A guide to having a mid-week #LoveYork adventure this summer

Summer is a wonderful time to visit York, and what’s the best way to avoid the weekend rush? That’s right, visit mid-week! York is buzzing any day of the week and all visitors and residents can enjoy the city this summertime season.

Here are just a few reasons to book your mid-week trip to York:

York is home to many wonderful hotels. Booking a couple of nights between Monday and Friday might be a great idea for your trip to York as you will receive the same fabulous level of service for a lower price than at the weekend. Book your stay now. 

In York you will find everything from a recreated Victorian street and Europe’s largest stained-glass display to a Japanese bullet train and a brought to life Viking market. Mid-week is the perfect time to visit York’s attractions. You can also pick up a 1 or 2 Day York City Pass to fit in more of the iconic places at a great price. 

The YO1 Beach Club at York Tower Gardens is a perfect place to spend a sunny Wednesday morning or afternoon with family and friends. While kids have fun in the sand, parents can relax and sip on some virgin mojitos.

From handmade gifts and vintage clothing items, to fragrant teas and magical potions – York is a perfect place to shop for gifts as well as everyday essentials. During the week you will find the streets less crowded, allowing you to swing those shopping bags freely and the stores will have shop assistants ready to help every customer. Find out more about shops in York and remember to check out the Shambles Market for some small local businesses.

York is a compact ancient city full of hidden gems. During the week, when the streets are a bit quieter, is the perfect time to embark on the family-friendly Little Vikings ‘I Spy’ walking trail to discover new things and learn even more about York’s architecture and history. Pick up the map from the Visitor Information Centre or download online. 

There are many wonderful local independent cafes in York that you can grab some iced coffee and some delicious picnic food from and head to one of the city’s outdoor green spaces to soak up some sun. Choose a park perfect for you by checking out our blog post on York’s green spaces and have a look for some cafes.

Six o’clock doesn’t mean it is time to go home for tea, there are still many things to do in York in the evening! Everyman is a great option for escaping a bit of that summer heat and to check out both new releases and re-runs of some of the most iconic movies.

Located at the Coppergate shopping centre just past the beautiful Brollywalk (photo opportunity!), is a magical experience at the Hole In Wand – a place where witches and wizards show their mini-golf skills and so can you! Also at Coppergate, the JORVIK Viking Centre is sometimes open until 8pm during the school holidays. Check their booking calendar, pre-book your tickets, and travel back in time to Viking-age York. 

For those looking to indulge their tastebuds, York is full of fabulous restaurants serving food from all over the world. Check out our Food & Drink page for more information. Special for summer and running until the 5th of September, THOR’s Tipi bar on Parliament Street is open until 10pm serving refreshing cocktails and soft drinks.