Accommodation and admission to some of the below attractions was provided by Visit York. All reviews by Travelling History are voluntary and our honest opinion.
I tend to fall in love with most places that I visit, but I can truly say that the city of York is one of my favourite historical destinations. With a history that dates back to around 71AD, over the years the city has been inhabited by Romans, Vikings, medieval merchants, and more. What’s fascinating about York is that much of the city’s history is very well preserved and ready for exploring. It’s the city’s rich history, numerous attractions, fabulous pubs, friendly people and general old world charm, that makes it an essential stop when visiting northern England. To help you start planning your journey, below I’ve listed 10 great historical things to do while visiting York, England (in no particular order!).
1. Take a walk around York’s City Walls.
York’s city walls were primarily built in the 13th century and remain the longest medieval city walls in England. The walls were originally built as a defense mechanism for the medieval city and today visitors can wander the 3.4 kilometers for free. It takes about 2 hours to complete the entire walk, which takes you around the outside of the historic city centre. You can also walk sections of the wall and take in the beautiful views of attractions like the York Minster Cathedral. The York City Walls are a great place to start your adventure get your bearings of the city!
2. Discover over 2,000 years of history at York Minster.
York Minster is one of the most impressive cathedrals in England and stands as a towering backdrop to the city. The history of the current cathedral dates back to the 13th century although it is believed the first Christian church was built on this site in 627. York Minster is also known for having more medieval stained glass than any other cathedral in England. You can also explore the Undercroft Museum, which displays some of the 300,000 objects that make up the cathedral’s historical collection.
3. Have a hot chocolate inspired by 17th century recipes.
The York Cocoa House is one of my favourite places to stop for a snack and a delicious warm drink! The city of York has a strong connection to the chocolate industry and was once home to companies such as Terry’s, Craven and Rowntree’s. Today, the founders of the York Cocoa House, and the recently opened York Coco Works, give visitors an insight into York’s chocolate past as well as preserve the traditions for the future. Visitors can take a tour of the York Cocoa Works to see exactly how their chocolate is made. You’ll also definitely want to stop in the cafe and try some of the chocolate treats, including hot chocolate recipes inspired by York’s 17th century hot chocolate drinking traditions.
4. Discover the Vikings at Jorvik.
The Vikings captured the city of York, or as they would have called it “Jorvik“, in the year of 866. Over the next 200 years the city was a vital trading centre for the Vikings. But it wasn’t until the 1970s during a small excavation by the York Archaeological Trust, that a significant amount of Viking history was uncovered. Thousands of objects were uncovered during the dig which included pottery, building materials, animal bones and more. Once the excavation project was complete, an interactive museum was built on site to preserve the city’s Vikings heritage.
Today visitors can explore Viking-Age York in a time machine that takes you through the streets of the historical city. During my time in York I visited Jorvik On Tour (a temporary exhibition opened while Jorvik was being rebuilt after the terrible flooding of the city in 2015). I was very impressed with the temporary exhibition and am eager to return and visit the new centre that was re-opened in 2017.
5. Explore a medieval home at Barley Hall.
Barley Hall is a must-see for all fans of medieval history visiting York. The medieval house dates back to approximately 1360 and was once home to both Priors of Nostell as well as William Snawsell, Lord Mayor of York. The house is literally a ‘hidden gem’, as it was hidden under a modern facade until the 1980s. Once the building was uncovered, it was purchased and restored by the York Archaeological Trust and today is open for visitors to explore its fascinating past. Today, the house has been decorated to appear as it would have in the 15th century. What I love about Barley Hall is that it’s very interactive, so you can wander around and experience what it was really like to live in medieval York.
6. Have a pint in a medieval alehouse.
One of my favourite places to stop for an alcoholic drink in York is the the House of Trembling Madness – Stonegate. This medieval alehouse is the perfect spot to stop for a pint and a bite the eat. The building was originally part of a Norman House that dates back to approximately 1180. Today, the pub offers a fine selection of craft beer, locally sourced food and a cozy atmosphere. You’ll also want to make sure you visit the House of Trembling Madness shop, where you can purchase a number of things including craft beer, wine, sherry and mead.
7. Take a walk down The Shambles.
Have you ever heard of the saying, “it’s a shambles”? This common English phrase originates from the word “shambles“, which refers to a slaughterhouse or meat market. The Shambles in York is believed to be one of the most well preserved medieval streets in all of Europe, if not the world. Some of the buildings on the street date back as far as the 14th century and for hundreds of years it was a busy market where butchers hung their meat out on the street. If you look closely, you can still see some of the old butchers hooks today.
The street is quite an impressive site, with its many shops and old buildings leaning towards each other across the street. The street also believed to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. Whether you want to pop into a shop, grab a glass of mulled wine in a pub or simply marvel at the medieval architecture, it’s certainly worth a walk down this world-famous street.
8. Experience life as a Victorian at the York Castle Museum.
The York Castle Museum is another one of my favourite museums as it is both educational and interactive. It covers over 400 years of the city’s history and is a great day out for visitors of all ages. My favourite part of the museum is the interactive Victorian street known as ‘Kirkgate‘. Here, you can explore a recreation of a 19th century York street, complete with various shops and living quarters. It’s a full sensory experience that includes sites, sounds and even smells! And if you happen to be visiting York during the holiday season, you’ll see Kirkgate decorated in in all its festive glory.
There are also many other fascinating areas of the museum to explore, including the York Castle Prison (an area of the museum that was once a Georgian prison), the Toy Stories exhibition (which takes you on a nostalgic tour of toys from the past), The Sixties exhibition and more!
9. See the centre of medieval life at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.
The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is an original medieval guildhall that was primarily built in the 14th century. The building has a fascinating history and was built to bring together the medieval community of York and act as a hub for worship, charity and business. Today, visitors can explore different areas of the building, including the the Great Hall, the Undercroft and the Chapel and discover the great work carried out both past and present. I also highly recommend taking a look at the events calendar to see what’s on during your visit. I once attended a Christmas concert at the hall and it was spectacular.
10. Explore York’s early history at the York Roman Baths Museum
The York Roman Bath Museum is another hidden gem that allows visitors to explore some of the earliest history of the city. The attraction is one of York’s oldest and is actually located under a pub! The approximately 2,000-year old bath house was discovered under the pub in the 1930s while a new cellar was being dug. Today, visitors can descend down below the pub and take a glimpse into the Roman era in York. I also suggest visiting because think it’s great to support smaller museums. And there is also the added bonus of finishing off your visit with a drink in the pub!
Bonus: Climb to the top of Clifford’s Tower.
As there are so many great historical things to do in York, I thought I would add one more to the list! Clifford’s Tower is not only a recognizable York landmark, but also plays an important role in the history of England. The tower dates back to the 11th century and was originally built by William the Conqueror as a part of York Castle. As the centre of government in northern England, York Castle was the centre of multiple conflicts over the centuries and Cifford’s Tower is now one of the only remaining parts of the structure. Today, visitors can climb to the top of the tower and take in a sprawling view of the city. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear a variety of stories of the role the tower played throughout English history.
Recommendation: The York Pass
If you’re going to be visiting multiple attractions in York, then I would highly recommend purchasing The Visit York Pass. A one-day pass can be purchased for approximately £55 and gives you free entry to many of the wonderful attractions listed above. The pass is available for either 1, 2, 3 or 6 days and also includes a 24-hour hop on, hop off bus ticket, a meal and other discounts. It’s a great way to save on multiple attractions and get around town easily!
This article’s information was last updated in August 2022.