Motorhome Hire in York

York is a city that contains two thousand years of English history within its medieval walls. Roman fortress, Viking capital, medieval trading centre, and Georgian social hub — the layers of York's past are visible at every turn, from the Roman column in Minster Yard to the Viking street names of the Shambles and Coppergate. For motorhome travellers, York is not just a destination — it is the perfect springboard for exploring the whole of North Yorkshire. At approximately 30 minutes from our Pontefract depot via the A1(M), it could not be more accessible.

York Minster dominates the city and the surrounding plain. This is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, and its scale is genuinely overwhelming. The Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world, was restored over a decade-long project completed in 2018 and glows with a luminosity that takes the breath away. The undercroft museum beneath the Minster reveals Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman remains discovered during stabilisation work in the 1960s and 1970s. Climbing the 275 steps to the top of the central tower rewards you with a panorama that stretches from the Pennines to the North York Moors.

The Shambles, York's most famous street, is a narrow medieval lane of overhanging timber-framed buildings that lean so close together at the top that they almost touch. Originally a street of butchers' shops, it is now lined with independent retailers, cafes, and — inevitably — a Harry Potter-themed shop or two. The broader network of medieval streets — Stonegate, Petergate, Goodramgate — contains a treasury of historic buildings, from medieval guildhalls to Georgian townhouses.

The JORVIK Viking Centre, built on the site of one of the most significant Viking archaeological discoveries ever made, recreates the sights, sounds, and smells of tenth-century Viking York. The National Railway Museum, the largest railway museum in the world, houses a collection that includes the Mallard — the fastest steam locomotive ever built — alongside royal coaches, wartime trains, and the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train. Both museums are essential visits, and both are free.

York's city walls are the longest and best-preserved medieval walls in England. A walk around the full circuit takes about two hours and gives you elevated views across the city rooftops, the Minster, and the river. The Museum Gardens, set around the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, provide a peaceful green space in the heart of the city. Clifford's Tower, the keep of York Castle, sits on its distinctive mound overlooking the river and offers 360-degree views from the top.

For motorhome travellers, York's position is ideal. Head north-west and within 45 minutes you reach the Yorkshire Dales — Wharfedale, Nidderdale, and the market towns of Skipton, Ripon, and Masham. Head north-east and the North York Moors begin within an hour, with Helmsley, Pickering, and the steam railway to Whitby all within comfortable reach. Head east and the coast beckons — Scarborough, Whitby, and Robin Hood's Bay are all accessible for day trips or longer stays.

The city's food and drink scene has flourished in recent years. The Shambles Market, a covered market in the shadow of the Shambles, hosts street food vendors alongside local craft producers. Brew York, a craft brewery in the Walmgate area, offers tours and tastings. For something more traditional, Betty's Tea Rooms on St Helen's Square has been serving Yorkshire tea and fat rascals since 1936 — the queue outside is a York institution in itself.

The racecourse on the Knavesmire, one of the most picturesque in the country, hosts flat racing from May to October. Race days bring a festive atmosphere to the whole city, and even if you are not a racing enthusiast, the spectacle of horses galloping past with the Minster in the background is quintessentially English.

Collect your motorhome from our Pontefract depot and you can be in York within half an hour. Spend a day exploring the city, then head out into the North Yorkshire countryside with everything you need on board. The freedom of a motorhome and the riches of York and its surroundings — it is a combination that is hard to beat.