What NOT to Do When Visiting York
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re discussing what NOT to do when planning a trip to York in the UK. While most travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in York, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do when visiting Mark’s favorite city in England.
Don’t Play Into the York Stereotypes
There’s a York stereotype of wearing flat caps and having a whippet dog, as well as being a bit stingy and/or stubborn. When we have visited York, we’ve never found this to be the case. We always found the York locals to be friendly and helpful.
Don’t Be Shocked if the Locals Overshare
One stereotype that does ring true is that people in York aren’t afraid to speak their minds and will tell you straight out what they think. They don’t mean to be rude, but they are just very direct.
Don’t Think There Are Only Pubs in York
York has a lot of pubs and you might think that pubs are the only thing to see in York, but that’s not the case. It almost feels like you are walking around in a photoshoot for stock footage of English pubs.
Don’t Forget to Look for Cat Statues
One quirky thing to see in York is the assortment of cat statues scattered around town. There are a couple dozen around Old Town and more in other neighborhoods. There are a lot of cute sculptures and gargoyles in hidden spots around town.
Don’t Expect Much from the York Castle
Clifford’s Tower is about the only part left of the castle. However, it is one of the more popular things to do in York. You can pay an entrance fee and climb to the top for excellent views of the surrounding landscapes. If you want to learn more about the castle, then the York Castle Museum is the place to go. They have rooms decorated for different periods, so you can see how the castle looked over the years.
Don’t Forget to Walk the Walls
There are multiple walls around York and you can walk along the tops of them, which I highly recommend. You’ll get amazing views. If it’s raining, though, it can be very slippery so you have to be extra careful.
Don’t Think Jorvik is a Tourist Trap
When you hear about the JORVIK Viking Center, it might sound like a cheesy tourist trap, but it’s actually really cool. York was a Viking settlement at one point, and this museum has an impressive collection of artifacts from those times.
Don’t Skip Taking Day Trips from York
It’s only two hours by train from London to York and there are hourly trains every day. York is a great day trip from London, but it’s really worth spending a night or two in York.
Getting out of York proper is a great idea! Explore the Yorkshire countryside! It’s easy to rent a car, and there are trains to many York day trip destinations.
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Don’t Be Surprised if You Don’t Understand the Accent
York is in the northern part of England, and they have a different accent from those in the South and London. It’s not super difficult to understand, but you do have to pay closer attention when listening to a local from Yorkshire speak.
Some of the dialects are different as well. Streets are often called gates or the name will end in -gate. These are not the gates to the walls; those are called bars. There are four bars in York where you can access the walls. If you’re looking for a pint, then you want a pub, not a bar!
Don’t Worry About Safety in York
York is very safe, especially for tourists. You don’t see the pickpockets and scams you might experience in London. It’s one of the reasons that it’s my favorite city in England. It’s just easy and enjoyable to visit.
Don’t Bother Withdrawing Cash
Almost every place in York accepts credit cards, so it’s not really necessary to carry much cash when you visit York. We even saw a few places that do not accept cash at all.
Don’t Think York is Expensive
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit, so many travelers assume York will be the same. It’s actually very affordable to plan a trip to York. Accommodation, food, tours, and attractions are all a great value and not overpriced at all.
Don’t Expect Evening Hours
Many shops and museums in York close early. If you have plans to do some shopping, make sure you get it done early in the day. Many museums close around 4 pm, and shops about an hour later. Evening hours are for the pubs!
Don’t Miss Out on Food in Yorkshire
York and Yorkshire have some pretty good food. From Yorkshire pudding to Yorkshire custard, and Yorkshire tea are all worth sampling. I highly recommend the Yorkie Pud Wrap from the York Roast Co. It’s like a Yorkshire Pudding / Sunday Roast / Burrito. Another specialty to try is the local chocolate; KitKats are actually from York!
And you can’t miss afternoon tea in York. Betty’s is probably the most famous, but there are many tea houses in York where you can have afternoon tea.
Don’t Miss the Shambles
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you’ll love the vibes in the Shambles. This narrow street is lined with preserved medieval buildings dating back to the 1300s. If you’ve watched all the Harry Potter movies, it may feel a bit like deja vu when you walk around.
Don’t Assume Accessibility
York is a medieval town, and not all of it has been retrofitted to be accessible for everyone. If you have mobility issues, be sure to call your York accommodation ahead of time to ask questions. Many older buildings have only stairs, and wobbly, narrow stairs at that! There are more modern hotels in York, so just make sure you choose accordingly.
Don’t Forget to Research Ghost Tours
With so much history, York is rumored to be haunted and there are many ghost tours you can take. Don’t just assume there’s only one tour. They all pretty much cover the same ground, but they start and end in different places, so choose the one that works best for you.
Don’t Miss out on York Museums
There are some great museums in York that you should not miss! Depending on your interests, I would recommend any of these York museums in addition to the Castle Museum and JORVIK mentioned previously:
- York Army Museum
- York Dungeon
- Yorkshire Museum
- York Art Gallery
- National Railway Museum (largest railway museum in the world!)
- Fairfax House
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Between the history, architecture, cathedrals, cool stores, and great museums, it’s easy to see why this is Mark’s favorite city in England. It’s affordable and accessible, with lots of cool options for a day trip from York UK.
Want more tips for visiting the United Kingdom? Check out some of our other blog posts: