York is one of the most visited cities in England. Given its wide variety of attractions it is little wonder that it is such a popular destination for such a vast number of foreign tourists. Its location in the north east of England also make it a great base for trips to the North Yorkshire Moors and the coast.
GETTING THERE
York is on the main east coast rail line and is therefore just under two hours from London and around three hours from Edinburgh. It also has good rail links with the rest of the country. Much of the city’s industry was formerly based around the railways.
Road access is a little more difficult with dual carriageways if you are lucky!
SIGHTSEEING IN THE CITY
The City Walls
As soon as you step foot out of the railway station you can see the medieval walls which surround the historic centre of the city.
One of the best ways to familiarise yourself with the city is to take a stroll around the city walls and admire the views. It is a 2 1/2 mile walk but well worth the effort. The best time to go is early in the morning when there are less tourists around. As you walk around the walls you can see the York of days gone by.
Jorvik Viking Centre
An interesting place for adults and children alike. Children in particular will be fascinated by the smells, noises, scenes from Viking life and the car travelling back in time. You can also see some of the findings of various digs around the city.This is another place that you should visit early just to avoid standing in a huge queue.
York Minster
The Minster is Britain`s largest gothic cathedral. It is well worth climbing the 275 steps of the central tower for a view of the city. The Minster has been renovated after a huge fire in the 80’s which was caused by a lightening strike.
The National Railway Museum
It is the world`s biggest railway museum and has recently had a new wing added. The exhibits range from Royal carriages and giant steam engines to Eurostar and miniature railway rides. The collection of exhibits is so vast that it has to be rotated from time to time. As a child I was always fascinated by the museum and even as an adult I still find it interesting.
The Castle Museum
This is another chance to take s trip back in time. There is a Victorian street recreated and you can also visit Dick Turpin’s prison cell.
SHOPPING
As well as the numerous historic sites and museums to visit, York also has some excellent shopping facilities. You will find many of the chain store names plus some smaller boutique type shops. It is also worth a visit to one of the out of town shopping centres such as McArthur Glen (where you can find discounted designer names) and Monks Cross where there are larger versions of the High Street chains.
EATING AND DRINKING
There is a wide variety of places to dine in but probably the most famous is Betty’s. The best bet is to head here for afternoon tea. There are a wide variety of teas and coffees to choose from plus an excellent array of cakes. This is is the kind of place where the customer does come first.
There are numerous bars and pubs in the city that are well worth a visit too such as The Pitcher & Piano and The Slug& Lettuce.
WARNING
When there has been a lot of heavy rain the city can get flooded.
SUMMARY
The city has many attractions to keep you occupied for a few days, or for those who live close enough several day trips. The amazing thing about the city is that no matter how many times you visit, you can always find something new