Once in the city center there’s a vast array of history literally beneath your feet. The Minster is a great way of navigating as it’s seen by most parts of the city. Right beside the Minster you’ll find the Micklegate Bar Museum, but if it’s a more indepth look at life in York throughout the centuries that you’re looking for then a visit to York Castle Museum isn’t to be missed! With a recreated Victoria Street, clothes and toys throughout the ages, civil war (English) exhibits, and even the condemned cell that once housed the most famous Highwaymen of them all, Dick Turpin, this museum has something to capture the imagination of all ages!
Back in the city center wander down to the Jorvik Museum for a look even further back in time to when the Vikings used York (Jorvik is the Viking name for York) as one of the major cities. Inside the museum you travel back in time to 975AD where a reconstructed Viking street now stands
where archaeologists found remains of the real thing.
Get a sense of mediaeval York in the Shambles. This is a street with shops, many of which sell souvenirs. Don’t just look at the store windows however, the Shambles is famous for the narrow gap between the top floor of the houses on either side of the cobbled street. Imagine what it must have been like to be able to reach out of your upstairs window and shake hands with the people living across the street!
You can see much of York’s heritage, including its original city walls by simply wandering around, but many of the museums and attractions have an entrance fee. If you intend to go into many of these then it might be worthwhile purchasing a Visit York pass which allows free entrance into many of the more popular attractions and reductions on the entrance fee for others. The pass also includes a guidebook to the city, and allows for special rates at certain restaurants and shops.
York is a great city break. Whether you intend to spend a day there, or a few days, you’ll find many interesting things from ghost trails to river tours and of course steam locomotive journeys to fill your time. As cities go, York’s got something for everyone.