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Photo: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Founded in the 17th century, when Catholics were widely persecuted in England, the convent is still home to a community of nuns, members of the Congregation of Jesus. In a small interactive museum, you can discover the brave sisters' remarkable story, from their underground origins hidden in plain sight of the authorities, right through to their survival under the bombs of the Luftwaffe. There is also an on-site café and 'secret' garden, as well as B&B-style accommodation.
The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, at Micklegate Bar in York, England, was established in 1686 and is the oldest surviving Catholic convent in the British Isles. The laws of England at the time prohibited the foundation of Catholic convents, and as a result the community was both established and operated in secret. While pretending to be widows, the founders opened the first school for girls in the country in Hammersmith, London, in 1679, and the second at the Bar Convent. Today, the Bar Convent is a popular destination for visitors to York and offers bed and breakfast accommodation, meeting rooms, a gift shop, café, and a museum exhibition about the convent's history.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Inside a distinctive art deco building, this cinema is held close to the hearts of York residents.
Micklegate Bar was first recorded in the 12th century, but reuses stone from an earlier Roman gate. It has long been the official entrance to the city of York for royalty, and welcomed Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. The indoor exhibition closed in 2025, but you can still view the very impressive exterior.
Founded prior to 1066, this is the only pre-Reformation monastic building in York that is in use today. The wooden beams supporting the roof are breathtaking, and there is a small interactive exhibition about those medieval monks and their priory, making use of touchscreens and 3D imagery.
Approximately 75-minute comedic horror tour of the city in a black routemaster bus, with onboard actors and technical wizardry creating an experience you're unlikely to forget. (calls incur a 7 pence per minute service charge, plus your phone provider's per-minute access charge)
Colourful angels smile cheekily down at you from the ceiling in this 12th century church, which is grade I-listed due to having the finest collection of medieval stained glass windows in the city. The most famous window, dating from around 1410, depicts the Prick of Conscience - a popular Middle English poem.
Red Boats
8-seater red motor launches for you to explore the Ouse under your own steam, river conditions permitting. Full training and lifejackets are provided. The person hiring the boat must be an adult and be in possession of valid ID.