York is a beautiful city with over 2000 years of history packed into its compact space, a good indicator of which are over 30-odd museums enabling visitors to familiarise themselves with the local history. While culture steals the limelight on York tours with the Minster undoubtedly setting the example, York also owns a pub for each day of the year and is a fabulous place to shop. 'The Shambles' in particular, is a popular choice with hordes of people flocking to one of Europe's best preserved medieval shopping streets to peer into its original shop fronts.
Towering above everything else in its path is the York Minster which is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and the largest of its kind in England. At least two million people walk under its gothic archway every year to admire the dizzyingly high ceilings, over 100 striking stained glass windows and to climb the Central Tower affording awe-inspiring views of the city below.
Another place to visit on your tour of York, which will suit families, is the Jorvik Viking Centre which is actually built upon the remains of Viking York and offers visitors the chance to step back in time when Vikings ruled in England. You can walk down reconstructed Viking streets and take in the sights, sounds and (horrible) smells of a 10th century Viking city. The gallery here contains over 400 authentic Viking artefacts and at some point you will come face to face with a Viking.
York's City Walls are a must-see attraction as they coil around the city for at least 2 miles and are apparently the longest intact medieval town walls in England. You can stroll around the city walls and take in the views, the stretch from Monkbar to Petergate is particularly picturesque. As you walk around you will come across the Micklegate Bar Museum, which presents the history of Micklegate's sentinel.
When you have had your fill of sightseeing, meander through the twisting, atmospheric cobblestone streets of 'The Shambles' on your York city break before resting those tired feet in one of the charming culinary establishments. No city break to York would be complete without sampling the sumptuous afternoon tea presented at the world famous Betty's Tea Rooms but if this is too upmarket for you, there are plenty of traditional English pubs to frequent offering great value food and drink to tickle everyone's taste-buds!
York coach holidays typically include; return coach travel, accommodation in good standard hotels, meals and a variety of included or optional excursions so you can really get a taste of what life is like in beautiful historic city.
Tourist offices
For further information about York, you can visit the official tourism website at Plan Your Visit to York | Visit York
To help you have an enjoyable holiday in York, take a look at these useful tips and advice provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO):
Health and Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended by all our tour operators and for some operators it is a condition of booking. When choosing a travel insurance please ensure it fully covers all your personal requirements including pre-existing medical conditions, cancellation charges, medical expenses, and repatriation in the event of accident or illness. As a British citizen you will obviously be entitled to free emergency health care on the NHS.
If you are visiting England from outside the United Kingdom and fall ill or are involved in an accident and are from an EU country or Switzerland, you can use a valid EHIC issued by your home country to access healthcare. Please note this is not an alternative to travel insurance. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised for nationalities planning on visiting the UK.
For the latest information and travel advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), please click here
If you need to contact the emergency services whilst in the UK simply dial 999 or 112 to ask for an ambulance.
Crime
The United Kingdom is a safe place to visit, however, as with all countries please exercise common sense. Petty crime can occur so take your usual precautions such as not leaving luggage unattended, beware of pickpockets in tourist areas and leave valuables in the hotel safe.
Local Laws and Customs
Queuing is a British Institution - jump a queue at your own risk!
If you are visiting from outside of the United Kingdom, it is wise to check customs requirements before you travel. If you are planning to bring alcohol, tobacco or souvenirs into the country, you need to be familiar with the UK's custom laws. If you go over your allowances, you may have to pay tax or duty. It is worth checking the HM Revenues and Customs website before you travel.
UK Entry Requirements
When travelling between the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man you may need to show a Border Force officer a document confirming your identity. In most cases an official form of identification such as a driver's license or an armed forces identity card will be ok. However, some airlines will insist you show a passport so please check before you travel.
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents: a passport, an Irish passport card or a national identity card issued by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, if you’re eligible to use one. The identity document should be valid for the whole of your stay.
If you’re from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you must have a valid passport to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay. You may also need a visa, depending on which country you’re from. Please check here if a visa is required before you travel.