Wednesday 19 March 2014

A Day Out In York

One of my challenges this year is to do something nice for me each month. I spend so much time running around after the rest of the family, or doing things to suit them that I thought it was time that I start pleasing myself sometimes.

We've been having some problems with our internet connection, so an appointment had been made for an engineer to come out and take a look on Saturday, a bit of a wasted day really, so I made up my mind that Mick could wait in for him to arrive and I'd take myself off for a jaunt in York.

We usually drive and park the car at the park and ride, getting a bus in to the centre, but on Saturday, I took the train. From York station, I decided to walk straight up to the minster and have a look around that area.


As I walked towards the minster, I could see the west front.


It's such a huge building and can be seen from many areas around the city.

I popped in to Deans Park, by the side of the minster, to get a better look at the north side.


The south transept contains the famous rose window.


Some of the stained glass in York Minster dates back to the 12th century.


There was plenty going on by the river on Saturday, I stood and watched from Lendal Bridge for a little while.


It was a bit overcast and quite windy, but the weather was still good enough to enjoy a walk. I thought I'd walk the city walls. York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. There are some good views of the minster from this height.


I passed by the river again.


The walls are punctuated by four main gatehouses or 'bars'. Monk Bar was built in the early 14th century and is the tallest of the four bars. It still has a working portcullis.


Micklegate Bar was the traditional ceremonial gate for monarchs entering the city. Traitors' severed heads were displayed on the defences here. One of those heads left to rot was Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, the father of Richard III.


It was time for a snack so I found a little cafe and treated myself to a cup of tea and a jam doughnut. I shouldn't have done really as I'm trying to lose some weight, but in the true spirit of doing something nice for myself, I didn't care. I didn't visit Betty's, probably the most famous tea rooms in York, but plenty of people did, a long queue was snaking its way down the pavement.


After a short break, it was time to hit the shops. I love York for its shopping experience, there's all the large department stores here, but also lots of independent shops too.


I always head for the Shambles, I like all the little gift shops which are down this old street.


Some of the overhanging timber-framed buildings date back to the fourteenth century.


The houses are so close together that it's said you can hold hands across the street out of the upstairs windows.


There's a lovely wool shop in the Shambles named Ramshambles. They stock a good range of yarns, including local brands.


I love a good market and York's Newgate Market offers something for everyone. It stands just to the side of the Shambles.


York was captured by the Vikings and became known as Jorvik. Now, the Jorvik Viking Centre is a very popular visitor attraction. Between 1976 and 1981 excavations revealed houses, workshops and backyards of the Viking-Age city as it stood nearly 1000 years ago, and the centre is built on the place where the excavations took place. I haven't been to the centre since I was a schoolgirl, but it's on my list of places to visit, I think I'm due a return trip.


There's some very old buildings in York, but the earliest row of houses still surviving in the city is Our Lady's Row. They date from 1316.



As well as some buildings being old, some are really beautiful or quirky. I think part of York's charm is the architecture.





I had a wonderful day doing my own thing, but I was shattered after all the walking I did. I slept well that night.

30 comments:

  1. Beautiful architecture Jo and the painted front on the National Gift Shop is a lovely colour.
    Its a perfect way to spend the day by oneself...
    And to add I'm a little jealous of the green grass, we've still got snow.
    Susan x

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    1. I enjoy looking at all the different styles of buildings in York, as you say, there's some beautiful architecture. I should have taken a photo of the banks at the side of the walls, lush green grass with daffodils bobbing about in the wind, fabulous.

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  2. York is one of my favourite places. We used to go there alot at one time. York Cathedral is one of number 3's favourites. He even has it as his screen wallpaper on his laptop. I have visited Ramshambles many times and bought some beautiful wool from there. I loved looking at all your photo's as I knew exactly where all the places were that you had photographed. I will have to try and get there again at some stage it's too beautiful not to go back. Glad you are enjoying your treats.

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    1. I love York too, I'm lucky having such a beautiful city on my doorstep. York Minster is an impressive building, it's a shame that they've started to charge for admission, it's quite expensive if a family want to have a look around. Ramshambles is a lovely shop and you're always made so welcome there, even if you're just browsing.

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  3. York is an amazing city... AMAZING! Mind you it's been about 22 years since I have been there! But I will make it up there again.
    Also... I think it's a fantastic idea that you have decided to take time out just for you, it will make you a better mother and a better person.
    Much love to you and I hope you're having a great week!
    Tammy x

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    1. I love cities with so much history, and there's something in York for everyone. It has fabulous architecture, beautiful gardens, interesting museums and fantastic shopping. I'm enjoying doing something for me each month.

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful day of doing what you liked Jo!! Glad that you took some time for yourself. xx

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    1. It's very rare that I have a day out like this on my own so it made such a change. I'm definitely going to do it more often.

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  5. I've always enjoyed visiting York, although it's been a long time since I was last there, so I really enjoyed this post. Flighty xx

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    1. There's so much to see and do in York, I don't think I'd ever tire of it no matter how many times I visit.

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  6. I love York Jo. Not sure I would have gone on my own though,you're braver than me!

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    1. It's not much further away than Leeds is for me, and I know my way around well enough. It's good to have a choice of two cities to visit on my doorstep.

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  7. One of my best friends is getting married in York on Saturday. I am very sad that I can't be there since I am a 5000 mile, 7 day journey away. Thanks for letting me have a walk round her patch! xx

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    1. What a shame you can't be there, though it isn't a shame really, you're in a beautiful part of the world yourself. I hope the weather holds out for your friend's big day, what a beautiful city to get married in.

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  8. Oh, now that made me homesick again, as we visit York each time we come over and "your" history lesson was just great. Can I come on your next visit to see Yorvik Viking Centre? (giggle) Thanks and take care.

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    1. It would be great if we could visit Jorvik Viking Centre together, wouldn't it? I remember the excavation work being carried out, I was at school then. I remember visiting not long afterwards and it was really interesting.

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  9. Lots of places I know so very well.
    The buildings on Goodramgate (the ones with the overhanging upper floors) were apparently built like that as a way of avoiding tax, because tax was only charged on ground floor space.
    And, that half-timbered overhang (next to the National Trust shop), is what's left of covered bridge used by the Vicars Choral to walk to the Minster from their lodgings in Bedern - thus avoiding 'the temptations of the street!!'
    I love, love, love the place.
    JIll xx

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    1. I didn't know about the overhang next to the National Trust shop, I must take a bit more notice of it next time I go to York. It's such an interesting place with so much history.

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  10. York is one of my favourite places to visit, Jo. Mind you, it can be scary for us Scots because, apparently, it's still law that Scots people can be shot with a bow and arrow on a Sunday! Eeeek! :oD

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    1. Goodness, I didn't know that. Perhaps you should keep your York visits to a weekday just to be on the safe side.

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  11. This looks like such a wonderful day, Jo. I'm so glad you took the time to do something nice for yourself. It's so important. I would love to visit here someday, it looks so interesting. I absolutely love the Tudor architecture.

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    1. It's a long time since I've spent time like this on my own, I really must do it more often as it's so enjoyable. York is such a beautiful city to visit, it really does have something for everyone.

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  12. Glad you had a good day wandering around York. Did you buy anything nice? Some wool perhaps?

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    1. I didn't buy a thing all day, except for a couple of birthday cards which I needed for this week. I could have been very tempted in both Ramshambles and another yarn shop I visited, Knit and Stitch, but I was very good and resisted.

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  13. Thank you for the wonderful tour of York, its many years since I have been there, I enjoyed seeing all the nooks and crannies, all the buildings etc. You were very good at being restrained and not buying anything. What a lovely day to spend pleasing yourself. I think your idea is excellent.

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    1. I'm spoilt having such a beautiful city on my doorstep, I think you could spend many wonderful days there without doing anything twice, there's just so much to see and do. I really enjoyed having time to myself without having to consider what anyone else wanted to do, I don't think I've done that often enough.

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  14. How marvellous to have the day to yourself, wandering where you felt you wanted and a cup of tea and a jam doughnut was an extra special treat.
    Thanks for showing us the highlights from your trip, love the photo of the building tops so close together!
    Lisa x

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    1. I love York, but we always seem to be dashing about doing whatever we've gone to do, so it made a change to take things easy and do what I wanted to do. There's some lovely shops down the Shambles and they're in such a beautiful setting too.

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    2. Taking a day to make time for yourself is essential sometimes isn't it. And where better to do that than York! Years since I've been there but a place I know and love :)

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    3. I'd forgotten how nice it is to have a day out and about on my own. I'm pleased I chose York, I'm usually dashing about and don't have the time to look at places closely.

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