Myths and misconceptions are something you will definitely come across applying for university, and today I am going to de-bunk common misconceptions about York.
“York is freezing cold all year round”
Okay, yes, during the winter season it is definitely cold here, but the weather here is absolutely beautiful. When I moved to York in September it was still very warm until about mid-October, which was great because Fresher’s Week still had that amazing summer feeling. This made the initial exploration of the city and campus SO much better!
“York is a tourist trap with no student activities”
York is a stunning city and attracts lots of tourists, but this doesn’t mean that there is nothing for students to do. If you are someone who loves history, architecture or just generally enjoys exploring local history, you can access the Minister for free or walk the city walls, which makes for a great afternoon activity.
Over the course of the year, the city becomes the home to various events like the infamous York Christmas Markets or the Food Festival. It would be wrong for me not to say that the Christmas Markets are fairly quiet, because they definitely are not. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, then the Christmas Markets will 100% be something that you would want to visit, but if not don’t panic! The Markets are much quieter during the weekdays so you can still visit them if you prefer quiet, and it makes for a great post-lecture trip for a sweet treat or just a wander. (I am fully sure I tried every brownie stand after my lectures on Monday!)
If you are looking for other activities to do with your friends or family, then York will not leave you disappointed! Try the Jorvik Viking centre to explore the life of Vikings in York, or you can visit the National Railway museum with the most trains I have ever seen at once. In short, York will not leave you wishing there was more to do on the weekends!
“York has no nightlife compared to other university cities”
This could not be more wrong! The nightlife in York is super varied with loads of venues and student nights. My personal favourite is Underground Fridays at Ziggy’s with its basement venue and great music all night long or themed nights like a Maccies night. Another popular student night is Wednesday Salvos at Salvation, an incredible night that you will definitely become familiar with if you join a sport or society, Salvos is a great one with two dancefloors and is full of vibes on Wednesday, and the weekends.
If clubbing isn’t your thing, then you can visit any the of bars throughout York or even the ones on campus! The bars are so diverse that you will easily find a favourite; if indie music is your passion then Stone Roses is a must-try (plus they do £1 shots, bonus), if you want a more classic bar then maybe try Lowther’s, but no matter what there will be a place for you to have a brilliant night out.
“York is a super expensive city”
I completely disagree, with an Aldi within walking distance of Campus West and a Lidl in the city centre, you can easily ensure that you won’t spend all your money on a weekly food shop! York has every major food shop, so no matter your budget you won’t be stuck having noodles for dinner every night. Public transport is another thing to consider, but First Bus (the major bus network in York) is actually a lot cheaper than buses in other places with the ability to get Student tickets. If you end up in the same position as me, living on one side of campus when all of your course is on the other, then you can still get out of bed with half an hour to get to your lecture because the buses between campus are completely free! Even nights out can be done on a budget, with drinks being much cheaper than in other major cities, with deals on drinks or student discounts! So no, York is not necessarily an expensive city for students, which makes uni life so much easier without the panic of struggling with money.
Don’t let them fool you!
So, I have debunked some of the most common misconceptions about York that I heard when telling people that I was going to the University of York, and I am very glad that they aren’t true. York is an amazing city and is maybe the perfect place for you to come to university.
Thanks for this insightful post, Connie! It’s great to see myths about York being cleared up—your perspective really shows that the city has a warm and welcoming side despite its chilly reputation.