Weekend breaks in York

Famous for it’s beautiful architecture and dripping with history at every turn, the English City of York is hugely popular amongst tourists and makes a great choice for a weekend city break in England. York is relatively small as far as cities go but this makes it ideal for a short break as all of its many attractions are crammed into the exquisite medieval city centre meaning you’re never more than a short walk from something unique to do or see. York is a fantastic city to visit all year round – you can visit in the summer and enjoy a few drinks in the sun by the river whilst soaking up the sights, or in the winter when the picturesque cobbled streets and quirky shops take on a whole fresh charm.

Although there are plenty of wonderful attractions in the outer areas of the Yorkshire city, if you are visiting on a short break then you will easily have plenty to do and see within the city walls to fill a whole weekend. The centre of the city is enclosed by the medieval city walls and good way to get an overview of the city upon your arrival is to take a walk upon the walls themselves which will help get your bearings (and present you with too many photo opportunities to choose from!). After that there are the major attractions – the main one being the renowned York Minster. Towering above the city the Minster is the biggest Gothic Cathedral in Europe and you can easily lose an afternoon to absorbing its incredible architecture. If you are traveling as a family then the Jorvik Viking Centre, the Railway Museum, the York Dungeon and Castle Museum are also great places to visit.

Shopping in York offers a unique experience. Although the main streets in the city centre are home to many of the typical high street chains we are all familiar with in Britain, there is a plethora of small independent shops amongst the maze of winding streets and snickets. From boutiques to confectioners, there is a treasure trove of quaint little establishments which make a refreshing change from the shopping experience in most cities. If you enjoy the odd drink or three then you are also well catered for with a unique variety of pubs and bars at every turn, from the quieter traditional pubs offering a selection of local brews through to the bustling bars and clubs off Micklegate if you are looking for something a little wilder!

The fact that York and the surrounding area of North Yorkshire has been untouched by industry means its medieval infrastructure has remained intact. This is what give the city so much of its charm – but also means traffic is a nightmare with heavy congestion and limited parking. Luckily York is a major hub of the rail network and is well served from all destinations. The train station is right in the middle of the city, and is by far the most recommended way to get to York. Your car is of little use in York as everything is within walking distance so it really is best to avoid the hassle. The range of hotels is wide as you might expect – there are some of the larger hotel chains located right by the train station so you can get on with your sight seeing as soon as possible. If you fancy something with a bit more character then there are dozens of privately owned Hotels and B&B’s to choose from too.