Trains to York

The Shambles is an ancient cobbled street that looks captivating on even the dullest winter day. Dating back to the Domesday Book, its nooks and crannies will charm your socks off.

Its leaning timber-framed buildings were once home to as many as 26 butchers in medieval times. That’s a lot of meat! York obviously wasn’t a great place to be a vegetarian in the olden days.

Today, the street has much more variety, filled with quirky boutiques, quaint cafes and artisan food shops.

You have to pay to get into the minster, but it doesn’t cost a penny to stand outside and admire it. The architectural magnificence really tugs at the heart strings.

One of the UK’s greatest historical buildings, this Gothic masterpiece is incredibly old too – the last stone was laid in the 1400s.

If you do want to step inside, lots of treasures await. The Undercroft takes you on a 2,000-year journey through interactive chambers beneath the Minster. You can also climb the 275 steps up the Central Tower for life-affirming views of York.

Ambulance trains did a sterling job during the First World War, transporting millions of sick and injured troops to hospital. They were pretty much like a mini-hospital packed onto a train.

To show its appreciation, the National Railway Museum has recreated a lifelike ambulance carriage, complete with ward, pharmacy and nurses’ mess room.

You can share in the stories of the staff and passengers through letters, diaries, photos and drawings. Be warned – some of them are incredibly moving.

Other famous trains include the slinky looking Mallard – still the world’s fastest steam train despite setting the record in the 1930s!

The site of the famous JORVIK Viking Centre also allows you to carry out some sneaky raids on a great collection of shops. Take a stroll in the open air as you look through the various windows, but be sure to look up through the summer to see the monthly themed umbrella walk.

How to get there: Right in the middle of York, Coppergate is easily accessible from the train station after you've made the 15-minute walk into the city.

Visit the outlet to find over 100 big brands in one place such as Nike, Kurt Geiger and Cath Kidston. There are also plenty of discounts on offer in this out-of-town venue. Free parking, a children's play area and a spacious food court make it the ideal day out for shopaholics.

How to get there: You’ll need to either use the Park and Ride bus or drive to reach the outlet once you arrive in York.

For a truly individual gift, why not buy a ghost? Each of these hand crafted, exquisitely packaged items would look great on any shelf in any home. The shop itself seeps history from its walls and is a must-visit destination when you visit the most haunted city in the world.

How to get there: You’ll find the shop, which was built in 1780, located at number 6 Shambles, unarguably York’s prettiest street. It’s a 15-minute walk from the station.

Where else in the world would you find a potions shop but York? The perfect place to find a gift for the Harry Potter fan in your life, it’s a magic location where you can also visit the secret potion room that embodies over 700 years of York history.

How to get there: The shop is also based in the Shambles in the city centre where you’ll enjoy a retail experience like no other. Again, it's a quarter of an hour from the station if you walk.

York Gin uses traditional and sustainable methods to make some of the world’s best gins. Winners of gold medals at the world’s top spirits competitions. Inspired by York’s incredible 2,000-year past. York Gin is ‘History in the Tasting’. Enjoy free tasters and buy gin gift sets, along with a range of gorgeous souvenirs, gifts and mementoes - made sustainably by York craftspeople.

How to get there: You’ll find the famous timber-framed shop, dating back to the 16th Century, on Pavement, opposite the famous Shambles. A 15-minute amble from the station.

After trading for more than a century, Browns knows what it takes to offer a luxurious shopping experience. In between perusing quality items of all shapes and sizes, why not take a break at Browns Teahouse for some cake and caffeine before getting back to the retail reverie?

How to get there: If you’ve got time on your hands, you can take a 15-minute walk to Browns from the station before your train trip home.

Take advantage of the concierge service at this brilliant department store that has everything from top notch fashion labels to a toy department that will bring back happy childhood memories, everything is personal, everything is luxurious with this Best of British experience that makes old-fashioned feel like something new.

How to get there: Based in the Coppergate Centre, you’ll need to take a 20-minute stroll into York from the station to see what's on offer.

If scents are your thing, then no trip to York is complete without a fragrant tour of Molton Brown, a truly sophisticated haven for those who love personal products with a classy edge. Forget online, there’s nothing to beat choosing your perfumed items in person especially when the service and style is so strong.

How to get there: Davygate is just over the river meaning it’s a 12-minute walk from York station.