York and Beyond – What to do in York and North Yorkshire

York has a rich cultural history...

The city of York has been inhabited for about 2,000 years and its history mirrors that of England itself. Packed with Viking, Roman, Saxon and Georgian heritage, the remnants of this history lie all around you and it is easy to spend days simply wandering the streets and exploring all the nooks and crannies.

Standing tall and proud, the city's landmark is York Minster. It is the largest medieval cathedral in England and the seat of the Archbishop of York. In addition to the Minster, there are at least a dozen fine medieval churches in the city, all worthy of a visit. All these treasures are easily explored on foot or can seen from the top deck of a double-decker tour bus.

Plenty of museums...

If you are searching for more culture and history, then you are spoilt for choice with York's many museums. The world famous National Railway Museum has the Flying Scotsman engine and the Japanese Bullet train amongst its many exhibits. The Castle Museum is always popular with its recreated Victorian street featuring cobbles and original shop fittings. Eden Camp is well worth a visit if you’re interested in military history. The museum is situated in nearby Malton and covers British military and social history from 1914 onwards.

...and York festivals are fun!

York has been transformed in recent years into a city of festivals. Call in at any time and you will invariably find something going on around the streets, whether it is a busking festival, a brass band contest, morris dancing, historical re-enactments or a Christmas market.

Don’t forget the shopping...

With its mix of designer labels, independent boutiques and well known high street names, York offers shopping for all. Part of the fun is exploring the many unusual streets and simply window shopping until you are tempted to buy! Most of the streets are pedestrianised and street entertainers from jugglers to opera singers perform all the year round. When your bags start to weigh you down, you can just pop into Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms for a well earned Yorkshire afternoon tea.

You could try out one of the buzzing pubs or bars...

just the idea of all these activities tires you, then you can simply watch the world go by while sipping a drink at a stylish riverside bar or in one of the city's many original pubs. York even has its own brewery within the City Walls!

For some invigorating Yorkshire fresh air, why not go for a walk?

York makes an excellent base for exploring the stunning local countryside, and is surrounded by three National parks; the windswept North York Moors, the craggy Yorkshire coast and the picturesque Yorkshire Dales are all within easy reach.

There’s just so much to do!

Click on the links below to find out a bit more about York and its attractions, or see what's on during your visit.