Local time York

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Travel to York

Flying to York

The closest airports to York are Leeds Bradford Airport (one hour by car) or Manchester Airport (90 minutes by car). Or, if you're flying into London, it's less than two hours by train from London to York.

Airlines operating domestic flights from other UK cities to Leeds include British Airways, Eastern Airways, Flybe and Jet2.com. There are no direct flights from the USA, but you can fly via Dublin or London Heathrow.

Airlines operating direct flights to Manchester from other UK cities include British Airways, easyJet and Flybe. Airlines offering direct flights from the USA include American Airlines, Delta, United, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

Flight times

To Leeds Bradford: From London - 1 hour; New York - 9 hours (including stopover); Los Angeles - 13 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 11 hours (including stopover); Sydney - 26 hours (including stopover).

To Manchester: From London - 1 hour; New York - 7 hours; Toronto - 7 hours; Los Angeles - 13 hours (including stopover); Sydney - 24 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

Traffic in the UK drives on the left. The speed limits are 113kph (70mph) on motorways, 97kph (60mph) on single-lane main roads and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas.

Non-British national driving licences and International Driving Permits are valid in the UK for up to one year; drivers must be over 17 years. Insurance is mandatory. Overseas visitors bringing their own cars should carry registration documents and check with their insurance company as to whether a Green Card is needed.

Breakdown service, traffic updates and general motoring information are available from the AA (tel: +44 121 275 3746; www.theaa.com) and the RAC (tel: +44 844 891 3111; www.rac.co.uk).

Emergency breakdown services

AA (tel: 0800 887 766, in the UK); RAC (tel: 0800 828 282, in the UK).

Routes

York is only 20 minutes from the M1/M62 motorway network. From the south on the M1 or A1, an intersection with the A64 means that York is just 15 minutes' drive away via dual carriageway. From the north on the A1, also take the A64 intersection to York. From the west on the M62, join the M1 northbound until you reach the intersection with the A64. York is also served by the A19, A1079 and A166 routes.

Coaches

York is without an official bus station, although most bus and coach services stop at George Hudson Street which is about a two-minute walk from the railway station.

National Express (tel: +44 871 781 818; www.nationalexpress.com) also stops here and offers services to York from destinations throughout the UK, including Edinburgh (Scotland), London and Manchester.

Time to city

From London - 4 hours; Edinburgh - 4 hours; Cardiff - 4 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

York Railway Station, on Station Road, is only a five-minute walk southwest of the city centre.

Operators

York is on the East Coast mainline and is very well connected, with services to Scotland and to regional centres throughout England, including Birmingham, Bradford, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle.

Services are operated by Virgin Trains (www.virgintrains.co.uk), and also East Midlands Trains (www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk), and Northern Rail (www.northernrail.org).

Journey times

From London – 2 hours; Newcastle - 1 hour; Birmingham - 2 hours 10 minutes.

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

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The Bar Convent

Situated in the oldest existing convent in England (established in 1686), The Bar Convent offers accommodation with a difference, in elegant surroundings and with a unique and informal ambience. This Grade I listed Georgian building was renovated in the summer of 2006.

The Churchill Hotel

All of the rooms in this hotel are individually decorated and its historic charm is guaranteed to beguile. Housed in a Georgian mansion built around 1827, the Churchill offers a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant is very good, sourcing its ingredients locally and in accordance with the seasons.

The Grange Hotel

A Grade-II-listed Regency townhouse, The Grange exudes good taste - the attached Ivy Brasserie (which received two AA rosettes in 2006) is worth a mention too. Elegant and luxurious, the hotel also offers modern comfort and convenience, including Wi-Fi access.

Middlethorpe Hall

This country house, built in 1699, offers the optimum in lavishness: set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland, it is decorated with antiques consistent with the period of the house, yet also manages to be modern with its own health and fitness spa.

Romley House

This family-run guest house provides a friendly and efficient service at bargain prices. Rooms are homely, decorated in white and floral patterns. Romley House is also renowned for its pictorial and ceramic clown collection - a typical touch of such child-friendly accommodation. Staying here is a way of receiving some classic Yorkshire hospitality.

York International Youth Hostel

This youth hostel's good service and clean and comfortable rooms guarantee good value for money. Although located just outside the city centre, the 10- to 15-minute walk is a delightfully scenic one along the river. The hostel's bedrooms range from single rooms to dorms accommodating up to eight people.