Are you a book lover planning a visit to York? Here’s all you need to know about literary York including what to do, see and eat!
York is a small city in the north of England with a surprising number of activities for book lovers and literary travellers.
Did you know that there are 15 bookshops in the town centre alone? Given that you could walk from one end of the city to the other in 20 minutes, that’s an extraordinary feat!
In addition a large number of independent bookshops, York also has several libraries, activities for Harry Potter fans and even literary lodgings.
Wider Yorkshire is also popular with book lovers as Yorkshire features in Wuthering Heights, the Secret Garden and more. Whitby Abbey is just an hour away in the car and was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But I’ll save those details for another post!
Now let’s go on a literary tour of York.
I was invited to York by Visit York to write about the wonderful literary activities on offer in York and wider Yorkshire. All opinions and bookish excitement are, as always, my own.
Literary York – York Libraries
Library Archive
York Library Archive is a wonderful hub of information about York and its history.
For visitors interested in culture and history, it’s nice to peruse these shelves and see old books about the city and how it’s developed.
There are also some old photographs dotted around so you can see what it looked like decades ago!
For students or those who need to do a spot of work, this is a lovely space to work in with the beautiful decor and lots of light.
What’s great is that you don’t need to be a member to enter and read their titles. However, if you’d like to borrow any of these books then you could need to sign up.
Address: Library Square, Museum Street, York YO1 7DS
Opening Hours: 10am-4pm Tuesday to Saturday
Website: www.exploreyork.org.uk/york-explore
King’s Manor Library
King’s Manor Library is part of York University and mixes old and new. Whilst there are still wooden beams across the ceiling and old wooden floors, there are new computers dotted around for students to use.
It’s a quiet and peaceful place to work with separators between desks and desks nestled at the end of rows of shelves so you can have some privacy whilst you work.
Address: King’s Manor Library, York, YO1 7EP
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
Website: www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/landmarks/kings-manor/facilities
Minster Library
Minster Library is the oldest and largest cathedral library in the country and contains row upon row of vintage tomes.
There are just over 90,000 volumes with some dating back to the 1470s!
In addition, it acts as a modern reference and lending library so you are able to borrow books on York’s history, theology, church history, architecture, history of York and more.
What’s amazing is that some of these books are absolutely enormous and stand at 0.5m tall!
You can also visit the Undercroft Museum here where a selection of the 300,000 objects held in the archives are put on display. It’s the only accredited museum in a cathedral in the country!
Address: Dean’s Park, York, YO1 7JQ
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Website: yorkminster.org/discover/collections-archive-library
Literary York – York Bookshops
York is home to over 10 independent bookshops, which is extraordinary as it’s quite a small city.
Unfortunately, three of the best have closed in recent years, making it all the more important to keep the rest up and running!
Check out the below blog post for more info on York bookshops:
RELATED: A Guide to the Best York Bookshops
Minster Gate Bookshop
Right by York Minster is a wonderful five-story bookshop selling second hand, vintage and rare editions. Pretty much every genre is covered here from general fiction to classics, history, politics, York, and more.
It’s easy to get trapped on each floor and spend ages browsing these shelves and if you wanted to spend a whole afternoon in here browsing for books you definitely could. There are chairs dotted around the various rooms for you to sit and flip the pages of the books you’re considering too.
Website: www.minstergatebooks.co.uk
Address: 8 Minster Gates, York YO1 7HL
Opening Hours: 10am – 5:30pm every day (11am – 5pm Sundays)
RELATED: How to Spend a Weekend in York
Portal Books
I love a good speciality bookstore and Portal Books is one of the best I’ve visited. They are York’s newest bookshop and specialise in LGBTQIA as well as sci-fi and fantasy books.
It’s a vibrant bookshop with pops of colour all over and they have a brilliant selection of young adult titles.
The owner, Lali Hewitson, is the loveliest lady, chatting to customers and offering recommendations. For weary browsers, there are even refreshments in the form of free hot drinks and nibbles available.
For book lovers who live in York and are interested in LGBTQIA fiction, York LGBT Forum hosts a Rainbow Reading Group for readers between 14 and 21 years old. It focuses on young adult LGBT fiction and you can find out more here.
This colourful space feels like a safe space for everyone and is a real gem in York.
Website: https://the-portal-bookshop.square.site/
Address: 5 Patrick Pool, York, YO1 8BB
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm Tuesday to Friday; 11am – 5:30pm Saturday; 11am – 5pm Sunday
What to Do in Literary York
Bookshops aside, many of the things to do in York for book lovers revolve around Harry Potter. York has become a top location for Potter fans over the years as so more and more Potter-related activities are popping up in this city.
This is despite the fact that there are very few Harry Potter connections to York at all. For the full picture, check out my guide to Harry Potter in York:
READ MORE: Harry Potter in York
The Shambles
The Shambles is the most iconic street in York made even more famous in recent years by the constant comparisons to Diagon Alley.
Despite the fact that there has been no confirmation that this is the street that inspired the magical shopping street in Harry Potter, book lovers continue to flock to York to see it.
It’s not hard to see why fans believe this may have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley.
It’s a narrow street that still retains much of its medieval charm with cobbled stones under your feet and old shop signs lining the walls above your head.
In addition to the two Harry Potter-related shops on this street, there are lots of other small shops worth popping your head into selling ghosts, Christmas decorations, antiques, homemade fudge and more.
Address: Shambles, York, YO1 7LZ
The Potions Cauldron
The Potions Cauldron is the latest Harry Potter related attraction to pop up in York after the city’s rather than strange transformation into a Potter hot spot.
At this little shop, you can buy a magical beverage be it a hot chocolate (complete with chocolate frog) or a cinnamon cider.
If you’ve got time for a short pit stop then head into the backroom to enjoy your drink where there’s a cauldron, spooky lighting, brooms, cloaks and a large Hogwarts Lego set on display.
There’s not much room here so if you come at a peak time you may find there’s no seating left.
If you’re just popping your head in for something to go then you may also want to look at the various drinks they have on sale that you can take home as a souvenir.
They have these spectacular, shimmering concoctions that look like magical potions but are potable.
Don’t be alarmed by the flavours Serpents Venom, Basilisk Blood, Unicorn Essence and Tears of a Wizard. These are actually lemonade, mixed fruits, fruit twist and cream soda respectively.
Whilst the Potions Cauldron is obviously perfect for Harry Potter fans, York itself has a long history with magic with potion maker Phileas Fry coming to York in 1335 to help the sick.
You can check out the full story of the inspiration behind the Potions Cauldron here.
You can also book a potion-mixing experience with them or a private cocktail-mixing experience!
Address: The Potions Cauldron, 9¾ Shambles, York YO1 7LZ
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm every day (11am on Sundays)
Website: www.thepotionscauldron.com
Literary Events in York
If you’re a book lover planning a trip to York then it may be an idea to coincide your trip with one of the two major literary events that take place in York every year.
These are the National Book Fair, usually held in September, and the York Literature Festival, which usually takes place in March.
Museums
Before your trip to York, make sure to look up what’s on at York’s many museums.
During my last visit there was a fantastic Harland Miller exhibition at York Art Gallery which featured lots of Penguin and Pelican book covers. It was the perfect exhibition for book lovers!
There were rooms filled with enormous paintings inspired by Penguin and Pelican book covers, but often with distorted and humorous titles. For example: “York, so good they named it once”.
There are often cool events and exhibitions on at York museums to look up York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum for more info.
RELATED: 8 Reasons to Visit York
Where to Eat/Drink in Literary York
Artful Dodger Bar
Located on Micklegate, where there are a number of York bookshops, you’ll also find the Artful Dodger Bar. Named after the character in Dicken’s Oliver Twist, this bar pays homage to the famous English author with literary scenes on its walls.
That’s where the literary connections end though as in contrast stark contrast to these, the Artful Dodger Bar in York is actually a hub for rock and heavy metal music lovers.
It’s not York’s smartest establishment but its grungy pub vibes may suit some more than some of York’s other, polished establishments.
Address: 47 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2am every day (12am on Sundays)
Evil Eye
An evening tipple at Evil Eye, York’s record-winning cocktail bar and gin shop is a must when in York. Especially if you’re a gin lover.
There are over a whopping 1,028 different gins available for sale at Evil Eye in York, which has been officially recognised as a new world record!
Book lovers might enjoy the names of the cocktails which often are a play on words. Why not order a Clockwork Orange made from gin, Cointreau and orange syrup?
Address: 42 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS
Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday: closed; Wednesday, Thursday: 4pm-12am Friday: 4pm-1am; Saturday 12pm-1am; Sunday: 12pm-12am
Website: www.evileyelounge.com
Where to Stay in Literary York
The Judge’s Lodgings, York
The Judge’s Lodgings kindly hosted me during my stay in York.
The Judge’s Lodging is a wonderful hotel and historic 5 star hotel in the centre of York.
It’s the perfect place to stay for a special weekend in York as the hotel occupies a beautiful grade I listed Georgian townhouse building that was recently refurbished.
If you get one of the top rooms, you be treated to an amazing view of York Minister from the bedroom and the decor around the hotel is seriously amazing.
Book lovers will adore this hotel as it offers character, history and some bookish quirks. Indeed, you could be forgiven for thinking that you are a character in a period novel when walking up the steps to the hotel.
Of course, lawyers and judges are known for being bookish people so it should be no surprise that there would be nods to this in the hotel.
For example, there are books dotted around the breakfast room/underground bar and bookshelf wallpaper on some walls.
The staff are attentive and the food in the attached restaurant is exquisite. If you don’t end up booking a stay at the Judge’s Lodgings during your visit to your then I’d still recommend visiting their restaurant for a delicious meal.
Address: 9 Lendal, York YO1 8AQ
Check availability and the latest deals at the Judge’s Lodgings now!
The Enchantment Chamber, York
The Enchantment Chamber is an award-winning Harry Potter hotel is York so if the main purpose of your trip is to explore the Potter locations in York then you simply must stay here.
With a four-poster bed, roaring “fire” and owls in cages, this one-bedroom apartment takes inspiration from the Harry Potter world and is designed to look like the Gryffindor common room.
What looks like a pile of suitcases in the corner turns out to be the wardrobe and there are small nods to Harry Potter all around.
There’s a wand so you can practice your magic, quills, potion bottles and more. The back of the door is the wall to get through to platform 9 3/4 and the entryway looks like a carriage on the Hogwarts Express.
Alas the magic is lost in the bathroom and kitchen, which are standard, modern ones but the magic can be round in the reception/bedroom.
Address: 44 Cocoa Suites, Navigation Rd, York YO1 9AE
Check availability and the latest deals at the Enchantment Chamber now!
Booking.comGetting to York
York is very easy to get to by train. It’s just 2-2.5 hours from London King’s Cross. Book via the Trainline for the cheapest tickets.
If you’re travelling to York by car, you can leave your car in one of six Park & Rides sites surrounding the city. Parking spaces here are completely free and then you can hop on the bus to York city centre.
If you liked this post, check out these:
A Literary Tour of Bath
A Literary Tour of Oxford
A Literary Tour of Rye
A Literary Tour of Edinburgh
A Literary Tour of Dublin
A Literary Tour of Copenhagen
Laura
Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?