Visiting York/area for 4 or 5 days, any tips and advice for me?

[panomara]

Planning on flying in to Leeds Bradford from Dublin late September and can't wait to see York! I am bringing an elderly relative as he wants to do the "Heartbeat" Location day tour and I am his minder 😊Such fun and frolics!

Anyway, I won't be going on the bus tour with him, he will be ok on that, so I have time to float around.

Where would you recommend we stay? Want/need to be close to everything in the city, and we are prepared to pay for a very convenient location near to the action. I was thinking of going to Harrogate for the day, is that doable from York? Any other suggestions, am prepared to do an organised day trip but would prefer to DIY it if feasible. The rest of the time we will be exploring the city, so any tips for things not to be missed would be great. Also if there is anything within reach that you recommend, let me know.

Won't have a car, so will be relying on bus, taxi, train where relevant.

Thanks all. Looking forward to seeing a bit of Yorkshire!

Visit Holmfirth, it’s just 40 minutes from York on the train Nice tea room that was in Last of the Summer Wine, it’s Last of the Summer Wine country so if he enjoyed that he will love it. There is a bus tour in a little old fashioned bus. It’s a small town.

Go to evensong in York Minster. Railway Museum is a must.

I used to live in York (born and bred)

Betty's

Shambles (there's a ghost shop and you can see the original butchers hooks)

Jorvik (see a medieval poo-my dc loved that bit)

The dungeons

Railway museum (happy memories of taking the kids while my father yapped down my ear about trains)

Castle museum (we loved this one-you walk down a victorian street)

Chocolate museum (never been myself but my father worked at rowntrees and said it was good)

Cliffords tower

The golden fleece pub (most haunted pub in york)

Bar walls (the micklegate entrance is where royalty come/leave york)

A boat trip on the river ouse (best done in warmer weather-ask me how I know this...)

The cat trail

Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate (longest street name but the shortest street-fab for a picture-its around the corner from the shambles)

The bar convent-you can see Margaret Clitherows mummified hand

Star inn-guy Fawkes plotted the gunpowder plot there/st peters,the school he went to/the building he was born (all very close to each other)

The minster (and other quirky churches)

Lots of quirky shops,haunted buildings and a whole load of history

It's a drive away but Eden camp is really good for adults and kids (its a ww2 museum)

The Bettys in Harlow Carr is being closed for a refurb most of September into October when the OP is visiting. There’s other cafes onsite, of course.

Loads of great suggestions already, but I'm going to add another one. If you want a lovely walk that is easily accessible using public transport, I'd suggest getting the Coastliner bus to the Hole of Horcum on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. There's a bus stop right there, and plenty of walking options. Pickering itself is a nice little country town worth a walk around including a lovely castle.

Malton is also lovely, and easily accessible on bus or train.

Feel free to PM me as well if you'd like some other ideas/tips.

The Yorkshire Museum in York Museum Gardens currently has the most fantastic exhibition on of a major Iron Age treasure find recently near York. It’s called the Melsonby Hoard and it’s breathtaking

I agree with others that Betty's is overrated. Harrogate is a lovely town, albeit with many shops closed down, but Valley Gardens is worth a visit, and so is Knaresborough. It's better to go by bus to Knaresborough as the train station is down a steep hill. There are many lovely independent shops there.

Erm. Holmfirth is my nearest town and I work in York! Holmfirth doesn’t have a train station. Nearest is Brockholes 2.5 miles away or Honley 3 miles away. Both involve a change at Huddersfield, which is often closed/bus replacement at the moment for line upgrades. Journey time from York to Honley is about an hour, plus a bus, assuming no bus replacement or closures at Huddersfield. Well worth checking.

Holmfirth is lovely, but there are much easier, nice or nicer places to get to on public transport from York for a day out. Malton (train; check out Leonie’s coffee shop)? Pickering (bus; might be a bit too close to the Heartbeat bus trip; steam railway); Thirsk (home of James Herriot); Whitby (bus or train; home of Dracula, excellent year round seaside town).

But there is enough to do in York for 4 days without leaving the city.

If I need to stay in York, I like the Novotel as it has a pool, but is close (5 min walk) from the centre.

On Thur-Sun get amazing pastries from C&S bakery opposite Clifford’s Tower.

If your old chap is up for walking up about 100 steep steps, then the views from the top of Clifford’s Tower are awesome (entry fee).

The National Railway Museum is pretty cool even if you’re not into trains. And free entry!

River trips always nice, from Lendal Bridge or King’s Staith (Tower Gardens).

Cold War Bunker is really interesting. Book with English Heritage. It’s a couple of miles out of town (bus).

Jorvik is a bit meh now.

We’re regular York visitors. The Railway Museum is fantastic (and free). I personally find the Castle Museum much better than Yorvik. The Minster is stunning.

Harrogate is a nice little wander but not loads to do. Their Betty’s is better, in my opinion.

Malton is also a nice little town for a wander.

Eden Camp is good, if you’re interested in WW2.

If you fancy a trip further afield, the Ryedale Folk Museum is a brilliant place. Their website alludes to a bus https://www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk/visit-opening-times/

In addition to the above, York is just a nice place to wander around. It’s usually heaving but there’s plenty of quiet spots to escape the crowds. Loads of good pubs, nice gardens and just a great place to visit.

Hope you have a great time.

I cannot believe how helpful you all are re our visit to York! So kind of you.

I intend to put together a rough itinerary for both me and elder boy based on your suggestions. I will have some free time while he is off rabitting around on the location tour! He will definitely be interested in the War stuff, as he is ex army himself (retired Irish Army officer). I brought him to Normandy last year and he enjoyed it very much, if you can say that about D Day and all the horrors of it. We had a car then as took the direct ferry to Cherbourg. Anyway, I'm digressing here!

When I get around to it, I might post the itinerary here, and maybe you could say if it's just far too ambitious for the time we have or to skip this or that and substitute with X. Getting to these places easily on train or bus is vital as we won't have a car. I have suggested to elder boy that we stay for 5 nights. Is that enough or too much?

Thanks again, and greetings from a very very wet Dublin!

But there is enough to do in York for 4 days without leaving the city.
This. If you were staying a couple of weeks and feeling energetic then all these days trips would be great but your companion is elderly and he's already going on a full day out. Actually the Heartbeat tour would be fabulous if you fancy joining it. Goathland is absolutely lovely and you travel through some stunning scenery en route.

If you wanted to go to Eden Camp, the nearest train station is Malton (30 min) then a short taxi, or you could get the Coastliner bus which goes from York and has a stop near the museum. As pps said, Malton is a nice Yorkshire market town so you could combine the two. Talbot Yard food court is small but lovely Talbot Yard Food Court, Malton, North Yorkshire — Visit Malton

Goathland station is also famous for being Hogsmeade.

“………..greetings from a very wet Dublin.”
Where are you in Dublin @panomara ?
I had to go to Carrickmines today and it was lovely. Same city but very different weather. 😂
I’m following this thread as I want to visit York too.

Isn't Yorkshire Air Museum just out of York? Closer than Eden Camp surely.