It’s funny how the places my parents dragged me round, kicking and screaming, along with my five brothers, are now exactly the same places I choose to spend my free time and have  grown to love.

I’ve had so many wonderful days and nights in York. It’s a city that provides you with no end of excuses to visit. Be it the races, the majestic Minster, The National Railway Museum, shopping, history or art. And goodness, if you like coffee, there are so many places to feed your caffeine habit.

For an aimless wanderer such as myself one of the greatest joys of central York is it provides you every opportunity to get lost. The streets do not appear to follow any  fathomable structure and no matter how many times I go I never seem to be quite sure where I am or where I will come out? Phone down and eyes up and these are the places I find.

Kiosk Cafe is tiny. But they know their coffee. You’ll be lucky to get a seat, but thats part of the fun. You just squeeze up. The coffee is fantastic and they always have a guest espresso on.

East Espresso York is directly behind the Great East Window of York Minster. What better way to contemplate the majestic architecture than with a flat white in hand?

The Langton is down a little backstreet known as Coffee Yard. Shops have been trading here since the 16th century. Here, you can enjoy speciality coffee in the secluded courtyard  it shares with Barley Hall, a reconstructed medieval townhouse.

Spring Espresso is a York staple. They have two shops, one geared more towards coffee on Lendal and the other towards brunch on Fossgate. Both are fantastic.

I’ve made so many trips to the art gallery over the years. I’ve seen Monet’s water lilies here, along with the spectacular garden created outside to replicate his work. This year, I saw Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa here this year too.  

The Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience exhibition opposite Jorvik is also well worth the money. Be quick though it moves on at the end of this month. (November 2026)

The new bookshop, Topping & Company Booksellers of York, is worth a day trip on its own. With four floors, numerous rooms, and nooks and crannies everywhere. Its layout reflects the city. It’s a wonderful place to explore and an easy place to lose your mate.  It  has breathtaking views of the Minster. Sit down for a while, and one of the staff will come over and offer you a pot of tea. Can't reach the top shelf? Get up that ladder!

Talking of tea.York is also home to our tea supplier. Hebden Tea has two shops in the historic Shambles, both offering over 300 different teas. And for the tea-leaf purists, a visit to their The Tea Experience is a must.

The Minster looms large over York. I’ve got so many photos inside and out that trying to pick between them was like asking a parent which child was their favourite.

It’s not cheap to climb to the top, and it is quite the workout but the views are absolutely worth it.