A Student’s Guide to York: What to Do, See and Experience
There’s something about York that makes it feel different from other student cities. Maybe it’s the cobbled streets, the historic buildings, or the fact that you’re never far from something worth exploring.
It’s a mix of culture, independent businesses & student-friendly experiences that mean no two days are the same! Here’s how to make the most of it.
Step Into History (Without It Feeling Like a Lecture)
As we’re sure you’ve heard, York is one of the most historic cities in the UK, except it doesn’t feel stuck in the past, and instead history is just part of your everyday surroundings.
The Shambles
York’s most famous street, The Shambles is full of overhanging timber-framed buildings and independent shops, often referred to as looking like something out of Harry Potter. It’s busy, and a bit touristy, but still something every student ends up wandering through more than once.
York Minster
You’ll spot it from all over the city. York Minster is one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe, and even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth walking past (and photographing) at different times of day.
York City Walls
One of the best free things to do in the city. You can walk large sections of the medieval walls and get a completely different view of York, ideal for a study break or a slow wander in the sun.
Find Your Go-To Coffee & Study Spots
York has no shortage of cosy cafes, for when you need a caffeine fix & the library isn’t quite cutting it anymore. Some of our personal favourites:
But you should absolutely try some new spots for yourself, and see if you can find ‘your’ place. Psst, pro tip: our York properties have excellent study spaces, coffee bars & study booths that look onto a view of the cathedral – so you won’t need to leave the accommodation if you want to lock in and save some money!
Eat Your Way Around the City
A great mix of local independents & well-known favourites when it comes to the city’s food scene, sure to please even the fussiest of eaters. As a York student, you’ll likely be staying in the city centre, which is where the most spots are, so again we’d recommend having a walk around for yourself and seeing what looks like the right vibe.
With that being said, make the most of Shambles Market being on your doorstep; a must-visit for affordable street food from all corners of the world, and a nice little sun trap too!
Evenings and Events
Sociable, connected, and never boring.
Pubs and bars dominate the nightlife scene, and so many of them are in beautiful historic buildings.
Quiz nights and themed events are common, especially in areas like Lawrence Street.
Both University of York and York St John have great student unions, so there’ll be an abundance of events throughout the year for you and your course mates to go to.
There are plenty of live music and comedy venues throughout the city, and tickets can be cheaper than you’d think.
And if you’re looking for a bigger night out, it’s only a 20-25 minute train journey to Leeds!
Things to Do Without Breaking the Bank
York can be tourist-heavy, so it’s important to know how to navigate it on a student finance budget, while still making the most of its offerings.
Students are very much treated like residents of York – you can even get a York Residents membership that gets you free and discounted access to loads of stuff, including Residents’ Festival
Visit free green spaces and gardens for a bit of downtime. A great city for switching off, check out Rowntree Park or Museum Gardens for a picnic or a peaceful break from the city bustle.
Keep an eye out for local markets and pop-up events, especially the ones organised by the universities.
Take advantage of student discounts across the city. StudentBeans, UniDays and a whole host more exist for you to pinch some pennies while you’re out.
One of the biggest advantages of York is its walkability and cycling infrastructure. Everything’s on your doorstep, so you don’t need to travel far to find something interesting, but if you do the public transport links are still very useful.
To put a long story short, York is an ideal student city. Busy enough that there’s always something going on, with tranquil areas for when you need to escape it all. It’s also full of great value if you know where to look, for example the brand new Valerian accommodation has some unmissable offers on currently on their last few remaining rooms!
