
5 unmissable sights in York
By Sukie Chapman
1 July 2015
York is an ancient city brimming with history and beauty, we’ve selected the 5 unmissable sights of the city. Experience them for yourself on UK rail tours.
Read moreThere is no easy way in which to summarise all that the beautiful, medieval city of York offers its visitors. The city enjoys a location amid some of England's finest scenery, founded almost two thousand years ago where the rivers Ouse and Foss meet, and surrounded by the rolling green countryside of the Yorkshire Moors and Wolds and the Pennine Hills.
Discover glorious Yorkshire, from the edge of the rugged Dales to its spectacular coastline, via the majestic North York Moors. Enjoy ancient York, delightful Brontë country and scenic railway journeys.
… see more5 days from £375 pp
View tour details >Soak up the festive atmosphere in 'God's own county' on this superb pre-Christmas break. In addition to the Christmas Markets in historic York, you will enjoy a vintage steam journey and a festive rural village festival.
… see more5 days from £395 pp
View tour details >Uncover the beauty of northern England by heritage railway from its sweeping valleys to its wild moors. Along the way discover historic York and Durham before stepping back in time at the open-air Beamish Museum.
… see more6 days from £595 pp
View tour details >From our base in the spa town of Harrogate, enjoy the festive spirit of beautiful Yorkshire. Our holiday takes us to famous monuments, vintage railways and the magnificent city of York.
… see more6 days from £675 pp
View tour details >From our base in the spa town of Harrogate, enjoy the New Year in beautiful Yorkshire. Our holiday takes us along vintage steam railways and to the magnificent city of York.
… see more6 days from £575 pp
View tour details >Experience Durham on this five-night break based at the majestic Lumley Castle in the heart of this alluring county. Discover some of the region's other beautiful castles and visit the Beamish Museum.
… see more6 days from £695 pp
View tour details >One of the most visited cities in Britain, York offers every attraction the modern visitor could wish for, yet has taken meticulous care to preserve its ancient heritage and architecture. Enclosed by the most complete medieval defensive wall in England, York's ancient streets wind their way to the cherished centrepiece of the city: the breathtaking York Minster. The largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, and easily one of the most beautiful in the world, York Minster was built in the thirteenth century but occupies a spot upon which churches have been built since 627AD.
York's historical legacy is undeniable; stunning buildings from virtually every period from the medieval era onward can be found in and around the city, whilst popular attractions such as the Jorvik Centre and a host of museums entertainingly recount every aspect of York's life story. But history aside, modern-day York offers a seemingly endless fund of enjoyable sights, attractions and activities to suit the interests of every visitor, young or old.
York's only national museum contains more than one million
exhibits spanning three hundred years of British railway history,
but the trains themselves - a collection of almost three hundred
items of rolling stock including famous locomotives such as the
Mallard, the Flying Scotsman and the Duchess of Hamilton - are the
real stars of the show.
This eighteenth-century five-sailed windmill, the last surviving of York's three original mills, once produced high-quality flour for the city. The subject of a restoration project by devoted volunteers in 2001 Holgate Windmill, surrounded today by modern houses, is both a fascinating museum and a remarkable feat of engineering.
Following the lines of original walls built around York by the Romans, the current city walls date from the thirteenth century and can be walked in their four-and-a-half mile entirety, taking in various original medieval features including the city's gates and to providing excellent views of York's different aspects.
The Yorkshire Museum is undeniably a York highlight but its beautiful ten-acre botanical gardens are unmissable in their own right thanks to the stunning flower displays, immaculate lawns and historic buildings within.
Excellent programme, great hotels, wonderful food in Harrogate, time well spaced ... altogether an excellent break.
Excellent short break with plenty of interesting content
Was very impressed as this was our first time with rail discovery. Now looking for next years trip.
Hotel food & staff service excellent