Where to stay in York: inside the walls and out

Few English cities wear their history as openly as York. Founded by the Romans as Eboracum, later a Viking settlement known as Jorvik, and for centuries one of the most important cities in the north, it is still ringed by medieval walls and dominated by one of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. It is compact, walkable and easy to reach by rail, which makes it a superb choice for a weekend. This guide helps you decide where to base yourself before you browse hotels and guest houses in York.

Inside the city walls

York's city walls are the most complete surviving circuit in England, and you can walk long stretches of them for free, entering through the old gateways known locally as bars, such as Bootham Bar, Micklegate Bar and Monk Bar. Staying inside the walls puts you within minutes of almost everything: York Minster, the Shambles with its overhanging timber-framed buildings, the market, and streets of independent shops, tearooms and pubs. Many properties here are in historic buildings, so rooms vary in shape and size, and lifts are not always available. Ask the property if that matters to you.

Around the Minster and Bootham

York Minster is the city's great landmark, and the streets around it, including Petergate and Stonegate, are among the prettiest in the city. Just outside Bootham Bar, the Bootham and Clifton areas have a run of Victorian townhouses, many of them guest houses. These are a few minutes' walk from the centre, generally quieter at night, and often have parking, which is scarce inside the walls.

Micklegate and the station side

Micklegate, which runs from the river up to Micklegate Bar, is known for its bars and nightlife and has some handsome Georgian buildings. Beyond it, the area near the railway station is ideal if you are arriving by train. York station is a short walk from the walls, and the National Railway Museum, a free museum with a remarkable collection of locomotives, sits right beside it.

Along the river

The rivers Ouse and Foss meet in York, and the riverside paths make a pleasant walk or run. Boats offer cruises in the warmer months. Note that the Ouse has a long history of flooding, and riverside paths and some low-lying streets can be affected after heavy rain, so check local conditions in winter.

Things to see

Beyond the Minster and the walls, York's attractions include the Jorvik Viking Centre, built on the site of archaeological excavations at Coppergate; Clifford's Tower, the remaining keep of York Castle; the York Castle Museum, with its recreated Victorian street; and the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, one of the finest medieval guild halls in Britain. Snickelways, York's narrow alleys and passageways, are fun to explore on foot. Afternoon tea is something of a local tradition, and you will find plenty of places to try it.

When to visit

York is a year-round destination. The Christmas season, with its markets, is particularly popular, and the York Racecourse on the Knavesmire draws large crowds on race days, as do graduation weeks at the universities. Rooms can be in short supply at these times, so plan ahead if your dates coincide.

Getting there

York is on the East Coast Main Line, with direct trains from London King's Cross taking around two hours, and onward services to Newcastle and Edinburgh. There are also good connections across the north to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. Read more in our guide to travelling the UK by train. Driving into the centre is not recommended because of limited parking and narrow streets, and the city operates Park and Ride sites on its outskirts.

Beyond the city

York makes an excellent base for exploring Yorkshire. The North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales are within reach, and the coast is around an hour away: Whitby and Scarborough both feature in our seaside weekends guide, and you can browse places to stay in Whitby and Scarborough. Castle Howard, the stately home north-east of York, is a popular day trip.

Choosing between a guest house and a hotel

York has a particularly strong tradition of family-run guest houses and B&Bs, many in Victorian terraces just outside the walls along Bootham, Clifton and the roads leading south towards the racecourse. They tend to be personal and often serve a hearty Yorkshire breakfast. City-centre hotels, by contrast, trade on location and facilities. If you are torn, our guide to guest houses versus hotels sets out the main differences, and it is always worth contacting the owner directly to ask about room sizes, stairs, parking and breakfast times before you book.

Pairing York with another city

Because it sits on the main line between London and Edinburgh, York pairs beautifully with either. Read our Edinburgh guide or our London guide, or see our UK city breaks guide for more inspiration. Then browse York's hotels, guest houses and B&Bs and contact them directly to check availability.