Keeping up with new year’s resolutions can get harder as the year goes on, however if you’re looking to keep up the good work, then pull on your walking boots and get outside in the fresh air! Walking is not only a free way to improve your health, but it’s also heaps of fun, it’s easy for all the family to enjoy and you get to explore new places.
Whether you want to explore the beautiful English countryside that surrounds York or discover the historic city streets, take a walk around the city to keep on track with your fitness goals.
So, it’s time to lace up your walking shoes, hop on board one of our trains to York Station and start your exploration. For great deals on train tickets to York, you can book Advance tickets with CrossCountry.
Touring the old walls
Type of Tour: The old walls
Time for Tour: 2 hours
Distance: 2.2 miles
York is famous for its historic walls that have been standing since Roman times. Much of the walls remain and you can explore many of them on a walk that runs from Victoria Bar to Fishergate Bar. The city has more miles of intact walls than any other UK city and they are often known as the Bar Walls, the Roman Walls and York City Walls.
- Victoria Bar
- Micklegate Bar
- Multangular Tower
- Bootham Bar
- Monk Bar
- Walmgate Bar
- Fishergate Bar
The walls: Begin your walk at the Medieval Victoria Bar before heading north-west to the 12th century Micklegate Bar. From here, continue on to Multangular Tower, which was constructed by the Romans, before making your way to Bootham Bar. Monk Bar is next on the sightseeing list and you will need to take a slightly longer walk to get to the final two walls: Walmgate Bar, which dates back to the 14th century, and the 13th century Fishergate Bar.
Touring the bridges
Type of Tour: The bridges of York
Time for Tour: 2 hours
Distance: 2 miles
There are seven beautifully constructed bridges to explore in York. The route follows an almost straight line from south to north and encompasses bridges straddling the banks of the Ouse and Foss rivers.
Millennium Bridge
- Blue Bridge
- Skeldergate Bridge
- Foss Bridge
- Ouse Bridge
- Lendal Bridge
- Scarborough Railway Bridge
The bridges: You will begin your walk at the Millennium Bridge, which was constructed in 2001 and links the two sides of the Ouse with a pretty cycle path, plus a footpath. Then head north to the second bridge on the tour: The Blue Bridge, which was built back in 1738. Continue your walk north to Skeldergate Bridge, which connects Baile Hill with the rather grand York Castle Museum. The wooden Foss Bridge is next on the route, followed by the aptly-named Ouse Bridge, which was originally built by the Romans. The Gothic-style iron bridge known as Lendal Bridge is the sixth bridge on the tour and finally you’ll end up at the Scarborough Railway Bridge, dating back to 1845.
Touring the museums
Type of Tour: The museums of York
Time for Tour: 2 hours
Distance: 2.2 miles
Some of the best attractions in York are its museums and you can go on a self-guided tour of 10 of the city’s top museums in around 2 hours. However, if you want to explore the exhibitions inside these old buildings, then you should set aside a day to really enjoy the experience.
York Castle Museum
- Fairfax House
- York Dungeon
- Jórvík Viking Centre
- Margaret’s Clitherow Shrine
- Richard III Museum
- Barley Hall
- Yorkshire Museum
- National Railway Museum
- Micklegate Museum
The museums: The walking tour of the museums begins at the York Castle Museum, on the site of York Castle which was originally constructed by William the Conqueror back in 1068. Walk on to Fairfax House, designed by the distinguished US architect John Carr, its impressive interior begs to be explored. York Dungeon is next on the list and awaits those who dare to discover the city’s darker side. You can learn about its horrid history by watching live shows, touring the displays or taking one of the many organised tours around the exhibitions.
The Jórvík Viking Centre can be found just a short stroll from the dungeon and the building itself is just as interesting as the many artefacts on display here. Continue to St. Margaret’s Clitherow Shrine, which was erected in 1970 and from here, it’s easy to make your way on to the Richard III Museum, which is found near one of the famous city walls known as Monk Bar. Make your way to the next stop on the walk. Barley Hall is a wonderful attraction and is extremely photo-worthy for those with cameras. The final three museums on this tour are the large Yorkshire Museum that houses a range of collections, the National Railway Museum with more than 300 exhibits and the Micklegate Museum, which showcases York’s gruesome history.
Touring the Old Town
Type of Tour: The Old Town of York
Time for Tour: 3 hours
Distance: 1.6 miles
York is famous for its fascinating architecture and the historic buildings that line every street. In no part of the city is its past more present than in the Old Town. There are plenty of wonderful photo opportunities on a walking tour of the remarkable older buildings that stand in this part of York and while some are now wildly impressive ruins; others are still very much intact.
York Museum Gardens
- Mary’s Abbey
- The Hospitium
- Bedern Hall
- The Shambles
- Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate
- Clifford’s Tower
The old buildings: Start your walking tour of the Old Town at the York Museum Gardens and spend some time exploring the beautifully-kept botanic gardens. When you’re ready to move on, St. Mary’s Abbey is a must-see on your itinerary. It dates all the way back to 1086 and was known for a long time for being the wealthiest monastery in the north of England. The Hospitium is next on the list with its olde worlde white-and-black timber exterior that was first built in the 1300s. A walk around the diminutive old Bedern Hall is also a great stop along the way.
Next, the teeny tiny street known by the endearing name of Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate won’t take long to explore but if you have time you can nose round the ancient Shambles before heading onto the final attraction: Clifford’s Tower. This old building has been rebuilt many times since it was originally constructed in 1086 and its location high up on a tapered hill gives it a grand feeling, despite its small size.
Don’t forget CrossCountry can take you to York from all over the UK and you can check out our handy York destination guide for more information on how to explore this fascinating city.
Written by Julia