Why York always comes out top in City Break destinations
If you’ve ever been to York for a short break, you’ll know that there’s a lot to see and do that would suit most people for a few days, great food and drink, theatre and shows, and you might even see a random Viking wandering through the streets. It all adds to a great atmosphere, but how do they keep it current, and why do people keep coming back time and time again?
Surveys and studies tell us about the City’s low crime rates, friendly locals, and generally happy bunnies, but there’s also a kind of magic that can’t really be measured in this way too. You can get a feel for it by taking part in a ghost walk or visiting the many museums and places that are so keen to share the history of this place, but there is more…..
The city is relatively small. The city walls around it can be walked in their entirety in a couple of hours, but the pleasure is in making that experience last all day as you stop off at a pub where you noticed the fabulous beer garden, or to look at the Minster, the Art Gallery or Castle Museum. Whilst steeped in history, it’s also got plenty of green spaces – Museum Gardens and Rowntree’s Park are just two, and you’re never far from a river – Foss or Ouse.
There are down sides to such a historic place though, and the biggest one is undoubtedly the parking. The Romans really didn’t think that through when they built it! It’s expensive, you join the shuffle of traffic into the city, and the one-way system and ring road require a sixth sense as well as sat nav to navigate. There are, however, ways to counter this. If you will be arriving by car, make sure that your chosen place to stay includes parking for the duration of your stay. Given the size of the city, once you park up, you won’t need to use the car again until you leave, but if parking isn’t part of the deal it can cost up to £46.30 per day(1). By the same token, this is a great place to visit by train. Theres always taxis waiting at the station to take you to where you’re staying, and Uber boast that they are only 6 minutes away in York. Once checked in to a central location everything is within walking distance.
A great draw to the city is that Visit York(2) plan year-round events that bring people together and showcase what a beautiful place it is. From the Christmas Markets to the Festival of Light, Ice Festival, Restaurant Week, Food Festival, Viking Festival, York Races and many more, there’s never a bad time to come. Events are well planned and always bear in mind the changeable UK weather.
There’s a great choice of places to stay. There are a good choice of hotels from budget, right up to the 5* Grand, and increasingly there are other great options if you’d like to stay in an apartment or house. Quite often, for less than the price of a comparable hotel room, you can find a self-catering apartment, and in some cases, parking is either available for a fee, or included in the price of your stay(3). This option is becoming more and more popular, and you can expect a hotel quality experience. Check out reviews and ratings to ensure you are staying somewhere special, and this really adds to the whole experience of being in York.
The city does keep changing (in a good way). People here are proud of their heritage, and the famous Yorkshire hospitality. They want you to love it as much as they do. Millions have been invested in Clifford’s Tower over the last few years to make this historic site an amazing place to visit for even more generations to come. The Hudson sector has also seen old become new in keeping with the rest of the city, and the city continues to attract students to both universities located here. This does mean that even if you’ve been before, there’s still more to explore, see and enjoy on your next visit.
Rowntree’s wharf (former chocolate warehouse) where The Cocoa Suites are located.
- City of York pricing for 24 hours in their Bootham Row Car Park for 24 hours July 2025
- Visit York can be found on Parliament St or online: https://visityork.org/
- 2 night stay at The Milner Hotel 18-20/11/25 £276.30 Superior King Room www.themilneryork.com (Room only basis) compared to 2 night stay at Staycation York, 1 Cocoa Suites 18-20/11/25 £268 www.staycationyork.co.uk Studio Apartment with secure onsite parking included. Prices correct on 14/10/25
