One of our most beloved historic cities, York is brimming with castles, museums, theatres, restaurants, and independent shops. Alistair Lamont, who has raised his family in York, is the owner of House of York Holiday Homes and the author of York Local Knowledge: Must-Do Top Tens & the Vouchers to Get Them for Less. Here’s his guide to a day in the city
Enjoy a riverside ramble in York MORNING
My favourite places have always been the most walkable, and York tops my global list. There are so many walking routes to choose from. My daily 45-minute stroll with my dog, Mabel can include a city walk, a historic walls walk (no dogs allowed—sorry, Mabel), a countryside walk, a park walk, a ruined abbey walk, a river walk, or even a canter around the racecourse.
But that’s just the start. Every great walk deserves a treat (for me and the dog), so no walk is complete without a flat white from my favourite café, The Pig & Pastry, and a halfway “it’s okay, I’ll walk it off” pastry from Cosgriff & Sons.
York is packed with both touristy and off-the-beaten-path experiences to fill your afternoon. It has everything from minsters to museums and galleries to famous streets that may or may not have anything to do with Harry Potter. In fact a good way of thinking about York is that it’s like a giant open-air museum surrounded by walls. Inside, like in most museums, there is lots of historic stuff and also like most museums it has a shop, well shops. But to squeeze out the last drop from this similie, York has a bucket-load of ‘museum shops’ that are local, independent, and packed with fab stuff (unlike most museum shops that mainly seem to consist of science kits, things that glow in the dark and pencil sharpeners).
So a mooch around the shops would be my idea of a lovely York afternoon. Need a model for the kids? Try the Monk Bar Model Shop. Need a hat? Try, yep The Hat Shop. Need a thriller to read? Criminally Good Books has you covered. Need some art? Try the Art of Protest Gallery – or how about a bargain that helps the community by popping in to St Leonards Hospice Charity Shop for everything from clothes to furniture.
I love going to the cinema, but I’m not a fan of soulless, out-of-town multiplexes. Luckily, York has my favourite cinema – York City Screen. Located right in the heart of the city, it’s surrounded by fantastic restaurants, making it easy to grab a great meal before or after a film. My go-to spot? The Cut & Craft—perfect for a film night.
But the best part of City Screen is its bar, where you can sip a lovely beer inside or outside while overlooking the river as you wait for your movie to start. If nothing on the big screen catches your eye, you can always go old-school with some live theatre – York Theatre Royal is my favourite, and it’s just a two-minute walk away.
Want to keep the evening going? Stop off for a great beer at The Eagle and Child, enjoy a cocktail at 1096 Bar at The Grand, or, if it’s a warm night and you’re in the mood for a stunning view, head to Sora Sky Bar.
DON’T MISS IN 2025
LIVE THEATRE
Take every opportunity you can to see a live performance at The York Theatre Royal and The Grand Opera House York. The spring/summer programmes boasts a vibrant line-up of high-quality drama, music, musicals, comedy of course, both have a fantastic annual pantomime.
FESTIVAL TIME
York has festivals throughout the year which are good reason for your 24-hour stay (or longer). Look out for York Festival of Ideas in May with over 200 mostly free events designed to educate, entertain and inspire. A diverse programme of talks by world-class speakers, performances, exhibitions, guided walks, family activities, workshops
May 31-June 13
yorkfestivalofideas.com
SUMMER SOUNDS
The York Proms returns to the Museum Gardens on Sunday with a great night of live entertainment featuring live orchestra, opera soloists, a stunning fireworks finale and local talent on the warm up stage.
July 27
yorkproms.com
THE BIG ONE
York’s Ebor Festival is a racing and social highlight with four days of sporting excellence combined with a fashion catwalk and and much fun over four days.
August 20-23
yorkracecourse.co.uk
SENSE OF PLACE
York’s Chocolate Story
York’s Chocolate Story is a fantastic, fun, and interactive experience where you get to eat lots of delicious chocolate. This museum is all about chocolate—from its origins and production to expert tasting techniques. You’ll also uncover fascinating secrets and facts about York’s most iconic chocolate creations, including the Chocolate Orange and KitKat.
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a must-visit for train enthusiasts, celebrating the rich history of railways. It’s an enormous space filled with an impressive collection of trains, railway memorabilia, and ever-changing exhibitions that keep things fresh and exciting. And it’s a big year as Railway200 celebrates the birth of the modern choo choo. railway200.co.uk
The Shambles Food Court
Located next to The Shambles – one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe, mentioned on both Tripadvisor and the Domesday Book – The Shambles Food Court is the perfect spot to satisfy every appetite. Whether you’re craving pizza, Indian snacks, North African wraps, French crêpes, fish and chips, or classic hot dogs, there’s something for everyone in the family.
York Roman Walls
York boasts more miles of intact city walls than any other place in England. Walking the entire length offers a four-kilometre scenic workout with stunning views of the city. If you need a break along the way, there are plenty of great cafés – my personal favourite is the Perky Peacock.
Rowntree Park
Rowntree Park is a beautiful 20-acre space created in memory of Rowntree’s employees who lost their lives in World War I. It’s packed with activities, including children’s playgrounds, tennis courts, bowling greens, basketball courts, and even a skateboarding area. The park also features a large lake, home to ducks, swans, and Canada geese (watch out for the mess they leave behind!).
If you’re feeling hungry, stop by the Rowntree Park Reading Café, where you can browse books and magazines while enjoying a great menu of food and drinks—my top pick is the tuna melt.
Must-Do Top Tens & the Vouchers to Get Them for Less by Alistair Lamont is available as a free download from the Apple iBooks Store and the Google Play Store, for these and other download links for the book. visit houseofyork.org/york-local-knowledge
