Explore Essentials: Things to Do in York

“York is a spectacular city with 2 millennia of history and a quaint medieval cityscape to explore, as well as hip restaurants and shops. Here are the best things to do in York, whether you’re travelling with friends or family.

_Photo by Andy Falconer on Unsplash_

### Explore York Minster

York Minster is a magnificent Gothic church housing a large expanse of medieval stained glass with elaborate tracery. The building also has a lovely decorated Gothic great west window from the 13th century, a central tower and a tracery forming a heart that’s known as the ‘Heart of Yorkshire’. You can also climb the steps for beautiful views of the city or explore the interactive exhibition on York history, which includes an excavated Roman barracks and a centuries-old manuscript.

_Photo by Kirsten Drew on Unsplash_

### Shop to your heart’s content in Shambles

Spanning north to south through the historic centre, Shambles is a medieval shopping street with corbelled and half-timbered buildings that date back to the 14th century. Once a hub for butchers, the shops of Shambles now offer quirky boutiques with leather, Yorkshire wool, jewellery and fudge.

### Marvel at the City Walls

York has been fortified by defensive walls since Roman times, some of which still stand today. The Multangular Tower in Museum Gardens, which dates back to the rule of Constantine the Great, is still intact, and you can walk the perimeter of the walls to see the ruins of the towers and gates.

_Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash_

### Learn about transport history at the National Railway Museum

York was once a railway town, and the turn of the 20th century expanded the railways to turn York into a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. The National Railway Museum chronicles this evolution of locomotion, complete with relic steam locomotives, antique and modern engines and the Workshop, an interactive exhibit that showcases the inner working of steam engines and offers miniature train rides for children.

### Visit the York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum celebrates hundreds of years of York’s history with interactive galleries with exhibits and artefacts. You can explore galleries that display life in the Victorian debtor’s prison or see a Victorian parlour and dining area. There’s also an exhibition on the First World War, and displays on the fashion and music of the 1960s.

### See Clifford’s Tower

The last remnant of the York Castle is the ruined keep, Clifford’s Tower, which stands on a grassy mound. The stone keep dates back to the 13th century and was once used as a treasury and prison. It’s still a strong part of the city’s identity. You can go into the battlements to see York Minster and the cityscape.

### Take in the beauty of the Treasurer’s House

The Treasurer’s House is a grand residence where the Minster’s Treasurer would once receive important guests, then became the residence of the Archbishops of York. You’ll find architectural remnants from the 11th and 12th centuries, though much of the building’s curved gables, classical entrance and window pediments are from a Mannerist redesign from the 17th century. Inside, you’ll find a spectacular collection of furniture and antiques.

_Photo by Emma Goodwin on Unsplash_

### Check out the Fairfax House

The Fairfax House is a grand Georgian townhouse and museum with artefacts of the 18th century. It was once the home of the ninth Viscount Fairfax of Emley, then a gentleman’s club for society and cinema and now a museum. The interior showcases stuccowork, damask wallpapers, musical instruments, antique books and portraits.

### Discover York’s storied past Jorvik Viking Centre

During the ninth and 10th centuries, York was under control of Norse warrior kings, which is now showcased in an educational attraction. The Jorvik Viking Centre takes you on a trip into the reconstructed Viking era with authentic artefacts and craft demonstrations from costumed actors. Even the lifelike mannequins in the Viking Centre were modelled after Viking skeletons excavated at the cemetery.

### Explore the Yorkshire Air Museum

Build on the former RAF Elvington airfield, the Yorkshire Air Museum boasts a fleet of aircraft and the Bomber Command Station, all of which are open to the public. The relic aircraft span the development of aviation from the mid-19th century to modern day, including multiple specimens from the Second World War. The museum also hosts a show called ‘Thunder Days’, where you can smell and hear the operational aircraft up close for an immersive experience.

### Challenge yourself to the York Maze

The York Maze is a marvellous UK attraction that’s constructed of individual maize plants. Great for adults and children alike, the challenging maze can keep you occupied for hours as you solve its mysteries. Children can also try the Maze of Illusions, Mineshaft Maze and Finger Fortune Maze, or the Cobstacle Course, a tractor-trailer ride or pig racing.

York has so much to do and see! It’s important to plan your time there to experience everything this fascinating city has to offer, be that where to find the best shopping for a trip with friends or the perfect romantic hotel for a trip away with your other half.”