York University
About York, Guide and Top Tourist Attractions
(York, Yorkshire, England, UK)
York is much more than just a university city and is steeped in history. With a population of around 125,000 and many top tourist attractions, York is full of cobbled, medieval-style streets, particularly around the Shambles area, with much of central York being enclosed by its 13th-century walls.
The River Ouse meanders through the heart of York and divides the city into two parts, running past many of the city's parks and attractions. Popular walking trails can be found alongside York's scenic river and are popular with both locals and visitors. York has developed a rich cultural wealth and is full of excellent museums which trace its impressive history, including York's famous Viking era.
What to do in York
The historic city of York has understandably become a major tourist hotspot, being busiest during the summer months of July and August. Central streets in York are lined with an array of local pubs and quality restaurants, offering fine dining in attractive, old buildings which are often full of character. York is one of the best places to eat out in the whole of Yorkshire and is home to around 200 restaurants, more than 150 cafés and tearooms, and 300 pubs, many of which serve traditional 'pub grub' and bar snacks, being particularly concentrated in the city centre.
Shopaholics visiting York will not be disappointed, with over 2,000 shops on offer, including many local specialist stores and boutiques. A number of large shopping centres and malls can also be found in central York, around the Shambles, St. Helen's Square and King's Square. Department stores and famous chains are also in plentiful supply in and around York city centre.
Tourist Attractions
Standing in the very heart of York, the breathtaking minster dominates much of the area. One of York's most famous attractions, York Minster was built more than 1,000 years ago and is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe. With regular guided tours and panoramic views of the city from the top of the tall tower, no trip to York is complete without visiting its famous minster.
York is full of exceptional tourist attractions for all the family, with highlights including Jorvik Viking Centre, where you can explore the sights and smells of York's Viking history, with a host of interactive displays. The York Dungeons are equally impressive and contain animated waxworks, transporting you back to the past. For children visiting York, tourist attractions abound, and include roller coasters at the Lightwater Valley Family Theme Park, Water World in the Monk's Cross district of York, and the nearby Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo.
