Car Hire York

York is located in a prime position for exploring Yorkshire and the North of England, close to the A1 route and with major roads linking it to other major cities, countryside attractions and even the coast.

Many of York’s central streets are pedestrianised, so it’s a good idea to park up and walk if you’re planning to explore the heart of the city.

You’ll find plenty of parking on the outskirts of the city, with street parking also available. The Q-Park on Garden Place is great for accessing the Shambles. There are also extremely convenient park and ride facilities on the edge of York, where you can leave your hire car and take a bus into the centre, and several places where you can leave your car overnight.

Once you’ve soaked up all the history and sightseeing on the local streets, take the A64 south-west to head out of the city towards Leeds, and you can be in one of the UK’s most prosperous and trendy cities within an hour.

Head west out of the city along the A59, alternatively, to reach picturesque Knaresborough and the historic spa town of Harrogate, where you can enjoy a relaxing day in traditional baths. To visit destinations further afield such as Newcastle, meanwhile, the A1(M) is one of the UKs best connected roads and gives you access to many different areas of the country.

Speed limits are signposted in miles per hour and vary across different areas. Maximum limits are generally 30mph (48km/h) in towns and cities, 60mph (96km/h) on many rural routes, and dual carriageways and motorways are usually 70mph (112 km/h). Always check signs for the route that you are on, however, as these can be lower in some cases.

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.