York is a city best known for three things: a cathedral, some castle walls, and a winding Diagon Alley-esque street called 'The Shambles'. I don't deny the beauty or uniqueness of any one of these features; York Minster is undoubtedly breathtaking, the City Wall Walk is a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon, and The Shambles is host to a myriad of quirky little shops and cafes to amble round.
However, if you're a resident, a student, or even an avid day-tripper, then you should already be familiar with the notion that York's big touristy attractions can lose their appeal quite quickly. Not to fear; this is why I have compiled a short list of slightly unusual things to do around the city, when The Shambles Market just isn't doing it for you anymore.
Visit Dick Turpin's grave. Admittedly, this one might not be for everyone. However, you don't have to be a huge history nerd (or know the entirety of the Horrible Histories song off by heart, though it could help) to appreciate this little gem, tucked away in the graveyard of St. George's Church - conveniently down the road from the big Wetherspoons. Why not bring some friends together, stand awkwardly around the grave, take a photo just to prove you've been to the grave, then go and sink a few underpriced, oversaturated pitchers?
Follow the York Cat Trail around the city. A fairly genteel task that gets you round all the main streets of York, but in a less haphazard way than if you tried to do it off your own back. Walking around and trying to spot miniature statues of cats on buildings may not be to everyone's taste, but at the very least it'll get your step count up and keep any children you may be unfortunately encumbered with entertained.
Get an ice-cream (or sorbet) on the ice cream boat. York has an ice cream boat. It's like an ice cream van, except it is a boat. Fairly self-explanatory, the 'Two Hoots' ice cream boat floats by the bank of the River Ouse. Situated right by Millennium Bridge, it's incredibly easy to access from the city centre, and serves as the perfect stop-off on a hot day. Although I'm not a huge fan of ice-cream (hang me!), I have found my preferred refreshment in the form of various sorbets. So far, my favourite has to be raspberry, although mango comes in at a close second.
Find a new favourite pub; befriend the landlord until you're on 'discounted drinks' terms. Now, this one has the potential to involve drinking in excess - but if you find yourself up to the challenge then it's great fun. Of course, to discover your new favourite pub, you will likely have to try a lot of them out. Luckily, York is home to around 400 pubs, so you should be able to find something you like. Some personal recommendations include The House of Trembling Madness (excellent decor), The Three Tuns (cosy, village pub vibes) and The Fossgate Social (hipster bar, serves nice cocktails). Once you've nailed it down, try to get on speaking terms with the landlord as quickly as possible - failing that, a bartender or two. Before you know it, you'll be faced with reduced prices and the honourable title of 'one of our regulars'. And what could be more rewarding than that?
Take the piss in the fancy-dress shop. Please note 'the', not 'a'. Goodramgate is home to a pretty decent fancy-dress shop, called 'Festival of Fun'. Over the past year, it has proven to be one of mine and my friends' favourite ways to waste an afternoon. Aided and abetted by the flatmate who befriended the woman behind the counter, their upward-of-an-hour conversations allow the rest of us to steal upstairs and try on a wealth of animal masks, occupational hats and wigs with racial undertones. If that isn't enough to tickle your fancy, there's plenty of luminous feather boas that will.
So there it is - my (by no means comprehensive) list of slightly unusual things you can do in York, either after or in place of more conventional activities. I can also recommend a city-wide pub crawl, a trip round the big M&S, or a boogie with the guy who is always dancing inanely outside of the big M&S.