Is York, UK a Good Place to Live? Why We Chose to Settle in This Beautiful City

Is York, UK a Good Place to Live? Here’s why we moved our family of five to this historic city!

When we first started thinking about relocating to the UK, York wasn’t on our list. But after a scouting trip and a lot of research, we realized York had everything we needed—and more. Here’s why we chose this beautiful, historic city to make our home in England.

York is a Living Museum

For any history lover, York is a dream come true. York was settled by the Romans in 71 AD, who established it as a military fortress called Eboracum. The city quickly grew to become an important center of Roman Britain. After the Romans left, York became a significant Viking settlement in the 9th century, known as Jorvik.

The city’s rich past is woven into every street, building, and corner. The York City Walls are some of the best-preserved medieval walls in Europe, offer stunning views of the city and a unique walking experience. In fact, I was walking on the city walls when I came across this view of the Minster and knew right then that I had this was the place for us.

After we moved to York, our weekend ritual was take our morning coffee on a walk around the entire length of the walls, and we would discover something new every time. You could wander this study this city for a lifetime and never know all of it’s secrets.

Top For Safety in the UK

When we were trying to decide if York would be a good place to live, safety was at the top of our list for considerations. York is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the UK. With one daughter going to ‘uni’ at York St. John and another teen daughter who would be walking home from school, safety was a top priority.

Whether I am walking to work early in he morning or walking home on the cobbled streets at night, I always feel safe in York. It’s one of the reasons we felt at home here right away.

Endless Shops, Cafes, and Restaurants

When you think of charming cafés, Italy and France might be the first places that come to mind, but the UK’s café scene holds its own. In York, shop windows are lined with some of the most delicious pastries and cakes we had ever tasted.

One of our favorite ways to relax after work was to get a pastry and coffee from Brew and Brownie, and walk right across the across the street to enjoy it in the beautiful Museum Gardens.

On the weekend, York really comes to life! Because York is a university city, there are countless bars and nightclubs to chose from. If you’re in York on the weekend, make sure to stop by the Shambles Market, which has been a part of the city since the 14th century. You can pick up a beautiful bouquet and try our favorite spot in the Shambles Food Court- NaNa’s Noodle Bar!

York also had a fantastic mix of independent shops and boutiques. Our of my favorites places to spend a rainy afternoon is the Minster Gate Bookshop, housed in a historic building that dates back to the 16th century, making it over 400 years old!

The shop spans three stories, with each level offering a unique collection of secondhand books. Specializing in rare and out-of-print titles, as well as local history and vintage editions, it’s a beloved spot for book lovers looking for something special.

One of the Best Locations in the UK

As far as location goes, I don’t think you can beat York! It’s located approximately halfway between London and Edinburgh, with a train journey to London taking around 2 hours and a train to Edinburgh taking about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Leeds Bradford Airport is about 25 minutes by train from York, offering easy and cheap connections to mainland Europe. All of this made York the perfect home base for our adventure overseas.

On the weekend we would often go down to London to spend the day exploring the British Museum or the National Gallery, or the up to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and it was magical!

Additionally, the Yorkshire coast is roughly a 1 hour drive from York, offering easy access to beautiful beaches. It was the first time we had ever lived that close to the water we took advantage of it all year long!

York’s Crown Jewel- The York Minster Cathedral

The York Minster is located right in the heart of the city, making it impossible to miss. Its towering spires dominate the skyline as you wander through the historic streets of York.

Recently voted the most beautiful building in the UK, it is a stunning example of Gothic architecture and one of the largest catherals in Europe. It has stood in York for over 1,300 years!

As residents of York, we were lucky to have had free access to the Minster- a privilege we never took for granted. It was incredible to be able to visit this magnificent cathedral as often as we liked, studying its intricate details and and deep history one afternoon at a time.

While visitors often wait in long lines for hours to get inside, we got to enjoy it slowly, discovering something new each time. Having such a historic and beautiful landmark right on our doorstop is just another reason we are so happy with our decision to settle in York.

If you’re still wondering if York, UK is a good place to live, take it from someone who gave up everything to make it home—it absolutely is! Have you been to York? Tell me your thoughts in the comments!