So sorry to read of the havoc:
We will be there in April and will keep our plans, just as we will for the Lake District which was hard hit last month. But I am beginning to feel like my travel plans are the kiss of death for UK sites. First it was Cornwall in 2014, hard hit by February storms before our May visit, now northern England.
I am sad for the people whose homes and businesses have been affected at what should be a joyful holiday time.
And it isn't just York that is suffering:
It is very sad for those effected, but please all, keep your plans, we always come through the tough times and will make the most of a bad situation, you'll be warmly welcomed and in for a great time... Floods or not.
Lola, thanks for posting this. The pictures of York are sickening to see. I was there in October and crossed the River Ouse and River Foss during my walk around the walls. At the time I thought how small and picturesque the rivers were. I'd wanted to go to York 3 years ago but there was flooding in the north of England then. Floodwaters just claimed the lives of several people in Missouri, and St. Louis is under a flood watch now after 3 days of rain. It's frightening how nature can turn on us so quickly.
As Mike says, try and keep your plans. You will get the welcome, and also get the stories of the floods. A lot of the pubs along the river have flood gages on their walls showing where historic floods hit in York.
Lola, I hope you can go.. you'll have a wonderful time. I was there in the month of Feb. "great weather " but I was apprehensive at first because of winter. I stayed at the University of York dorm which was neat as I slept like a log, " for a genealogy conference" in the month of July . A great time of year which was wonderful with the LONG days. Sun was up almost 20 hours. A friend was host and he showed us around the countryside a real Yorkie, " was a magistrate " in the city of York. For 4 days we traveled all over the Moors , valleys , small villages and York .
If you can go to the countryside Rievaulx Abby , Nr Helmsley, North Yorkshire is amazing but directly across the road is a small thatch cottage which has been used as a focal point by painters / photographers in their work . The older couple who lived there were gardening and only charged me 5 pounds for taking a pix , { they were joking ] !
If anyone saw the movie Calendar Girls the Yorkshire dales it is beautiful there even in Feb. so April would be even more so. I was there right after they made the calendar "profits was for charity " nude ladies . In Feb. it was sold out already , but everyone was talking about it . I knew it would be made into a movie. I love the small villages with pubs , small wonderful churches and Stonegrave Minster is an example . It was established before 757 in Stonegrave Village but nothing remains of this original building . The newer church base of the bell tower may be from the 6th century but the three sections date at different centuries. During renovation in 1800's fragments of 4 crosses and one complete cross from 9th century . sponsored by Thornton's in this valley " .This is one example of the jewels of history that is here in Yorkshire and it's found in a small farming area/ village .. Lovely ! Micklegate Bar is the traditional entryway for Kings and Queens , traitors heads were put on top of the Bar. A museum is here , gatehouse has 4 stories but orig. it was smaller. There is a portcullis at this Bar also so don't miss checking it out. The City of York is so amazing , small shops , tea shops , York Minster is a must just make sure you climb to the top 278 or so steps. A terrific view of the buttresses is on a walkway where I ONLY took one photo.. what was wrong with me? The main window in the church depicts the history of the Bible within each separate window panel. Try Yorkshire pudding , walk on the Wall's , Roman graves are in a park ? within a round sunken area that has "stone coffins " . I can't remember exactly where they were though. Roman roads around the area are built straight and the locals will tell you which ones. Lovely cobblestone "gate or Norse gata " inside the city . Gate is a Viking name for street. Viking museum also in York.. There is boat rides also on the river Ouse "when it's calm !
We traveled to York on the train from London both times , in quiet car. Can't remember if it was 4 hours , it's been quiet awhle. We had snacks from the cart that came around. Nearly everyone brings some food , snacks on board and they also have tables in front of some of the seats.
I stayed at a B&B the first time , then the dorm the second both with a friend. The B&B was not far from West Minster.
Can't you tell I would love to go again , twice is not enough.
Yes, we have had a spot of rain this week! Remember though, the media footage will always show the worst bits - and the worst bits are in a riverside area that floods several times a year in any event. 90% of the city is fine.
yet another big storm, named Frank, this Wednesday, mind.
"a spot of rain" lol, British understatement at its best. Hope all gets better soon rico.
I visited York on my whirlwind tour of the UK last June. I love York. When I arrived, I felt that I was home though I had never been there before and none of my family (that I know of) are English. I felt such a sense of belonging and peace as I walked the City Walls and the cobbled streets. I still think of my visit every day and attending Evensong at York Minster. I don't really think about any of the other places that I visited (London, Hadrians Wall, Keswick, North Wales, Brighton) - just York.
I am amazed at all the flooding Northern England has received. It is heartbreaking. I am on several Facebook pages that are focused on the Lake District. The warmth and the tenacity shown by the British wants me to go back to England again and again.
I'm sorry to say that Tadcaster, halfway between Leeds and York has just lost its bridge. Totally washed away.
And the Jorvik Centre in York has been washed out.
No worries---I have no intention of changing our plans. York is the first stop on our 5-week UK trip next spring.
My concern is for the people there now and what they are going through.
And it looks like Frank is going to hit the west coast and nearby areas, bringing added misery to Cumbria, as well as affectingnWales and parts of Scotland. Not much of a happy New Year.
Now that the West Coast line to Scotland via Carlisle has been washed out again and Virgin West Coast are rerouting their passengers via York, it could get a bit busy.
I've seen some of the coverage of the devastating storm damage on BBC. Did this not also happen in some areas of the U.K. last year? My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, and hope that everything gets back to normal soon.
Much of northern England and parts of Scotland and Ireland have endured wave after wave of record flooding since early December. The Lake District in particular and the surrounding areas have been hit especially hard. It's just horrible watching all of the Facebook pages for that part of the world that I follow. The good coming out of it is the tremendous outpouring of help and community spirit that is alive in these areas. They will recover but they will need tourists to come back...consider visiting these areas as soon as you can to help bolster their economies. So many of these places are heavily dependent on tourist dollars...
Please don't change your plans to visit York. It is a magnificent city and so much of it is away from the river that you won't be disappointed. The York Minster is my favorite English cathedral--it's just so huge yet magnificent and spiritual at the same time. Walking the medieval walls is a great way to see this city center--and get some exercise. Historic streets like The Shambles are far enough away not to be flooded. Also, many riverside attractions are already up and running. I just found a Tweet from my favorite York restaurant, Star Inn the City--which is right along the river--that said, "Star Inn The City @Starinnthecity--For those of you who are worrying - we've survived the floods relatively unscathed and are open for food, drink and good times." You won't regret it.
