Visiting York.

It’s many years since we visited York so when friends Carol and David emailed to say we are going to York in June, Edinburgh in August and again at Hogmanay why don’t you join us? We jumped at June and August but decided that to return from warm sunny Portugal to go to cold wet/snowy Scotland for New Year was a step to far. Site bookings were made in early October 2012 so it was with excitement that when the day arrived we set off for Caravan Clubs York Rowntree Site., which is just a couple of minutes walk from the city centre.

A couple of weeks before we went we found on the Internet details of a “York Pass” this gave free or reduced price entry into many of York’s attractions, the Three Day Pass, as it’s name suggests, offers it’s favours for three consecutive days giving a potential of saving (if you were able to sightsee for 72 hours straight) of well over £100 over the cost of the York Pass.

We visited so many attractions in York that I don’t intend to describe each but will list them below with links to their web sites with, perhaps, a personal comment or two.

In no particular order: -

ϖThe York Minster. This is obviously at the top of every visitor’s “to do” list. There is a charge to get in and other charges to access some particular areas.

ϖBedern Glaziers Studio. This guided tour/lecture starts in York Minster where the Great East Window has been removed for conservation and continues at the Bedern Glaziers Studio where the actual conservation work is carried out. This is a fascinating tour that leaves you almost breathless at the skills of both the ancient craftsmen who originally made the windows and the dedicated team of craftswomen who are painstakingly restoring and conserving them. Without this experience few people visiting The Orb East Window display would know they were looking at priceless conserved windowpanes and not facsimiles.

ϖBarley Hall. A medieval town house.

ϖYork’s CHOCOLATE Story. Entertaining and informative guided tour through the history of chocolate making in York, and more to the point is making your own chocolate lolly and eating lots of samples.

ϖClifford’s Tower.

ϖFairfax House. Extensively adapted in the twentieth century as a cinema and dance hall, Fairfax House was saved from decay and returned to its former glory by York Civic Trust in 1982-84.

ϖJORVIK Viking Centre. Built on the site where between 1976 and 1981 archaeologists unearthed 40,000 Viking-age artifacts.

ϖMerchant Adventurers’ Hall. Construction began in 1357 this medieval building is, some 650 years later, still owned by the same company as when built.

ϖMicklegate Bar Museum. Situated on the route of the wall walk Micklegate Bar has stood sentinel for over 800 years.

ϖTreasurers House.

ϖYork Castle Museum. This was a museum that could have amused me for days rather than hours it’s GREAT. Such a pity that when the various leaflets etc. says the museum closes at 5:00pm it should say that the museum, shop, café etc closes at 4:30pm and the staff try to push you out the doors at 4:45pm so that they can be gone by 5:00pm. It left a slightly sour taste so make sure you get there early.

ϖThe York Dungeon. Another super attraction, I have visited The London Dungeon (OK I know it was ten years ago) and this was far superior. David was locked in a cell and threatened with a high voice and Carol was burned at the stake for witchcraft.

ϖGhost Hunt of York. At the stroke of half past seven the Victorian guide, complete with frock coat, top hat and Gladstone bag manifests at the bottom of The Shambles at the start of 75 or so minutes of fun and entertainment.

Our week in York absolutely whistled by, and the three days that the passes were valid was “full on” to say the least. Should we go again we would try to slow things down by trying to pull what I would think is a quite legal flanker. A number of the events allow repeat entry after paying once so if you activate the passes on day one and at the venues that allow repeat leave immediately returning when the passes have expired, this way you should be able to make the three day passes last four or five days.