Destination guides > Europe > England > Yorkshire > North Yorkshire > York
York
Originally a Viking settlement, York was also an important centre in the Anglo-Saxon and Roman eras and has several important sights that drawn on its rich heritage. Although one of the country's most visited historic cities, this medieval walled city hasn't lost its charm and it is still a great place to wander along cobblestone lanes in search of yet another pub.
Practical information
INFORMATION CENTRES
York Tourist Information Centre
The De Grey Rooms
Exhibition Square, York
Tel (01904) 621756
Website www.york-tourism.co.uk
Open summer Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; winter Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
York Tourist Information Centre
Outer Concourse, York Train Station, Station Road, York
Tel (01904) 621756
Website www.york-tourism.co.uk
Open summer Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9.30am-4.30pm; winter Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
INTERNET ACCESS
There is free Wi-Fi access at York railway station.
Coming & going
BUS & COACH
National Express (tel 0870 580 8080) coaches run from York to Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Newcastle. Megabus coaches go to Harrowgate as well as East Midlands Parkway, where they meet connecting train services to London.
TRAIN
York is well served by trains with frequent services to Hull, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield as well as destinations further afield.
CrossCountry Trains go to Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Scotland. East Midlands Trains go to Cambridge, Lincoln, Norwich and Scarborough. First TransPennine Express go to Manchester, Newcastle and destinations throughout Yorkshire including Leeds and Scarborough. Grand Central stop in York en route between London and Sunderland. East Coast connect York with Hull, Leeds, Nondon, Newcastle and Scotland and Northern trains go to Harrowgate, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.
Local transport
First runs 22 local bus routes around York. One way tickets cost from £1 to £2.70 and the FirstDay ticket gives you one day unlimited travel on First buses for £3.70.
Hostel accommodation
Ace York
88-90 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX
Tel (01904) 627 720
Naburn Station
Station House, Naburn (8km from York), North Yorkshire YO19 4RW
Tel (01904) 647528
YHA York
Water End, Clifton, York YO30 6LP
Tel (01904) 653 147
York Youth Hotel
Bishophill House, 11-13 Bishophill Senior, York YO1 6EF
Tel (01904) 625 904
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Barley Hall
This unique medieval townhouse was only discovered in the 1980s. In the 15th century it was home to Alderman William Snawsell, a goldsmith who was also Mayor of York.
Coffee Yard, York
Tel (01904) 610 275
Website www.barleyhall.org.uk
Admission £4.50
Open Tue-Sun 10am-4pm
Clifford's Tower
Built by William the Conqueror as York Castle's central stronghold, Clifford's Tower has displays on the city's turbulent history.
Tower Street, York
Tel (01904) 646 940
Admission £3
Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-4pm daily
Jorvik Viking Centre
This popular attraction relives York's Viking past with reconstructed Viking streets and a large collection of 1000-year-old Viking artefacts.
Coppergate, York
Tel (01904) 543 403
Website www.vikingjorvik.com
Admission £8.50
Open 10am-5pm daily
Micklegate Bar Museum
For over 800 years visiting royalty have passed through this gateway on the city's walls.
Bar Walls, York
Tel (01904) 634 436
Admission £1.50
Open Jan 9am-dusk daily; Feb-Oct 9am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 9am-dusk daily
National Railway Museum
The world's largest railway museum features a replica of Stephenson's Rocket and a superb collection of royal trains.
Leeman Road, York
Tel (01904) 621 261
Website www.nrm.org.uk
Admission free
Open 10am-6pm daily
Richard III Museum
This museum about Richard III, King of England from 1483 to 1485, focuses on the trial of the murders of the Princes in the Tower. The museum is located inside Monk Bar – the tallest of the medieval gatehouses on York's city walls.
Monkbar, York
Tel (01904) 634 191
Website www.richardiiimuseum.co.uk
Admission £2.50
Open Jan-Feb 9.30am-4pm daily; Mar-Oct 9am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 9.30am-4pm daily
York Art Gallery
This art museum has paintings and ceramics dating from the War of the Roses, six hundred years ago, to the present day.
Exhibition Square, York
Tel (01904) 687 687
Website www.yorkartgallery.org.uk
Admission free
Open 10am-5pm daily
York Castle Museum
This museum chronicles six hundred years of York's history with an emphasis on the lives of everyday people.
The Eye of York, York
Tel (01904) 687 687
Website www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk
Admission £7.50
Open 9.30am-5pm daily
York Dungeon
York Dungeon uses wax models to illustrate the macabre side of England's history with exhibits on the Plague as well as criminals like Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes.
12 Clifford Street, York
Tel (01904) 632 599
Website www.thedungeons.com
Admission £14
Open 10.30am-5pm daily
York Minster
Northern Europe's largest medieval cathedral dominates the city centre. It features fine stained glass and a tower with views of the city centre.
St William's College, 5 College Street, York
Tel (01904) 557 216
Website www.yorkminster.org
Admission £6
Open Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun noon-6.30pm
Yorkshire Air Museum
Aviation enthusiasts will love this museum, which features a restored World War II Halifax bomber and replicas of the Cayley Glider and the Wright Flyer.
Halifax Way, Elvington, York
Tel (01904) 608 595
Website www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk
Admission £6
Open Jan-Mar 10am-3.30pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-3.30pm daily
Yorkshire Museum & Gardens
This museum tells the history of Yorkshire from dinosaurs to the present day with displays of Viking and Roman artefacts.
Museum Gardens, York
Tel (01904) 687 687
Website www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk
Admission £5
Open 10am-5pm daily
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