Being based in Newcastle, York is somewhere that is pretty close to me and yet I am yet to fully explore everything York has to offer. I only think I've only been to York maybe's twice in my life. One of which was to head to York Designer Outlet to hunt for some bargains! Thankfully, this summer the opportunity arose for me to take a full day out and truly wander around the streets of York, soak in the history and see what this beautiful city has to offer. And that's exactly what we did! Since we were going to be there for the full day and wanted to cram in as much as possible, the York City Pass seemed like a no brainer.
For those who aren't aware, the York City Pass is one of two passes Visit York offer, the other being the York & Beyond Pass which covers you for up to 6 days! However, since we were just going for a day trip, we opted for the City Pass. The City Pass gives you access to 25 of the best attractions and sights York has to offer. Priced at £45 it really is the best way to see EVERYTHING whilst keeping the cost to a minimum! If you were to visit every attraction without the City Pass it would cost you nearly £200 - so you can see how HUGE of a discount you're getting by buying a City Pass!
We had the best day with the nicest weather and it's safe to say we couldn't have physically done any more if we tried! So if you're thinking of visiting York here are just a selection of some of the attractions I'd recommend using the City Pass:
The York Dungeon
Now obviously you can't visit York and not go to the Dungeons! The York Dungeon is one of the most popular attractions, and for a very good reason. This fantastic attraction takes you through the dark history of York with live actors and 10 live shows. If you're looking for something thrilling and a bit more edgy to do whilst in York, you're going to absolutely love the action of The York Dungeon! From start to finish it does take around 75 minutes, so if this is a must do on your list then make sure you set some time aside as it can get pretty busy.
Yorkshire Museum
One of the first places we headed to was the Yorkshire Museum. If you're a history lover, then this is the place for you as it houses some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds. The thing that really made us eager to visit however was the latest exhibition - 'Yorkshire's Jurassic World' which was opened by Sir David Attenborough! Here you'll see some of the dinosaurs and creatures brought to life using the latest research and groundbreaking technology. After you've finished exploring the Museum, you can take a stroll through the museum grounds and gardens, or even sit and have a picnic!
JORVIK Viking Experience
Next we decided to head to the JORVIK Viking Experience as we heard the queues can get pretty wild so wanted to get there as early as possible. Even early on their was queues out the door and we ended up waiting around 30 mins to get in so again, make sure you leave yourself enough time to visit here! I didn't actually know much about this experience, and yet it ended up being one of the highlights of the day. The majority of the experience is actually on a ride that you're seated in that will take you through various scenes and displays of 10th century York. Afterwards, you'll find galleries and exhibits to explore to finish off the experience.
York Minster
Just like the York Dungeons, York Minster is an absolute must see and one of the most popular attractions in York. With over 2000 years of history to discover, York Minster truly is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. Inside you can join one of the free guided tours that run throughout the day, as well as exploring Roman ruins in the Undercroft Museum. And for that picture perfect view, head up the 275 steps to the central tower!
York's Chocolate Story
York's Chocolate Story is something a little bit different to do during the day, but is still a must see! Here you'll go on a tour of the factory and learn about the origins of some of the greatest names in chocolate history! This is a full interactive tour which even gives you the opportunity to taste and handcraft your very own chocolate. The tour can take up to 1 hour 30, and gets full up pretty quickly so I'd recommend pre booking a time slot.
York City Sightseeing Bus
Finally, probably my favourite part of the day and final activity on our list was the City Sightseeing Bus. The bus is a hop on hop off bus, meaning you can get off at any stop, explore the area and join the tour again no matter where you are. During your ride you'll be taken all around the city to see the best sights whilst learning more about the history of the likes of Dick Turpin, and even Harry Potter! After a long day of walking and exploring, relaxing on the top deck with the wind in our hair whilst still seeing the beauty of York was a fantastic experience and perfect way to end the day!
You can find more information about both of the passes, and a full list of attractions included at www.visityork.org
What would you most like to visit in York?
'AD - This post contains gifted passes from Visit York. All words and opinions are my own. Please refer to my Disclaimer page for more detail.