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York recommendations?

We are here now and have a full day to explore tomorrow, plus part of another. And we will be back in a few days on our way to London, but only an afternoon. We love to walk and already plan to walk the walls and through the Shambles. We will probably visit the Minster and climb the tower when we return in a few days. My husband is interested in the Railway Museum. I believe the Jorvik museum is still closed from the flood. What else? Clifford's Tower? We love to climb towers and also walk along rivers and through historic areas.

We would just like to spend a lot of time outside and enjoying the sights, learning too, without spending a lot on admission fees (apart from the York Minster, where we are happy to support them). There is a free guided walk several times a day--is that worth the time?

Also ---any recommendations for dinner places? We like fresh, local food in casual (unpretentious) places. Favorites are Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, and Indian food. Tonight we dined at Ambiente, a Spanish tapas place and that was perfect. Looking in particular for an Indian restaurant for my husband's birthday when we return. Trying to avoid the touristy places. Thanks.

Posted by
1976 posts

Hi Lola - I highly recommend Clifford's Tower. It has so much history and historical/cultural significance. When you're at the top, you can almost see the beginning of the Yorkshire Moors in the distance. As you can probably tell, the views still captivate me!

Walking the walls is incredible. Be sure to stop and read the informational plaques at each gate. The walls overlook Roman ruins; and next to one of the gates (the red brick one - can't remember the name off the top of my head) I saw a woman tending her garden. Imagine living next to the wall!

I took the free guided walk at York Minster. It was entertaining and interesting. I took notes and then, after the talk ended, retraced the tour's steps to take pictures.

Posted by
2689 posts

Lola - I know it isn't free...it's 10 pounds to enter....but I loved the York Castle Museum so much! It's really a fascinating place to spend a few hours.

Posted by
6713 posts

Well, good morning! I figure you'll be waking up in an hour or so, eight hours east of here. Hope you had a nice rest before today's York adventure!

I wouldn't recommend Jorvik even if it is open. And we much preferred the Yorkshire Museum, in the park southwest of the Minster, to the York Castle Museum, east of the center. The Yorkshire Museum has wonderful exhibits of the Romans and Danes. The Castle Museum, through preferred by RS, struck us as kind of an attic -- something for every period and not much depth. I enjoyed Clifford's Tower nearby, for about 15 minutes. The railway museum is a Mecca for railway buffs, a bit much for the rest of us.

Of course the Minster should be your #1 choice, the guided tour is very good, and evensong would be a great bonus.

Now, go downstairs and enjoy that fabulous English breakfast with the (Canadian) bacon, overcooked egg, cold toast, runny beans and tomato, strange sausage, and superfluous mushrooms. Hope the coffee's good! ;-)

Posted by
17563 posts

Thank you all. That should keep us busy all day and then some!

Dick---I don't think we are up for the "full English" breakfast this morning---my husband hates overcooked eggs and I do not eat toast. But probably a moot point since it is already 10 am and we just woke up. We will probably just hit a coffee place, have something light, and wait for lunchtime.

Posted by
695 posts

We enjoyed the free guided tours, but also liked walking the entire length of the Wall. That was a fun way to look down on old and new, and figure out where to go when the actual Wall was missing. Have fun.

Posted by
30 posts

Viceroy of India is a good curry house and just a few minutes walk from Ambiente (out through Monk Bar cross the road and it's on the right, just opposite a pub).

I hope you are enjoying the cold weather at the moment! Really horrible....

Posted by
161 posts

The Railway Museum is a must! Cafeteria right on the train platform with excellent food, entrance into train cars immaculately decorated in period, the past, the future-- it's all here. The best train 'museum' I've ever been in anywhere.

Cleo