Welcome to your Complete York City Guide bonus travel resources!
This guide contains all my favourite travel planning tools and York travel resources, to help you get the most out of your York City Guide, and to make planning your next adventure easy.
If you haven’t yet bought your copy of the York City Guide yet, get it here. Then you’re ready to start exploring these top York sights!
In this resource portal, you will find my top travel booking websites so you can easily plan your York adventure, the top recommended hotels in York and my very own Get Lost guides to some of the destinations in the York City Guide.
This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more here.
York Travel Resources
Here are some of my favourite York travel resources to help you plan your next York adventure. From finding the perfect accommodation to booking a tour, here is everything you need to make planning your trip easy.
Accommodation Booking Resources
Booking.com
Booking.com is my go-to hotel booking site. I love the map view to find the most convenient hotels in my location.
TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is a fantastic go to resource. It is perfect for finding attractions and restaurants on the go or booking hotels for your trip.
Tour Booking Resources
Viator
Viator is a great tour site. They have a wonderful selection of tours run by locals who can show you even more hidden gems!
Get Your Guide
Taking a tour is the best way to get to know a place. Get Your Guide is a great resource to discover more about your destination from a local!
Transport Booking Resources
Transpennine Express
Transpennine Express is a great local train operator in the Yorkshire region. It is ideal if you’re trying to find services to some of the more remote and obscure locations!
Attraction Booking Resources
National Trust Membership
My favourite way to see the National Trust sites is with a membership. Pay the annual fee upfront, then visit as many as you like throughout the year!
English Heritage Membership
There are loads of English Heritage sites in Yorkshire – many more than the ones on this list! For the best deal, grab an annual membership and see them all!
Outdoor Equipment Resources
Tog24
If you want outdoor wear designed for exploring Yorkshire, look no further than Tog24. This company is not only Yorkshire born and bred, but they also name some of their most popular ranges after iconic Yorkshire sights!
Ordnance Survey
If you’re exploring some of the more remote parts of Yorkshire, you need to have an Ordnance Survey map in hand. Rural areas with no phone signal aren’t uncommon, so always pack a paper or digital map just in case!
Top Hotels in York
If you’re planning to stay overnight in some locations to get the most sights ticked off your Ultimate Yorkshire Bucket List, here are some of the hotels I would recommend in the area.
The Grand
The Grand is a hotel that lives up to its name. This 5-star luxury hotel and spa offers a relaxing stay in a beautiful Grade II listed building. Ideal for an indulgent escape.
Judge’s Court
If you’re looking for a sophisticated escape with just a touch of history, Judge’s Court is for you. This modern take on a historic Georgian building is splendidly done.
Middletons
Middletons is the ideal hotel for couples looking for a quiet retreat. It is located close to the city centre, just a short, romantic walk away along the city walls past Clifford’s Tower.
Hotel Indigo
Hotel Indigo York is in the heart of York and is renowned for its beautiful boutique rooms and comfortable beds! It’s the ideal spot for a good night’s sleep after a day exploring!
Find more hotels in York here or using the map below.
York Travel Tips
If you are heading to York and plan to see many of the sights on your visit, here are two great resources you may want to take advantage of.
York City Pass
If you plan to visit a lot of attractions on your visit to York, you might want to invest in the York Pass. The York Pass is available for either one, two, three or six days and has pricing options available for adults and children.
The pass gets you free entry into many of the York attractions, plus a meal at the end of the day. It is a wonderful way to manage the costs of your trip by paying for the pass upfront, then visit as many attractions it covers as you like without having to worry about admission fees!
City Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus
A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is a convenient way to admire the York sights. These bus tickets are valid for 24 hours and you can simply hop on and off the open-top sightseeing bus at each of the sights you want to visit. It is the ideal way to get around York!
Tickets also include an optional audio tour so you can learn more about the city if you choose to.
Top York Attractions
Here are the top 10 things to do in York with all the info you need before you visit. You will find many more York attractions in your Complete York City Guide, but here are the best York sights to get your adventure started!
Castle Museum
York Castle Museum is the place where you can see 400 years of York’s history under one roof. You can experience everything from recreated Jacobean dining rooms and life-sized Victorian streets to life on the front line in the First World War and the swinging Sixties.
Address: Tower Street, York, YO1 9RY
Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower is an imposing tower, watching guard over the city. It is almost all that remains of York Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror in 1068. For a small fee, you can climb to the top for breath-taking panoramic views of the city.
Address: Tower Street, York, YO1 9SA
Jorvik Viking Centre
Jorvik Viking Centre celebrates York’s proud Viking history. During an archaeological dig in 1972, over 40,000 unusually well-preserved Viking artifacts were unearthed. They give a uniquely detailed insight into the life of these people who inhabited York between 866-954 AD.
Address: 19 Coppergate, York, YO1 9WT
Merchant Adventurer’s Hall
You can’t miss this beautiful timber-framed building. A fraternity of York citizens constructed it to provide a base for charity, worship, and business. Today, it is a museum where you can learn more about the Merchant Adventurers and their role in York’s history.
Address: Fossgate, York, YO1 9XD
National Railway Museum
Whether you’re a train enthusiast or not, you cannot help but feel inspired by the ingenuity of rail travel at the National Railway Museum. This free-to-enter museum houses the national collection of railway paraphernalia, with approximately 100 vehicles on display.
Address: Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ
Treasurer’s House
The grand historic house of Treasurer’s House is tucked behind York Minster. Now owned and maintained by the National Trust, the house and gardens welcome visitors through the spring and summer months.
Address: Minster Yard, York, YO1, 7JL
York Chocolate Story
If you have a sweet tooth, York Chocolate Story is the perfect place to visit. York has a history of sweet treats. It is the home of names such as Rowntrees and Terry’s. And at York Chocolate Story, you can revel in the chocolate history.
Address: 3-4 King’s Square, York, YO1 7LD
York Dungeon
Despite the pretty exterior that we see today, York has a dark history. York Dungeon takes you on a journey through 2000 years of the city. Using live actors, immersive sets, and all your senses, it highlights stories the city would rather forget.
Address: 12 Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RD
York Minster
In 1215 Walter de Gray was made archbishop of York and ordered the construction of a Gothic cathedral to compare to Canterbury. York Minster has seen numerous restorations during its lifetime, but it remains true to the awe-inspiring Gothic roots. Don’t miss the beautiful stained-glass windows – there are 128 in total!
Address: Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
Yorkshire Museum
The Yorkshire Museum tells York’s history from prehistory to the city’s medieval splendour. You have the unique opportunity to walk on a genuine Roman mosaic floor. You can also kneel at St William’s shrine.
Address: Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR
Best York Walking Tours
A walking tour from a local guide is the perfect way to discover some surprising secrets in the city. York is host to a fantastic range of walking tours, so you’re sure to find plenty that will entertain you!
Here are some you don’t want to miss:
City Highlights Small Group Walking Tour – Ideal for orientation and an insight into the history of York. This walking tour is the perfect way to discover the highlights. Book your tickets here.
Harry Potter-Themed Guided Tour of York – Discover a magical side of York that feels like stepping into the world of Harry Potter! Book your tickets here.
Secret City York – Watch a true historical event unfold before your eyes as you follow the clues to discover a forgotten part of York’s history on this interactive trail. Click here to find out more.
Snickelways of York – Discover York’s warren of secret streets. You’ll be surprised by just how many there are! Buy your snickelway guide here.
Treasure Hunt York – In this interactive hunt search for clues and test your wits to see if you can join the pirate crew. Click here to find out more plus receive an exclusive discount.
Witches and History Old Town Walking Tour – intro. Book your tickets here.
Wizard Walk of York – intro. Book your tickets here.
York Cat Trail – Did you know that York is home to 22 hidden cats? Track them down of the free York Cat Trail. Click here to find out more.
York Ghost Bus Tour – Although not technically a walking tour, this frighteningly funny ghost bus tour shares some of the spookiest York stories. Book your tickets here.
York Ghost Walk – York is rumoured to be the most haunted city in England. So, what better way to discover its dark past than on a ghost walk? You’ll have plenty to choose from! Find a ghost walk here.
River Cruises
A river cruise is one of the best and most relaxing ways to enjoy the city of York. Many cruise options set sail daily. Here are some of my favourites for you to try:
River Ouse City Cruise – Enjoy a scenic cruise down the Ouse to soak up the beautiful York sights. Book your cruise here.
Evening Dinner Cruise – Indulge in a little bit of luxury on a sophisticated evening dinner cruise. It is a romantic way to experience York. Book your evening dinner cruise here.
Afternoon Tea Cruise – Tuck into a delicious afternoon tea as you sail through York. It is a wonderful way to enjoy a delicious meal while unwinding aboard your boat. Book your afternoon tea cruise here.
York Travel Resources
I hope you find these York travel resources helpful for planning your next York trip!
If you have any questions about sights in the Complete York City Guide, email me at hannah@getlost.blog and I will be happy to help!