5 Places to visit in York
A couple of years ago I did a series on things to see in different places, I did not quite finish it, so here is finally the 3rd post in the series of 5 places to visit in certain places in the UK for a staycation, first being Coventry in the West Midlands, the second a guest post by Envirolineblog about Bournemouth in Dorset, so here is the third post about York
I went to York last summer as my parents went to a birthday party for one of my mum's cousins, so I went as well do a city break and to explore the city myself.
National Railway Museum
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| Mallard |
This is one of the museums that my Dad wanted to go to, I also did as well. This museum has trains from the a replica of George Stephens Rocket in 1829 to the modern trains used by Euro Star and Japanese Bullet Trains. There is plenty to see, getting to see inside a train and photograph the many trains, also the original entrance to Euston Station in London.
I found the trains great to see, esp all the steam trains
This is perfect for people that want to see the history of trains for all people travellers and young people a like.
There is a cafe, picnic places and a shop that sells postcards, models and puzzles of trains
More information about the National Railway Museum is on there website & social media
Clifford's Tower
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| The Steps up to the tower |
Clifford's Tower has quite a history from being a wooden Keep build by William the Conquer to a refuge for Jews that lost their life's in the medieval period, to a garrison during the English civil war to a goal in the 18th Century.
The climb to the tower is worth it, just to see the views from the top, you can go inside to hear about the history and stories of the people connected to the tower. At the top you get 360 degree view of the whole of York, you can see as far as the Terry's Chocolate Factory (sadly closed now) to the rivers of the city.
I enjoyed our visit to Clifford's Tower, there is a small amount of postcards and a Guide book available where you buy the tickets.
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| Me |
For more about Cifflords Tower, visit the website and Social Media
*I visited Clifford's Tower on my English Heritage Membership*
Merchants Adventurer's Hall
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| The Great Hall on the upstairs |
The Merchants Adventure's Hall, which dates from the medieval period is a fine example of a Guild Hall, its around 600 years old which is half build with bricks and timber (the photo at the bottom shows that)
It has an impressive collection of furniture, art, sliver and furnishings some dating back as far is 1340's.
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| Robin on a traffic cone |
As well as lovely gardens which features roses, summer flowering plants and quite areas for rest and to read the guide book, or even enough an ice cream.
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| The Hall from the rose garden |
I found the hall jam packed with history of medieval York to the present day, with lots to see and do, there is a laminated information that you can ask for which helps when going around, as I would be overwhelmed
The shop and cafe on the ground floor, and do a good selection of gifts and the cafe does light lunches, as well as coffee.
Tip for when visiting, if you have English Heritage Membership you get 50% of your admission, let them know when you are buying your admission
For more about Merchant Adventure's Hall , visit the website and Social Media
York Cold War Bunker
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The outside of The York Cold War Bunker |
The York Cold War Bunker was used between 1960 and 1990 as the centre to monitor the fall of out in the event of a nuclear attack during cold war after World War Two.
After nuclear weapons were used to end World War Two in Japan, the race was on to create nuclear weapons to be used to defend countries, these weapons could be used to the same effect, which could harm populations. These weapons that were produced where 1,000 times more powerful than the ones used to end World War Two in Japan
The British used studies to study the effect of these of the explosions created by these weapons. These effects were not very nice with loss of electric service through electrical magnetically pulse, intense bursts of light on detonation and radioactive dust which could travel on winds.
The bunker was used by the Royal Observation Core, who were formed in 1925, and spotted planes during World War Two. They would collect the data, from if there was an attack and pass this on to the government and the Civil Defence organisation.
The bunker never saw a nuclear attack, after the end of communism in eastern Europe in the late 1980's and early 1990's the bunkers was no longer need and the Royal Observation core were stood down. The bunker was left pretty much as it was. It was only when the council wanted to build flats on the land, that a council employee said something and it was saved, and to given to English Heritage to restore back to as it was when I use
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| The Lower Operations Room |
I found the tour around the bunker to be quite unsettling in places including the short film at the beginning on the tour which explains the history of the cold war, but very good on the details of each room inside the bunker we visited and our guide was very good and had lots of information and was very knowledgeable on the history of the building and it use during the cold war
To visit the Cold War Bunker you have to book your time slot as it done by guided tour only, and is only open on selected days of the week.
There is also a small shop selling Guidebooks, Postcards, Fridge Magnets and other items related to World War Two and the Cold War, some are also available to buy online as well
For more about Cold War Bunker and to book
your tickets, visit the website and Social Media
*I visited The York Cold War Bunker on my English Heritage Membership*
York Minster
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| The Nave |
The Cathedral and Metropolitical church of St Peter in York, known as York Minster, is one the world’s best cathedrals, which has been the centre of Christianity in the north England since the 7th century and remains a centre of worship.
I joined a guided tour of the cathedral, this started at the nave of the cathedral is where most people start, it is the longest Gothic measuring 80cm, 30com wide and 29m high. The south Transept is the earliest part of the cathedral, the wooden roof was damaged by fire in 1984, and the new 6 bosses were designed by a competition on the Childrens BBC program Blue Peter.
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| The South Transept |
The central tower of the cathedral is the highest point of the city of York, and you can fit the leaning tower Pisa inside of it. You can book to climb the 275 steps to reach the top of the tower as it was a hot day when I visited, so I did not fancy climbing it on the day.
The chapter house is next on the tour of the cathedral, which has some of the minister finest carvings including a dog. It was used as the first parliament of King Edward. I Next on our tour was the Quire, East End which has the largest expanse of stained glass in the UK.
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| The Chapter House carvings |
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| The ceilings |
We also visited the under-croft museum, which includes the history of the cathedral and Roman remains of a barracks, Viking connections, and up to the present day. The Treasury is also next to the museum which also shows the history as well from Roman times. After the Treasury is the craft which St William of York is buried, the only saint to be buried.
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| Alter |
The cathedral was lovely to visit on a hot day after going to the York Cold War Bunker in the morning, it was nice and cooling.
There is a shop at the cathedral that sells postcards, fridge magnets, Iron on Badges, Guidebooks, Mugs and decorations, as well as Christian music to.
One of the sides of the cathedral they have a workshop repairing some of the stone figures.
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| Statue |
Also, the park near the cathedral is a great place to sit in the shade on a hot day, and has a rarer, nice bug hotel.
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| The Bug Hotel |
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| The Reviews for the Bug Hotel |
I also did visit a couple of other places, which I will write in a separate post, as it involves food!
What would you recommend visiting in York and have you been to any of these, let me know in the comments?
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