About three weeks ago my sister and I began our solo trip to England/ Scotland. It was the graduation gift from my parents. Personally this trip was really important for me as I will move out of my childhood home soon and therefore wanted to spend some quality time with my sister to show her how much she means to me.
For starters, my family has roots in England. So it wasn't our first time there. But still... it somehow felt like it because we were able to simply do what WE wanted to do (and not what others aka family had planned).
We flew into Manchester and took the train to York. Honestly, at first I was a bit sceptical and anxious because we were at a foreign train station and had to change trains. Looking back at it, I realise there was nothing to worry about as the train station in Manchester (and generally in England) is well-signposted.
Now that you know what the starting point of our UK trip was, let's dive into the York guide!
Basic information
Location
- Situated in North Yorkshire (England) at the confluence of the River Ouse and River Floss
- Sits roughly halfway between London & Edinburgh
Population
- Approx. 141,000 (city area) or 200,000 across the wider unitary authority district
Fun facts
Connection to "New York"
- New York City was named in 1664 in honour of the Duke of York (later King James II.)
Chocolate Capital
- Famous British sweets like the KitKat, Smarties, and Terry's Chocolate Orange originated in York
- This was mainly pushed further through the confectionary giants Rowntree's and Terry's
UNESCO Creative City
- York is UK's first UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts
Why York?
I’ll be honest: this is my very first travel guide, so I’m no seasoned pro. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from endless scrolling through travel blogs, it’s that every guide tries to answer one big question: Why?
Why book an overpriced flight, wrestle with overpacked luggage, and trek to a new city you might not even end up liking?
So, why York?
Having visited England almost every year of my life—18 trips and counting, thanks to my British family—I like to think I know a thing or two about the UK. And if you take away just one recommendation from this post, let it be this: York is easily my favorite city in all of England, and you need to see it at least once.
Here’s why:
Why Fiona loves it
The Shambles...
was by far my favourites landmark in the whole of York. It refers to one of Europe's best-preserved medieval streets and is famous for its overhanging timber-framed buildings. Shambles hosts beautiful buildings that date back to the late fourteenth and the fifthteenth century. I am not kidding when I say that walking through the street you will feel as if you are being directly teleported into the world of Harry Potter. It really reminded me of the "Dragon Alley" which probably had to with the fact that there is a shop called "The Shop That Must Not Be Named" where you can find everything having to do with Harry Potter.
It is not only the old houses and the Harry Potter theme but also the different shops on Shambles, which add on to the cozy and mysterious vibe.
One of them is "Roly's Fudge Pantry" where you can buy fresh and traditional fudge. What I love about this shop is that they make the fudge right in front of you. As a customer, I really appreciate this transparency. They also have free samples to try. As someone who has never had fudge before this was nice. We tried a few different kinds and ended up choosing the one with sea salt- I highly recommend you give it a go.
Side note: It is not only incredibly delicious but also works well as a souvenir for friends and family.
Follow this link to reach their website: https://www.rolysfudge.co.uk/stores/rolys-fudge-york/
Another shop that my sister and I were obsessed with is called "Freckleface". It sells everything having to do with fragrance. From wax melters, candles, aroma diffusers & oils to bath and body products: they have it all. All of there products are handmade in England, 100% vegan and they use plastic free packaging which goes to show how much effort and care they pour into their work. Bonus points for the really kind service!
Follow this link to reach their website: https://www.frecklefacehomefragrance.com/
Those are only two of the many beautiful shops on this street.
In my opinion Shambles is not only a must-visit for all Harry Potter fans but also for people who love comfort and coziness and like to stroll around!
Source: Roly's Fudge York. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from https://www.rolysfudge.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/york-1.jpg
Source: Haydn Lewis. Freckleface luxury home fragrance shop open in Shambles, York. The York Press. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/resources/images/13655569/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen
York Minster...
is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, taking over 250 years to construct. It was completed in 1472 and is officially known as the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Saint Peter in York. The Minster serves as a timeline of English Gothic architecture, meaning you can see different architectural styles. When growing up, our mom was keen on visiting churches with us, explaining the historical background of it based on the architecture. So it was really nice to be able to put that knowledge to use. With a length of 160 meters and a height (central tower) of 72 meters, York Minster has got impressive proportions that are definitely worth a visit.
One of its key features for sure is the Great East Window. It was completed in 1408 by master glazier John Thornton and is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. This window beautifully depicts the creation and the Book of Revelation which are central parts of the Christian Bible.
What we found most striking is the fact that the cathedral has survived multiple major fires throughout history. This includes a significant blaze in July 1984 that was caused by a lightning strike and destroyed the South Transept roof.
The York Minster is opened from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 4 pm. On Sundays it is opened from 12.45 pm to 2.30 pm. We booked our tickets online in advance but you can also purchase a ticket directly at the register. In our ticket ("Minster Only") included was an audioguide which you could access on your cell phone by scanning the QR code at the entrance. I believe that the ticket also includes a guided tour through the minster. We ended up choosing the audioguide as we like the freedom of choosing the topics and strolling around but I am sure that for those looking for a more detailed version the guided tour is a great idea.
Follow this link to reach their website/ buy tickets: https://yorkminster.org/visit/plan-your-visit/
Source: Matze Trier. York Minster. Wikipedia. Retrieved July 28, 2026 from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FYork_Minster&ved=0CBoQjhxqFwoTCPisyrLl9ZUDFQAAAAAdAAAAABA4&opi=89978449
Hebden Tea Experience
There is one thing you have to do when visiting the UK, and that is going out for a typical British afternoon tea. I am talking Earl Grey tea, scones, clotted cream (no, butter is not the same!), jam, sandwiches, crisps & some yummy baked goods.
Honestly, this is one of the things that I look forward to every time we come back.
Obviously, for my sister and me having afternoon tea is part of our culture and it evokes feelings of home, but I truly think this is something that everybody enjoys and should do at least once in their life if they get the chance to.
The first afternoon tea we had on our trip was in York at the teahouse called "Hebden Tea Experience". The shop was first opened in 2010 and since then has offered a wide range of teas from all over the world. It is located on "The Shambles", which we found really convenient as it is very central.
My sister and I went for the "Afternoon Tea". This includes a sandwich of your choice (I recommend the one with shrimp), a homemade scone with clotted cream and jam, a slice of cake, kettle crisps, and a choice of tea or coffee. All together this costs £17.95 per person, which we found to be a fair price. The ingredients were fresh, and you could really taste that the food was freshly prepared.
I was particularly impressed by the wide selection of teas and the polite staff with their helpful advice – which is absolutely essential with such a vast variety. We also really liked the interior decor, especially the small skylight decorated with hanging plants.
P.S.: A tea from there also makes a great souvenir!
You can find further information such as the exact address, opening times or contact details on their website. Follow this link to reach their website: https://www.hebdentea.com/hebden-tea-experience/.
City Walls
The last thing on my "must-do-York-list" is going for a walk along the historic city walls. While exploring the winding streets down below is lovely, nothing quite beats seeing this charming city from above—and honestly, it’s one of my absolute favorite things to do here.
Walking on the longest medieval town walls in England feels like stepping back in time, letting you follow in the footsteps of Romans, Vikings, and Normans. But what makes it even better is that it is completely free! Where else can you get a dosage of 2,000 years of history without spending a single penny?
Besides the history, the walk offers some of the most amazing views in the whole city. You get stunning, postcard-worthy panoramas at almost every turn, including incredible views of the magnificent York Minster towering over the rooftops. The entire loop is about 3.4 kilometers and takes less than two hours at a relaxed pace, making it a wonderful way to escape the busy crowds of the center and enjoy a peaceful moment.
My sister and I loved how flexible it is, too. You pass through grand historic gates (called "Bars") like Micklegate Bar, and you can easily hop off whenever you spot a cozy café or pub for a quick break before continuing your walk.
I recommend going either early in the morning or in the late afternoon- this way the lighting is stunning for photos, and you’ll practically have the walls all to yourself!
There is also a great online guide to York's City Walls that I'd recommend you to check out. It provides a great overview about the key facts, the history and the different sections of the trail. On there, you can even find a map (which you I have put down below) that gives you a great orientation.
Follow this link to reach the online guide to York's City Walls: https://www.yorkwalls.org.uk/?page_id=3690
This is for all of those who are (like me) a fan of google maps...
This is the google maps pin we used: https://share.google/buuVx1Tus7rHREEgF
Conclusion
For my final rating, York gets a solid 9 out of 10!
I highly recommend visiting York when you are in the UK. It is a beautiful, historic city with so much to offer culturally, and the people are so friendly that it instantly feels like home. What really stood out to me was that it never felt overly crowded. You could tell there were lots of locals and British visitors around, which gave the city such an authentic, non-touristy atmosphere.
It receives a 9 mainly because it isn't a huge city - you have to keep in mind that it's not a major metropolis like London or Glasgow. Because of its size, things can get a bit boring if you stay too long, so I would recommend spending around two to three full days here. That’s the absolute sweet spot to experience everything York has to offer without running out of things to do!