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A weekend in York: A 48-hour itinerary

A weekend in York: A 48-hour itinerary

You could say that York was my first ever ‘solo’ trip – it was the first place I ever visited without my parents on a school trip when I was 10. Since then I’ve been back again and again, and have found different things to love with each visit. With influences from the Romans, Vikings, Normans, Tudors and Victorians, York is a snapshot of British history in one city. But there’s a lot more to York besides its history – cobbled lanes, over 30 museums and attractions, interesting little shops, tea rooms and cosy pubs. All of which help make it one of my favourite UK city break destinations. So here’s my 48-hour itinerary for the perfect weekend in York.

Read more: 10 Great British weekend break ideas

How to spend a weekend in York

Ruins of York Abbey

The remains of York’s Abbey

Friday evening

Check in to Marmadukes Town House Hotel, a Victorian townhouse in the leafy area of Bootham, about 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of York. This former gentleman’s residence turned hotel is full of character with antique furniture, and some of the 21 bedrooms come with four-poster beds and roll-top baths. It’s all very dimly lit and romantic, with a bar and couple of cosy lounges downstairs. Standard double rooms start from £79 a night.

You don’t need to go far for dinner as the hotel’s Park Restaurant is one of the best in York. Their seven-course tasting menu (£65 per person without wine) is served over a few hours and portions aren’t huge so you don’t end up stuffed. You’re left in the capable hands of chef Adam Jackson – though they’re happy to work around dietary restrictions – and the staff talk you through each course, which includes seasonal local produce like scallops and venison.

The exterior of York Minster

In front of York Minster

Saturday morning

You can’t miss the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York – better known as York Minster – as it towers over the city (entry £11.50 adults, £10.50 seniors, £9 students or free for children under 16 or with a York Pass). It’s one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. But it’s known as a Minster as that was the title given to churches which were also monasteries.

Explore the building’s history in the undercroft and its stunning stained-glass windows above ground. And if you’re travelling with a partner stop for a kiss by the Heart of Yorkshire stained-glass window, as legend says if you do you’ll stay together forever. You can also climb up the 275 steps to the top of the bell tower for panoramic views across Yorkshire (£5 extra).

York Castle Museum

Inside the Castle Museum

Next head to one of my favourite museums – York Castle Museum (£10.90 adults, £4 for children 5–16 or free with a York Pass). The actual castle is long gone but instead the former prison buildings on the site have been converted into a museum. There’s a real weird and wonderful mixture of exhibits in the museum, with a recreated Victorian Street, stories of past prisoners in the old cells and galleries dedicated to toys, the 1960s and the First World War.

If you have time call in at Clifford’s Tower next door (£5.70 adults, £5.10 concessions, £3.40 children 5–17 or free with a York Pass). The tower is all that’s left of the 13th century castle and is built on the site of William the Conqueror’s original castle. It’s especially pretty in spring when the hill is covered in hoards of daffodils. Then stop for lunch at the Shambles Kitchen, a café famous for its pulled-pork sandwiches in the Shambles, York’s most photographed street with overhanging timber-framed buildings that date back as far as the 14th century.

Clifford's Tower historic attraction in York

Clifford’s Tower

Saturday afternoon

York is surrounded by the remains of its Roman city walls, with just over two miles of them still standing along with some of the original gateways, which are known as bars. Walking around them is a great way to get your bearings and discover tucked-away buildings and gardens. Head to the north for great views of the Minster and Treasurer’s House.

Or beer fans head south past the train station to York Brewery, the only brewery within the city walls. You can take a tour to learn about how their beer is made and try out four of their brews (tours at 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 5pm, £8 adults or £6 concessions). Pop in for a pre-dinner drink at the Roman Bath, the only pub with a genuine Roman bathhouse in its basement.

York Brewery beer tasting and the Roman baths in a pub basement

York Brewery and the Roman Bath

The ruins were uncovered when the pub was renovated in the 1930s and you can go down to see the Roman caldarium (hot room) and learn more about the days when York was known as Eboracum (entry costs £3.50 adults, £2 children or is free with a York Pass). Then have an early dinner at Rustique, a French bistro with branches in Castelgate and Lendal which serves traditional dishes like confit de canard, moules marinières and crème brûlée.

York is reputed to be Europe’s most haunted city, and you can learn about the city’s spooky side on a guided walking tour. There are a lot of companies which run ghost tours, but slightly different is the Bloody Tour of York. Clad in Victorian dress, guide Mad Alice leads you through the twists and turns of the city’s medieval streets and snickleways (aka its hidden passageways), with 90 minutes of gruesome stories of torture, blood and gore taken from the city’s colourful history (departs 8pm from St William’s College by the Minster, £7 adults, £4 under-15s).

York's Roman city walls

York city walls

Sunday morning

Don’t fill up too much at breakfast as you’ll need some room for the tasting samples at the Chocolate Story (£12.95 adults, £11.95 seniors/students, £10.50 children aged 4–15 or free with a York Pass). The 90-minute guided tour takes you through the history of chocolate as well as the story of York’s famous sweet-making families – Terry’s, Craven’s and Rowntree’s.

There’s lots of excellent chocolate trivia (did you know Terry’s originally made a chocolate lemon and a chocolate apple as well as a chocolate orange?) and the chance to try your hand at creating a chocolate lolly. Don’t miss the hot chocolate at the museum café afterwards, whether you’re more dark chocolate and chilli or white chocolate with marshmallows.

Work off your sugar coma with a walk down to the River Ouse for a boat trip from King’s Staith Landing or Lendal Bridge (daily at 12pm and 1.30pm with extra sailings in summer, £10 adults and £5.50 for children). A 45-minute trip takes you up and down the river with lots of facts about the city’s history. Or if you want to explore the river on your own, you can hire mini red motorboats in summer which seat up to eight (£30–£35 per hour, available April–October).

Boat trips on the River Ouse in York

The River Ouse

Sunday afternoon

Finally head to York’s National Railway Museum. The world’s largest railway museum shows off the city’s long railway history in a huge train shed near York railway station (free entry). The museum has around 100 trains on display, with everything from Queen Victoria’s Royal Train and the world speed record-holding Mallard to an original Eurostar train and the only Japanese Shinkansen bullet train on display anywhere outside of Japan.

Then finish your weekend with an afternoon tea. Betty’s Café might be York’s most famous tea spot (with the queues to match), but for a truly classy afternoon tea experience visit the Countess of York. In its previous lives this train carriage transported cider in Hereford and was part of the luxurious Orient Express Northern Belle. Now it takes you back to 19th century teatime with a selection of sandwiches, tarts and cakes served on bone china with white linen and silver cutlery (tea served at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, £25.50 per person).

York's National Railway Museum, steam trains and railway badges

The National Railway Museum

Have you visited York? Do you have any tips to add on what to see, do and eat?

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A guide to spending a weekend in York, England, with tips on what to see, do, eat and drink in a 48-hour itinerary for this historic city #York #England #weekend #weekendbreak #itineraryThe ultimate weekend in York, England – things to see, do, eat and drink in a 48-hour itinerary, including the Minster, museums, city walls and more #York #England #weekend #weekendbreak #itinerary

Thanks to Visit YorkMarmadukes Town House Hotel and Cross Country Trains for hosting me. This article contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Anne

Friday 21st of May 2021

Hi Lucy

For same places that charge fee, do I have to buy the tickets in advance or can we purchase it on the day?

Thank you Anne

Kate Winney

Friday 23rd of August 2019

Loved this post so much! It was a great guide when I visited a few weeks ago. You inspired me to write a blog about my experience too. Really enjoying your blog.

Kate Winney x https://www.littlemisswinney.com/2019/08/york-city-guide-a-yorkshire-staycation.html

Lucy

Monday 2nd of September 2019

Thanks – and great to hear you enjoyed your trip!