In this, the second in a series of articles about ways to make the most of your money when travelling, we look at some of the things that you can see and do for free in the city of York, in the UK.
1. Visit the National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum (Leeman Road, York) is the world’s largest railway museum and admission is free unless there is a special event taking place.
The museum’s collection includes more than 100 locomotives, together with rolling stock and other railway memorabilia. You can take a look inside the cab of The Mallard (which holds the record for being the world’s fastest steam locomotive), see the only Japanese bullet train outside of Japan, or catch a glimpse of some of the restoration work that’s being carried out on the legendary Flying Scotsman.
Other exhibits at the museum include a full-sized replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, minature locomotives and even a lock of George Stephenson’s hair. Children will enjoy the museum’s railway-themed play area, and you can attend some of the many daily talks and demonstrations.
The National Railway Museum is open daily from 10.00 until 18.00. It’s closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
2. Take a Guided Tour of the City
The Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York operates free two-hour walking tours of the city. In the winter months, there are daily tours which begin at 10.15 in front of the art gallery in the city’s Exhibition Square. From April until September, there is also an afternoon tour, which begins at 2.15, and in June, July and August, you can also take an evening tour, which starts at 6.45.
This tour takes you to see some of the city’s highlights whilst you learn more about its fascinating history. Places that you will see include York Minster, Bootham Bar, Treasurers House and The Shambles.
Individuals and families don’t need to book for these tours. Private group tours can be arranged, but you will need to book these in advance and a charge will be made.
3. Visit York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery is located on Exhibition Square, a few minutes’ walk from York Minster and next to Bootham Bar. The gallery’s collections include more than 1,000 paintings, more than 17,000 drawings, water colours and prints, and wide range pieces of decorative art and pottery. The ground floor of the gallery hosts special exhibitions.
The York Art Gallery is usually open daily from 10.00 until 17.00. It is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. It also usually closes early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. However, it does sometimes open for longer for special occasions and events.
4. Stroll around The Shambles
The Shambles is believed to be York’s oldest street and it’s an extremely popular tourist attraction. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and most of its buildings are medieval. This cobbled street was home to many butchers’ shops in the Middle Ages and it is believed to have taken its name from the “shamels”, which were probably the benches or window-sills on which the meat was displayed.
Today, The Shambles is lined with gift shops, jewellery stores and restaurants, and it’s a great place to window-shop, as you can admire the beautiful old buildings, although it does get very busy. You can also stop and see the Shrine of Margaret Clitherow, who was, in 1586, convicted of being a practicing Catholic and harbouring Catholic priests. She was sentenced to death by pressing, and was crushed under heavy weights at the Tollbooth on the city’s Ouse Bridge. In 1970, she was canonised by the Pope.
5. Walk the City Walls
The foundations of York’s city walls date back to Roman times, although the remaining walls themselves date from the 12th century and were restored by the Victorians. You can walk along about 2.5 miles of the walls, and you can access them from any of the four “bars”: Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar. These “bars” were originally the gateways to the city and were used as toll booths during the Middle Ages.
Image courtesy of: © Cora Reed | Dreamstime.com
Tags: budget travel, cheap travel, free attractions, UK, UK holidays, York
[...] by … a lot of traffic outside the wall at Bootham Bar. Our tour group paused for a few moments …Five Free Things to Do in York | Smart TravellerIn this, the second in a series of articles about ways to make the most of your money when [...]
Sweet of Travel Treats to bring this video about what to do in a day in York to our attention.