Jacob Phillips

It may be a bit of a travel cliché, but in York, old and new exist in rare harmony. A cultural hub since Roman times, this city maintains a lasting historical charm, with many of our ancient ancestors’ constructions still standing strong. But if you’re after some more modern sights, there’s plenty here for the inquisitive visitor to get lost in, from sumptuous restaurants to buzzing bars and contemporary art galleries (and everything in between). Ready to get out there and explore? Here’s our pick of the best things to do in York right now. When's the best time to visit York? Your best bet is during the peak of spring and summer if it's warm weather you're after. For the wintry enchantment, you can't miss out on the Christmas markets in December.  RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in York🍸 The best bars in York🍺 The best pubs in York🏘️ The best Airbnbs in York Rory Buccheri is a writer based in York. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links. These have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

When you think of a night out in York, there’s a good chance you imagine cosy old pubs serving crisp ales with packets of crisps and that intangible sense of history. You aren’t wrong, but don’t assume that drinking in York leans solely on the walls of time. York is as much a city in love with the present as the past, and you’ll also find plenty of sophisticated cocktail bars, thrilling music venues and mysterious underground speakeasies here. You’ll also find an entire venue dedicated to the Stone Roses, so make of that what you will. The best bars in York are fabulous options when the sun goes down, perfect settings for painting this gorgeous town all shades of red. Now, about that Stone Roses bar… RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in York🍺 The best pubs in York🏘️ The best Airbnbs in York At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

It’s been a roman city, a viking stronghold and the so-called ‘Capital of the North of England’ – so no wonder York boasts so many visit-worthy historical museums. From the remains of York Castle and the mesmerising Castle Howard country estate to the more modern inventions displayed at the National Railway Museum and York Army Museum, there’s a lot to be learned here, and often in incredibly grand and/or lush surroundings. Tight on time? Happily, many of the very best museums in York lie within the city walls, meaning they’re all pretty much within walking distance of each other. If you are stressed out about packing it all in, don’t miss our guide to the perfect day in York and this run-down of the city’s best restaurants. Recommended: the best Airbnbs in YorkRecommended: the best York hotelsRecommended: Full guide to the best things to do in York

York’s love affair with the silver screen began in 1908 when the former Wesleyan chapel, New Street Hall, was converted into the city’s first cinema. A purpose-built picture house followed soon after with the opening of the Electric Theatre on Fossgate in 1911. Even today, York offers far more choice for cinemas-goers than you might expect of such a small city. From seasonal pop-ups to world-renowned film festivals to arthouse palaces that many much bigger metropolises would kill for, these are the best cinemas (and other places to catch films) in York. Feeling peckish? We say stock up at one of the city’s best restaurants beforehand. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in York