York is a beautiful city, full of character and charm, with something for everyone. I might be a little biased given that it is my hometown, but I would argue that York is one of the finest cities in the UK. The list of reasons why you should travel here is almost endless, but below you'll find a select few to tempt you.



 1. York is quintessentially British. If you're coming from outside the UK, you're probably travelling to England with high hopes of experiencing all things British. Tea and scones, grand castles, fish and chips, red buses, cobbled streets, real ale; York has all of this and more.

 2. The city is very picturesque. From medieval churches to the city walls, river views to spring daffodils, there is something beautiful to look at whichever way you turn. Be warned, there's a good chance that you will not be able to put your camera down.


3. It is in the perfect location. If you're just doing a quick tour of the UK, two of the main cities you might want to travel to are London and Edinburgh. York is ideally situated right in the middle, with direct train links to both capitals. There's no excuse for not stopping by, even if it is just for a day or two.

4. Everything is within walking distance. Once you're in the city centre, all the main attractions are within a fifteen minute walk. There's no need to stress about bus timetables or pay for expensive taxis, everything is a stone's throw away ready for you to go and explore.

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5. York is full of history. There is evidence that people lived in the area as far back as 8000 BC. The city walls, still standing today, were originally built around 70 AD. The city has been invaded by Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. It's the birthplace of Guy Fawkes and the location at which Dick Turpin was hung. The list goes on.

6. There are hundreds of amazing cafes and restaurants. York has one of the highest concentration of eateries in the UK, with over 300 places to dine packed into the city centre. There is something to suit every budget and taste. The cuisines on offer include Argentinian, Chinese, French, Indian, Korean, Moroccan, Thai and much more, though one of my favourites is this amazing Eastern European restaurant.

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7. There is an abundance of outdoor space. It's not the sort of city where you're going to get stressed out and need to escape the hustle and bustle, but if you want to spend sometime outdoors there are plenty of options. Find a bench overlooking the River Ouse and relax as the ducks swim by, chill out in the Museum Gardens and watch squirrels jump through the trees or head over to Rowntree Park and take a stroll around the lake.

8. You'll never have to look far to find a drink. Rumour has it that within the city walls there are 365 pubs, one for every day of the year. The majority of these are traditional real ale pubs, but there's a growing number of trendy cocktail bars and a good mix of everything in between.

Have you ever been to York?

PS. If I've tempted you to visit this city, this post on enjoying York on a budget might come in useful!

36 comments :

  1. Neva Fels22 March, 2014

    Those pictures are drawing me to York. The United States doesn't have very much history and it blows my mind to be walking on historical sites dating back to 8000 B.C.

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      I think the history is the main reason we get so many tourists here! If you like history, you would love it :)

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  • Patti Morrow22 March, 2014

    I've been to England several times, but never to York. The photos are fantastic! I love the old architecture and walkways. I will definitely check it out next time I'm in the UK.

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Wish I could take credit for the photos, but had to borrow a few from Flickr! You should definitely come and see everything York has to offer :)

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  • memographer22 March, 2014

    It is very inviting, Catherine! I wish to visit Old York one day. Love history.

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Hehe, funny hearing it referred to as 'Old York', though I guess that's what it is really!

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  • I've never been to York but you sure have me interested now, Catherine. Of course I love history so I would be all over that. And being foodie it sounds like the city centre would be high on my priority list. Are there are basement bars/pubs? I've never been to one and I'm fascinated with checking one out. Good post..

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Yeah, there are quite a few basement bars actually! There's some rules about buildings not being allowed to go over a certain height, so that the cathedral is visible for for miles around the town, so people have got pretty creative and started building things down the way instead of up!

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  • Suzanne Fluhr (Just One Boomer)22 March, 2014

    York reminds me of my hometown, Philadelphia, in the United States. Philly, a city of about 1 million and arguably the birthplace of the United States (where the Declaration of Independence was debated and written and the first capital). It's on the major highway (Interstate 95) and the Northeast Corridor train route between Washington D.C. and New York City. I think we missed York when visiting Edinburgh, but that is probably because we drove from the West Country, not from London. The trip was also made in 1970, so my memory might be a little hazy. Your photos are lovely.

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      I've always wondered what it would be like to visit York if I'd never been here before so love checking out places that are similar. Will definitely be adding Philadelphia to my list :)

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  • Agness Walewinder23 March, 2014

    I love to explore historical cities. That's why Prague is my no. 1 place to visit! I'm glad to read about York being a great city to explore for the sake of it's rich history and museums!

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Ooh, I'd love to go to Prague too! It sounds like it's got the history of somewhere like York, but with half the price tag! (Though I will soon be writing a post about surviving York on a tight budget - don't want the prices putting anyone off!)

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  • haha what a great list! i'll keep this in mind whenever i plan to visit England! :)

    xo, Brikena
    www.jarofjoy.blogspot.com

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Thanks :) Yes, would definitely recommend adding York as a place to visit in England :)

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  • Love this blog. I need to explore more of Britain before travelling further afield!

    Sophie x

    http://your-girl-is-lovely.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      I've been feeling exactly the same recently, I've barely scratched the surface in terms of exploring the UK!

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  • Love your photos...stunning! I like your reasoning, too...I will just have to go to York next time I'm in the UK.

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Thanks :) Would love to say I'd taken the photos myself, but actually borrowed them from Flickr! The words are all might though :)

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  • Jess @UsedYorkCity26 March, 2014

    You had me on "quintessentially British!" Seriously, outside of NYC, the UK is my favorite place, it charms me every time, and I can't wait to go back:-)

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    1. Catherine29 March, 2014

      Hehe, knew that phrase would catch someone's attention :) Just make sure you check out York next time you're in the UK!

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  • Dianne Burns02 April, 2014

    We plan on spending the fall, and part of the winter in the UK this year. York is on our to-visit list. THANK you for such a great post!

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    1. Catherine02 April, 2014

      Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post :)

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  • Country Hopping Couple20 April, 2014

    I've always wanted to visit York and Leeds, but even after living in Edinburgh for 4 years, I never made it yet! Such a shame eh! Your pictures are very persuading though, so, I shall definitely plan to visit York for some weekend getaway!

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    1. Catherine26 April, 2014

      It's only two hours on the train, you have no excuse for never having visited York! I promise you won't be disappointed :)

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