Hostels in York

A historic city dating back to the first century AD, York, England was originally known by its Norse name "Jorvik," which remains the name of the popular tourist attraction in the heart of the city highlighting the ancient Nordic settlement and Norse influences in York. Nowadays, York is famous in the UK with local tourists -- well known for its quaint and picturesque walled city, ghost walks, the train museum, and Yorkminster Cathedral (the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe). The city is also surrounded by beautiful countryside -- with the Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales, and the Howardian Hills (with Castle Howard, known as the backdrop to both "Brideshead Revisited" films) all accessible through this city.

No visit to York city is complete without Betty's Tea Rooms -- run by the same company that made "Yorkshire Tea" eponymous with the city. Part of the Bettys and Taylors Group, Yorkshire Tea is synonymous with quality, taste, and a strong cup of brew. Betty's Tea Rooms were inspired by the RMS Queen Mary cruise liner and was a popular haunt of army personnel stationed in and around York during the war. Today, its selection of tea, cakes, and biscuits make it a must-visit for any intrepid traveler to the area; although be fair warned, it is usually very crowded during breakfast and tea time, so advance reservations are recommended!

For those that like shopping, York city itself hosts a wonderful diaspora of independent shops alongside more traditional high street offerings. The Shambles/Snickelways (an old street with overhanging timber buildings, historically where the butchers plied their trade) is well worth a visit for a selection of more touristic shops. York also has its own Designer Outlet Village, with a range of off-season upmarket brands on offer at heavily discounted prices.

Hostels in York, England, are hard to come by, but true to the independent vibe of this city, the few York, England hostels that do exist are hip and trendy Georgian conversions. They are conveniently located, and well run hostels in York, England, that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. If you have budget for more than a hostel in York, England, try the numerous boutique hotels on offer in York. Some guesthouses further out in the countryside also offer shared rooms and private camping grounds, although these are smaller institutions catering for less than ten people. These hostel facilities may be more convenient if you are driving and intent on visiting the wider Yorkshire area by car, as parking in York can be expensive and inconvenient.

Handwritten by local expert for York hostels Steph