By rail
York, ~2 h from London
United Kingdom
York, United Kingdom
Medieval walls and a great minster
Getting there
By air
Leeds Bradford (LBA), ~1 h
Best time to visit
April to September; December for the markets
Don't miss
York Minster
The Shambles
The city walls
Clifford's Tower
Things to do
York Minster
The Shambles
The National Railway Museum
The city walls
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: FEGreene · CC0
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall
Questions travellers ask
What time of year is best for York?
April to September, or December for the markets. Bring layers.
What are the highlights of York?
York Minster, the Shambles, Clifford's Tower and a walk along the city walls. Train fans shouldn't skip the National Railway Museum.
What's a lesser-known sight in York?
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall. Round off the day with afternoon tea or a proper Yorkshire pudding.
Is York easy to reach by train?
By train, York is about 2 h from London. Leeds Bradford (LBA) is the airport, about 1 h away.
About York
- Riverside
Where it is
York is a historic cathedral city in North Yorkshire, in northern England, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in the Vale of York.
History
The Romans founded York as Eboracum in AD 71, and Constantine the Great was proclaimed emperor by the troops here in 306. Vikings captured it in 866 and made it the capital of their territory in Britain, and in the Middle Ages it grew into the church capital of northern England and a wool-trading centre; since 1839 it has also been a major railway centre.
People
York's people speak English with a Yorkshire accent, and the city lives from tourism, education and a long history of chocolate making by firms such as Rowntree's and Terry's. The York Mystery Plays, based on medieval religious dramas, are still performed in the city.
Known for
- York Minster
- The medieval Shambles
- The city walls
- The National Railway Museum
- The Jorvik Viking Centre
Did you know?
York has more miles of intact medieval town wall than any other city in England, and a walk along them circles much of the old city.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.