York City Breaks

York View breaks >>

A beautiful and compelling city, straddling the River Ouse and Foss, no excuse needed to visit this perfect weekend destination, twice voted ‘the UK’s best city’. York offers medieval quaint labyrinth of cobbled streets such as ‘The Shambles’, ancient city walls, exquisite architecture and the iconic gothic cathedral of York Minster.

In addition to lovely tea shops, brasseries and great shopping, there is much to see and do, including the Jorvik Viking Centre, showing Viking life 1,000 years ago, to the Yorkshire Museum, which is home to collections of Roman sculpture, mosaics and jewellery. For rail enthusiasts, there is the National Railway Museum which contains three large halls of railway legends. For a more relaxed pace you can while away an afternoon with a river cruise taking in the sights.

York is approximately 3 hours from London Kings' Cross by train.

Read more on this destination in the AA Key Guide to Britain.

York Minster

With a massive west front and two towers, this Gothic cathedral is one of the worlds largest. A quarter of all stained glass of the period in England is represented here, look at the ‘Five Sisters’. For a fantastic panoramic view, head up the central tower.

City Walls

Pierced only by bars (gateways) York is virtually enclosed by a complete wall. Choicest views are between Bootham Bar and Monk Bar, but at Micklegate Bar, you see spikes where heads of criminals and enemies were placed in the war of the roses.

The Shambles

Jettied half-timbered buildings overhang the narrow streets, down this short walk from York Minster. Originally butchers’ stalls, with costumed characters entertaining visitors, this is one of the city’s most famous sights.

York Castle Museum

Housed in the former Female Prison and Debtors Prison, see the very cell, before his death on the gallows, the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin spent his final days, with collections of costumes and displays actually reconstructing street life.

Mother and daughter sightseeing

Jorvik Viking Centre

This is the Viking settlement of Jorvik, that was uncovered during an excavation. Based on archaeological evidence dating back to the 10th century, the centre presents a unique journey to ancient York, with the smells, sounds and sights of life.

Yorkshire Museum

This pearl in York holds some of the finest collections of archaelogical and geological finds in Europe. The Gardens have the ruins of 13th century St. Mary’s Abbey, remains of St. Leonards Hospital and the Roman Multangular Tower.