Ask Shaun
Published on May 28th, 2008.
Welcome back, fellow travelers, to the latest edition of Ask Shaun. As always, yours-truly has been busy answering all your Brit related questions and comments; making sure that everyone is well-informed on the ins and outs of the UK.
This month, I noticed that many travelers are inquiring about cities outside of London which is great. Don’t get me wrong, London is amazing, but there is a real plethora of other exciting UK cities just waiting to be discovered. Which is why, this month, I’ll be focusing on one of my favourite cities in Britain, York!
This nearly 2000 year old city has a real fascinating history behind it. Originally founded by Romans, then conquered by Vikings, it became, as we know it today, York in around 1000 AD.
So now that that brief history lesson is done, let’s get down to investigating all the cool things to see and do in York.
First step first, how do you get to York? Simple enough really; use a BritRail or BritRail England pass and hop a train to the York Railway Station, located on the East Coast Main Line. Trains depart roughly every half hour from London’s King’s Cross Station and it takes less than two hours to get there.
Upon arriving in York, one of your first stops should definitely be the World Famous, Jorvik Viking Center. This must-see attraction is actually built on the site where archaeologists discovered the remains of the original Viking city. Once there, you’ll instantly feel immersed in authentic Viking culture as you experience the sights and sounds of everyday Viking life. If you happen to be there between May 24th and June 1st, you’ll be lucky enough to partake in the ‘Erik Goes Artsy’ festival and have the chance to enjoy fun activities like willow weaving, rune readings and Viking coin stamping.
Also, the Jorvik Viking Center was just added to the list of York Pass attractions in 2008, so be sure to pick one up to save money. (Tel: 01904 543402, Coppergate, York, YO1 9WT).
Another one of my expert recommendations is to have a drink (or tea between 14:00 – 15:00) at Ye Olde Starre Inne. Established way back in 1644, this is the oldest licensed pub in the city and it definitely provides a cool, unique atmosphere to relax in. With 3 beer gardens, live entertainment and a friendly staff, Ye Olde Starre Inne is unquestionably worth the time. (Tel: 01904 623063, 40 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS).
Though York has so much to see and do, my last recommendation would be to check out the National Railway Museum (ok perhaps I’m a bit biased towards trains, but trust me, its awesome). You will have a blast exploring the three giant rooms filled with incredible trains like the Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’, the Mallard (the fastest steam locomotive ever) and, of course, the big-daddy of them all, The Flying Scotsman. Admission to the museum is free (except for certain special events) making it a perfect attraction for large families or travelers on a tight budget. (Tel: 08448 153139, Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ). If you want more information on the National Rail Museum, please visit www.nrm.org.uk.
On that note, it’s time to wrap things up for the May edition of the BritRail Newsletter. Remember for any Brit-related questions, you can email me at AskShaun@BritRail.com. Have yourselves a great month and we’ll see you all in June!
Filled under Attractions, BritRail Products, England.
