The City of York is renowned for its historic feel and tourist sights, from the Shambles Market to Clifford’s Tower, but also has an amazing student life! I hope to give you just a glimpse at what York has to offer on both sides of the coin, sharing my experiences from two years of living and learning in the city.
The sights
York has a rich history, much of which is preserved for you to see. Even if history isn’t your thing, there’s still something special about seeing buildings that date back to the days of William the Conqueror. Clifford’s Tower is the remains of York Castle, dating back to 1068, where it was constructed as a motte-and-bailey castle, and still resembles it – the tower resides on a huge mound, making it visible from all around.
York’s history is, quite literally, encompassed by the City Walls, which measure around 13 feet high and 6 feet wide. The walls make a great day trip for you or your family to visit.
Perhaps the grandest monument in York is the Minster, which is one of the largest medieval cathedrals in the UK, standing at 72 metres high. To take the picture of it in all of its glory I had to use a fisheye lens!
Travel in and out of the city centre
There are regular buses in and out of town from both Campus East and Campus West. The journey takes around 20 minutes, but there can be traffic so do plan ahead if you’re going to work or catching a train. These buses accept cash, contactless payments, and bus tickets on the ‘Firstbus’ app. The bus routes are:
- The 66 – from York Train Station to the University
- The 66x – from York Train Station to the University (specified times during term time)
- The 67 – from York Train Station to the University
The University has helpful public transport webpages to help you out.
Other things to see and do around York
Right opposite Clifford’s Tower are the infamous York Dungeons! Speaking from first-hand experience, this is some of the best fun you can have. Every little thing has you scared, making laughs for everyone! You can also take ghost tours around The Shambles and a ghost bus that goes through the city centre. The Shambles is a must-see for any Harry Potter fan. It’s lined with Harry Potter shops as well as being one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world. Two of the buildings on opposite sides of the street are so close together it is said the people who lived in them could reach out and touch each other!
For those with a sweet tooth, there’s York’s Chocolate Story, sharing the lives of York’s famous chocolatiers and their creations. Doe bakehouse and Yuzu Street Food are both absolutely delicious for a midday snack or cheeky takeout on a weekend!
The part you’ve been waiting for
You’ve read the history, seen the sights, and now you’re wondering…what’s the student nightlife like? York city centre has a LOT to offer, and with a pub for every day of the year you really can’t go wrong!
The main student nightclubs are:
- Salvation – referred to as Salvos – which hosts the sport society socials on a Wednesday.
- Kuda, right opposite Clifford’s Tower, has two nights a week dedicated to Uni of York students, on a Tuesday and Thursday.
- Revolution – or Revs – hosts on a Sunday, unconventional for a club night I know, but honestly, there’s nothing quite like it!
- The Lowther and The Stone Roses Bar are also student favourites, offering a very special blue drink…
As I’m writing this, we are still in the midst of the Covid pandemic so hopefully this stays the same when everything reopens!
To wrap it up…
There is so much more I could have said about what York has to offer. If this hasn’t enticed you enough then I encourage you to check out other blogs and vlogs from students! Thank you so much for reading, I hope this shows you what life in York is really about!
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