What to see/do in York?

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We have a few days coming up in York soon, we've never been. I quite fancy doing a tour bus thingy to cover the main areas. Does anyone have any recommendations please?
No kids with us.

It is a very walkable city. Everything is fairly concentrated in or near the centre and it's FLAT (which is a great advantage). You can even stroll along by the river to the Millennium bridge and back the other side (and pop into Dyls for a drink on the way).

Oh maybe they have changed the name back. Last time I went in they were just called rascals on the card next to them. I did worry that it was PC madness so glad they are still called that 😊

I wouldn’t bother with the art gallery, it’s not up to much.

The Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum are really good. Jorvik is good but over quickly. You have to see Shambles, and if you want to go shopping, stick to Fossgate, Gillygate, Stonegate and Goodramgate. Coney Street is horrible, unless you want H&M and Zara.

You’ll get the best brunch ever at Partisan, but you might need to book. If you want a really excellent (but expensive) dinner, try Skosh on Micklegate. Every mouthful is exquisite and the atmosphere is really relaxed and buzzy. Betty’s is well worth queuing for. There’s a Thai tapas place on Foss Bridge that we love called Khaosan Road.

For something a bit different, you could go wild swimming at Pool Bridge Farm. It’s a short bus trip from the city centre, and you can make a real day of it. Various lakes and a cafe, plus picnic areas. It’s one of my favourite places in the world. Details are on the website - you have to book.

Enjoy your trip!

York is fabulous. We got a York card from the tourism centre for entry into the Minster and the museums both large and small. We found it very walkable with a good bus service. We also went out to a discount mall.

We went to a tea shop next door to Betty's and had dinner in a restaurant near the bridge. The shambles is good fun.

When we stay in York on a Sunday morning we get up at 5.00 am and wonder round the empty streets enjoying the history. There is a book describing the Snickleways (alleys) in the centre of York which takes you to some interesting places and helps you avoid the crowds in the daytime. Early morning other than Sundays can be noisy with delivery trucks.

There is also a Cat Trail that you can follow, to find all the various cat statues and models dotted around the city. Best for kids, but can be quite fun if you're just wandering.

I was just going to say that. We went and it was lovely. Walking round the walls was good too. We did the Minster and climbed the stairs. Other than that we just wandered around. I couldn’t see the attraction of Betty’s personally. People were queuing to get in and it seemed like any other cafe (and there were plenty of others around!). We went to a great Italian in the tiny lanes, but can’t remember its name. It was packed.
The theatre had a lot of great things on throughout the year.

York very walkable - lots of old streets, plus the Shambles, old gates. You can walk along its walls. Merchant Adventurers hall worth a visit - I've heard Barley Hall is good.
There's also a cat walk, which takes you to some places a bit off the beaten track (including historic pubs): www.catsinyork.com/

Don't dismiss the railway museum, it is social history, engineering, great sets for real historical trains. You don't need to love trains to love the museum.

Brilliant advice, thank you all.

The Italian might have been Lucia’s?

Look at a york pass. It costs a fortune but means you can do loads of stuff.

I really fell in love with the (some might say 😂) incredibly tacky York ghosts when I stayed last, the house we were in had a couple of them and I wanted to go to the shop. Had no idea it had such a following and the queue for the ghost merchant was hours long so ended up getting on online via a weird ballot setup. Can’t go through that again so I just have one solitary ghosty but he’s very cute. Next time I think I’d try and queue - we had a train to catch so couldn’t do it this time!

The ghost shop queue is madness are they still as popular?

A fat rascal is much heavier than a scone, which is light and airy. The rascal is denser and more filling, but delicious. I mention the difference because if you’re expecting the texture of a scone you won’t like a fat rascal; it’s a bit more rock cake, but far more tasty.
Just don’t look at the calories!

Betty’s is expensive but uses really high quality ingredients and their patisserie is wonderful. Wonderful brunches too.

We did the Viking walking tour - really interesting, well worth the money - I think it was about 30 quid each a few years ago.
Also loved the Jorvik centre - allow time to stop and talk to the museum staff, they are so knowledgable.

What are they called now?!

Go for a drink at the Guy Fawkes Inn, House of Trembling Madness also very good. On a nice day walk along the river - start at Skeldergate on the west side of the river, walk past Rowntrees park then over at millenium bridge, back up the other side to where you started at Skeldergate.

I agree with Skosh for dinner - do book well in advance. In fact that's my main York advice - book tables! Deans Court round the back of the Minster is very nice, they have a lovely garden overlooking the city wall to have a very civilised drink in. It's next door to Treasurers House mentioned above, that whole area behind the Minster is very nice and atmospheric, not too busy. They use it for filming period dramas quite a lot.

Micklegate (where Skosh is) is quite nice for a wander - lots of nice cafes now, including Partisan mentioned above.

If you're going to do Betty's, do afternoon tea, as that's the only way to book a table, then you can swan past everyone in the queue!

If you are going to the art gallery, I think they have a nice bar for the summer with a nice garden - not been yet but looks good.

If you want to really experience the Minster, check if there are any concerts happening there. Sixteenth-century music for preference!

or go to evensong, which will be free - a church service that includes singing by the cathedral choir.

And do walk the city walls - it’s lovely!

Fat rascals are fat rascals

Unless you’re disabled, TBH it’s easy enough to walk around York.
For me The Minster, Jorvik, and the Railway Museum would be high on the list, but I’d advise a guide book in advance - I last went ages ago so have probably forgotten others.

If you’re remotely interested in the paranormal, you might enjoy the mediaeval Treasurer’s House (IIRC) where you can visit the cellar - the scene (so it’s said) where a young tradesman who was working decades ago, was petrified on seeing a troop of tired and dishevelled looking Roman soldiers - visible only from the knees up - appear through one wall, and disappear through another, taking zero notice of him. There’s a short video about it. It was subsequently realised that the house had been built in the path of what had been a Roman road.

DH just home late last night from York and spent the whole day there with two of the DC...
Around 9.30am when they got off the train they walked to the Transport Museum and spent a while there, walked around the Shambles, and the city walls. Plenty photos taken of York Minster too in the background! They had a great time there. Ate lunch and dinner in the city before catching their train back up to Scotland.

Oh yes! Definitely definitely walk the walls - can't believe I forgot that. Excellent opportunity to be nosey at the gardens of fancy houses.

Visited York earlier this year. Did
Free Walking Tour - highly recommend.

Yes I think they sent me photos beside a gummy bear type figure and a rainbow squirrel or something in the city centre 😄