Exploring York’s History: From Vikings to Ghost Tours

We recently spent a couple of nights in York to celebrate my son’s birthday and it turned out to be such a memorable trip. As a special treat, we booked him a driving experience in Harrogate where he got to choose his dream car. Without hesitation, he picked a Lamborghini and watching the smile on his face as he took to the track was priceless. Afterwards, he said it was the best day ever, which made the whole thing even more worthwhile.

From there, we made our way to York for two nights and stayed at the Premier Inn City Centre, which was perfectly located for exploring. We’ve also stayed at the Premier Inn near the train station on a previous trip, which was really handy for arriving into York by rail. For a more luxurious stay, we once treated ourselves to The Grand, York, the city’s only five star hotel. Housed in the former railway headquarters, it combines history with modern comfort and feels like such a treat after a day of sightseeing.

One of the first things we did after dropping our bags was walk along the famous city walls. They are the longest medieval town walls still standing in England, originally built by the Romans and later reinforced in the Middle Ages. Today you can walk over two miles almost all the way around the city, with four main gates known as “Bars.” The views from the top stretch across York’s rooftops to the Minster and it felt like stepping back through centuries of history as we followed the old stone paths.

Another highlight was our visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre. The museum is built directly over the site where archaeologists uncovered thousands of Viking age objects in the 1970s, giving a real insight into how people lived here over 1,000 years ago. The ride through a recreated Viking street is brilliant, complete with the sights, sounds and even smells of daily life, from cooking fires to market stalls. We were amazed by how realistic it all felt and afterwards the exhibition of genuine Viking artefacts added another layer of fascination. It’s one of those attractions that manages to be fun for kids while still being packed with history and we all agreed it was a must see in York.

In the evening, we enjoyed some downtime along the River Ouse, where we found a spot to sit with a glass of wine. Afterwards, we boarded the York Ghost Bus, a black double decker that mixes comedy with creepy tales. As we drove past the city’s most haunted spots, we learned that York is often called the most haunted city in Europe, with more than 500 recorded ghostly sightings. It was spooky, funny and a brilliant way to see the city after dark. For more spooky ideas, check out my blog on Our Top 5 Halloween Adventures in the UK.

The next morning, we headed straight for the Shambles, York’s most famous medieval street. Dating back as far as the 14th century, it was once home to the city’s butchers and the name “Shambles” actually comes from the old word for a meat market. Many of the timber framed buildings still lean toward each other across the narrow cobbled lane, giving it a wonderfully atmospheric feel. Today it’s lined with quirky shops, from Harry Potter inspired boutiques like The Shop That Must Not Be Named to sweet stops such as Roly’s Fudge Pantry and traditional chocolatiers. My daughter loved browsing every corner and it was easy to lose track of time exploring the little stores packed with souvenirs and treats.

We finished our stay with a visit to York Minster and it really was a “wow” moment. Construction of the Minster began in the 13th century and took more than 250 years to complete, making it one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe. The intricate stonework and soaring vaulted ceilings are breathtaking, but it’s the stained glass that truly leaves you in awe especially the Great East Window, which is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

Looking for more family fun in York? You can find great family-friendly hotels in York and book tours and activities teens will love, from the Jorvik Viking Centre to ghost walks and river cruises. Using these links won’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support my blog so I can keep sharing travel tips for families like yours. Thanks for your support!