York is a beautiful historical city in Yorkshire with loads of things to do. To make perfect use of your limited time there, I put together a one day in York itinerary; highlighting the must do activities I’d suggest you to incorporate in your short break in York.
Breakfast – Pig & Pastry
Not convenient located in the city centre. But not that far away if you want to walk over the city walls. However this place is brilliant. Food is cheap and is amazing. This is definitely a perfect place for a brunch.
Morning – Walk the Walls
A must do when visiting York. Be prepared to have some incredible views over the city and surrounding areas. You can get on the walls from several places around the city and they are open from dawn to dusk. Unfortunately with bad and slippery weather the walls will not be accessible.
The route usually taken lasts around 90 minutes, but set aside a little bit more time if you get distracted by the beautiful tourists spots along the way. You’ll pass Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower before ending up at Westminster. If you would like to have some historical background during your walk, Tourist Tracks offer audio tours of the walls.
Morning – Visit Castle Museum
You will pass this museum during your walk on the walls. I highly recommend you to go inside and explore York from the Victorian time. The entrance fee is £10,- for adults, 16-24 are £5,- and below 16 are free to enter.
The museum is in the former debtor’s prison and women’s prison. They beautifully recreated the Victorian time with as highlight the old Victorian street full with actors that bring you back in history. You can easily spend here 3 hours.
Early afternoon – Visit the Minster
Personally we didn’t visit enter the Minster. Entrance fee is around £10,- per person which we found a bit high. However we hear very positive stories of people that visited the Minster and found it very impressive. Also take into account that most of your entrance fee will be used for the restoration of the place. However even if you don’t visit it, still make sure you will see the building up close. The cathedral is very impressive.
Afternoon – Afternoon Tea at Bettys
Make sure you will book this place in advance to avoid queuing outside and around the corner. Yes this place is that popular… After all the walking this is a perfect place to have some delicious tea and some nice snacks. In the mean time you can watch the world go by from the corner of St. Helen’s square.
Afternoon – Explore the Shambles
This famous cobbled street has a less fancy past. The name comes from Flesh Shambles and in the past this was the street where butchers would hang their meat for display. If you carefully look around you will still see some hooks for the meat on the building.
Currently it is maybe more famous as Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. Expect some wizardry shop along the way. Even if you aren’t in the history or movie setting, this street is still lovely to explore with some brilliant shops, including a delicious pie shop. Behind the Shambles is also a market where you could get some food.
Time left – Stroll around the City Centre
York has some nice little streets with all kind of different shops. Don’t stick to the main shopping street but explore the town centre and head into the side streets. Who knows what kind of nice quirky shops you will discover during your one day in York.
Evening – Dining
York has so many restaurants scattered around the city. And of course there is more to do in and around York, but this will give you a good idea what do if you have one day in York. In my future post you will read about an amazing castle that you could visit another day.
