York
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Logistics
Getting There
Traveling to York takes approximately two hours by train from London. There are frequent direct trains from Kings Cross station run by a few different train operators including London North Eastern Railway and Grand Central Railway. If you book an open-return ticket for your journey back from York into London, you will need to make sure you get on a train operated by the same service as your open-return ticket is valid with the specific train operator.
Getting Around
York is a fairly small town, making it easily walkable for most. The train station is very close to the city center and you can access other spots easily on foot. If you need to venture outside the city center, you can use taxis or ride sharing services if you do not have your own vehicle.
Accommodations
No.1 Guesthouse is a cute boutique hotel near the city center. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the train station, and 10 minute walk into the city center. The location of the hotel is ideal as it is just outside the main pedestrian area, keeping it quite easy to walk around the city, but not at the center of the busy area of town. The hotel not only offers cozy rooms with nice decor, but the entirety of the hotel is a nice place to spend time. They have a cocktail bar with nice seating area to grab a drink or sit down and enjoy a book. Book your next stay here!
Things to do and see
York Minster
The York Cathedral is one of the largest in northern Europe and you will not be surprised when you see for yourself. Walk by it or pay a few pounds to visit the inside of the Cathedral.
York Museum Gardens
For a little bit of green space, venture to York’s Museum Gardens. Here you will find the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey and all can see them for free.
Shambles
Shopping street in the middle of town, with a medieval feel. Pop into some of the shops here and continue to wander around the streets of York
City Walls
Walk along the city walls. There are various different entrances and it is free for all to enjoy.
Christmas Markets
Around the holidays, York gets dressed up with lights, Christmas decorations and many businesses and individuals set-up stalls to sell food, drinks, crafts and more. York is known to be one of the nice places to visit around the holidays, so on weekends during the festive season, expect there to be larger crowds in town.
Haunted Pub
There are known to be many haunted pubs in York. Stop into one for a drink or a meal!
- Guy Fawkes Inn
- The Golden Fleece
- The Black Swan
- The Snickleway Inn
Food and Drinks
Brew & Brownie
Brunch
Cafe and bakehouse that is excellent for morning brunh on the weekend. If you are craving something sweet, you can also stop by for a coffee and one of their delicious looking desserts..
The Perky Peacock
Cafe
Found in the Medieval tower on the edge of the bridge, this cafe is a great spot to grab a coffee when walking around York.
Pairings Wine Bar
Drinks
Cozy wine bar where you can enjoy a tasting of wines or just sip on a glass and dine on some charcuterie
22 Yards
Drinks
Wine bar on the edge of the town center
North South
Drinks
Cafe and bar providing a good spot any time of the day to sit for a drink and bite to eat
Other Notes
Duration
A weekend in York is a perfect way to explore the city. While you can see a lot of it in a day, it does take over 2 hours to travel each way so it is nice to have 1-2 nights to stay in the city. This makes it perfect for a weekend trip.
Time of Year
York is a good year-round option for a weekend getaway in the UK. It is especially nice around the holidays, but note this will mean the town will also be busier so you should be prepared for bigger crowds. As weather is not as important for a visit to York, it opens up the opportunity to visit any time of the year.