A view of the city from the City Walls
Since my partner is on holiday from work for two weeks, we decided to head up to York for a short break. I’d been before, but I was quite young and didn’t remember anything about it other than the Jorvik Centre.
On revisiting, it’s surprising that I didn’t remember any of it at all.
The Shambles; one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in the country
York has an incredible amount of history and charm. The city has done an excellent job at preserving its buildings, with topsy-turvy medieval buildings dominating the city centre. The winding cobbled streets can keep any explorer of the city occupied for hours, always with some new street or quaint alleyway to be discovered.
It’s impossible to go to York and not experience the grandeur and sheer scale of York Minster. The medieval cathedral, built on the site of a Norman church, itself built on a Roman fortress, is immense in size and beautifully decorated. Sadly, the end of one wing was obscured by scaffolding, but it’s understandable that a building of this age takes a lot of work to keep in such good condition. The Chapter House is particularly stunning.
The awe-inspiring interior of York Minster
The City Walls are another attraction. They surround the city centre, and are easily accessible to the public. They command excellent views of the city, and particularly of the Minster. They make for a fairly easy stroll, though the stairs to reach them are rather steep and narrow. A must-see for any visitor.
As well as its focus on history, York has an abundance of tea-rooms and cafés. Yes, there are the usual Starbucks and Costas, but there are many independent places to enjoy a cream tea or a sandwich. There are also numerous second-hand bookshops, something other cities seem to lack. It’s a wonderful experience to wander around the small shops crammed to the ceiling with old books, even if one doesn’t buy anything.
On the edge of the city centre is the National Railway Museum, which contains a wide collection of engines. Amongst their exhibits is a Bullet Train, a working turntable, and they are currently working on restoring the Flying Scotsman; the workshop is available to the public for viewing. The museum has free admission, and is an excellent way to spend a few hours for any age.
The rain only acted to enhance York's charm.
The weather wasn’t ideal for sightseeing, but the rain we had did nothing to put us off enjoying the city to its fullest. In the evening, the wet cobbles reflected the streetlamps, and only added to the old charm of the city.
York was a fascinating and enjoyable trip. Two nights wasn’t really enough to see all the sights, but we did a fairly good job at seeing what we could. The size of the city is such that it’s easy to get from place to place on foot; it takes around half an hour to walk from one side of the city to the other, and there is much to see on the way. I will definitely return to this charming city.
