3/50: York, North Yorkshire

January was quite a busy month as far as Let's Go 50-50 was concerned, and the day after Durham, I decided to head home to Gloucestershire: but first, I took a few hours out in order to visit my good friend Andrew (also known as Andy) Hartley in York. Andy and I have known each other since Year 7, which is going back far enough to make me feel nostalgic! As members of our school's Railway Society, York was familiar territory to both of us: even more so to Andy, as he studies Archaeology at the University of York, and is in his 2nd year there. I very nearly ended up going there with him, but was put off by the Uni's attempt to offer me Historical Archaeology rather than History and Archaeology: the former seemed a bit too specialised for my liking.

My trusty guide, Mr Andrew Hartley

As you may have guessed from the photo, we started (and indeed finished) by going round the city walls, which are almost completely intact: they're also a good point for shooting Scotsmen with a crossbow after dark if they go within the city walls, which is still perfectly legal! Considering York has been around for so long (Romans, Vikings, you name it), it's a wonder that you're still able to navigate most of the original wall structure: and they offer pretty good views to boot! The best bit is probably from Petergate (NW York City Centre) to Monkgate (NE York City Centre), which is excellent if you want a few photos of the Yorkminster: Monkgate also houses the Richard III museum, who is perhaps the most misunderstood Yorkist ever, courtesy of The Bard. Micklegate, south of York Railway Station is also worth a look: turn right on exiting the Station onto Queen Street, and it's the first on your left. In my honest opinion, the name Micklegate alone justifies checking it out.

Monkgate

The Yorkminster is definitely an impressive sight, not least because of its immense size: it really does dominate York's landscape. Indeed, it's one of the biggest Gothic Cathedrals in the whole of Northern Europe, the other being in Cologne, Germany. Small wonder then that it's able to house the Archbishop of York, second only to that bloke in Canterbury! The interior is also impressive, though beware the price: Andy and I found £5 for students (and £6 for adults) a bit much, and decided that having Cap'n Brian pose with a statue the Roman Emperor Constantine was much more fun, not too mention economically viable.

Yorkminster (not a Bond film)

Constantine: on first-name terms with Cap'n Brian

Perhaps one of the nicest things I can say about York is that I immensely enjoyed my visit despite the fact that it rained for the whole two hours I was there, which does say a lot about what it has to offer. In particular, there are a wide range of pubs dotted about within the network of narrow streets such as The Shambles and Stonegate, which contains the Evil Eye Lounge, which contains, among other things, four-poster beds that you can lounge in for a while, complete with cushions. Some of the pubs also have caverns, which were a welcome refuge from the constant drizzle!

You can't say no to four-poster beds, can you?

One of the things I like most about York is that, despite the name, it is not what the average tourist would call typical Yorkshire. And that is because Yorkshire has a lot more to offer than what Emmerdale appears to imply: you do not immediately think Vikings, Opera Houses and Ghost Hunts when you think of Yorkshire, yet York offers all these things and many more besides. I have been at least three times and still have a lot more to experience, though I can at least claim to have walked every part of the City Walls, which is enjoyable in almost any weather. All in all, you could do a lot worse than visit the place that puts the York in Yorkshire: just don't expect too much in terms of sport, as the once-proud York City F.C. has hit a decidedly rough patch. Kit-Kat Crescent, anyone?