Hodgson's Choice tours

If you don't know where to start, or you want to see as much as you can during your stay, we can provide guided walking tours or transportation by 4WD/SUV to places of interest in and around York. Suggestions include Fountains & Rievaulx Abbey, Castle Howard ("Brideshead Revisited"), North Yorkshire Moor Railways to "Heartbeat" country and the Yorkshire Coast - including Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby (home of Captain Cook and Dracula) or Scarborough. Or perhaps you'd like to visit some of our tucked away, less well-known favourite places!

We can also assist with restaurant and theatre bookings - Sir Alan Ayckbourn is the resident director and playwright at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough which is about an hour's drive from York - where you can see the world premier of all his new plays. Tickets and hospitality can also be arranged for York Races and other local events. Suggested itineraries and prices are available on request.

Getting to York

There is an excellent high speed train service from London to York (journey time 2 hours) offering first and standard class accommodation and restaurant quality dining car or buffet. There is also a direct train service from Manchester Airport (journey time 2 hours).
We are happy to assist with train reservations to and from York plus onward train journeys to Edinburgh (2 ½ hours), Glasgow (3 ½ hours), and the North of Scotland (4 ½ hours) as well as hotel reservations. So why not break your journey from London to Scotland in York?

Places of Interest

York Minster -  the largest medieval gothic cathedral in northern Europe with some of the oldest stained glass in the world.
01904 557216
www.yorkminster.org

Clifford’s Tower – steeped in history, the tower was built by Willima dn Conqueror on a large mound  that is covered with daffodils in spring and now looked after by English Heritage.
1904 646940
www.engish-heritage.org.uk

Treasurers House – One of York’s most famous ghost stories is set in the Treasurer’s House.  It is now looked after by the National Trust.
01904 624247
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
           
National Railway Museum – a must visit venue for all train lovers.  Features the Mallard (world’ fastest steam locomotive),  Japan’s bullet train and the Royal saloons from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II
01904 611112
www.nrm.org.uk

Yorkshire Museum – you can see the famous Jorvik/Viking helmet found in York among other archaeological finds – some of the best in Europe
01904 687687
www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk

York Castle Museum – go back and walk the Victorian streets of York. A museum for all the famiy to enjoy
01904 650333
www.yorkcastlemuseum.ork.uk

Jorvik –explore York’s Viking history on the site where archaeologists found the remains of the Viking city of Jorvik, now recronstructed including the smell!
01904 643211
www.jorvik.viking.centre.co.uk

Fairfax House – the finest Georgian townhouse in England, built by Lord Fairfax as a dowry for his daughter Anne.  A special treat is in store for those who visit at Christmas!
01904 655543
www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk

York Art Gallery – recently refurbished with installations changing periodically, not to mention a nice cup of coffee!
01904  687687
www.yorkartgallery.org.uk

Barley Hall  -  forgotten until a few years ago, excavation in the 1980s revealed a surviving example of a medieval townhouse
01904 610275
www.barleyhall.org.uk

 

Entertainment & Leisure

York Racecourse – one of the best race courses in England hosted Ascot in 2005. A real fun day out even if you’re not the betting type!
01904 620911
www.yorkracecourse.co.uk
                                   
Ghost Stories - York is reported to be the most haunted city in Europe.   The original ghost walk meets at the King’s Arms Pub on the river at 8.00pm every night.
www.theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk

Boat Trips – take a trip down past the Archbishop’s Palace or explore in a little boat on your own.
01904 628324
www.yorkboat.co.uk

Bike Hire – York can be explored on bike with many bike paths out in to the countryside 07903376612
www.yorkbikerental.co.uk

Theatre Royal  - renowned for its wide range of programming and superb visiting artistes.
01904 623568
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Grand Opera House  - a beautiful Edwardian Theatre which brings the biggest shows and the brightest stars around.  It also offers theatre tours and conference facilities
0870 606 3595
www.york-operahouse.co.uk

Stephen Joseph Theatre -  see Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s world premiere’s before they hit the West End!
01723  370541
www.sjt.org.uk

 

Further affield

Don’t limit yourself to the city centre, there are many other places to explore within an hour of York.  Here are just a few ideas:-

Castle Howard – stately home where “Brideshead Revisited” was filmed  www.castlehoward.co.uk

Eden Camp – step back in time to WWII at this prisoner of war camp now providing a thorough look at that period of time
 www.edencamp.co.uk

Riveaulx Abbey - became one of England’s wealthiest monasteries before its dissolution by King Henry VIII.
www.english-heritage.org.uk

Fountains Abbey - Britain's largest monastic ruin and most complete Cistercian abbey with 800 years' history.
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk

York Maze - carved out of 1.5 million growing maize plants and covering the area of 15 football pitches it is thought to be the largest maze in the world!
www.yorkmaze.com

Filey Bay – panoramic bay where John Paul Jones spoke his most famous phrase
www.fileybay.com

Tourism Bureaus are very helpful – here are the official tourism websites for Yorkshire.

www.visityork.org.uk
www.yorkshire.com
www.visitbritian.com