On my way back home from the Lake District, I stopped in York for a few hours. York is a city in North Yorkshire, England located at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. Since I had my dog with me, I could only explore outside attractions besides the dog-friendly cafe that I ate at.
I started my time in York by walking around the Remains of Saint Mary’s Abbey. These ruins of an old Benedictine monastery, located in the very center of York, are a great place to relax on a sunny day.
I then ate at the cafe garden overlooking the Ouse at Circles Cafe, where I sipped on some wine and had a delicious ham and cheese panini. It is very small, but a lovely place with friendly staff.
Next, I broke the rules and walked along the city walls with Mila from Mickelgate Bar. I pretended not to see the “No Dogs Allowed” sign and brought my dog along. I was relieved to see other dogs on the walls and no one seemed to mind my dog up there. York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another.
To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. They are known variously as York City Walls, the Bar Walls, and the Roman Walls. The walls are 13 feet high and 6 feet wide. It does not cost anything to walk on.
At the end of the walls, I walked a little ways to York Minster, the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter. The cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.
The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the third-highest office of the Church of England, and is the mother church for the Diocese of York and the Province of York.
The combined ticket (minster and tower) costs 15GPB. The cathedral on its own cost 10GBP.
After admiring the cathedral and having a photo shoot with my dog, I wandered through the city to Clifford’s Tower. Along the way, I walked on Shambles, an old street with overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century. There are many shops and restaurants in the city, as well as carousels for children and food trucks creating a lovely outdoor environment.
Clifford’s Tower was built by William the Conqueror and it’s the last remnant of York Castle. It is believed that it had a variety of uses – from a well-protected treasury to a prison. The tower costs 5.40GBP.
Although it was a very quick visit, I had a wonderful time exploring York. I am excited to go back so that I can enjoy what else the city has to offer. Some things I wish to visit in the future include: Heslington Hall, Jorvik Viking Center, and the York Dungeon.
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