Where to shop
One of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and often referred to as ‘the real-life Diagon Alley’, the Shambles is home to a plethora of small independent shops and beautiful boutiques. However, it’s not the only place to enjoy a day of retail therapy. A mere 15-minute drive from the city centre, York Designer Outlet is home to over 100 designer and premium brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Michael Kors and Coach. If you’re visiting from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, Sunderland, London, Birmingham or Bristol, York Train Station is just a 15-minute bus ride from the outlet’s front door.  

Things to do
If you’re making a visit to York, why not delve into the walled city’s Scandi past at The Jorvik Viking Centre. Here you’ll get a chance to stand on the site of one of the most remarkable modern archaeological discoveries, the Viking-age city of Jorvik as it stood nearly 1,000 years ago, complete with the remains of houses, workshops and backyards. Visitors can journey through detailed reconstructions and experience life as it would have been in 10th century York.

With its medieval stained-glass windows, tall towers and striking stone buttresses, York Minster is an architectural marvel and a must-see for anyone visiting the city. Venture inside the underground chambers for a lesson in the area’s Christian history, from Roman times to the present, or gaze at the simply stunning St. Cuthbert’s window. It’s one of the largest surviving narrative windows in Europe. Those with a head for heights can embark on the 275-step journey up the central tower journey to enjoy York’s highest viewpoint. If you’re lucky enough, you may even spot a peregrine falcon or two nesting among the cathedral’s gothic gargoyles. Depending on when you visit, the Luna Cinema in Dean’s Park offers an unforgettable big-screen experience beneath the cathedral’s strikingly lit facade.