Online Information for Backpackers about YORK!

Few British cities have the charm of York. Oustanding architecture and 2,000 years of history rub shoulders with bustling shops and award winning attractions.

Centre stage is Yorkminster (climb its 275 steps for stunning views of the city), with medieval churches, ancient bridges, guildhalls and galleries. Many are spectacularly lit after dusk. A perfect background to an evening of fun after your adventurous day!

An Experience to Die For:

Somewhere in the cobbled streets of York there is a place; a dark and soulless place, with a past that’s enshrouded in mystery and haunted by the souls of the damned. But enough about the goth nightclub. Ha, only joking... I'm referring to The York Dungeon of course!

As well as being proud of the more civilised aspects of their past, the good people of York also take delight in sharing the more gruesome details of their town’s history. The York Dungeon, run by the same folks responsible for the horrors at its counterpart in London, was created for precisely this purpose. All the blood-soaked exhibits on display depict actual events, and have an unnerving habit of coming to life in front of quaking visitors.

Explore jolly locales such as the skull-lined pit of despair, the torture chamber and a room fondly dedicated to the bubonic plague.

Visit www.thedungeons.com for tickets and further information. Even the website is a little spooky!

by Cat Hackforth

Reinventing the Wheel:

A different journey awaits visitors to the National Railway Museum. There’s far more to this museum than just old trains.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the UK’s first ever simulator of a Pennine Class 185. Fulfill those childhood dreams and feel what it’s like to actually drive a train. Originally designed for training purposes, the simulator gives the opportunity to drive at 100 miles per hour in a variety of weather conditions.

If you’d rather let someone else do the driving, the Yorkshire Wheel is definitely worth a look. It is much like the London Eye, only with panoramic views across the stunning countryside of York rather than the congestion of the capital. The Yorkshire Wheel also gives you three full rotations of its air-conditioned pods compared to just one on the Eye. Bargain!

by Cat Hackforth