Tours

Tour One: Historical York on Foot

This tour starts and ends at York's famous Minster and includes a small section of the York Wall. The city is quite compact which makes walking by far the best option. Also try The World Tour of York. If walking is not to your liking then there are open-top guide buses, which can be joined at Exhibition Square and at other pick-up points around York.

First you'll need a map, which you can get from the Tourist Information Centre at the De Grey Rooms, then find the York Minster, which is located nearby at the northern end of the city. If you don't know where north is then the Minster's spectacular twin towers can usually be found dominating the skyline from all over York. The Minster's size and beauty is awesome. Marvel at the famous Rose Window, which commemorates the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in 1486, marking an end to the War of the Roses and once inside the York Minster make sure you visit the Chapter House.

On leaving the Minster you will find that St William's College and the Treasurer's House are in the same vicinity and don't forget to see the Roman Column, which marks the place where Constantine was proclaimed Emperor in York. On leaving Minster Yard turn left into Chapter House Street and right into Ogleforth. At the end of this road turn left to join the York City Wall at Monk Bar, one of the four main gateways or Bars to the city and the one which houses the Richard III Museum and also boasts a working portcullis. Look up before you enter the narrow stone staircase and notice the beautifully carved protectors of the towers waiting to drop stones on the invaders below.

The walk along this stretch of York's city wall gives superb views of the Deanery Gardens, Dean's Park and, of course, the ubiquitous Minster. You have now travelled in a small circle, arriving at Bootham Bar, York's oldest gateway. From here you can enter High Petergate and turn right into Stonegate. These two roads were once known as Via Praetoria and Via Principalis and formed the two main roads crossing the Roman Garrison. The façades, of the many tourist gift shops in this area, are mainly Georgian and Victorian but the tiny shops themselves and the narrow streets are very much medieval. In Stonegate you'll find Mulberry Hall with its impressive Tudor façade and Ye Old Starre Inn, reputed to be haunted and whose sign indicates that it is York's oldest licensed Inn. Turning left half way down Stonegate, into Coffee Yard, will bring you to Barley Hall, a restored 15th century town house which offers visitors a hands-on experience of life in that century. From Coffee Yard, where, yes, you can still buy coffee, take a left into Grape Lane, then right into Low Petergate, where you'll find the medieval Holy Trinity Church with its quaint uneven floor, then on to Goodramgate. Just past Goodramgate you'll arrive at King's Square where often you'll find jugglers and musicians drawing a crowd.

To the right of King's Square is the famous Shambles, a narrow medieval street that used to be known for its butcher shops. The most famous of these is the house and shop where Margaret Clitheroe once lived—now the Shambles Gallery and Manor Prints & Pottery.

Moving on through the Shambles to the Pavement, notice the half-timbered building next to the Golden Fleece, it once belonged to Sir Thomas Herbert who was with King Charles I on the eve of his execution. From Pavement turn right into Fossgate and enter the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, one of the best surviving examples of its kind; exit into Piccadilly. Cross the road and take the cutting beside the river, through to Clifford's Tower. The tower is the only part left of the original York Castle and although there are a lot of steps to climb, the view from the top of the tower is well worth the effort. Opposite Clifford's Tower is the Castle Museum and the cell where Dick Turpin was held before his execution in 1739. Behind Clifford's Tower is Tower Street, on the left is the Military Museum. Follow this road round to the left and you'll find the Coppergate Centre on the right. A Viking street lies under this modern shopping centre, which you can explore in the Jorvik Viking Centre. Fairfax House is also close by. Turn left at the end of Coppergate and you'll be in Parliament Street, keep going and you'll come to Davygate, which terminates in St. Helens Square. By now you'll be needing a refreshment! Betty's, York's most famous teahouse, is close by. When you're ready to start again St. Helens Church, the Mansion House and behind it the Guildhall, are all situated around the square.

Leaving the square, take the road called Lendal, passing the York Antique Centre on your left you'll come to Museum Street. Turn left, cross the road and take the path leading alongside the river. You will come to the side entrance of Museum Gardens. The 10 acres of gardens are quite beautiful. Watch the peacocks strutting, feed the squirrels or just sit and watch the tourists! Within these gardens you'll find the Observatory, the Hospitium, St Mary's Abbey and the Yorkshire Museum. Don't miss the Multangular Tower on your way out through the main gateway then turn left once again into Museum Street and left again at the traffic lights into St Leonard's Place. This junction links the Assembly Rooms and the Red House with Exhibition Square. On your right is the Theatre Royal and the De Grey Rooms whilst on your left you will be approaching Exhibition Square, it's here you'll find King's Manor and the York City Art Gallery. Opposite the Art Gallery is Bootham Bar and now the Minster is once again in sight. Phew!

Tour 2: Shopping & Dining in York

Shopping is great fun in York. The real beauty of this remarkable city is that it manages to cater for everybody in every capacity and shopping is no exception. Whether you are searching for a special outfit, looking for a memento of your visit, or simply browsing, you will likely not come away empty handed. All good shopping trips begin with a spot of breakfast. Coffee Culture or The National Trust tearooms & shop in Goodramgate can both provide you with an excellent start to the day. Here also you will find the Chocolate Store, a truly charming sweet shop, which should not be overlooked as you head off to York's main shopping areas.

Leaving Goodramgate turn into Kings Square, where some of York's best street entertainers perform. This leads into The Shambles, York's oldest street, and home to an engaging collection of unique gift shops full of character and individuality. Try Shambles Souvenirs & Gifts or Woodcarvers of York for an unusual gift or a reminder of the city. Avoiding peak times when visiting these small shops is a good idea, as they do get very busy. On leaving the Shambles you will enter Newgate Market. Amongst the wide variety of stalls, look out for Italian bread, English cheeses, fresh flowers and a good selection of fabrics. Newgate leads you into Parliament Street and St. Sampsons Square. This now pedestrianised area houses such names as Marks & Spencer, the Disney Store and Browns department store. Parliament Street hosts occasional events such as the St. Nicholas Fair in the run up to Christmas and York's Food & Drink Festival. The local farmers market, a French market and fun fairs staged here are very popular with both locals and visitors. At the end of Parliament street is the Coppergate Centre. This modern centre features another Marks & Spencer store, this time containing homewares and a cafe, also The Body Shop, and the more upmarket Fenwicks. For a brief diversion away from the world of consumerism the Jorvik Centre is also here, along with the Impressions Photography Gallery with its relaxing cafe.

Next look out for Waterstone's for books in High Ousegate, which leads you to Coney Street, one of York's premier shopping streets. Amongst the many women's and men's fashion retailers you'll find the more specialist in Mango and Kaliko, the popular Gap and Racing Green, as well as the reliable and oft found in the likes of Top Shop and River Island. If it's sporting or outdoor gear you're after First Sport and Free Spirit are nearby.

Now is probably a good time to stop for some lunch and it just so happens that Betty's Tea Rooms are situated at the bottom of Coney street in St Helens Square. This famous, stylish cafe offers a good variety of light meals and a mouth-watering selection of delicious cakes. Don't forget to take a look at the goodies displayed near the entrance, including handmade chocolates, Betty's gift boxes and Yorkshire speciality cakes. Alternatively, opposite Betty's is Harker's, a spacious bar serving meals throughout the day.

Off St. Helens Square is Stonegate, where you will find some impressive jewellery and antique shops such as Stonegate Antiques Centre and Mulberry Hall with its exquisite china and porcelain.

Turning right at the end of Stonegate leads you into Petergate, and more quality fashion stores. For designer labels you must visit Sarah Coggles, which houses two floors of possibly the most stylish womenswear in York. Although Sarah Coggles does also stock quality menswear, for a wider range of men's styles Mannix, Robert Smart, Clubhouse and Paul Smith are a few excellent examples. Compagnia, around the corner in Church Street has more exclusive labels, and if you turn into Swinegate you'll find vintage clothing at Priestley's, the perfect place for tea dresses, twin sets and fashions of the past. For those in need of refreshment, the Swinegate area has some of York's best cafes including El Piano, The Patio and wine bars such as Oscar's and Wilde's. See if you can spot the connection there...

Swinegate now forms one part of an area which recently generated the name "The Quarter" for itself. The United Traders of the Quarter include a variety of specialist crafts and clothing shops, printers, hairdressers, cafes, bars and restaurants who together have organised fundraising events and other community-based activities. The Quarter is constituted of Little Stonegate, Back Swinegate, Swinegate itself, Grape Lane and Coffee Yard. Back into Davygate which runs between Stonegate and Parliament Street there are yet more big name fashion stores to tempt you, including French Connection, Laura Ashley, Hobbs, East, Monsoon and Gap Kids for the little ones tugging at your sleeves.

By now you should be suitably exhausted, but pleased with your selection of clothes and gifts, the quality and diversity of which reflect this lovely city.