York, a city steeped in history and brimming with charm, is one of England’s most captivating destinations. Founded by the Romans in 71 AD and once the Viking capital of Jorvik, York seamlessly blends ancient heritage with vibrant modern life. Its medieval streets are lined with picturesque half-timbered houses, historic landmarks like the majestic York Minster, and a wealth of unique shops and bustling markets. From the hauntingly beautiful ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey to the lively Shambles, York offers a rich tapestry of experiences that enchant every visitor. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or a casual traveler, York’s timeless allure and warm hospitality promise an unforgettable journey through time.

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I was so thrilled to be able to explore one of the most beautiful cities in England: York. This historic city, founded by the Romans in 71 AD as Eboracum, boasts an incredible array of old buildings, colorful souvenirs, and a lot of extremely nice people with adorable accents. I walked through the gardens of the Yorkshire Museum, established in 1830, and then into the small-but-mighty library next door.

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I strolled past large houses and office buildings with interesting facades – some parts dating back to the 1700s and others rebuilt just last year. 😍😍😍 I stopped by St. Margaret’s Church, a small church entirely empty and kind of smoky from incense, and then I went into the majestic York Minster Cathedral! This Gothic masterpiece, completed in 1472, is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. I asked where the gift shop was, and they pointed to the back of the church and didn’t even ask me for my ticket. 😱 I peeked at the Crypts on the way there and saw all these beautiful tapestries and paintings in the shop. I loved all the tiny ornaments!

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SHOPPING TIME! Walking through the old cobblestone streets, especially around the Shambles area (a specific part of town), I found adorable boutiques, small angsty shops, and friendly souvenir sellers. There were so many Christmas shops, adorable doggies, samples of tea and chocolate, and mugs that had F*CK written all over them. 😂👍🏻 More cute churches and bustling streets. 😻

The view from the bridge was quite picturesque, and I saw a massive number of half-timbered houses. These charming structures, dating back to medieval times, are characterized by their exposed wooden frames filled with plaster or brick, often painted in vibrant colors. They reflect centuries-old building techniques and add a fairy-tale charm to the cityscape. My lovely hosts had the slowest internet I’d ever experienced (like I couldn’t even load Facebook haha) but the most adorable kitty ever. The next morning, I went by Clifford’s Tower, originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and later rebuilt in the 13th century as a former prison and royal mint, standing tall on a giant mound. I walked along the fun streets on the way to my walking tour and saw an ADORBS shoe shop. I wanted everything. It had colorful, sparkling, vibrant, detailed, and custom-made pairs, complete with Disney characters decorating the soles or heels. This is where dreams must be made in England bc OMG.

There was this incredible hat shop with items adorned with bright feathers and pearls and radiant gemstones, placed right next to (what I like to call) a “goth shop,” that had real-life anime swords and angsty metal beer steins and souvenirs that had the words “F*CK EVERYONE” plastered across the front. There were churches, floofy doggies, plus-size lingerie shops, half-timbered houses, and small alleyways with shops that had names like: The Shop That Shall Not Be Named. 😂😂

What an experience. 😍😱🇬🇧

Little Shambles had fascinating shops with all kinds of fun things in the windows! Ceramic cows, blown glass cats, clotted cream, and jam scones that were bigger than my HEAD. 😱 T’was a good time! The architecture was super cool with the upper levels jutting out into the sidewalks, so much so that if your neighbor across the street sneezed, in some places you were able to hand them a tissue (attic window to attic window, that is). There was a chocolate museum and shirts with llamas and cake windows with “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY MOM” all over the cakes (this was in March…Mother’s Day in the UK is on a different day than it is in the States). There were cat shops and more super-old churches, and then I finally found my (ancient) York Tour Guide for my free walking tour!

My Free Walking Tour guide was as old as York itself, and he volunteers for a company that doesn’t accept tips, so our energetic and eager tour group went from 17 people to 12 to 8 to 3: this very nice couple (who kept taking pictures of themselves instead of the old stuff because they didn’t realize their phone camera was on the front/mirror camera setting)…and me haha (for the record, I know they got ONE good picture of themselves because I took it haha).

Bless his heart, this little tour guide did lead us to the good stuff, so we saw the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, a bit more of the Shambles, the old city walls originally built by the Romans and rebuilt in the medieval period, and the beautiful edible garden that these two dogs (who were on the tour with us) fully took advantage of haha. We walked along quite a bit of the city walls that are still in place, and he told us that these houses next to the walls have very strict rules that the York City Council makes (guess who’s on the council…lol) to determine what people are allowed to display in their backyards or the type of blinds people may use or the length of their grass. If they break the rules too many times, they are fined and FORCED TO MOVE. 😱😱😱 (Welcome to England…”buy blinds the color that we want, or get out. Also, here’s a scone. Cheers, mate.”) Fascinating place. 😂😂😂

The last thing our guide told us was that these gates, called “Bars,” used to be able to open and close freely, but because of some fiasco in the recent past, they had to secure them in their upright position so that they wouldn’t block traffic or inconvenience anyone. I drooled as I smelled all the chocolate from the York Chocolate Factory, and then I went home.

Definitely put York on your list, solo or with a friend. It’s a lovely place to be for a few days! You don’t need a car and the old town is small, so you can just walk everywhere. 🙂❤️❤️

What aspects of York’s rich history and vibrant culture would you be most excited to explore on your visit? Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook Group: Explore With Kelsey!