UKH

Ms. aln and I are going to York for a weekend soon. I've had great advice on here about where to go, what to see etc on city breaks and I'm hoping for more. Obviously there's the Minster and The Shambles, but what else is a must? Food, culture, arts, history, buildings etc. The tourist must sees and the more quirky are welcome.

As examples, through recommendations on here, in Manchester we visited the John Ryland library, the Mark E Smith mural and the Koffee Pot. In Hull we saw the smallest window in England, loved that!

Bring it on 😊

The Jorvik center. York Castle museum. There is another museum in some gardens but I can't remember it's name. 

The Maltings, through the arch opposite (ish) the station and it's on your left over the road.

I always enjoying walking along the end of the River Foss past the lock and looking at the River Foss barrier.

I've never had a bad curry there, and hope to get back to The Viceroy soon enough.

Walking around the city wall.

The Yorkshire museum in the abbey gardens is good, as are the gardens and abbey ruins.

Clifford's tower if the queue isn't too long.

There's also the National Railway museum which is donation entry.

Walking the walls is always a good way to spend a couple of hours.

If you like modern beer then Brew York is definitely worth a visit, and/or the House of Trembling Madness.

You can see if you can spot all the black cats as you wander the city centre

And there is a Roman Bath in the basement of a pub somewhere if you can find it.

Edit: If you go to the Minster and the weather is clear it's worth paying the extra and going up the tower, lots of narrow staircase involved though.

Some good ideas there. J101 I'm very much a fan of modern beer, a sucker for over hopped IPA. Other beer suggestions, taprooms etc are welcome. 

The city walls are a great way to see the historic city.

Museum gardens and the abbey ruin are nice. Maltings and Minster in both interesting local pubs.

Railway museum is cool if you like machines, currently have to book but free. 

Greys court behind the minster is a lovely building, nice quiet place for a drink or cake. The treasurer's house garden nearby is nice.

The House of trembling madness on Stonegate is a tiny bar in a medeval attic, more interesting than its mansion based namesake.

The Blue Bell is intteresting, tiny, old and charming.

Fossgate and Bishopthorpe rd are both busy little streets with lots of independant shops, bars etc.

Exploring the little lanes (Snickleways) and backstreets in town rewards with interesting finds. Barley hall being worth seeking out. Loads of independant cafes, eateries and bars tucked away off the beaten track, finding one you like by chance is half the fun.

Marks and Spencer cafe, top floor has a great city view, worth a look especially if it's raining.

Yorkshire air museum at Elvington is cracking but it's a few miles out, there's probably a bus but it'd eat half a day, only worth it on a short trip if you're really into aircraft.

Station tap in the station is a nice bar.

Brew York, brewery and tap room for modern beer.

Holgate windmill is interesting, oddand scenic if it's open. Half hour walk out of town (less from railway museum) but past good pubs (Volunteer arms, a cosy local and the Fox, big garden. Both do good beer).

Middle feast for a kebab to enjoy sober or the food market off the Shambles for other street food.

Margret Clitherow's shrine on the Shambles is an oasis of calm amid tourist chaos if it's open pop your head in. Grim backstory.

Clifford's tower is closed for work.

Various cinemas and theatres in town, not sure what's on but if that's your thing you're well set and noneed to go to the ringroad multiplexes.

The uni is a mad mix of brutalism, ducks and medeval if odd architecturr is your thing. It's about 45min walk out of town or there are busses.

Free walking tours from the art gallery are supposed to be very good. Paid ghost walks from everywhere, look like fun but never done one.

The little museum under tge roman bath pub is quirky and would make a memory. 

Minster is spectacular but pricey, the basement and roof are worth tge extra imo, particularly the basement treasury, roman stuff and mad Arup 60's undrrpinning if you like engineering. 

No idea what the live music scene is like mid/post covid.

If you have kids Rowantree's park is nice and close to town, access via riverside walk might be disrupted by works. 

Enjoy, jk

I love it that the drains under the cathedral were made by the Romans, and still work.

I almost forgot - for reasons that may become obvious to you if you visit it....

The Evil Eye.

Did one of the ghost tours when down there for some work training. A good laugh and a nice wee wander around one of my favourite cities.

To beer stuff I would add a Sam Smith's pub. Kings Arms would be my choice, lovely spot by the river and a great price for a pint.

The King's arms is quirky down by the river especially the flood guage but often heaving at weekends. Also Sam's is a bit marmite, I love it but plenty don't, just a shame Humphry Smith is such a complete tool. The Trafalger bay is quieter, welcoming and has some charm if you like Sam's.

Jk

Chocolate museum

 https://www.yorkschocolatestory.com/

It’s a lovely city, which I admit I don’t know that well, but my wife went to university there. Some years ago, before we were married, I took her there for her birthday.

I splashed out on a room at the Grand, we had a lovely day walking around town, had a run along the city walls and out to the university. Back at the hotel, we decided to go for a swim in the hotel pool. Unfortunately, I managed to swim in to her, with my elbow making rather firm contact with her nose. She was in a fair bit of pain for a while, but it eased with the help of a bottle of champagne and we had a pleasant evening out.

She got her nose looked at on the Monday by a work colleague (ENT specialist in NHS) who confirmed it was broken and straightened it for her. The bruises didn’t look good for a few weeks.

What she only found out on our wedding day was that I had intended to propose that day, but somehow after I broke her nose it didn’t quite feel like the right time.

Little Italy for great pasta.  This is based on 2 yrs ago but it’s a deli during the day and restaurant on a night.

booking essential. 

Me mother treats us to a decent outdoor pizza at the  Churchill down Bootham way when we go and see her.

She's 95 now so ain't right keen on the 10 minute walk into town these days!! 🙂

If you don't mind a more costly, but excellent value, dinner then the Rattle Owl was superb.

I often get a "get the bill" urge when dining out, but there I just wanted to stay.  Food was top notch, they protect the kitchen by managing the booking times well, the staff feel genuinely fairly treated (e.g. tronc sharing), service attentive but unobtrusive, nice amuse bouche touches, good but not ostentatious wine list.

My only criticism was one of their pictures was hung upside down.

The Kings Arms is a good place to watch Geordies jumping off the Ouse Bridge in their underpants. Probably more of a summer pastime though.

Seek out the Blue Bell if you want a really quaint pint, or the Black Swan on Peasholme Green which is like stepping back in time to about 1588.

Buy the snickleways book and try to follow one of the trails. We did a walk trying to visit 24 places of worship in a couple of hours. If you like that sort of thing (history) it was actually really fascinating.

Thor's Tipi might be up and running which is fun.

If you've time for a quick climb, Red Goat bouldering wall is great with a log burner, beer food and coffee.