England Part Four: York

Part Four of the England travel series covers our stay in the charming town of York. Rooted deep in history and full of charm, York was a perfect two night stay in the middle of our trip.

In AD 71 York was a Roman capital, in the 9th century the Vikings took it over as a trading town, but the lasting aesthetics and ambiance of the city are completely medieval. You can still walk atop the medieval walls, which is a fantastic way to tour the city by foot. Scroll to the bottom of the post for more details about where we stayed and all that we saw in York. Enjoy!

Walking the medieval walls that still surround the city of York

This guy was walking the wall on his lunch break, he just fit the scene so perfectly

View towards York Minster from the wall, some lovely English gardens as well

My husband ready for battle at the Richard III museum, definitely York over Tudor

Our delicious adorable lunch spot, The Star Inn The City

The Little Shambles, a preserved medieval street that feels like it will topple over any second

Welcoming the new Princess! 

The hubs and I after touring Clifford's Tower, the weather was gorgeous that day

Where We Ate
The Star Inn The City - Lendal Engine House Museum Street, York YO1 7DR, United Kingdom
Golden Lion York - 9 Church Street, York YO1 8BG, United Kingdom
Bari Ristorante - 15 Shambles, York, North Yorkshire YO1 7LZ, United Kingdom
Monk Bar Chocolatiers - 7 Shambles, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LZ, United Kingdom
Jorvik Viking Center - Coopergate, York, YO1 9WT, United Kingdom

Where We Stayed
Hotel 53 - 53 Piccadilly, York, North Yorkshire YO1 9PL, United Kingdom

What We Did
Walked the City Walls - Mickelgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JX, United Kingdom
The Original Ghost Walk of York - The King's Arms Pub, Ouse Bridge (the famous pub that floods)
Clifford's Tower - Tower Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9SA, United Kingdom
Richard III Museum at Monk Bar - 6 Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LQ, United Kingdom
York Minster - Deangate, York, YO1 7HH, United Kingdom

General Advice
The best advice I can give is to start walking the wall at keep hopping on and off. It is the best way to tour the city and is so unique! We had more fun walking the walls then anything else we did in York.
The Original Ghost Walk of York was fantastic. Spooky and historical with the occasional laugh. Very well done, it made for a great evening of learning more about the city.
You must eat at The Star Inn The City, it was so delicious and completely adorable.
Skip paying for the Richard III and Henry VIII experiences. I'm a War of the Roses/York vs. Tudor history buff and I thought both of these were poorly done. The best part was trying on the medieval armor and helmets!
Jorvik Center is cool for kids, not so much for adults. I'd pass on this museum unless you are traveling as a family.

England Part Two: Glastonbury, Stonehenge, & Oxford

Part Two in this England Travel Series is all about the road trip! We hit the (wrong side) of the road for a day filled with mystical sites steeped in history and intrigue. This day was one of my favorites from the trip!

Our first stop were the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, where in 1191 the monks dug to find the remains of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. It is incredibly surreal and hard to grasp that are you standing on a site that is truly magical.

Glastonbury Abbey

The Site of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's Tombs

Glastonbury Abbey as seen from the neighboring grove

Glastonbury Abbey

One shot to give you a sense of scale, this structure was massive!

After the Abbey, we climbed The Tor for spectacular views of Somerset and Wales. Glastonbury Tor is filled with mystery and is one of the most spiritual sites in the country. Both Pagans and the Druids used this place for initiations and ceremonies. However, the only structure that remains is a tower from a 15th century church of St. Michael.

A top down view (not of my own taking) to give you a sense of scale for The Tor, photo credit: Knowledgepicture.com

Climbing to the top of The Tor, you can see a hint of the tower in the distance.

The only remaining structure at the top of The Tor

Panoramic View from the top of The Tor

Compass at the top of The Tor

Our next stop was Stonehenge. Circling the stones was truly a once in a lifetime experience. This is an absolute must when visiting England!

Stonehenge

We stopped off in Oxford for the night and rented a room at the University, Keble College to be exact. The room was really lovely with a king size bed, en suite bathroom, and nice linens with complimentary toiletries. Breakfast is included in your stay. While the food was less than exciting, it was pretty cool to eat with the students in a Hogwarts style dining room.

The Courtyard of our Dorm Room at Keble College, Oxford

The Dining Hall at Keble College

Where We Ate
Waitrose (grab and go for a picnic) - Abbey Street, Bath BA1 1LY, United Kingdom
King's Arms Oxford - 40 Holywell Street, Oxford OX1 3SP, United Kingdom
Keble College Dining Hall - Oxford OX1 3PG, United Kingdom

Where We Stayed
Keble College - Oxford OX1 3PG, United Kingdom

What We Did
Glastonbury Abbey - Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9EL, United Kingdom
The Tor (10 minute walk from the Abbey) - Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6, United Kingdom
Stonehenge - Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7DE, United Kingdom

General Advice
Driving and seeing the English countryside was incredible. Driving on the wrong side of the car and wrong side of the road is actually easier than you think! Be bold and do it, it will be an unforgettable experience.
The drive from Bath to Glastonbury, and Glastonbury to Stonehenge were only an hour each, which made for a very easy driving day.
You can bring a picnic and eat on the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. They have picnic tables if you don't have a blanket to sit on.
The Tor is a very steep climb and can be extremely windy. Do not try to drive to the Tor, parking is difficult. Leave your car parked at the Abbey and do the 10 minute walk over to the base of the hill.
Save yourself a lot of time and prebook your Stonehenge tickets. They give you a 30 minute window to arrive, grab the audio tour as well, it's worth it.