The Travelers Blog

As far as city breaks in the UK go, you can’t do much better than York. Although its Northern location means you might not get the perfect weather, it is still the perfect city for a romantic, cultural break. You’ll need a hotel (York has plenty) because there is simply too much to do in one day.

The small and historical city is unrivalled in the UK. Charming cobbled streets offer shopping from national stores and independent boutiques. There’s also some seriously impressive architecture in the form of York Minster and several cafes and bars to relax in on the riverside.

Great historical museums are par for the course in a city whose heritage is Roman, Viking and medieval all at once, so visit the Jorvik Viking Centre of the York Dungeon. For a more modern museum day out there’s also the National Railways Museum.

Away from the centre and your hotel, York is close to the dales and some stunning countryside. Gardening enthusiasts should be sure to visit the gardens at nearby Harewood house which were nominated best garden by Gardeners’ World magazine.

At any time of the year there will almost certainly be something happening in York. The city plays host to a variety of fairs, festivals and exhibitions. Regular markets selling local produce can be found mingling with the races, the railway show and the Viking festival.

As far as staying in a hotel, York has a lot to offer. Probably the most luxurious hotel York has is the Alwark Manor Hotel which is set in a beautiful Victorian house. The hotel has a spa and golf course too, for relaxing after a hard day taking in the sights.