Vibrant York
Yorkshire culture.
York offered our five day trip just enough to make it a city break full of rich cultural history during the day and vibrant cultural Yorkshire entertainment in the evening. By the time it reached the weekend the city centre was busying up, with more than a few hen dos. What makes York attractive is that it is a compact city in which we could walk into, and use buses with ease when necessary. The architecture is a mix of the old and the not so pretty new, with the Roman walls around it.
Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower is an historic Norman castle keep that is situated on a mound. The prominent location in the town, and lack of high rise blocks, gives it a 360 degrees view around the city. It was originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and then rebuilt in stone, as its today.
The tower is a prime example of a ruin that has little to offer visually but in actual fact the information boards on the ground floor points to an incredibly rich history as the castle for the second city in England. At one point being part of a castle it is fascinating to think it was the polit
National Railway Museum
One of the largest railway museums in the world, the National Railway Museum has an impressive display of trains and locomotives.
A varied collection with a few gems – the Mallard – the fastest steam train ever, the Japanese bullet train and a working replica of Stephenson’s Rocket locomotive, make this an enjoyable day out for everyone. What it offers in narrative about the trains it lacks in detailed information about their specifications. The North Shed is more of an archive of shelves but has lots of idiosyncratic novelties such as chamber pots.
Yorkshire Museum
The story the Yorkshire Museum is a fascinating one if the subject interests otherwise it is rather ‘local’. It tells the history through the Roman and Viking eras is fascinating in how it puts York at the centre of England is sufficient for the visit but more recent medieval and later history is lacking. It is a museum in how it is a collection of ephemera but does paint an interesting picture of how important the Roman era was for York, known as Eboracum, it became a major military base, allowing the Romans to control northern England. Parts of the museum are archaeological and less interesting.
Pros
- Perfect city break
- Immense history to explore
Cons
- Can become over-busy with tourists including hen dos
- Some attractions may not be to everyone’s taste
Read on with Parts Two and Three.
