Admire the centuries-old buildings as you roam York’s mesmerising maze of cobbled streets, and you’ll soon see why visitors come from far and wide to cruise down the River Ouse, roam the city walls and marvel at the Minster.
Take to the tracks
Summer days at York Racecourse are simply delightful. Put on your finest outfit to enjoy a spectacle that’s not to be missed. Hosting some of the UK’s most prestigious race meets, including the much-loved Ebor festival in July, the races are one of the best ways to spend a day out in York.
There are several different types of tickets you can get for the races, depending on where you’d like to sit. The County Stand is the best view by a country mile and gives you access to all the finer areas of the course.
However, there’s a lot of fun to be had when you sit in the Grandstand & Paddock area – you can even take a picnic basket to enjoy on the grass.
Wander the walls
The city is surrounded by impressive medieval stone walls, and it’s well worth taking the two-hour round trip walking the perimeter if you’re a first-time visitor to York.
The walls dip and rise throughout, so it’s best to bring your walking shoes if you’re planning on treading the entire route. You can take breaks at multiple points along the wall, so you don’t have to tackle it all at once.
In March and April, they look particularly pretty, with daffodils covering the ramparts where the accompanying moats once sat, making the area come alive with splashes of yellow. From the walls you’ll be able to take in some impressive views of the city – look out for other historic structures such as the Roman Multangular Tower, which dates to ancient times.
Shop in the Shambles
Characterised by overhanging-timber frames and a charmingly haphazard sense of architecture, the Elizabethan buildings of the Shambles form York’s most famous shopping street.
A narrow street of butchers in centuries gone by, today you’ll find independent businesses, artisan bakeries and delicious decadent chocolatiers here.
The winner of Google’s Most Picturesque Street award in 2010, the narrow twisting lanes are the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and trinkets. It can get busy on Saturday afternoons, but there’s always a sense of atmosphere here.
Outside of the Shambles, York also houses many other great shopping opportunities. Across the city centre you’ll find designer names mixed in with high street favourites and independent, vintage clothing stores. York Designer Outlet is less than 20-minutes’ drive away from the city and home to many top retailers too.
Car hire in York means you can see all that this enchanting city has to offer, and explore the sights and attractions beyond.