or budget, York has accommodation options to suit everyone.On your trip to York, you'll find an abundance of boutique hotels and cosy B&Bs, often packed with character and centrally located. If you're planning on doing self-catering in York, there are some sty... see more
attractions placeholder Attractions and things to do

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York is a compact city best explored on foot. Many of the main attractions lie close together within the city walls and you can easily walk from one side of the centre to the other.Make sure you have your camera handy as you'll come across some of the most picturesque vistas in Europe. From admirin... see more
food and drink placeholder Food and drink

WLE logoFood and drink

Think of typical Yorkshire fare and you might conjure up Yorkshire pudding, Wensleydale cheese and rhubarb, but there's a lot more to the modern-day York food scene.It has a healthy share of Michelin-starred restaurants, putting it firmly on the gourmet map, and no shortage of elegant tea rooms and ... see more

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT york

York is an easy city to get around. It’s small enough to comfortably explore on foot and you can cross the city in around 20 minutes if you need to – although you’ll probably get distracted on the way! 

If you’d prefer to give weary legs a break, York’s public transport system is excellent. For more information, we recommend visiting iTravel York which provides everything you need to know about driving, walking, cycle hire, bus timetables and route maps for navigating the city.

York Pass

For avid sightseers, if you are planning on ticking a lot of the main attractions off your list, it could be worth investing in the York Pass. It’s the official sightseeing card for York and North Yorkshire and it will get you access to dozens of the big attractions we’ve mentioned here. It comes with other perks including discounts on walking tours, taxis, river cruises and car hire. There are two types of pass – one for the city only and one for York and beyond which is ideal if you’re going further afield. Visit the York Pass website for more information.   

York by Car

York’s location within England makes it easily accessible by road, rail and air. 
Depending on which direction you are travelling from, the city lies just 20 minutes from the A1, M1 and M62 motorways.

York by Train

If you’re travelling to York by train, you’ll find direct rail links from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and the South West. Please visit National Rail or Trainline for information on train times and booking tickets.

York by Plane

If you’re flying to York, there are three regional airports for you to choose from, with Leeds Bradford being the closest, followed by Doncaster Sheffield and Humberside. The larger Manchester International Airport is also only 1h 30m away by road. All of these airports have rail links to York and car hire facilities.