Visiting York

[caliwag]

Tis a marvellous place Craig...luckily I live in the centre in a wee terraced house...8 mins from station...etc etc see above really. Cos I walk the dog around the area, I seem to know everyone...well the dog (actually called Caliwag...damn, cover blown :shock: ) seems to know everyone.

Within the city walls is superb...and you really do end up nodding to everyone, and, of course, once you've bumped into them in the local...

Well maybe Shrewsbury, Canterbury, Durham, Louth, Southwell, Stroud, Falmouth, etc etc are the same?

Hope the family Wiggs enjoy...and all comers...meet you in the Ackhorne

 

[Nigel]

I would endorse Fairfax House. Not only is the building itself very interesting but if you are into Georgian antiques the Terry collection used to furnish the house is fantastic, right up there with Samuel Messer.

 

[caliwag]

Well...we're only missing the FamilyWiggs now...maybe they'll tell us how good it was when they get back. :lol:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Thanks everyone for the replies - particularly caliwag.

Have been away from t'internet for a while. Will digest sugestions and let you know...

Cheers

Robin

 

[Mark]

Anyone mentioned the merchnat venturers hall?

Whats the little church hidden behind the pound shop place? Entrance opposite the chip shop ?

And whats that reconstructed place down by grape lane(?) where they have reconstruction meals? Glass wall as you go through the passageway?

Benningborough Hall isnt far, nice NT property. Aldborough for the roman mosaics and boroughbridge for the devils arrows standing stones - if you're coming from the A1

 

[Jon Maine]

The kids would find the ghost tour good if they have not done one before, The York Dungeon was also good for the kids although one got so scared we had to leave quickly.

I personally really enjoyed the NRM even the dissenters among our group found the royal train and other items interesting.

Jorvik center again good for all including kids

If you get time for an outing Fountains Abbey is well worth a gander too.

Its a wonderful place full of things for kids, we took 5 and survived.

 

[caliwag]

Indeed Merchant venturerers hall...off "central" Piccadilly...shows you the level York used to be.

The little church...opposite the (crap) chip shop! already mentioned...is called Holy Trinity (off Goodramgate)...the one with no right angles or verticals!

Family Wiggs are young so not too many churches I guess

 

[caliwag]

Indeed , the reconstructed place (sorry couldn't see post when replying) is called Barley Hall, off Stonegate...a lively, specialist (by and large) shopping street...(the highest rents in York) but heading to the Minster (from Bettys) and why not? Just enjoy the place.
Local pub quiz question...shortest street? Minster gates...a cute street with a good second hand book shop between Stonegate and the Minster...Don't think I won that quiz

 

[Mark]

I know the bookshop.

Out of interest (my kids like fish and chips on a day trip) where is good in the centre?

 

[caliwag]

Ah...these days it's Jackie's place on Bishopthorpe road...OK 10 mins from the centre but worth it...won the local award in 2008. So same street as the Pig and Pastry...you probably need to check the hours...certainly lunchtimes and evenings. The best!
Will post contact, but walk the walls until Victoria Bar, drop down to Nunnery Lane (not a promising part of the ring road...yup the 60s mistake), and find your way to Bishopthorpe Road...and there you have it...hungry now!

 

[caliwag]

Ebor fisheries, Bishopthorpe Road, 01904 634114 8)

 

[Mark]

Cheers!

My daughters thank you! Or at least they will next time we're in. (won't be too long - my 4 year old loves the trains)

 

[wobs]

For us, a trip to York must include a visit to Barnett's. Sad, but true.

For those tools you never realised you needed, and just about anything else you could need.

Oh yes, and a spicey meal in Evil Eye on Stonegate is also a must.

 

[caliwag]

Ha Ha...yes indeed. Barnetts is an absolute warren...every corner you turn reveals another space or room packed with goodies...also good for kitchen goodies you didn't know were must haves. It's in Colliergate.
Evil eye is in Stonegate...a grand approach to the Minster. 8)

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Thanks all (esp caliwag) for the advice - just come back from a great weekend in York.

Minster is just awesome. The exhibition in the undercroft is well worth it; very well presented and you get to appreciate the size of the place when you see the reinforced concrete platforms that the main tower pillars now sit on.

So many beautiful buildings, it is hard to list them all. Fairfax house is wonderful, Shambles and surrounding streets very interesting. Assembly Rooms rather grand, but difficult to appreciate as you can't get far enough away to get perspective. Possibly one of our favourites was the former Boots shop - which now seems to be empty. Now idea what it was before - timberr-framed.

The kids (and parents!) loved walking the walls, the Micklebar Gate museum, Clifford Tower, and of course, Yorvik. Sadly Betty's had a long queue to get in, so we didn't have tea or Sunday breakfast there.

We haad a great time, and are already planning a return visit in a few weeks to cover all the stuff we missed but want to see (Barley Hall, Merchant Venturers's House, Castle Museum, Betty's, DIG, Railway Station and museum, etc, etc)

Even the folk were friendly - we'd hardly been ther 5 mins and some chap ambled up and started giving us advice on where to go, where to take the kids etc. He sent us off to a church hall selling a fabuluos array of home-made cakes in aid of local cricket club. Magic.

For those who haven't been/been recently, we would thoroughly recommend it. And all so accessible on foot - important consideration for those who have a 6yr old their shoulders for half the day!

 

[Penners]

Post deleted because some old twit got your dates wrong, and didn't realise that you'd already been.

:roll:

 

[caliwag]

Excellent...I wasn't the old chap that I recall :lol: