1. Been to York Castle? Check out Castle Howard, the filming location of the TV drama Brideshead Revisited

Choosing to visit historical landmarks in York might be a bit overwhelming especially when you are staying in the city for a limited time. One of the most visited ancient sites in York is York Castle, a fortified mound and keep which has witnessed a gruesome history. Built by Wiliam I, the York Castle has been created to protect against the former Viking city of York, today it serves as a museum displaying the unique Victorian hoarder’s collection and replications of the city’s living rooms and shops of the Georgian era to the 1980s.

On the other hand is Castle Howard which is a sophisticated and stately home that has been a private residence of the Howard family for more than 300 years. It is located at a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty some miles away from the north-east of York. The Castle Howard Estate is proudly composed of over 200 listed buildings and monuments, farmland, woodland and parkland sprawling over 3, 561 hectares (8,800 acres) of land. The Castle Howard has been used as a film set of the famous the ‘Brideshead Revisited’ drama.

Castle Howard

Address: Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA, UK

Website: Castle Howard

2. Been to the Shambles of York? Choose the Snickelways to discover the Medieval York

If you’re up to stroll along the quaint streets, York has a myriad of twisting lanes and alleys which give tourists a lovely opportunity to learn about the city’s history and meet the locals. Among the most popular attractions is the Shambles of York which is the oldest street dating back to the 14th century. It was once known as ‘The Great Flesh Shambles’ whereby meat shelves were displayed on the side of the streets of the butchers’ shops in the medieval times. But if you want to get into the real Medieval York then you need to plunge into its Snickelways (old alleyways) dotted around the city. It was the author, Mark W Jones, who first used the term in 1983 in its popular guidebook, “A Walk around the Snickelways of York”, which was produced in a hand-written format with notes and maps showing the routes of these captivating and atmospheric lanes. While strolling the lanes, you will likely spot some peculiar complexes like the impressive 1000-year-old cathedral that was built on Roman, Anglo-Saxon and early Norman foundations and is standing about 200 feet high.

Snickelways of York

Address: 53.958°N 1.082°W

Website: Snickelways of York

3. Been to the York Castle Museum? Check out the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

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Another interesting thing to do while visiting York would be exploring its famous museums, like York Castle Museum, which is dedicated to portraying the daily life in England over the past 400 years, back to the Victorian and Edwardian era. But if you wish to go way back in time, then you must put the Yorkshire Museum in your list of must-visit places in York.

Nestled in the stunning Medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens offers visitors a lovely leisure tour of the ancient civilizations, right in the heart of the city. By visiting this place, you will get to witness the sheer beauty of the Roman archaeology, mosaic floors, galleries dedicated to the Vikings and medieval York, brilliant wall paintings and not to mention the ninth-century York helmet. This award-winning museum has a corner dedicated to the dinosaurs exhibition composing of the giant ichthyosaur fossils from Yorkshire’s Jurassic coast. There is equally a large botanical collection showcasing around 40 bird species within the vibrant gardens.

Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

Address: York Museums Trust, St Mary’s Lodge, Marygate York, North Yorkshire, YO30 7DR

Website: Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

4. Been to York Minster? Check out the glorious Beverley Minster instead

Get into the cultural and religious side of York by visiting the glorious minster of the city. The York Minster is a magnificent cathedral filled with history and tradition. It has been an integral part of Christianity in the north of England since the seventh century. Visitors who wish to marvel at grand religious architectures, then consider visiting the Beverley Minster instead.

Beverley Minster is a 393-foot-long remarkable church which displays one of the stunning English religious architectures in York. The church dates back to the eighth century when John, Bishop of York, founded a monastery on the site where the current minster church stands. The parish church consists of two west towers towering high above the west front and they are quite captivating. They are considered the best examples of the Perpendicular Gothic in the country. Others highlights of this attraction are the renowned carvings of the medieval instruments depicting the flutes, pipes, organs, tambourines, trumpets, lutes, cymbals and bagpipes.

Beverley Minster

Address: Beverley Minster Parish Centre, 38 Highgate, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 0DP

Website: Beverley Museum

5. Been to the Jorvik Viking Centre? Check out the historical York Cold War Bunker

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Get into the history of York by visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre, a museum dedicated to the Viking life, where you will actually get to see lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas. But if that doesn’t really interest you then you will be fascinated by the impressive York Cold War Bunker unveiling the fear of the past history.

To witness a threat of an apocalypse, visit the York Cold War Bunker located in the Holgate area of York. Designed to survive a nuclear threat, this peculiar attraction is a two-story, atmospheric semi-subterranean structure built in the 1960s. It offers visitors an interesting guided tour which lasts for an hour. Grab the chance to enter the blast-proof doors where you will get an insight into York’s heritage. The tour includes a short film viewing and display of dormitories, a canteen, an unusual 1980s computer system, and an air-filtration system.

York Cold War Bunker

Address: Monument Close, York, North Yorkshire, YO24 4HT

Website: York Cold War Bunker

Explore the medieval city

If you’re heading to York for your next vacation and wish to visit fascinating places then consider our list of top alternative things to do in York, England.