Things to do in York
Ian Jones, Food and Drink EditorWe all know York – or think we do. Yes, it is one of the UK’s most beautiful heritage cities, with its ancient city walls and medieval shopping streets. Its history is well-covered by the many museums and attractions on offer; the Gothic halls of York Minster; the Yorkshire Museum, which takes visitors as far back as the Jurassic era; and the Castle Museum where you can walk down Kirkgate, a meticulously recreated Victorian street.
But York is also a vibrant and inspiring city with a wealth of contemporary culture. As the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts, you’ll find events like the Aesthetica Short Film Festival and the Festival of Ideas jockeying for position in the cultural calendar. The Mediale, founded in 2014 when York was designated its UNESCO status, is a huge cultural draw, platforming global artists working around the blurred edges of digital art and often commissioning brand new work.
Pay a visit to the first floor of York Art Gallery and you’ll find the beautiful gallery spaces of the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA). Close by you’ll also come across the Art Of Protest Gallery, which brings together disparate pieces of urban contemporary art, from street art to tattoos and advertising. And theatre lovers will find modern twists on the classics and inspiring new writing at York Theatre Royal.
Check out more of our tips below.
