Wheelwrights York
Contact us or call
Contact us or call
Welcome to Friends of Wheelwrights – York and our curated selection of local places and experiences we’re proud to recommend to our guests. As long‑time residents with deep roots in the York area, we know the city and its surroundings inside out. Over the years we’ve built strong, trusted relationships with local eateries, attractions, services and experiences that we love to share with you. These connections help you make the most of your stay, from great food and drink to unique days out and trusted local support. Explore our recommendations below and enjoy your time in and around historic York.
Welcome to Indie York – a vibrant community of over 200 independent businesses that make York such a unique place to live, work, and explore. From quirky shops and bustling cafes to specialist stalls and innovative restaurants, York is home to an eclectic mix of locally owned businesses that truly capture the city’s character. As a proud member of this community, we’re excited to share our favourite spots with you, so you can experience the best the city has to offer.
Whether you’re discovering the charming indie ‘quarters’ like Fossgate, The Shambles, or Micklegate, or exploring hidden gems along Gillygate and Bootham, there’s always something special to be found. Indie York is here to support and showcase these businesses, and we’re thrilled to offer our guests a chance to experience the very best of York beyond the high street.
Contact: hello@indieyork.co.uk
Discover York’s rich history on foot with engaging walks and trails supported by York Civic Trust, a long‑standing local charity dedicated to celebrating and preserving the city’s heritage. While the Trust has traditionally offered a range of self‑guided heritage walks based around commemorative plaques and themed routes, its current resources focus on helping you explore the city’s architectural, cultural and historical highlights at your own pace. You can enjoy several Trust Trails that take you through characters and stories from Literary York to Artistic, Scientific and Radical York via self‑guided routes around the city centre. These are accessible online for use on your smartphone or tablet, or can be downloaded before you set out, making them perfect for visitors wanting to uncover York’s fascinating past while enjoying a walk.
York Civic Trust also maintains an extensive collection of commemorative plaques marking people, places and events that have shaped the city’s story. Use these markers as starting points for your own exploratory walks and uncover hidden gems in York’s streets, buildings and public spaces.
Wheelwrights York is proud to partner with the York Conservation Trust to offer guests the opportunity to stay in some of the city’s most beautiful and historic properties. These properties, which have been expertly restored by the Trust, offer a unique glimpse into York’s past, all while providing modern comforts for a memorable stay.
The collaboration between Wheelwrights and the Trust allows us to offer a carefully curated selection of these properties as holiday lets, ensuring that our guests can enjoy not only a comfortable and unique stay but also the privilege of experiencing York’s rich architectural heritage. These buildings, some dating back hundreds of years, have been carefully preserved and renovated, offering guests the chance to stay in properties that blend history with modern living.
Wheelwrights handles the booking and guest services, making it easy for you to enjoy these one-of-a-kind properties, while the York Conservation Trust continues its vital work of maintaining and restoring York’s heritage buildings.
Based in the heart of York near the iconic Minster, the Visit York Visitor Information Centre is your go‑to place for expert local knowledge and trip planning. Friendly staff can help you with attraction recommendations, transport advice, places to eat, shopping tips and events happening during your stay. They also stock free leaflets, maps and guides to help you make the most of your time in York.
The centre also sells the Visit York Pass, the city’s official sightseeing pass that provides entry to more than 30 top attractions — from York Minster and JORVIK Viking Centre to York Dungeon, Clifford’s Tower, museums, tours and more — all for one great price. It’s a handy way to save on individual admission prices and tailor your itinerary while you explore York on foot. Visit York Visitor Information Centre also offers ticket sales, bus passes and an accommodation booking desk if you need help finding somewhere to stay.
Contact: 01904 909487
Yorkshire Vehicle Hire offers the perfect way to bring out your inner adventurer with their fleet of Land Rover Defenders. Based in the heart of North Yorkshire, near the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Vehicle Hire provides bespoke rental services, including self-drive adventures, camping trips, and wedding car services.
Whether you’re planning a two-day micro-adventure in the North York Moors or a two-week exploration of the Lake District, their Land Rover Defenders are designed for versatility and adventure. The rugged and iconic Defender is perfect for traversing any terrain, with a permanent four-wheel drive system offering optimum traction.
In addition to standard rentals, Yorkshire Vehicle Hire also offers unique services like Defender Camping, where you can rent a Land Rover Defender equipped with a rooftop tent for the ultimate outdoor experience. From a romantic getaway to a fun family trip, these vehicles offer comfort, ruggedness, and adventure in one package.
For those seeking a bespoke touch, they also provide Wedding Hire, tailored to create an unforgettable experience, and TV, Film & Photoshoot rentals to add a unique element to your project.
Contact: info@yorkshirevehiclehire.co.uk
Partisan is a delightful independent bistro and coffee shop with a loyal following, quickly gaining recognition in the Good Food Guide 2019. Located on Micklegate, York, Partisan is known for its relaxed ambiance and commitment to serving great food. Owners Hugo and Florencia, along with their fantastic team, have created a space that’s not just about dining, but about community and creativity.
Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and afternoon tea every day of the week, Partisan offers a varied and delicious menu perfect for any time of day. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, they also provide casual dining with a seasonal evening menu that’s just as tempting. Whether you’re dropping in for a coffee or enjoying a full meal, Partisan is the place to relax and indulge.
Partisan is also a vibrant arts space, regularly hosting exhibitions for both local and national artists. The bistro doubles as a gallery, with a curated selection of art, furniture, and objects available for purchase. Many of the items displayed are for sale and can be found on their online shop or directly in the bistro. If you’re interested in making a purchase, simply ask a member of staff for assistance or reach out to them online.
Address: 112 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX
Contact: 112partisan@gmail.com
Parallel is a mapping and data visualisation business that works with interactive map technologies. While their core work focuses on data‑led interactive mapping and bespoke visualisation tools for organisations, there is a fantastic interactive York 1852 map resource online that lets you explore the city’s historic layout. This map stitches together georeferenced scans of an 1852 survey of York so you can view historic street patterns overlaid with the modern layout while exploring on your mobile phone — making it a brilliant companion for discovering York’s history on foot.
You will also be able to pick up a map from our office, produced by the Historic Towns Trust, that provides a wealth of additional historic information to accompany this.
