Advice on trip to York

[MrsElm]

I have just visited York for the first time, 2 days 1 night. It was a work jolly, so only some free time, but enough to make me realise it's a gorgeous city!

I would like to take my DD12 on a trip there, staying from Monday to Thursday, during October half term. I would really appreciate some tips and advice from York MNers, or any one else who travels there.

Hotels - I am looking at the Novotel. Any experiences of this? And are prices likely to go down or up from now ie should I book now or wait.

Things to do. I have shopping and the Jorvik centre on the list so far. Any other must sees? And is October half term likely to be busy?

Trains - we will be travelling up from the South Coast, and would like to avoid the tube. What's the best way to go?

Many thanks in advance ☺️

@SpikyHatePotato thank you that is very useful 🤗

There is a cat cafe (with several cats). Rail museum free. Castle museum. Always events at half terms to bring in tourists but Oct isn’t usually too busy. York Maze Hallowscream is fun for that time year but need to taxi / bus out to it. Ghost walk. LNER let you set up an alert for when cheap train tickets are released. Little Vikings is a local website of what’s on for kids in York.

If your daughter likes cats , there is a shop full of tat lovely things to do with cats in the shambles.

Ghost Merchants shop is a gem but beware the queue - it can be a long wait (DD wanted to go and we waited for nearly an hour, and they close the queue an hour before closing time).

@MayBeee I popped in there, and yes, it is full of tat, but my daughter will love it!

The Minster is a must. As is the luxury ice cream company on back swinegate.

The Tower is a killer. But the views are wonderful. I made the mistake of going at the front of the queue and it killed me as I couldn't stop for a breather.

The cat glass gallery on the Shambles is or is about to closed sadly. There is a shop on High Petergate full of cat things. Cat Gallery I think it is called.

Cliffords Tower has been redone and is now very good having previously been very disappointing.

the Shambles is down to one very good Harry Potter shop, the most tat-filled ones have shut or rebranded. There is also a Bao bun shop, a chocolatier, a cheesecake shop, pie shop, tea rooms, loose leaf tea shop, interesting finds (flints and artefacts) shop, fancy paper and stationery shop. Loads to browse as well as the ghost merchants.

What a great Thread
I am planning on going to York as well, also in October half Term .

We are two adults though so plan on going on the Ghost Bus and a few of the Ghost Walking Tours . And, of course, The Ghost Shop

I’m in York (and often go to London) get the train, no question! So much easier and cheaper, and you’ll struggle to get a hotel with free parking, and as a pp said wait 12 weeks before and get a ticket. If you can be flexible when you travel you can usually get a capped price family ticket.

if you’re on the Brighton line, can you get the train that goes to St Pancras? If so, it’s a 5 min walk from there to kings cross for east coast train services

I’ve also stayed at the Novotel, it’s nice, and perfect for central stuff. There’s also 2 hotels locally called Rooommmzzz (or something) which are apartment style hotel rooms with little kitchens etc) id book now (or soon) as it’s usually heaving up here with school holidays and stag / hen parties on weekends.

Dyls on the river opposite the tower is a lovely place for brunch / lunch (gets heaving tho so go early) depending on the weather the ice cream boats may still be out, there’s one in town and one further out towards millennium bridge. Drift inn in town is also a great cafe - tbh there’s a ton of independent cafes etc so you can’t go wrong

the ghost tours are quite ott but fun, if you don’t mind a walk you can also do a circular river walk (about 3km loop) starting down by the tower and heading up to millennium bridge, over that and back down the other side by rowntree park and the bishopthorpe rd area. The spark is a container shipping place with food etc stuff in it, The Grand hotel also does afternoon tea if you fancy that. Down by kings staith you can rent little red boats for 30 mins which you can drive up and down the river (unless it’s flooded and then it’s all shut!)

re shopping, worth looking at what you may want, as a lot of our in centre chain shops have shut