Football
Theyâre a full-time professional club, playing in Football League Division 2 and famous for giant-killing victories over Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton. Their home ground of Bootham Crescent, formerly known as KitKat Crescent, is a traditional English football ground surrounded by terraced housing. It is about 15 minutes walk from the city centre, near the hospital.
The University of York (http://www.york.ac.uk/) is constantly one of the UK's top 10 performing universities, and is one of the top 100 in the world. The departments of English and Related Literature, Chemistry, Computer Science and Psychology are particularly well regarded internationally as leading research centres.
Walk around the city walls
One of the best vantage points for the medieval city of York is from the ramparts of its medieval city walls, built on Roman era foundations. About an hour's walk: if short on time or energy, the best views are conveniently from the shortest section, from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar, around the Minster about 15 minutes.
Discover the Snickleways
Walk the York snickelways, the famous medieval and later alleys and narrow streets that thread the center of the city. Try and get hold of a copy of Mark W Jones' book A walk around the Snickelways of York ISBN 1871125723 or its hardback companion The complete Snickelways of York ISBN 1871125049 with their quirky, hand-written descriptions. Alternatively walk downstream to the the Millennium bridge, cross and back upstream on the other bank.
Walking tours and ghost walks
Wonderful. There are many ghost walks that run throughout the year during the evenings. Walks normally start from 6PM onwards and last for around an hour - just look for the posters and billboards posted throughout the city centre for details and the meeting point for that evening.
Boat hire
Power up the River Ouse. Alternatively have someone else drive and go on a river trip.
Rugby League
York City Knights (http://www.yorkcityknight...) are currently playing in National League 2, advertising a good standard of rugby, the Huntington stadium is about 5 minutes walk from Monks Cross shopping centre. Matchdays are usually Sunday afternoons but you are advised to check before setting out as they are usually every other week.
Cinemas
Vue Cinemas
Vue Cinemas - (http://www.myvue.com/) - The city's largest multiplex, located on Clifton Moor Retail Park on the north-west outskirts of York. Access by car, or take the no.6 bus to Tesco. 0871 224 0240
City Screen Ltd
(http://www.picturehouses....) - a new, modern cinema located just off coney street in the centre of york. has a bar/cafe with a fantastic balcony overlooking the river ouse. no private parking available. 0870 758 3219
Reel Cinema York
(http://www.reelcinemas.co.uk/) - located inside a distinctive art deco building and known for decades under its odeon ownership, the cinema is held close to the hearts of the residents of york. despite protests, it shut down a few years ago due to increasing competition. it has recently been bought and reopened by reel, although many people still refer to it as the odeon. it is located just a 10 minute walk south of the city centre on blossom street. it is on the bus routes 1, 4, 5, 10, 13 and the askham bar park & ride no.3. very limited parking is available but not recommended. 01904 733633
Events & festivals
Viking Festival,
(http://www.jorvik-viking-...) february. a big event with a lots of appeal for children - lots of dressing up and mock fighting but backed with the serious educational purpose of the viking centre.
York Beer & Cider Festival
(http://www.yorkcamra.free...) the knavesmire tadcaster road end is the new venue for an expanded york beer & cider festival held in september. the increased capacity means they will be able to offer up to 200 beers, 30 ciders and perries and a foreign beer bar, with wine and soft drinks also available. this is an exciting expansion for the branch which they hope will be enjoyed by people from york and beyond. thereâll be live music on the friday and saturday evenings as well as a good range of food from mainly local caterers and other stalls. thereâll be a large amount of seating â inside the tent if itâs wet, with some outside if the weatherâs good. children are welcome during the afternoon sessions. the festival site is less than 15 minutes from york station and is served by regular buses 12 woodthorpe, 4 ftr acomb, 13/13a copmanthorpe and the coastliner.
Mystery Plays.
(http://www.yorkmysterypla...) medieval passion plays, revived after the second world war and the forum which first brought dame judi dench to critical attention. don't run every year and vary between the traditional plays acted on floats carried around the city and more formal renditions which change venues, last time being staged in the minster.
York Festival of Food and Drink.
(http://www.yorkfoodfestiv...) late september every year. the food element majors on yorkshire food, while the drinks program has a world wide and wine orientated theme. the range of events is very wide with demonstrations, tastings, markets and dinners everyday for 10 days. big 'slow food' / fairtrade and other 'worthy' food element allied with lots of hands on cooking for kids.
There is a very full series of events in York. The most important are:
York Early Music Festival.
Early july. world class event with very serious intent .
York Races.
(http://www.yorkracecourse...) held 6 to 8 times in the year with the key meetings in may and august.
York Festival of Traditional Dance
(http://www.ebormorris.org.uk/) 5 - 6 september 2009 yorkâs own ebor morris, in conjunction with city of york council and other local teams, invite a rich variety of traditional dance sides from all over the country to join in a non-competitive celebration of the diversity of ritual dancing. the festival occupies the first weekend of september. the saturday begins with a colourful dance procession from the guildhall to parliament square, before the teams separate to dance on site, in kingâs square and st sampsonâs square throughout the day before a final grand show in front of dignitaries. the sunday dancing is less formal, taking place in st sampsonâs and kingâs square on the sunday morning. over the years we have had representatives of all the leading traditional team styles: the stick and hanky morris of the cotswolds, the large clog-stepping sides of the north west, the intricate weaving yorkshire longsword, the country-dance like east anglian molly, the bizarre costumes and disguises of welsh border morris and the swift interlacing of northumbrian rapper sword. this yearâs festival details are to be confirmed. we'll be inviting teams from all round england to join in this celebration of english traditional dance, hosted by local team ebor morris. the two other local sides acorn morris & minster strays should be in attendance, together hopefully with old favourites such as brackley morris from northamptonshire.
A Yorkshire Celebration.*
(http://www.yorkshirefound...) sees some of the world's finest performers gather at york minster for a charitable musical celebration of the county of yorkshire. taking place on saturday 10th october at 7.30pm, the king's singers are joined by the brighouse & rastrick band, david childs euphonium and host frank renton of bbc radio 2. all proceeds go to the yorkshire foundation. contact york minster box office for tickets.
Illuminating York 2009
Discover york in a new light.23 october - 1 november the event is now in its fourth year and continues to showcase york as a vibrant, contemporary and creative city. the event breathes light and innovation into york's historic and urban environment, attracting visitors from far and wide. 2009 will see three exciting new commissioned art works each of which invites you to join-in and become part of the action. at the end of the day, when the park gates are locked, life continues into the night. bright white present 'vespertine', a captivating instillation that exposes the magnificence and brutality of nocturnal wildlife. the specially created sound track uses animal samples that are acoustically tuned to the space, creating a unique visitor experience. the latest technology allows you to explore pools of sound, which are linked to fascinating video effects. tucked away in the grounds of king's manor, this promises to be a real treat. kma and pilot theatre present the world premier of '5circles' a radical, imaginative, and beautiful global project. you can modify and manipulate the sound, light and content online and then visit st sampsons square to see your ideas projected on to the paving. watch people and dancers playing in the space and triggering unique patterns of light - you can even join in yourself. gaianova provide an exciting opportunity to draw with light onto the multangular tower in museum gardens. using 'tagtools', a simple interactive drawing board, which allows you to see your drawings and doodles projected onto the walls and brought to life. international artists will also be using the tagtools at designated times to create colourful and inspiring works of art. illuminating york is fantastic for people of all ages. events are free.
St Nicholas Fair and other pre Christmas events.
2009 : 26 - 29 november the fayre offers a range of markets specialising in gifts, crafts, and the very best in local farm produce. outside markets move into parliament street, st sampsons square and coppergate while york's grand medieval guild hall provides a home for 'made in yorkshire' artists and crafters from across the region. the magnificent medieval townhouse, barley hall, presents a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders and st william's college houses an arts and crafts market for fine hand-made items not to be found in the shops. carol singers and buskers flock to the city to perform over the weekend to thousands of festive shoppers.
York Early Music Christmas Festival
2 - 8 december 2009 the 2009 christmas festival will run from wednesday 2nd to tuesday 8th december. this popular festival of christmas entertainments includes performances by the carnival band; joglaresa, the dufay collective, orchestral ensemble la serenissima, concordia with robin blaze & elizabeth kenny and ensemble gilles binchois. full programme details and tickets will be available from september 2009.to join our free mailing list, contact the ncem at st margaret's church, walmgate, york yo1 9tl telephone york 01904 658338 or email [email protected] who will enjoy it? anyone interested in listening to early music of the highest international quality; adults wishing to join with like-minded colleagues to make music together; youngsters wishing to learn more about historically informed performance; children wanting to know something of the history of the city of york and music in general.