Visiting York, England

My Travel Recap + Best Things to Do

York Minster

Snapshot Ratings of York, England

• Walkability: 9/10–Flat, cobblestone streets, no hills, fairly compact city
  

• Cleanliness: 8/10–Overall pretty clean. There were several parts with ongoing construction.
  

• Friendliness: 8/10–I found most people here to be very warm and friendly.
  

• Safety of York: 9/10–Very safe; no issues during the day or walking home in the dark from dinner
  

• Food: 7/10–I only had dinner and breakfast here (more on dinner later!).
  

• Ease of Travel: 9/10 (by train from London)
  

• Ideal Trip Length: 1–2 days
  

• Weather (March): 40s-50s °F, mild and sunny

York, England has always been a place deep in the cobwebs of my brain; a place I'd heard mention of once or twice. However, it wasn't until one of my favorite Youtube channels: Simple Scottish Living shared their York trip, that it really started to peak my interest. Annie from the channel (whom I was actually able to meet on my last trip to Scotland) gushed about the city and how much she loved it as much as she loved Edinburgh. A city similar to my beloved castle city? Sold. I was off to the races incorporating this into my Bruges/Edinburgh trip itinerary.

Getting There

As mentioned above, when I saw that York was on the train line from London to Edinburgh, I knew it would be the perfect stopping point as I made my way from Bruges, Belgium up to Scotland. After taking the Eurostar from Brussels to London, I had a quick stop at Kings Cross Station for a bite to eat, and then I was on my way to York via LNER (London North Eastern Railway). The train was extremely comfortable and the train was fairly empty, so I didn't have any seat companions. I was able to easily store my luggage and use the bathroom as needed. Once arriving in York, it was a quick, 10 minute walk into the center to my hotel. It really couldn't have been more simple and I loved the fact that I didn't have to pay for an Uber to get from the train station to my hotel. The only reason I didn't give it a full 10/10 for ease of travel was because it was a bit tricky to manage some of the sidewalks with my suitcase as there was a lot of construction.

First Impressions

One of the very first things I noticed after stepping off the train were the castle-like stone walls and peaceful waterways that wrapped around the center…remnants of a protected ancient city. Right away, York felt storied; a place that has seen many centuries and somehow remembers them all.

A quick bit of background: York is one of the oldest cities in England, founded by the Romans in 71 CE as Eboracum, and later becoming a thriving medieval hub. It’s even been home to Viking settlers and Roman emperors. Today, the city still wears its past well, with Roman walls, medieval streets, and Gothic towers all coexisting in one walkable core.

While I understand the comparisons to Edinburgh, York felt a bit different to me. Smaller. Less dramatic. Instead of brooding gothic spires, York offered a softer, more golden kind of charm. It had all the cozy English character you’d hope for, just with fewer hills, no kilts to be seen, and even easier navigation.

The Vibe

The Shambles at night and York Minster.

Quaint is the word that kept coming to mind. York felt safe, timeless, and genuinely unique. The Shambles, York’s famously narrow and crooked medieval street, was like something out of a storybook. I’ve really never seen anything quite like it. In fact, the Shambles is considered the best-preserved medieval street in the world. It was mentioned as early as 1086 in William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book, and many of the buildings that lean in over the cobbles date back to the 1300s and 1400s.

As I wandered through the city, it definitely gave the impression of being a walled sanctuary, in a way. The stone walls encircling the old city added a feeling of protection and pause, while York Minster (its towering cathedral) glimmered in the sunlight like something sacred. I especially loved walking around the back of the cathedral, where I stumbled on a small park with a statue of Paddington Bear. It felt like York’s way of winking at you.

Another thing I appreciated was that there was a delightfully spooky edge to the place. After dinner, I walked back through the Shambles in the dark, and it absolutely had haunted-village energy…but in the best way. Lanterns glowed, shadows danced, and I half-expected a ghost tour group to round the corner at any minute. It made the walk home strangely magical.

Weather in York

I visited in March, and the weather was mild but crisp. Mornings started in the low 40s °F and crept up to the low 50s by afternoon. A fleece-lined raincoat was perfect for the chill and the occasional drizzle. (More about what I pack for the UK here.)

Seasonal temps in York generally look like this:

• Spring (Mar–May): Highs in the 50s–60s °F (10–17 °C), often breezy
  
  

• Summer (Jun–Aug): Highs in the 60s–70s °F (16–22 °C), with long daylight hours
  
  

• Fall (Sep–Nov): Highs in the 50s–60s °F, with increasing rain
  
  

• Winter (Dec–Feb): Highs in the 40s °F (4–7 °C), often gray but rarely snowy

Where I Stayed

Judges Court in York, England

When browsing through hotels in York, I wanted something central and boutique-like. Using my usual procedure, I was able to find just that. I stayed at Judges Court which was right on one of the main streets in the city center. Despite being in a prime, central location, the hotel was located through an ancient pass and away from noise. I was placed in a basement room (this would be a trend on this trip) below reception. While it was okay during sleeping hours, there was constant noise throughout the day, so taking a nap would have been difficult. While I ultimately recommend this boutique hotel, I do encourage you to ask for a better room location!

What I Ate in York

Steak, cocktails, sticky toffee pudding, and a cocktail at Cut & Craft in York.

Because of my itinerary, I only ended up having dinner and breakfast in York. For dinner, I had initially wanted to go for some traditional English pub fare. You know the meat pies and chips (fries) of it all. It didn't matter what I ended up ending, outside of - I HAD to have a sticky toffee pudding. Ever since my first one during my initial trip to Scotland, it has been my all-time favorite dessert. As I researched several restaurants and reviewed ratings, I was torn between a few more traditional places and one that seemed to be more modern fair (it had awesome reviews). So I headed up to reception where I was informed that, in fact, the modern place was the way to go.

Even though I didn't have a more traditional dinner, my meal at The Cut & Craft, a modern steakhouse, was one of the best meals I've ever had. I enjoyed their daily steak special with mash, a beautiful cocktail, and of course…sticky toffee pudding. The restaurant itself was also super chic and a lovely place to spend the evening on a date with myself. Any time I take a trip, I always have one nice meal at a pricier establishment - and this was it!

For breakfast the following morning, I kept it simple with a pistachio croissant and flat white (my coffee drink of choice when I’m in the UK) at a cute little place called The Cornish Bakery on the same street as my hotel. It was the perfect place to stop before getting on my train to Edinburgh, and I would definitely recommend.

Must Dos in York

Dean's Park with Paddington Bear behind York Minster and York Ghost Merchants

• Head to the Shambles to take in the scenic sites and do some shopping

• Buy yourself a famous ghostie or two from The York Ghost Merchants (there will be a queue)

• Walk a portion of or the entire wall around the city

• Visit York Minster

• And while you're there head to Dean's Park behind to see Paddington

• Check out the other shops and streets throughout the city. I particularly loved this little independent bookstore: The Little Apple Bookshop

• Walk along the scenic riverfront

If I had more time I would have:

• Taken a river tour
  

• Gone inside for the tour of York Minster
  

• Done a ghost tour

• Checked out some of the museums around the city
  

Final Thoughts on York, England

York isn't a place you're going to go to the UK just to see. But if you're already in England, or passing through, it is a must visit. You won't be let down by this charming, albeit spooky little town.