For history buffs, English cities don’t come much more heritage-hefty than York.
This is a walled city that wears its history on its sleeve – you can still walk along those Roman walls as you take in the River Ouse.
York is also home to its eponymous Minster, which dates back to the 13th Century, as well as architecture from the Viking, Victorian and Georgian eras.
But even if that’s all ancient history to you, there’s plenty to see and do in York to satisfy more contemporary tastes…
Getting Active
York Racecourse is famous the world over with fans of horse racing – the venue’s Ebor Festival each August attracting the sport’s finest horses, jockeys and trainers.
The horse racing odds for the three Group 1 renewals – the top-tier of British Flat racing – are the most eagerly anticipated, with punters able to have a flutter in the betting ring on the International Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Nunthorpe Stakes.
You can research some horse racing tips or place your bets on any of the runners that catch your eye in the parade ring; maybe a great place to spot a value selection or two!
We are delighted to announce five-star hotel @GrantleyHall_ as this year’s headline sponsor of the Ebor Fashion Lawn, which will once again take place across The Sky Bet Ebor Festival, from 21 – 24 August.
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 23, 2024
Combining fashion & fun, read more here – https://t.co/bNvdgdUPXv pic.twitter.com/1Cev6XYulG
Either way, York races offer a chance to dress up in your Sunday best, perhaps enjoy a glass of Pimm’s or two and enjoy one of the oldest sports on the planet first hand.
York City is the leading football team in the area, while cricket, tennis, hockey, rugby and canoeing are in plentiful supply too if you’re feeling active.
Culture Vultures
If shopping is your thing, you’ll be in heaven as you stroll along the Shambles – home to a rabbit warren of independent shops, retailing everything from homemade delicacies to jewellery, restaurants and bars.
Keep walking until you reach the Shambles’ food court – an extraordinary collection of flavours from across the globe. The only challenge you’ll face is deciding which one to eat at!
Live music and theatre are also not in short supply, with an eclectic array of venues from the Vaults and the Barbican Centre to the Museum Gardens and the Grand Opera House ticking all of the boxes.
History Buffs
It’s hard to over-play the magnificence of York Minster, the Gothic cathedral that is not only huge in stature (it’s actually one of the largest cathedrals in Europe) but also high on atmosphere.
The mammoth stained-glass windows will no doubt catch your eye, while there’s even a chance to explore the ancient crypt, where York’s patron saint, St William, is buried – alongside a host of other key historical figures.
The icing on the cake is the spiral staircase heading up to the top of the Minster. You’ll need to be feeling energetic as there’s some 275 steps to navigate, but once you have, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the city that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
York is a true gem in the north of England – if you’re looking for a change from London or Edinburgh, a trip to ‘Jorvik’, as it was known in Viking times, comes highly recommended.
