Come to York
With around 20,000 students and
thousands of tourists visiting the city all year round, York really
is a lively place to be. It’s great for nightlife of all kinds, it
has restaurants, pubs, wine bars and cafés to suit every taste
imaginable and it’s fantastic for shopping. York St John is
literally minutes away from the city centre, so is perfectly placed
for nights out and retail therapy jaunts.
Nightlife
York’s nightlife caters for all, from
traditional and quirky pubs, to ghost walks, cinemas and theatre,
to the lively, modern and vibrant bars, clubs and live venues –
York really does have it all.
To start your night look no further
than the Students’ Union, with a variety of entertainments to suit
every taste, it is true ‘value for money’. Alongside great
promotions throughout the week, it is the perfect place to meet
your friends before heading into the city centre.
York has many late night venues
catering for every music taste from rock to cheesy pop. Commercial
bars such as Revolution and Yates are complimented by independent
and popular bars such as Evil Eye and Vudu Lounge. They often have
themed nights with student-friendly prices. There are a variety of
different clubs in the city; Tokyo, Kuda, Salvation and Fibbers - a
live music venue to suit all tastes. All in all York boasts a great
night out for everyone.
Shopping
York is paradise for shopaholics - everything from famous
high-street names to intriguing specialist, designer and curiosity
shops. The outdoor Newgate Market, in the centre of the city,
offers a more traditional shopping experience, with stalls selling
everything, all at brilliant student-friendly prices.
York also hosts a variety of specialist markets
which offer a taste of local and international produce. In
September the UK’s largest Food Festival takes over the city for 10
days and one of the largest Christmas markets, the St Nicholas
Fayre, arrives just in time for those last minute presents.
There are three out-of-town shopping
centres, all within easy reach of the city centre. At Clifton Moor
there are shops galore plus a Vue cinema and tenpin bowling. Monk’s
Cross Shopping Centre has a layout like a classic American shopping
mall with many high street stores and the McArthur Glen Designer
Outlet features over 100 designer name stores full of best
buys!
Let’s get cultural
Shopping and socialising aside, you
can’t fail to notice York’s history and culture. It’s hard not to
find history fascinating when it lives and breathes around you.
York Minster is world renowned and well worth a visit. The city’s
Viking heritage comes to life every year in a rowdy, funpacked
festival with hoards of Vikings taking occupation of the streets.
You can also step aboard a time car in the world-famous Jorvik
Viking Centre to travel back to 948AD. The condemned cell - where
the infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin, spent his last night in 1739
- lies within the walls of York Castle Museum. The National Railway
Museum is not just for train spotters (so we’re told!) and you can
even catch the plague at the York Dungeon.
The arts feature strongly in York’s
cultural life. The York Mystery Plays continue a tradition of
community performances dating back to the 14th century.
Contemporary drama, and much more besides, is on offer at the
Theatre Royal and the Grand Opera House. Film buffs will appreciate
City Screen - an arts cinema housed in a refurbished printing
works. Music, in all its guises, finds an audience in a variety of
venues across the city.
York Barbican hosts the UK snooker
championship as well as offering comedy, music events and family
shows.
Further afield…
York is also a fantastic starting
point from which you can explore more of what Yorkshire has to
offer. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are both National
Parks, accessible by public transport, where you will find
incredible scenery and bracing, fresh air. The seaside resorts of
Scarborough and Whitby also make the perfect destination for a day
out (and do great fish and chips).