Might sound daft as it's not far, but not been to York since I was a nipper, but will be there for the weekend (going to see a band at Fibbers on Saturday night).

As I'll be getting there early, looking for recommendations for attractions, bars, places to eat etc. in the town centre.

Quite fancy the Jorvik place and the York Dungeon. Please don't recommend the Minster though! As an athiest that would be silly (regardless of the nice architecture).

When i went last time, you didnt have to pay for parking in the centre, so dont be worried about leaving your car if thats your travel option. I spent ages, walking around near my car, seeing if anyone else paid somehow for parking!

Although ive not answered your recommendations, i might save you 10 mins!

have a good en, beaut city

ash

When i went last time, you didnt have to pay for parking in the centre, so dont be worried about leaving your car if thats your travel option. I spent ages, walking around near my car, seeing if anyone else paid somehow for parking! ...
Just to say that York city centre can be absolutely snided with cars, in the areas that aren't pedestrianised anyway (and in peak times, that's a great deal). The last time I was there (which admitedly was a few years ago), York had an excellent Park & Ride scheme.

As for recommendations, do one of the bus guided tours to get an overview of the city, then do a trip on the river followed by a walk around the walls (get a guide book for that).

I visit York alot, after all it IS our capital :) The park and ride is excellent value, I am not so sure about the free parking in the centre tho. Places to visit, Cliffords Tower, the museum, the National Railway Musem (which now has the eye), Jorvik centre, the dungeon. I always visit the Minster but I can accept your reasons for not visiting it, althought you ARE missing out on an archtectural wonder, and I am sure you ont be converted while you are in there:) A wak round the walls is always a good move in good weather, a pain when its raining and windy tho as it can get slippy. And of course a river trip,

Can you get all that in in a weekend???

Hi

I went to York last week, if its a clear day go on the Yorkshire Wheel (mini London Eye), its located in the National Railway Museum, its free to get in to the museum and £6 per person for a ride on the wheel.

Also Betty's tea rooms is fantastic, a mid morning/afternoon tea and cake, it does get very busy though so be prepared to queue.

Don't know what you're into, but 'Brigantes' in Micklegate is a non-smoking pub with very good beer. There's a fairly good vegetarian cafe out the back of the Blake Head Bookshop, also in Micklegate, again don't know if you're into that kind of thing. A bit further out (maybe 20 minutes walk), York Spice in Bishopgate Road is a surprisingly good and cheap curry house.

I'm an atheist too, but I'd still recommend going to the Minster, and other cathedrals around England. They're awesome, even if they were inspired by ideas that seem silly from a 21st century perspective [and back in the 12th century they wouldn't have seemed so silly even to you and me, if we'd been around then]. Haven't been to Jorvik, but a couple of people I know were a bit disappointed by that. Castle Museum is supposed to be good, though I haven't been there either.

I second the rail museum, although it's hard to see it all, in half a day, Jorvik isn't bad,

I havent been to the York Dungeon, yet, cos I don't know if it's accessible.

Doublewood and I plan to go to York again soon.

I suggest a visit to the Maltings, and a selection of other boozers from here:

http://www.yorkcamra.free-online.co.uk/york2006.PDF

Thanks for all the tips so far. As a strict meat eater and hardened smoker I'm not sure I'll be checking out non-smoking pubs or vegetarian restuarants, but that gives me a good idea of where NOT to go (always handy!).

If anyone has ever been to Fibbers to see a band if you could let me know what the venue is like that would be greatly appreciated.

I'm also going by train so parking will not be an issue.

We went yesterday. the designer outlet then into york.
disappointed though. went to do some shopping. but didnt buy anything.!! i think its like m'hall.
I know i might get slaughted for saying that.

Yorks like meadowhall???? In what way?

Yorks a lovely place.
I just meant the shops are v. similar !

Sorry!! misread it :)

If you're driving to York and planning to park in the city centre take a lot of money. The Lib Dem council hates car owners, local or otherwise and you will pay an absolute fortune to park all day. (It could be more than £9 for a whole day.) You can however pay using your mobile phone and you get a text message telling you when your ticket is about to expire. You can then pay more (!) or return to your car.

That in principle sounds fine, until you learn there's a 'handling fee' for processing the transaction over the phone. Well, the Lib Dems aren't going to miss a further opportunity to screw the motorist (even if you are a tourist wishing to spend £400 over the weekend whilst there).

I have never used the Park and Ride although by all accounts it's fine (unless you want to return home late and find the service finishes in the evening).

Many of the B & B's in the city centre provide their own parking for customers. This is a godsend and saves you quite a bit of dosh.

As for where to go, well, you know the usual. But for some decent pubs I recommend: Ye Old Star Inn (Stonegate), The Spread Eagle (Walmgate), The Blue Bell (Fossgate - it's tiny!), Lendal Cellars (Lendal), Tap & Spile (Monkgate) and Maltings (near the station. The landlord used to live in Sheffield IIRC).

The river cruisers are great (they have their own bar too). A walk on the walls is always wonderful. For food, try Tandoori Night in Bootham or Blue Bicycle on Foss Bridge.

As for clubs, they're mainly situated around Micklegate/Toft Green. As I don't bother with clubs anymore I'm not the best person to ask (the last club I did in York was called, strangely enough The Roxy. It was on three floors, full of goths and fantastic. It closed down).

Any further info, PM me (accommodation, directions, someone to fill that spare place etc).

Please don't waste your time going to the Dungeon,we went last week and had to queue for over an hour to get in(ok it was the school hols)when we got in we were herded from exhibit to exhibit in groups,not very impressed.My 12 year old was very dissapointed.It does have disabled access though P.T.Also parking in the city centre was £6 for 3 hours.York itself is beautiful place,we would visit it again.