Things to do in York
Cruise the Ouse and Foss at dusk
Arranged around the Ouse and Foss rivers, the city's iconic architecture shines from the water. Setting off from Kings Staith Landing, York Boat's (tel: +44 1904 628 324; www.yorkboat.co.uk) dusk cruises show the Minster bathed in golden light. For a little romance, couples should embark on a floodlit evening cruise.
Make your own chocolate
For something a bit different, take a tour through the history of chocolate in the city. York's Chocolate Story (tel: +44 845 498 9411; www.yorkchocolatestory.com) guides visitors through the lore of the city's prestigious chocolate-making families, whilst on-site chocolatiers will show you how to make your own to take home.
Scare yourself silly in the world’s most haunted city
According the Ghost Research Foundation International, York is the most haunted city in the world, and the city's enduring medieval battlements and Gothic cathedral certainly feel spooky at night. If you're feeling brave, take the renowned Original Ghost Walk of York (tel: +44 1904 764222; www.theoriginalghostwalkofyork.co.uk) and uncover its ghouls.
Start your own archaeological dig
Dig (tel: +44 1904 615505; www.digyork.com), comes from the same stable as Jorvik Viking Centre and offers participants the chance to grab a trowel and take part in excavations. Ideal for children, real and simulated artefacts from Roman to Victorian times are buried, ready for visitors and budding archaeologists to uncover.
Try a pub-crawl with a difference
York has some great watering holes, and you can tour its oldest taverns with Footprints (tel: +44 2075 588706; www.footprints-tours.com). Guides will explain the history of beer, how it built the Egyptian pyramids and why Popes have blessed it. You may need a stiff drink after - some of the pubs are haunted.
