The York Student Guide: York City Centre

About the author: Our SEO Content Exec Morgan Toft has lived all over the place – originally from Hull, she went to uni at York’s own University of York and had a quick stint in Middlesbrough before settling down in Sheffield for her master’s degree at the University of Sheffield. With no intentions of leaving Sheffield any time soon, she’s spent a lot of time around Ecclesall Road, Highfield, the city centre, and beyond.

York may be a small city, but that certainly doesn’t mean there’s a lack of things to do in the city centre. This area is famously popular amongst the student population of York, with scholars spilling out onto the streets in their droves come Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

That being said, there’s way more to York city centre than its buzzing nightlife. With a plethora of restaurants and shops, cafés and gardens, there’s always something to do in York no matter the time of the day – making it oh-so tempting to up sticks and live amongst both the tourists and the office-goers in student accommodation in York’s city centre.

If you’ve become enamoured with the idea of living in the heart of York (or maybe you just want to know more about what the centre has to offer in general), here’s everything you need to know about this vibrant area.

The location

Bordered on all sides by medieval walls, the city centre lies in the middle of historic York. Its central location makes it easily accessible from both York St John University and the University of York, both by foot and by bus – in fact, UoY handily has its own bus routes that transport you directly from Campus East and Campus West all the way to city centre locations such as Merchantgate.

For reference, it takes around 30-40 minutes to walk from Central Hall at UoY to Merchantgate (a lovely walk that takes you past the rabbits by biology and, in the spring, the daffodils over by Walmgate walls), and approximately 15-20 minutes to walk from YSJ to Piccadilly.

The shops

There are a handful of local shops dotted around York city centre – take the Co-op at The Stonebow or the Sainsbury’s Local at Picadilly, for example – but you’ll have to travel further afield for big stores where you can do your weekly shop.

When it comes to treating yourself, however, the city centre is definitely the place to be. There are a few main shopping streets (see Coney Street, Parliament Street, Coppergate and Stoneygate) that are home to iconic brands like Primark, Urban Outfitters and JD Sports, whereas The Shambles and The Shambles Market are mazes of independent retailers who sell anything and everything from clothing to flowers and homeware.

Charity shopping in York city centre is a good shout, too; largely spanning Fossgate and Goodramgate, these second-hand shops are treasure troves filled to the brim with both vintage goods and designer brands. In fact, the British Red Cross at the top of Walmgate often receives brand-new donations from Zara, making shopping the latest trends cheaper and more sustainable than ever.

The nightlife

Historical learning experience by day, bustling party hotspot by night – what can’t York do? Seriously, York city centre is a haven for nights out, with its cobbled streets favoured by students and hen parties alike.

There are loads of venues to suit all tastes and preferences; if you like a classic student-night-out experience, head down to The Postern Gate Wetherspoon to start your night off right, before checking into one of York’s many clubs. Club Salvation and Jalou are particularly popular on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

If you’d rather sit down with a cocktail (or several) on your night out, pop on over to York icons Dusk and The Lowther. Arrived too late and can’t find yourself a table? Famous bars like Las Iguanas, Slug and Lettuce and Manahatta have your back, with their large venues able to accommodate party sizes ranging from dating duos to society soirees.

If you consider yourself to be ‘not like other uni students’, Stone Roses and Blue Box at The Drawing Board are here to save you. With their dedication to Brit pop, indie bangers and emo nights, they’re an alt-music lover’s paradise.

The food

York city centre is undeniably a foodie's heaven. No matter where you turn, you’ll be able to find cuisines from every culture and an array of restaurants to suit all tastes. Undeniable favourites amongst students include The Shambles Market – head here for burgers at Taylor Made Kitchen, Nasi Goreng at NaNa Noodle Bar, and crepes at Krep – and Spark, a shipping-container-complex filled with independent food retailers and bars.

Student housing

The student housing selection in York city centre mainly consists of cosy studio apartments and 1- or 2-bed flats and maisonettes – anything that can fit over a shop, really. Don’t let the size of these York student accommodation options put you off though, as they’re perfect for close mates who want to live at the centre of the action as well as for couples who’re ready to take their relationship to the next level.

That being said, city centre living does come with a price tag. Properties in this area tend to be more expensive than what you’d find elsewhere in York due to the low number of occupants, with city centre houses on the UniHomes website costing anywhere up to £278.40 PPPW compared to the £229.50-PPPW-average rents you can find along Hull Road. Don’t forget that renting via UniHomes is all inclusive, meaning that any rent prices you see on the UniHomes site cover the cost of utilities, WiFi and TV license too.

Popularity

This area is quite popular for student housing in York; out of the 14 areas in York that UniHomes operates in, the city centre experiences the third-highest demand during the student letting season. Admittedly, it is a close tie between Hull Road and the city centre (with neither of these areas being as sought-after as Heslington), but it’s still worth bearing in mind that competition can get pretty fierce when it comes to house hunting in the centre.

There’s so much more to York city centre than what’s on this page; from vast museums to secret gardens, hidden bookshops to open-top boat rides, the only way to discover everything that York has to offer is to go out and explore it yourself.

Find student accommodation in York

At UniHomes our goal is to make the student house-hunting experience as easy as possible, which is why we work with a wide range of letting agents and landlords to showcase York city centre’s best student accommodation from across the market in one convenient place. What’s more, all properties featured on our site have utility bills already included, giving you one less thing to worry about!

Whilst you’re out having fun in your new uni city, remember that UniHomes promotes responsible drinking, and any alcohol products featured within this article are for ages 18+.