York is soaked in history and it is in plain view wherever you walk, which goes some way to explain why York is the second most visited city in Britain after London. The ancient walled center of Europe offers more attractions per square mile than any other destination in the UK, so there are a wealth of things to discover. HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire York has to offer so you can take full advantage of this historic city without having to manage your time around the public transportation schedules. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website and provide you with the best deals to make your money go further on a car hire that fits your specific needs.
General Information
Nestled in the north of the idyllic countryside of Yorkshire, York was founded in 71 AD and quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain. With the arrival of the railways in the 1830's, York became a major headquarters for the industrial front and confectionery became a big powerhouse for the area. Now you can see these layers of history still in excellent condition as you enter the 13th century walls and gaze upon one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world, old industrial manors or remnants of Viking invasion.
To Do
If you go to York you wouldn’t want to miss a trip around the city walls to get one of the best vantage points of the medieval city, built on Roman foundations, in all its glory. An alternative view is through the snickelways, the famous medieval alleys and narrow streets that thread the center of the city. But the York Minster is the obvious thing to visit, with a beautiful Evensong service. Another fantastic activity for all the family can be found in the Railway Museum, the largest in the world. If that isn’t enough, a glut of museums, abbeys and manors can be found all over, along with the Eboracum Legion Bathhouse, the oldest draw in York.
Attractions
York’s most important historic building and Northern Europe’s largest medieval cathedral, York Minster is the beating heart of the city. The present Minster, built on the foundations of a wooden chapel, Roman Basilica and Norman Minster, manages to encompass all the major stages of Gothic architectural development and is without doubt one of the world’s most beautiful Gothic buildings. Another fascinating attraction is the world-famous Jorvik Viking Center, one of the most popular attractions in the UK outside of London, where you can experience Viking life in the city as it would have been 1,000 years ago. The sights in York are plentiful, and you will need to spend a good number of days to properly enjoy them all. There are a variety of beautiful, award-winning museums, abbey ruins, towers and the entertaining and slightly bloody, York Dungeon.
Eating
York features a wide range of world-class fare and sits in one of the most renowned food producing regions in the UK. There are a number of great farmers markets in the city that offer tasty local produce, cheeses and chutneys and there are plenty of places for a spot of old-fashioned afternoon Yorkshire tea. Of particular note is Betty’s Tea Room, voted one of England’s, 101 things to do before going abroad. The specialty here is the Yorkshire Fat Rascal, a huge fruit scone smothered in melted butter, but they also do a fantastic smoked haddock with poached egg for lunch.
Excursions
York is centrally located in the Vale of York in northeast Yorkshire, and makes a great base for excursions with a car hire in York. First on the list is the 18th century Castle Howard, one of the nation’s finest stately homes. Just 15 miles away from the city, a York car hire will be able to show you beautiful seasonal garden displays, boat trips on the Great Lake and stunning family collections. York is also close enough to Leeds, the biggest city in Yorkshire, and the entire east coast with some lovely Victorian towns.