After a brief stop over in London to get over the jet lag, we picked up our hire car and headed North to York. Famous for it’s Minster (the largest in Northern Europe – yep, bigger than Westminster Abbey) and it’s ancient history, York is a charming town with plenty to offer.

One of the first and most obvious things to notice as you enter York is the old city walls, almost all in tact. The walls were started by the Romans in 71AD however only fragments of the original walls remain (a miracle that any do really!) with most of what you see today constructed from the 12th – 14th century. Of course repairs and modifications have been made in more recent times. Walking along the walls was my favourite thing we did in all of York. It was so easy to imagine life hundreds of years ago, looking out over the walls watching for threat of invasion. The steps leading up to the walls were worn from years of footsteps.

The Museum gardens in town made for a lovely spot for a break from walking the wall, and also offered a glimpse of the Roman history. The below wall in the picture was built as part of the Roman fort ‘Eboracum’ around 300BC!

The ruins of St Mary’s Abbey are another feature resting in the gardens. What you see today are the remnants of a once grand cathedral. Almost eerie in their resilience, the archways maintain an air of grandeur, despite the rubble.

No trip to York would be complete without a visit to York Minster. This building too has it’s origins in ancient Roman history although today, is renown as an iconic example of gothic architecture. With it’s intricate details and decadent decorations, it is a beautiful place to visit. For an extra fee you can climb the steep and narrow staircase all the way to the top for uninterrupted views over York and the surrounding area.

If heights are not your thing, do not fret – there is plenty more to see in York. The Viking museum gave a glimpse into life in York at the time of the Nordic occupation. While aimed for kids, the museum preserves the remains of a viking city accidentally uncovered during a development project.

York  is more than history, it is pretty too. Home to ‘the shambles’, a former meat market, which is now a skinny tourist strip lined by wonky tudor buildings. The quirks and leans of the buildings feel although they have been drawn in a cartoon! Although overpriced food and souvenirs is now the order of the day, the charm of the street makes it worth a walk through.

Lastly, as you would expect in England, York was home to many fabulous pubs. My definition of a fabulous pub is one that it has hanging baskets overflowing with brightly coloured flowers.

I couldn’t get enough!

I would highly recommend a visit to York for any visit to England. It offers plenty of history, ruins, quirky tudor atmosphere, good shops, delightful cafes, good food and all away from the crowds of London.

Thanks for having us Old York!