A Short Break in York With A River Cruise.

The City of York is famously known for its atmospheric beauty, stunning architecture and fascinating history.  Its popularity surges far outside of the UK, with the city welcoming an astonishing 8.9 million visitors every year, according to findings from  MakeItYork . 

But it’s not just folk of today that consider it the perfect travel destination for York Experiences! 2000 years ago, the Romans had the same idea, they loved it so much they settled in 71AD naming the city Eboracum. It didn’t stop there either, the Vikings followed suit when they invaded in 866AD, renaming it Jorvik. 

But let’s face it, because York is such a picturesque, atmospheric city and is so widely known for being so amazing it can get rather…busy. For a large chunk of the year.   

When you are caught up in the hustle and bustle of exploring a city, it’s only too easy to feel a little lost, overwhelmed and tired in such a busy environment, and what started as a fun action-packed day can end up falling a little…flat. Those that find a full day shopping with horrible lighting, an overcrowded noisy atmosphere plus being on your feet all day will know what I’m talking about. So, why not stay ahead of the race and break the day up, relax and find your bearings again with a relaxing river Cruise!  

Fancy spending a couple of days in York too? I wouldn’t blame you, we’ve got you covered with our York Short Break For Two plus River Cruise with our WonderDays Black Friday offers you don’t want to miss.

 Sounds fab – tell me about the cruise! 

On your chilled 45-minute cruise down the River Ouse, you’ll told fascinating tales and stories, cherrypicked from York’s vibrant and varied history. Keep your eyes peeled for the hauntingly beautiful Gothic architectural splendour of the York Minster, (and any goths taking selfies by it!) The proud Medieval Fortress Clifford’s Tower can be located in the distance, and you’ll spot the York medieval city walls, known for being the longest town walls in England stretching roughly 2 miles!  

Snacks and drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks) are available to purchase on board so if you want to kick back with a nice crisp cold one or raise a glass to Richard III, you can! 

If you don’t mind the hustle and bustle in the day and prefer to wind down come early evening, then we’ve got you covered with our Early Evening York river Cruise. It’s not just for those visiting either, it’s a lovely way for those born and bred in Yorkshire to explore their home county in a way that they may not have seen it before!                   

I’m onboard -who, what, when and where?    

You’ll be relieved to know our river cruises don't break the bank – children £9 each (aged 5-15 years) and adults £15 each (16+) children under 4 go free.  

Evening Cruise availability is good, and bookings can even be made within 24 – 48 hours sailing from King’s Staith Landing. Cruises run from April to end of September. 

Boarding 19:00 Setting Sail: 19:30 Disembarking: 20:30 with a 45 min cruise 

All boats have bar and restroom facilities available on board – with cash and card accepted. 

Not all the boats/docks can accommodate wheelchairs, and wheelchair access boarding is only available at the Kings Staith Landing dock. You would need to let the bookings team know if anyone in your group required wheelchair access at the time of booking.  

You’ve convinced me to embark on a getaway to York -tell me about the hotel! 

You can choose either a 1- or 2-night stay in a 3-star hotel, with the opportunity to choose your favourite hotel room from the 3 best rooms available for your requested dates.  

We want for you to have the best time on your mini break, so we strive to make our bookings as stress-free as we can. WonderDays will send your voucher and booking instructions over, and the hotel bookings team normally get in touch following you reaching out to them with your booking request within 24 hours. Signed, sealed and delivered yes indeed. 

There are slight variations between hotels, but your hotel room will be sure to include: 

• Private en-suite bathroom 
• Bath towels 
• Hairdryer 
• Tea/coffee making facilities 
• Flat screen TV 
• Free WiFi 
• Telephone 
• Iron/ironing board 

There are lots of amazing things to do and see in York, so if you are planning a little getaway and looking for inspiration, or wishing to make the most of our Black Friday WonderDays sale cast your eyes over our locations tab to see what wonders await in Yorkshire.