I had the pleasure to take a trip to York, UK during my recent trip to visit family in England. I got to meet new cousins, who live in Yorkshire, on the way! Linda and David were gracious enough to accomodate my love of Viking and British history, and took me up there for a couple of days!
New Cousins!
On the way to York, we stopped in Yorkshire to visit Marian and her family. She had a lovely lunchtime spread for us and it was delightful getting to know everyone. I especially liked her grandson, Seth–he was a remarkable young man!
Introduction to York
We drove from Marian’s to the city of York. The ancient city walls greeted us, along with bright flowerbeds planted along the route into the city. The sight is breathtaking! Imagine a structure that has been standing for over a thousand years! The US has only been a nation for a fraction of that time, so it is humbling.
A Brief History of York
Humans have lived at the site of York since the Neolithic Period (4000-2000 BC). It first became a major center when occupied by the Romans in 71 BC. The Roman name for York was Eburacum. The Romans turned Eburacum into a center of world importance for the next three centuries! During the 7th century the first Minster was built in York for the baptism of King Edwin or Deira. Subsequently, York became a center of enlightenment, wealth and power,
York was one of the first places in Britain conquered by the Vikings, and they occupied the area for about a hundred years. Although many think of the Vikings as plundering, seafaring warriors, their culture at the time was very robust. It is largely due to the archealogical discoveries made in York that we know more about their lives in this time period. They called the city Jorvik, and there were many craftsmen, farmers, traders, engineers and ship builders. Many Vikings actually became Christians during this occupation. Today, you can see what it was like in the city by visiting Jorvik–The Viking Experience. A visit to this attraction is a must during any trip to York, and it was a highlight for me!
The Lovely Hazelwood
Linda and I had searched for accomodations, and we were delighted with The Hazelwood. We chose it because it was close to the attractions we wanted to visit, and because it had free parking. The establishment is comprised of 4 or 5 separate old stately townhomes that are adjoined. The rooms were quaint and comfortable, and the staff very friendly. We enjoyed breakfast both days!
Lamb & Lion Inn for Dinner
We strolled around York our first night there. It was cold and wet and rainy, so we were anxious to find somewhere tOno eat, warm up, and dry off. Between the cathedral and the Hazelwood, we found a lovely little eatery called Lamb & Lion Inn. It consisted of multiple smaller rooms with 3 or 4 tables each, so it was rather intimate. The food was delicious and presented beautifully, and the drinks were strong enough to warm us from the inside out!
Yorkminster Cathedral
We spent the following day discovering the city in all of its historical glory! We started out by visiting Yorkminster Cathedral, a huge magnificent place that has been in existence since Norman times! I need to look up the statistics, but it seems even bigger than Notre Dame to me! The achitecture is awe-inspiring, as are the stained glass windows.
The first minster was built in York in the 7th century, as mentioned previously. The Norman invasion in 1066 brought many changes to the area, and was initially trouble for the area, but subseqently ended up being very prosperous for York. Later, during the Middle Ages, stonemasons and stained glass artisans worked together to build one of the greatest cathedrals in the world, Yorkminster!
Since the 7th Century, the Minster in York has been the centre of Christianity in the north of England. Every aspect of the cathedral, from the stained glass to the exquisite handcrafted stone, tells the story of Jesus Christ. It is a masterpiece!
Other Views Around York
It was wonderful to walk around York and take in its beauty and history. We discovered small shops, old churches, and quaint bistros. I completely enjoyed ambling around the old narrow streets and finding new delights around every corner!
Yorkshire Museum
Toward the end of the day, we visited the Yorkshire Museum and its grounds, the site of an old monastery in York. It demonstrated the history of the area from the paleolithic era up until modern times. For a history buff like myself, it was fascinating!
The Exhibition–A Place I Would Hang Out!
After our visit to the museum, we walked back to The Hazelwood. It was rather cold and breezy that day, and we wanted to find someplace to warm our bones. We fortunately wandered into The Exhibition–a welcoming pub with a warm fireplace and wonderful service! The food and the drinks were rejuvinating, and we enjoyed our time there. It is definitely a place I could hang out on the regular!
My time in York was so incredibly enjoyable, and I am eternally grateful to my cousins, Linda and David, for indulging me in our little side trip! I definitely recommend York as a destination during any trip to England!