One day in York - what to do?

[ProfessorofDarkArts]

I have a random unexpected day in York this week, I’ll be dropped near the town centre but won’t have my own transport until I’m picked up at the end of the day. Any suggestions for what to see/do? I like a bit of shopping - independent/unusual shops as well as high street and especially a decent bookshop - a nice coffee/lunch and to see a bit of the town’s history/culture. Thank you ☺️

Wander through The Shambles, climb the Minster and walk around the city walls. Have lunch at Betty’s and definitely visit The Little Apple Bookshop and the Minster Gate bookshop.

I’d love to visit York - is one day enough or ideally should longer be spent there?

So much to see and do in York, definetly a weekend stay at least.

We did a walking tour, I think it was the standard one done by volunteers from the local civic/historic society, and it was absolutely mind blowingly good (bear in mind that dp and i are history nerds and our top-rated dates tend to include looking at Saxon earthworks).

York is tiny so the shopping bit is v easy. Just start walking.

Ok this sounds perfect, it’s not a holiday as such or I’d definitely be going for longer!

Walk the walls. York Minster. The Shambles. Clifford’s Tower. Train Museum - a must and free. Even if you’re not a train person, it’s so interesting. Betty’s is nice for a coffee and cake but I’d probably get lunch in one of the quirky pubs. York is fab. Enjoy.

I would go to Betty’s straight away for a coffee - it really is a beautiful building and lovely staff. But the queues start to get ridiculous from lunchtime onwards and there are some fab independent places for lunch

Cliffords tower and the Castle Museum are good (but both charge entry)

The minster, a free guide to take you round, then go down to the catacombs and also up to the roof of you’re able.

The Castle Museum was unexpectedly good if the weather is poor, otherwise it's a lovely city to walk around.

Railway museum
York minister

It’s one of those places you can just mooch and see where the whim takes you.

The Minster is ££ but beautiful, and the free guided tours are good especially the stained glass one.

Wouldn’t bother with Betty’s, there are plenty of great independent coffee shops like Rise.

If the weather’s nice take a picnic (meal deal!) to the Museum Gardens or Minster Gardens. Or eat in the Shambles Market.

Shops: Topping & Company is a new huge bookshop on Museum Street.
Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop on Stonegate
Country Traditionals polish pottery on Colliergate

Walk the walls, pop into the churches eg Holy Trinity on Goodramgate. The Shambles obvs.

Railway museum is great but currently an absolute pain to get to due to building works. Worth splurging on the noddy train (stop is on Duncombe Place by the Minster).

If you are starting near the centre, York is really easy to explore on foot. Have a wander around the Shambles and the little streets nearby, then head up to York Minster. The city walls are worth doing too if you fancy a bit of a walk.
For shopping, Fossgate and the Shambles area have some nice independent shops. The Minster Gate Bookshop is also worth a look if you like books. For coffee or lunch, there are loads of good little places around the centre, so you will have plenty of choice. You can see quite a lot in one day without needing a car.

Bookshops - Topping and Company on Museum St - huge but lovely; lots of independent, specialist, secondhand bookshops on Micklegate; The Poetry Pharmacy on Coney street is a quirky, gorgeous, unusual bookshop - well worth a visit.

If you’re in York on a Thur-Sun, get the absolute best pastries and bread you’ll ever come across from C&S Bakery on Tower St. They start running out by 1pm and close at 3.

Walk the walls
Go and see Paddington in the Dean’s Park
Potter along Goodram Gate and Petergate for independent shops
Potter around Parliament St, Coppergate, Coney St, The Pavement for high street stores.
The National Railway Museum is pretty cool, even if you’re not into trains and free.
York is a small city, with stuff around every corner. You’ll fill a day no trouble at all, and be dying to come back.

Thank you all, I had a lovely day and definitely want to go back, one of the nicest cities I’ve visited in the UK.

There is or was a good NT tearoom for lunch near the minster walk the walls. The train museum is great even if you are not a train buff. The shambles are great nice independent shops. There is even a Boyes North country department store chain.