You are rarely more than a few steps from something evocatively and fascinatingly historic when you’re in York. This handsome, ancient city with its compact, atmospheric centre, cut through by two rivers and surrounded by long stretches of the original ancient walls, is a wonderfully rewarding and enjoyable destination for a city break.

Just leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of a street…..outside majestic York Minster

Here - in no particular order of geography or preference - are 8 great things to do when you’re there, all of which can easily be seen/experienced in two relatively unhurried days, or stretched out further with more loitering in the myriad of tempting shops, bars and restaurants.

1. Visit York Minster

Having said these suggestions were in no order of preference, if you were to go to York and not include a visit to the magnificent Minster, then frankly, I’d send you straight back again. Because really it would be a sin not to experience the breath-taking majesty and beauty of one of the finest Medieval buildings in Europe and the second most important cathedral in the UK after Canterbury.

Built over a period of 300 years, the soaring columns and elegantly arched wooden roof (painted to look like stone) of the main building (there’s a handsome, contemplative, circular Chapter House, an interesting crypt and a fascinating museum that are all worth spending time in) house some of the finest and largest examples of medieval stained glass in the country.

A 10 year restoration project has restored the towering Great East Window to it's original Medieval glory

You run the risk of getting a cricked neck from the irresistible temptation to keep looking upwards at the towering scale of this astonishingly beautiful building

and whilst your gaze will be rewarded wherever you do look up (see if you can spot the six ceiling bosses in the South Transept that were designed by winners of a Blue Peter competition), do lower it to enjoy some of the most fulsome memorial dedications I’ve ever seen, to the great and good of York who are buried within the Minster.

York Minster is still very much a working church with daily services and you need to book tickets to get in. All the information about opening times and what there is to see and do is HERE

2. Explore the streets of the old city centre

The Minster dominates one side of the old city and to one side of it are a compact maze of fabulously atmospheric streets, lined with ancient buildings, tilting and leaning at occasionally almost cartoonish angles. The best known, and most instantly recognisable to Harry Potter fans as the inspiration for Diagon Alley, is the medieval street The Shambles.

The Shambles, which inspired Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, is atmospheric at any time, but especially at dusk

The buildings here and in the surrounding delightful streets house a variety of shops - from well known chains, to independent businesses, to Harry Potter themed shops - cafes and restaurants. It all makes for an enjoyable, and at times very busy, stroll.

3. Shop at Shambles Market

Through an alleyway off The Shambles, you’ll find the stalls that make up the Shambles Market, a collection of up to 70 independent traders selling everything from crafts and vintage items, to flowers and fresh produce. There’s a food court, and at certain times, live music. It’s busy, buzzy and open seven days a week.

Shambles Market is open every day except Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s days.

4. Walk along the ancient city walls

York’s city walls were built mainly in the 13th century and are the most complete in England. Walking along their remarkably preserved stretches is a wonderfully enjoyable way to see views of the older city enclosed within them and the newer parts outside.

Do be aware that whilst there are sections that have fencing along them

there are many parts that are both quite high and with no barriers.

Navigating the walls and the marvellously characterful gatehouses along the way, also involves flights of stairs, some of them quite steep, and the ancient stones can be slippery when they’re wet. Don’t let any of that put you off, this achieves the status of a must-do on my recommendation list.

5. Discover York’s chocolate history

Did you know there are 3 million KitKat bars made every DAY in York alone? Or that in Japan they have over 40 different KitKat flavours, including wasabi and baked potato? That I do now, is thanks to the splendidly informative, entertainingly interactive tour at York’s Chocolate Story .

Cheery guides lead small groups of visitors through various cleverly designed rooms bringing the history of chocolate, the story of chocolate making in York and the process of producing the various different kinds of chocolate, engagingly to life. The tour includes the opportunity to have a hands-on go at decorating your own chocolate lolly

a demonstration of creating filled chocolates, as well as a gratifying number of samples to try along the way. There’s a fascinating exhibition about the history of KitKats - the world’s most popular chocolate bar, and a well-stocked shop. York’s Chocolate Story isn’t cheap, prices and opening times are HERE, but I think it’s worth the entry price.

6. Visit the Railway Museum

I’ve always loved travelling by train, but I’m hardly fascinated by the machines themselves, so I admit I was dubious when my son-in-law said that I really must visit the National Railway Museum whilst I was in York. Well, he was quite right, so now I’m heartily recommending you do the same.

The three huge halls house the world’s largest railway collection, which features an enthralling selection of mighty and magnificent machines, including Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive

Spot the train spotter. Enjoying the view of Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive

and a unique opportunity to look at the insides of the carriages of royal trains through the centuries. Apparently Queen Victoria was a partial to a bit of frou-frou

and who knew George VI had an actual bathroom on his royal train

Along with a miniature train you can ride on, and changing special displays - there was a fascinating one on ambulance trains during the First World War when I visited - there are myriad of railway related objects and displays to enjoy. Not least a terrific selection of, at times hilarious, signs

There are two very good on-site cafes and at weekends you can book a special afternoon, or champagne tea in the handsome Countess of York carriage in the outdoor courtyard. Free tickets (with a £5 donation) must be booked in advance and you can find opening times and information HERE

7. Climb up to Clifford’s Tower

Clifford’s Tower, one of York’s most iconic and important historic sites

This is the only thing on this list I sadly wasn’t able to do when I visited York. When I was there, this important historic landmark - the largest surviving element of York Castle and one of the city’s most iconic sites and sights - was enveloped in scaffolding as part of an ambitious English Heritage conservation project. The hoarding in front of the site said the work was due to be completed by summer 2021, but there are no surprises that it’s a fair way behind schedule.

You can follow developments on the project and find out when it reopens for the public HERE

8. Eat and drink

You’re spoilt for choice with cafes, bars and restaurants in York, so do take the time for plenty of refreshment stops. Best known of the tea stop spots is Bettys where at pretty much any time of day you’ll find a queue of people waiting to sample their wares. Certainly the decor, modelled on the Queen Mary ocean liner, is a delight to experience, but there are plenty of other places that are every bit as good. If gin happens to be your tipple of choice, you’re in luck in York, because there are a generous selection of bars and shops offering gin of every possible variety. Of them all, York Gin definitely gets the prize for being in the most beautiful building