Fabulous! Don't miss this. You get a sense of how life was like for the Vikings and you get to see…read moresome cool relics. The staff are all wonderful and knowledgeable. York has such cool history all around so make sure you learn about the Vikings too!

We were road tripping between London and Glasgow and saw the sign on the highway for this Centre…read more I'm SO glad we checked it out! It's been a few weeks now and I still think about this experience. I really loved how they created the village (although I could have done without the scents hahah) and even built out some of the people based on bones. The attention to detail (such as the tattoos and spoken language) was awesome. The museum was great and full of fantastic artifacts. Absolutely worth visiting, to be honest.

I was so very impressed with this museum! It's not just a history of the castle and prison within…read morebut also a history of Britain through the times. Enjoy each "decade" of British history between window exhibits , a Victorian street you can walk through (and in and out of shops , sit in a school classroom and sit in a prison cell) and enjoy tons of interactive exhibits such as a room full of vintage arcades and a WWI trench. The prison is really neat - from getting a sense of how it was Luis to be locked in one of the cells to the ability to watch/listen holograms of famous prisoners - very interesting and a highlight in York!!

This place was full history and it is set to tell a different story in every room. It was a nice…read moreinteractive museum with plenty of staff giving speeches to inform the audience of different perspectives of history. It was a nice experience but it did smell a bit funky in there. Pro Tip, use your London Pass for "free" entrance and you will ultimately save yourself a few bucks.

York is a wonderful town and well worth a visit. It's easy to park and the historic center is…read moreperfectly easy walkable. And the centerpiece of course is the massive York Minster. It's an Anglican cathedral. The first record of a church on the site dates to 627, but the bulk of the building was constructed between 1220 and 1472.The minster retains most of its medieval stained glass, a significant survival among European churches. The Minster stands tall at a max. tower height of 235 feet (72 m) and is visible from far away. Good if you get lost...just look out for the Minster. And it is a really impressive piece of history, art and architecture. Really amazes you when you first walk up to it. There are so many details to find, to explore. To think how long it's been standing here - surviving quite the fire in 1984. We didn't go in this time around, but that's surely something for another visit. Not sure it's always as windy as it was when we've visited (August), but boy....did it almost blow us away at Precentors Court on the west side of the Minster. So, hold on your hats! Definitely a must do - probably THE must-do when in York.

My visit to York Minster was an experience far beyond just sightseeing. Our group took a day trip…read moreto York, and unfortunately, I woke up that morning with intense period pain, making the day incredibly challenging. However, stepping into York Minster provided an unexpected and profound sense of peace and comfort that truly helped me through. From the moment I entered, I was utterly captivated. The sheer scale and intricate architecture of the Minster are breathtaking. Every arch, every column, and every carved detail tells a story of centuries of craftsmanship and devotion. It's a testament to human ingenuity and faith. But what truly mesmerized me were the stained glass windows. They are simply divine. The way the light streamed through the vibrant colors, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the ancient stone, was nothing short of magical. Each window, from the smallest to the monumental Great East Window, felt like a masterpiece, filling the vast space with a soft, ethereal glow. Looking at them, tracing the stories depicted in glass, was incredibly calming. In that moment of intense pain, the beauty and grandeur of the Minster, combined with the quiet reverence of the space, brought me a profound sense of solace. It was a true sanctuary. The hushed atmosphere, the soaring ceilings, and the kaleidoscope of light from the stained glass created an environment where, for a precious time, my discomfort seemed to fade into the background. My cramps were really painful, and it was hard to breathe and stand, so just sitting in the pews and admire the windows and the calming cathedral music really helped. York Minster is not just a historical building; it's a living work of art that can deeply move and soothe the soul. Even if you're not in pain, the beauty and architectural majesty are reason enough to visit. For me, it was a beautiful refuge that I will always remember with deep gratitude. Highly, highly recommend.

Wonderful place for a train loving kid and his family :) The collection here is nothing short of…read moreamazing. The Flying Scottsman was a favorite though I wish we could have gone in. The North Shed is undergoing construction that was the only bummer. Everything else fantastic. Was cool to see the royal cars and get a sense of how the (my favorite was the suite for Queen Victoria) traveled!! The museum has 2 buildings. Both buildings have cafes and gift shops. The better gift shop is in the main entrance building.

It is a very cool place and a must visit place in York UK So…read moremuch rail history and so many things to do . You can sit in a bullet train see various old and new engine models and what not If you are into train this is the place . They also have a sit down restaurant and a VR experience

My wife and I visited Barley Hall in September 2024. It was an afterthought, having bought tickets…read moreto the Jorvik Viking museum, this was a small additional fee. But it was worth it. Not a long visit, probably an hour or so. There are several rooms to explore, each with laminated info cards to pick up and read the history and purpose. Interactive games for kids learning too. Along with the Jorvik museum, this gave us a really good insight to medieval life in York. It makes sense to get the package, even though we did not have time to visit the other 2 attractions in the package. Finding the Hall was an adventure in itself, tucked away down a narrow lane, under an archway into a courtyard. We were there on a weekday, at the end of the day, and it was not busy. We were able to take our time and enjoy the exhibit.

Coffee Yard is a snickelway that runs between Stonegate -- a very fashionable address in the later…read moremiddle ages a site tucked away in one of its back alleys--Barley Hall, a fifteenth-century townhouse in Coffee Yard. A house occupied by one of Richard III's urban supporters. One of the emerging middle class that gave such strong allegiance to the Yorkists. Barley Hall is a stunning medieval townhouse, once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York. Until the 1980s the house was hidden under the relatively modern façade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was going to be destroyed was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history uncovered. Barley Hall's medieval origins had been long forgotten by 1980, when it appeared to be a jumble of brick structures. Ironically, millions of tourists had literally walked right through what was originally an internal corridor of the L-shaped house as they used the Coffee Yard snickelway (an alley-like passageway from one street to another) to travel from busy Stonegate to Swinegate and Grape Lane. I am not sure but I think I stood in a coutyard, that I ten realised wasn't, that may have been a part of this. It was a roofless room and I was looking at interior walls. The building has now been lovingly restored to its original splendour with stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall. It is a hands-on living museum, letting visitors experience life in a 15th century house in the centre of York. This is one historic attraction where you are encouraged to touch and pick up exhibits. Sit on the chairs, open chests, and generally explore the house as you choose,and experience what it would have been like to live in Medieval England.. They also have many events. In July and August medieval summer schools for children and coming up: Thu 27 - Sun 30 Nov 2008 St Nicholas Fayre Medieval Market Wed 3 - Sat 6 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas Thu 4 Dec 2008 Barley Hall by Candlelight Sat 6, Sun 7 Dec 2008 Barley Hall Christmas Fayre Wed 10 - Sat 13 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas Thu 11 Dec 2008 Barley Hall by Candlelight Sat 13, Sun 14 Dec 2008 Barley Hall Christmas Fayre Wed 17 - Sat 20 Dec 2008 Deck the Hall A Medieval Christmas You can follow costumed guides as they escort groups through the hall, or hire an audio tape tour. On summer weekends there are special period events, such as mystery plays and medieval markets. Great place to visit.

I didn't actually go into the Merchants hall but I passed it several times while visiting York as…read moremy hotel on Piccadilly was close by and each time I passed I had to stop to admire this beautiful building, it is stunning and I wish I had had the time to go in but next time for sure.

This is one of the most beautiful buildings, in the most beautiful setting, that I have ever seen…read more Worth going just to look at the outside. The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is of major national importance and is a grade 1 listed building and scheduled ancient monument. It was built between 1357 and 1361, before most of the craft or trade guild halls in Britain, making it one of the largest buildings of its kind and date in Britain. The gardens around the Hall were formed as a Rest Garden for the people of York after World War I. Until about 1900 the area was a clutter of ramshackle buildings and hovels. In 1357 a number of important men and women came together to form a religious fraternity and to build the Merchant Adventurers' Hall. By 1430 most members were mercers. There are still 150 members of the guild today and they keep alive the York Mystery plays amongst other things. The Great Hall is where meetings and business took place. In the undercroft is the hospital, where the poor and destitute of York were cared for until about 1900. At the far end of the undercroft is the chapel, rebuilt in 1411 in both brick and stone. The furnishings of the chapel are not original; they date from 1661. The best way to go is, as I did once, in a party when an historian of the place (ours was American) will give the group a talk on its history as well. Most of the things to see are asscociated with the guild but it is the building that is what one goes for. If just visiting it is reasonably priced at about £2.50 for entrance.

For the tourist value and the hospitality a place to visit. But nothing really to write home about…read more Just typical pub with a lot of history. Not bad, but nothing exciting.

Fantastic fish and chips- crispy batter and meaty well cooked chips. The mushy peas had a nice…read moretexture as well. We also order the steak and ale pie- so rich and full of flavor. We loved the biscuit like crust, combined with the depth of the beef sauce. Nice stop mid day, for a couple of weary travelers.

How cool is it that this 14th century medieval street is still in existence and in such great…read morecondition? Dating back to 1086, it was a meat market area. In fact, a lot of the buildings still have original hanging hooks. The area has evolved quite a bit since its inception. Now a quaint cobblestone street lined with shops and restaurants in buildings boasting original architecture and architectural elements. Tudor structures once part of the meat packing district are quaint and welcoming. As you can imagine, it's bustling, most especially during the height of tourist season.

This was the shopping cobblestone street in York. I just love local artisans selling their wares…read more All the merchants were so friendly and kind. We actually were here on the first day and made sure we would come back the next day too! York was a really cool place to visit. I had wished we had one more day. We did alot of walking around town and just admired the beautiful architecture here. I got so many cute things here at the Shambles

Fairfax House is supposedly the finest Georgian townhouse in England. The house is owned by York…read moreCivic Trust who carried out major restoration work in the 1980s. it has quite a few events through the year, is open to the public and houses the Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks. The house was built in 1762 as a dowry for Anne Fairfax, the only (surviving) child of Viscount Fairfax who got York's most distinguished architect, John Carr, to design the interior. The Great Staircase is a magnificent with its exquisite Venetian Window, wrought iron and decorative plasterwork. There are ceramics, silverware and paintings plus interesting household objects of the time like a linen press. It also has rooms available for hire. Not immensely exciting but worth a visit if in York.

A bit of a gem! We just happened to see Fairfax House on our way to somewhere else, and we stepped…read morein. It's only 6 pounds for an adult, and you really get a feel for what it was like to live as an aristocrat in a Georgian home. Friendly volunteers are stationed throughout the house offering an excellent level of historical detail and their own color commentary, complete with pithy British humor. Better than visiting castle or a palace, as you can get very close to all of the displays. No velvet ropes here! Also features a beautiful gift shop in which we bought a lovely antique teapot. Highly recommended!