Seat of the North - York Part 2

In the previous article, I wrote about a few of the major historical sites in York, and so in this article, I wanted to talk about some of the places that make York a fantastic place to live, as well a a bit of history in the surrounding area. The city is well organised, and has a really nice and gentle feel. Nothing feels forced and pushed into place, and everything has a sort of gentle harmony that is incredibly rare due to modern constructions taking over in most places. York manages to feel like a medieval city that has allowed a few modern buildings in, but retained all of the pride and history that it deserves.

Vikings and Romans

It's not just the obvious medieval history that has left it's mark on the city of York. There were also very real contributions made by Viking and Roman settlers across the years. The Jorvik Viking Centre and Roman Bath Museum are both great ways to understand a bit more about their influence of these outside cultures.

Shopping and squares

After a long day sight seeing, a little bit of retail-therapy is always welcome. The York Designer Outlet is great for getting normally expensive designer and fashionable brands at lower costs. Not just that, it's also a beautifully designed centre, with intelligent shapes and great architecture. There is also the Duke of York Square, which has maintained it's very historical past, as well as bringing plenty of modern shops and features for visitors. It is also very green and leafy, and this square really shows one of the main differences between northern and southern cities. The sense of countryside is kept in York, and you are never more than a few minutes walk away from a garden or green area.

Any visitor here should also think about visiting Goddards House and Garden, which was owned by the chocolatier Terry family (of Chocolate Orange fame). The open gardens and lawns, as well as stunning house are a fantastic place to have some local Yorkshire tea and cakes.

Religious history on the moors

An hour outside York, you will find Whitby Abbey, looking out over the beautiful North York National Park. This is one of the most wild and beautiful open areas in the UK that I will write about in a later article, but this abbey (destroyed by Henry VII's laws in the 17th Century) is incredibly haunting and powerful, and well worth visiting.

York Minster, one of the largest Cathedrals in Northern Europe

Deangate, Minster Yd, York YO1 7HH, UK

Whitby Abbey

Whitby YO22 4HF, UK

North York Moors National Park

Helmsley, YO62 5BP York