York Travel Guide

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Although we live in a country with an extensive and interesting history, it''s probably fair to say that we generally prefer leaving its borders to go on holiday. The allures of the Isle of Wight or Brighton Beach simply can''t compete with a weekend city-break in Paris, or a retreat into the Tuscan hills.

But if we stop to think about what Britain has on offer, also bearing in mind the price difference between air travel and taking a train, we might not be in such a hurry to get out of the country. The UK can be a truly spectacular place, so long as you know the right corners in which to look.

Take the city of York, for instance. Pretty much directly equidistant between London and Edinburgh, it''s both easy to get to and absolutely marvellous as a place of interest. Founded in 71 AD at the height of Roman imperial power, York is an operational, living museum of a town, charting British history throughout the ages.

The city''s nucleus is the gothic cathedral York Minster, the second largest of its kind in northern Europe. It stands enclosed by the medieval city walls, a structure which is about three miles ...
... in circumference and provides a stunningly attractive and informative walking circuit.

Unsurprisingly for a city with York''s cultural calibre, there is an abundance of museums, and often the buildings in which these are housed are the main exhibits: the York Archaeological Trust has worked hard at making the medieval house of Barley Hall a fascinating attraction, and some of these ancient edifices are even protected by the National Trust.

It''s not just the buildings themselves which are impressive, however; the very streets and pedestrian passages, otherwise known as ''Snickelways'', simply breathe history. Similarly, narrow medieval streets like the Shambles offer a completely hands-on and personal view of the historic town.

Hotels are two a penny in York, with an immense variety of prices, locations and styles to suit the customer''s tastes. The Queen''s Hotel, for instance, sits on the side of the Ouse, offering an affordable and peaceful stay by one of York''s two main rivers, whilst The Minster is perfectly situated at only two minutes walk from the cathedral.

A break in York won''t just recharge your batteries, but will allow you to splash out on just a few more little luxuries than you might if you''d spent that extra money on going to an international holiday destination. It''s a beautiful, historical and vibrant town, but, more importantly, it''s pretty much right on the doorstep. Bonny Kominek is a professional travel writer who has travelled extensively in the UK and recommends Octopustravel.com for York hotels.