York travel inspiration

York stands among England’s most historically significant cities, where Roman walls still encircle a medieval centre dominated by the magnificent York Minster. This compact city packs in the atmospheric Jorvik Viking Centre, the fascinating National Railway Museum, quirky attractions like the York Dungeon, and the cobbled Shambles that inspired Diagon Alley. York combines serious historical substance with enough family-friendly attractions and ghost tours to keep everyone entertained across a long weekend.

The York travel guides below provide practical visitor information for the city’s top attractions — including whether you need to book York Dungeon tickets in advance, parking guidance for the National Railway Museum, and comprehensive guides to York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, York Castle Museum, and the Jorvik Viking Centre. Each article includes opening hours, ticket prices, accessibility information, and honest assessments of what to expect from your visit.

Visiting York works brilliantly as either a day trip from elsewhere in Yorkshire or as a base for exploring the North York Moors and coast. The compact centre means you can walk between most attractions, the city walls provide an excellent orientation walk, and the huge selection of tearooms ensures you’ll never go without proper Yorkshire tea and cake.

• Do I need to book York Dungeon tickets in advance?
• The National Railway Museum in York: A parking guide.
• All you need to know about visiting the York Bird of Prey Centre.
• Practical guides to visiting the Yorkshire Museum, Clifford’s Tower, the York Castle Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre and York Minster.