Let’s face it, when you’re looking for ideas for things to do in York, you probably don’t need someone to tell you to visit York Minster, the National Railway Museum, the Shambles or the City Walls. Those attractions speak for themselves, and there have been tons written and said about them all over the internet and social media.
So what’s this post about? Well, as a resident of York for nearly ten years now, I decided it was time to list some of my favorite things to do in York, a list which will skew heavily toward the slightly lesser-known or offbeat. My list of unique things to do in York will also focus on slowing down and simply taking in the atmosphere of the city, which I always find are the most memorable moments of any trip.
What I tried to do with this list is imagine that I was living abroad and a close friend was visiting York and asked me for advice on cool things to do in the city. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my favorite things to do in York.
Sip Coffee With a View
York is blessed with great coffee shops, but this things-to-do list isn’t necessarily about “the best” coffee in York. These are my favourite spots where you can sip a flat white or Americano, soak up the atmosphere that surrounds you and enjoy the setting. There are three places that I wholeheartedly recommend for this: Gatehouse Coffee, Perky Peacock and East.
Let’s start with Gatehouse Coffee. It is located inside historic Walmgate Bar, one of the four main medieval gateways to the city. So, we’re off to a good start, right? Well, not only is the coffee shop located inside the bar, but you can sit outside, on top of the last remaining medieval barbican in all of England. It’s a total “only in York!” moment.
Similarly, Perky Peacock is located in Barker Tower at the foot of Lendal Bridge, and it is just a peaceful place to sit in the morning, have a coffee and glance at the river and people walking back and forth over the bridge. If you’re lucky, the York City Rowing Club will be in action, and you’ll be able to watch them rowing on the River Ouse.
Finally, East is a cute little coffee shop located in College Yard directly behind York Minster. Grab a seat and just gaze upon the splendor of the cathedral and the Great East Window, which is said to be the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. This is especially great on sunny mornings when the light shines upon the Minster. Again, a true “Only in York” moment.
Bounce Around Bishy Road
Bishopthorpe Road, which is my local ‘high street’, is stacked with independent businesses, everything from York’s oldest greengrocer to a throwback hardware shop, and a great bunch of cafes like Robinsons and Pig & Pastry, plus spots to have a drink like the Angel on the Green pub and 2 Many Wines wine bar.
Visiting here gives you the chance to see a more local side of York, and let’s face it, where else can you have a great breakfast and then buy yourself a can of paint within the same 10-foot radius?
Listen to Live Music
York won’t ever be confused with Manchester, Glasgow or Leeds, but the local live music scene here is strong. No matter the night of the week, you’ll find someone playing some tunes, with a few of my favorite venues being The Phoenix for jazz, Black Swan for folk music and 45 Vinyl Cafe for country music.
The latter is a truly outstanding venue, as it is run by dedicated country music lovers who bring over great artists from the US and all over the UK to play intimate gigs in the front window. It feels like you’re in a small bar in Nashville, where you’re there to hear the music and be part of the experience.
Just a few other places where you’ll find live music on the regular are Ye Olde Shambles Tavern, Museum Street Tavern and The Golden Fleece.
I can’t stress enough that this is just the tip of the iceberg, so just know that if you enjoy watching live music, you’re in good hands in York.
Stroll New Walk to Millennium Bridge (and Back)
York is a great place to take a walk and, after a short while, you can feel like you’ve left the hustle and bustle of the city center behind and have arrived at a different locale.
This is one of my favorite walks, which is nice all year round but really shines on a sunny, crisp day in the autumn or at sunset on a late summer evening. You can’t beat it.
Starting in the center across from Clifford’s Tower, you can follow a pleasant riverside path called New Walk that takes you to the modern Millennium Bridge, where you can sit and chill for a bit as there’s spots to sit on the bridge. If you’re here during summer, why not stop at the ice cream boat parked near the bridge and have a cone?
Then cross over the bridge, and come back on the opposite side of the river and pop your head into Rowntree Park, which is full of idyllic little spots to sit on a bench and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Take a Pub Walk
People are fond of saying that York has a pub for every day of the year, and while that’s not technically true, we do have a lot of pubs.
One of the best ways to experience some of the best pubs in York is to take the Quirky Pubs and Crooked Streets tour, which mixes storytelling and visits to several pubs.
I like to recommend to people that they take this tour when they first arrive, because the guide not only takes you to pubs, he also gives you some insight into hidden corners and quiet spaces of York that you can then go back to later in your trip.
See a Movie in Style
York has two great movie theaters with interesting architecture: City Screen and Everyman, which makes seeing a movie more than just entertainment.
City Screen is located in a former newspaper building and has great natural light through its gorgeous glass windows, so make sure to sit in the bar downstairs before your movie. Everyman features great Art Deco architecture, and even if you don’t see a movie there, it’s a great place to just have a drink. In fact, I’ve gone to Everyman twice and just sat upstairs and had a drink. It feels like you’re sitting inside a 1920s cruise ship or something.
Sip a Cocktail in a Special Location
Sort of like the coffee blurb, we’ve got some good cocktail bars in York, too. But why not pair up your cocktail with an interesting story?
My favorite is Life on Mars, which blends East Asian flavors with great mixology and is located in a former toll house on Lendal Bridge. Oh yeah, try the authentic Chinese dumplings, too. They are insanely tasty.
There’s also the outdoor garden bar at Grays Court Hotel in the summer, which can be reached directly from the city walls. This is quintessential “ye olde” York atmosphere and a great place to sit outside with a drink. And then there’s the rooftop bar at The Malmaison Hotel, where you can sip a cocktail while taking in some pretty great views over the city.
Have a Look at Holgate Windmill
A little off the beaten path, Holgate Windmill is an interesting thing to see, and you may even spot it from your train as you arrive in York. It’s the oldest working windmill in York and is a fun reminder that this city isn’t just medieval streets and ancient walls.
It’s also the inspiration for The Windmill pub on Blossom Street, so you can combine a visit to the windmill with a pint named after it.
Discover Bar Convent
The term “hidden gem” gets bandied about a lot, but this is truly one. Bar Convent is a convent hiding in plain sight that has been part of York for centuries, and you can visit to learn about its fascinating history. When it was built, Catholicism was illegal, so the building was designed to just blend in with the city around it. Inside, you’ll find a gorgeous chapel, and you can learn all about the nuns who called this place home.
Even better, you can actually stay here, as the convent has a bed and breakfast attached to it. So if you want to experience a little bit of York history after everyone else has gone home for the night, this is a pretty unique place to do it.
Take a Spin Around King’s Manor Courtyard
Take a walk around this historic courtyard, where kings stayed and former abbots of St. Mary’s Abbey used to call home. It’s tucked away in the heart of the city and is one of those places where you can walk through an unassuming entrance and suddenly find yourself surrounded by centuries of history.
It’s also a nice little escape from the bustle of the city centre, and you don’t need much time to have a look around. Just wander in (tell the security guard you just want to have a look and they will waive you in), take a few minutes to soak it up and imagine all the people who have passed through here over the centuries.
Walk the Knavesmire Loop
For centuries, the Knavesmire has been a greenspace where York residents can come and relax, and I think it’s a great place for an evening walk. In fact, I’m usually there two to three times a week with my dogs. You can take to the track itself or head for the wooded section near Tadcaster Road, which features some lovely views of the racecourse.
Bonus: you can also spot the stone that marks the spot of the Tyburn, the place where York’s gallows used to be located and where Dick Turpin was hanged. So you get a nice combination of peaceful green space and a little bit of gruesome York history.
Grab Some York Gin
I can’t think of a better souvenir from York than some York Gin, especially when it comes from one of the city’s most striking buildings. At the foot of the Shambles, you’ll find Thomas Herbert House, and you’ll often see tourists taking pictures of it from across the road, but they are missing out on what’s inside.
The company makes a range of gins inspired by the city and its surroundings. There are plenty of different varieties to choose from, so you can find something that suits your taste, and as much as I love their gin, I love their cute logo with a cat on a crenellated old York building almost as much.
Walk the City Walls
Okay, I lied: I am going to talk about the City Walls, the Shambles and York Minster, but not in the typical way.
So yeah, you can’t come to York and not stroll atop England’s longest city walls. There are a few breaks in the wall, but you can still nearly circumnavigate the entire old city.
I do want to stress, though, that you don’t have to walk the entire walls to have a great experience. Honestly, some stretches simply go behind people’s houses and aren’t especially scenic or noteworthy. In my opinion, the two most scenic stretches are:
1) Baile Hill through Micklegate Bar to the walls’ endpoint near The Malmaison Hotel, which features the iconic postcard view of the city.
2) The stretch from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar, which offers the chance to see the York Stonemasons’ workspace, the beer garden of the Fat Badger pub and take a set of stairs down to Grays Court Hotel’s lovely outdoor garden, the perfect place to have a Pimm’s on a sunny day. Also be sure to check out the carvings of the ‘wild men’ above Monk Bar.
See the Shambles (At Off-Peak Time)
Late in the evening or early in the morning, when there are no crowds, the magic of this medieval street is easier to see. Make sure to take a look at the flat shelves on the exterior of No. 9 and the hooks hanging above. This is where meat would have been laid out when the street was full of butcher shops. The name “Shambles” comes from “shamel”, which referred to the shelves where the meat was displayed.
If you’re there during the day, it can be a zoo, but you can escape the crowds at the St. Margaret Clitherow Shrine (35 The Shambles), dedicated to a woman who lost her life for harboring priests, or at Ye Olde Shambles Tavern, which has a great range of beer. Also worth noting: the Shambles Sausage & Pie Company is a great place to grab a quick bite if you’re in a pinch for a snack.
Attend Evensong at York Minster
Almost every evening at 17:30, York Minster plays host to a wonderful choral concert, and the best thing is that it’s absolutely free. Seats are first-come, first-served, so it’s advisable to arrive 30 minutes early.
This might just be my favorite thing to do in all of York. You will literally pinch yourself that you’ve been lucky enough to take in this concert inside this unbelievable, grand setting.
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