A short break in York is surely one of the most exciting and packed breaks that can be taken in England. The only problem most visitors will face is how they will fit in all that they hope to do. People staying in York hotels might find themselves in an historic inn, hundreds of years old, or a modern, luxurious hotel that offers everything from spa treatments to conferencing facilities. Many York hotels are in great positions very close to the city centre and the railway station giving their guests a convenient location from which to explore this fascinating city.
- York – England, UK- What York Has To OfferPaolo Margari / Water Photos / CC BY-NC-ND
History plays a great part in York with the city having seen violence and invasions going right back to Roman times. The city walls, York Castle, York Minster and the Jorvik Viking Centre all help to tell that story and relay it to the millions of visitors that choose York as a destination each year. York’s very streets are one of its greatest attractions. The city is remarkably well preserved and in some places its medieval streets really do give the sense of having stepped back in time. This is particularly true of The Shambles, which is a winding narrow street of medieval buildings almost touching each other as they watch over the shoppers enjoying the wide array of unique shops and establishments that make their home there.
Many visitors hope that they will find evidence in the city’s ancient streets and buildings of the plethora of ghosts that reputedly reside there. Ghost walks are numerous and haunted evenings of all kinds are a popular theme in the many pubs and restaurants offering visitors refreshment. There are many York hotels seeking to offer a spooky experience for guests hoping to hear things that go bump in the night. The city’s more modern history is also celebrated and the National Railway Museum offers one of the best days out to be found anywhere for anyone interested in the industrial heritage of the region or the railways.
Foodies are sure to have their appetites fully satisfied in York. The area is fiercely proud of its locally produced meat and several award winning restaurants compete with the many local pubs and hotels, offering their diners the very best the region has to offer. Pork and boar are especially popular. For those who enjoy real ale, York is a paradise as the York Brewery, which offers tours, owns several pubs all serving its ales that have had to travel less than a mile to get to them.
The most commanding site in York must be the York Minster which can be seen wherever you are in the city and offers free guided tours to see the Quire, Chapter House, spectacular stained glass windows and, for a small fee, amazing views of the city from its Central Tower. The other popular viewing point of the city is from its historic defensive walls, which are the most complete and best preserved in the country. Whatever a visitor’s age, York will have something to make a short stay memorable.
