wilees

I am all booked for two days in York next weekend!!!! Yay!!

I am staying at the Novotel (only central place I could find for bank holiday).

I intend to visit the Minster and maybe even Evensong there. We enjoy history, music and taking photos. Also will probably try and book a nice restaurant for the Saturday night. Maybe a walking tour.

What are the highlights from other people who have been to York? Does anybody have any suggestions?

gabrieltraian

You could also visit the National Railways Museum, very big and interesting, the art museum, Jorvik Viking City museum, walk through the Shambles...

You might want to read my England trip report where I mentioned in detail how and what I did, including York.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34851175

It is very long, as it covers 23 days, but you can do a search for York in the text.

noe847

We were just in York this week for a night, and could have stayed much longer. We spent an entire afternoon in the York Minster. It is an amazing place. The city's historic walls are intact. You can walk the circuit - it's around 2 miles. We only had time for a short section. My husband enjoyed the Rail Museum. I went to the York Museum and saw the Constantine exhibit - it was nice, but expensive. Betty's tea room has good recommendations, but the line was out the door. Apparently there is a smaller branch of Betty's on Stonegate, that might be worth a try.

GBC

I would try to include the shambles and a visit to Bettys for tea. Its just me, but I would NOT include the Viking museum.

Judyrem

I LOVED York and especially the Minster and Evensong. I am not at all religious, but it was a truly mystical experience for me. We were in York for 5 days and did daytrips to Castle Howard and the Abbey and Gardens. Did not even think about doing the Viking experience...looked kind of cheesy to me.

flanneruk

This year is the 1700th anniversary of the acclamation of Constantine as Roman Emperor at York - beyond any doubt the single most significant event ever to happen in Britain, since it led to the adoption of Christianity throughout the Empire, and hence Christianity's spread - for good or ill, but most certainly leaving immense traces - throughout those parts of the world the Empire's successor states colonised. Like the Americas.

The exhibition commemorating it at the Yorkshire Museum, frankly, isn't the most exciting piece of exhibitionology ever to happen in Britain. But it's an excellent description of most of what we know about the impact of Constantine and the spread of Christianity in much of the Empire, and it's got most of the Greatest Hits artefacts from the rest of Britain and Europe. It's simply cultural vandalism to visit York at present and not go to it.

Fairfax House (google it) is scandalously under-visited. Just allow enough time for the spectacularly loquacious (and unbelievably erudite) volunteer guides in each room to take you through their spiel completely. When a Yorkshireman (or woman) starts talking, it's such a rarity you can be sure they really have got something to say.

janestuart

Be sure to go down into the crypt at the Minster. It shows the Roman and the Norman foundation. It was almost my favorite part of the Minster. The Castle Museum is wonderful, including a full size recreation of a Victorian street as well as old prisons, etc. etc. It's right across from the Clifford Tower. It's too bad you're booked. The Elliott Hotel is very nice and reasonable There is parking on site and Maureen, the proprietor made us feel like personal friends of hers. Her breakkfast is excellent.It is just outside the city walls and it's a short walk through the gardens of the museum into the old town. This takes you past the wonderful ruins of St. Mary's Abbey. It's a short drive out to Castle Howard. At the Shambles be prepared to look past the cheap tourist shops. Try to just keep looking up.

wilees

Thanks for the great ideas!! I intend to pack in quite a lot in our short trip.

Morgana

Hi
I live near York and am sure you will have a great weekend.
I would second the Railway Museum, free entry and well worth a visit. The food in there isn't great though, so if you plan to visit I'd take a sandwich (there's picnic areas in the Museum).
www.nrm.org.uk
The restaurant getting fantastic reviews in York at the moment is J Bakers Bistro although this might well be booked up already.
www.jbakers.co.uk/jeffbaker
The Blue Bicycle is also good (the building used to be a brothel!).
www.thebluebicycle.com
Betty's teashops are always busy, but if you don't want to to queue for a table then have a look at the tea/coffee/cakes/chocolates etc for sale - they make lovely presents. Near the Minster is Cafe Concerto, which is good for a lighter meal.
www.cafeconcerto.biz/
There are river trips you can go on if the weather improves (not good at the moment!), or a Ghost walk in the evening.
I'm not too keen on the Jorvik Centre either.

tod

wilees - The Novotel is not a bad choice! We stayed there some years ago now but found it to be very convenient for walking into the centre of York.
When going back to the hotel try going down one of the streets that leads down onto the banks of the River Ouse( Pick up the boat ride) and then stroll home that way through the park - mind the duck poo! ( It takes you to the back of the hotel).

Pumbavu

If you want to see some live music check out "Fibbers". It's a music bar which has some good (and terrible) bands on. You'll also see the vaccuum cleaner Freddie Mercury didn't use in the video for "I want to break free" and various guitars not played by rock legends. (It's called Fibbers!)

wasleys

wilees,

There is plenty of history to go at in York with its Minster, churches, walls and medieval buildings. This page may help (but you will need to sift out the out of town sites) http://www.touristnetuk.com/Ne/york/attractions/

The Railway Museum is excellent if you are into railways (which I am), or if it's a wet day, but if you are more into history there are probably better ways of spending your time.

Jorvik has its place as a tourist 'attraction' but if you want 'real' history there are plenty of <i>real</i> historic buildings to go at!

kevmag

We were in York in June, and this is another vote for dinner at the Blue Bicycle, it was one of the better meals of our trip.

As everyone else has mentioned, the Minster is amazing, we spent the better part of an afternoon there.

rickmav

We will be in York in September. Found this site helpful in planning our visit:
http://www.salvonet.com/yorkweb/walk/
Have a great trip.

wilees

Thank you all for your help. My weekend was brilliant and I thought I owed you a trip report which I have posted here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1