York Minster, UK by Paul Wordingham

The city of York, founded by the Romans in 71 AD is steeped in historical, artistic and political connections just waiting for you to discover them. First stop should be York Minster which is a stunning cathedral of architectural importance that features incredible stained glass and dominates the cities skyline. York is a walled city and visitors can walk along many of the intact walls and discover the various towers and gates on the route around the old town. Famed for its tourist industry, York is an ideal destination for last minute UK holidays and is easily accessible by road and rail.

With gardens and riverside parkland to explore on sunny days, and themed ghost walks to venture on – if you dare – as the nights draw in, York offers diverse experiences all year round. Don’t miss out on a walk down the ‘Shambles’ which is a quirky medieval street filled with over-hanging timber framed buildings or the chance to see iconic steam trains at the National Railway Museum.

York has something for everyone: couples on a romantic break can take a boat ride down the river, lounge in the award winning restaurants and bars or give their credit cards a work out in the numerous shops and boutiques. Families can head to the Jorvik visitor centre to immerse themselves in the sites and smells of Viking culture; or how about a trip to tantalise the taste buds at York’s Chocolate Story? There is often an outdoor ice rink in winter and many seasonal events throughout the year; York is waiting to welcome you – add it on to your itinerary now!

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Bath

As the site of one of the most famous baths in Roman Britain, the same springs are still in use today. Locals get a big discount on the modern iteration of the city spa, but the Thermae Bath Spa is still open to visitors wanting to experience Bath’s purportedly healing waters. As a hub of social activity during the Regency Period, Bath was also the setting for a number of Jane Austen’s novels. Fans of her novels can visit the Jane Austen Centre to learn more about the city during this period.

Bath Abbey / Harpreet Riat

York

This northern city got its start as a Roman town known as Eboracum, and then Viking settlement known as Jorvik. Every year, York holds a Viking Festival celebrating its past, which a definite must-see for families. During the Victorian period, the city was also important for the industry of the North, which can still be seen in its National Railway Museum. In particular, the city was known for confectionary with the Rowntree Mackintosh and Terry’s factories.

Edinburgh

Scotland’s old capital city has plenty of historic sites to satisfy even the most picky of its visitors. Discerning travellers will appreciate the five star hotels within a stone’s throw of all the must-see locations in the closely-places old and new towns. As a centre of the Scottish Enlightenment, Edinburgh was also an important city for scientific learning during the Georgian period. Nowadays, you can see some of this past in the Surgeon’s Museum, where examples of the anatomical teaching equipment of past centuries are kept, as well as on the University of Edinburgh campus itself.

Edinburgh castle / Edinburgh Castle Entrance

Oxford

It may mainly be on the map for its esteemed university (incidentally, the oldest university in the English speaking world), but Oxford is also a city with a lot of history, with buildings representing every architectural style in England since the Saxons. It’s not surprising that the Christ Church College hall was rumoured to be an inspiration for Hogwart’s Hall in the Harry Potter series. Like Edinburgh, a number of Oxford’s hotels are also well-placed for exploring historical sites. The Macdonald Randolph Hotel, for instance, is right across the street from Britain’s first public museum. In addition to the cities, the UK also has a fantastic array of country houses and historic properties to explore. When planning your vacation, be sure to pencil in some time to tour around the surrounding areas.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/london-south-england/oxford/

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Gunners Pool Bridge in Castle Eden Dene / Photo by Les Hull

The Castle Eden Dene national nature reserve is a perfect location for a family day out. With twelve miles of rough paths and steep banks the wooded valley is a sure-fire hit for all the family. If twelve miles is only a short day out for you then the beautiful Hamsterly Forest is perfect. With two thousand hectares of horse riding tracks and cycling routes it’s another great family day out.

If it’s not the outdoors you’re after then try the National Railway Museum. With a variety of different locomotives on show, various special events throughout the year and guided tours it’s the perfect indoors activity. If this sounds a bit unexciting to your family then Diggerland will be right up your street. With over 15 rides, it gives adults and children the chance to drive real construction vehicles including the astounding JCB racing!

County Durham isn’t just a picturesque location; you’ll also find cinemas and theatres’ showing great shows all throughout the year. If it’s shopping that’s your kind of entertainment then you’ll certainly be spoilt for choice with small boutiques and large shopping centres in great supply, there’s something to satisfy every shopping desire.

When it comes to eating out in County Durham you may be pleasantly surprised by the diverse range of choices on offer. If you’re looking for a unique restaurant in County Durham then Blagraves House in Barnard Castle will definitely be on the ‘menu’. In a room with oaks beams and a crested ceiling you can eat where Cromwell once did…you can’t find much more unique than that!

Accommodation in County Durham is another area you won’t be short of choices in. No matter what your budget there’s something for everyone; with accommodation ranging from hostels right up to five star luxury hotels. If a hotel isn’t your style then there’s an extensive range of camping and caravanning sites which make them ideal locations for those looking for an ‘outdoors’ break.

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National Railway Museum in York / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin Robson

On leaving the Station, you will come across the fantastic, Victorian built Royal York Hotel. The hotel was opened in 1878, originally named The Royal Station Hotel. Today, you can enter the hotel’s pretty gardens and ascend 60 metres above the city on The Wheel of York, taking in the awe inspiring views across the city, and getting a unique view of the station and its surroundings.

Continuing on towards the city centre, you will come across a statue of George Leeman, who was the Chairman of the Railway Association of Great Britain and Deputy of North Eastern Railways. The statue was unveiled in 1885 and Station Road became Leeman Road, two years after his death.

Taking a left down Leeman Road, you will come to the world famous National Railway Museum, which opened in 1975 on the former site of the York North locomotive depot. The museum houses the national collection of historic railway vehicles, and includes some fantastic examples of Royal Trains, the Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and many steam locomotives.

In June 2012, the museum is holding ‘Railfest’, a celebration of Britain’s railways, where you can take a rare look inside the driver’s cabs, and ride on various trains. Rarely seen railway giants such as snow ploughs and a sail powered railway vehicle will also be on show.

A road train runs from the museum the short distance to the city centre; on this journey you will pass under the Bar Walls, through an impressive archway.  Opposite you will see a grand Georgian building, aptly named The Cedar Court Grand Hotel, York’s first five star hotel. It was originally built in 1906 by the North Eastern Railway Company and housed their headquarters. The street to the right of the building is the site of the old railway station.

Continuing past the old Headquarters, the first street on your right is Rougier Street, which leads onto George Hudson Street. Hudson, known as ‘The Railway King’, is famed with bringing the railways to York. He became Lord Mayor of the city in 1837, the same year he had a chance meeting with George Stephenson, ‘The Father of Railways’, who had built the world’s first steam locomotive railway line. The pair worked together on the building of the railways and were also friends. By 1844, Hudson was in control of over a thousand miles of railway, but despite his success, after being discovered of committing fraud, he died penniless in 1871.

York Minster / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by andy

Continuing on the road train, you will pass over Lendal Bridge, look to your left and you will see Scarborough Bridge a short distance down river. This train bridge takes trains from York Station to the seaside destination of Scarborough on a single track. The road train will take you to Duncombe Place, from where you can be inspired by the magnificent York Minster, and take time to wander through the streets of the historic city itself.

Returning to the Railway Station, it is impossible to leave the city without a feeling of wonderment, having taken in the history of the rail revolution, the very thing that makes York what it is today.

Author: Julie Ward writes on behalf of the Love My Vouchers Lifestyle blog, the UK’s discount and voucher code blog that helps you visit the UK on a budget.

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National Railway Museum, York, UK / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by EmPemm

History of the NRM

Britain’s railway network began connecting its new industrial hubs in the mid/late 19th century, and as the network became more widely used, railway companies began to preserve their history. The first notable example was the Patent Office Museum in London acquiring the original Rocket steam engine in 1862.

In the 1920s, the Big Four railway operators – Great Western Railway, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the London and North Eastern Railway and the Southern Railway – had gathered a large quantity of memorabilia, and in 1927 the LNER opened a railway-dedicated public museum in York. With the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 the collections of all four operators were brought under one roof.

The museum’s current location, a stone’s throw away from the platforms at York Railway Station and 700m from the Minster, was opened in 1975, and was the first national museum outside of London. Since then, the expansion of the museum in 1990 earned it the Museum of the Year Award, while the launch of the Institute of Railway Studies in association with the University of York developed its academic credentials. Recently the NRM added Search Engine, an archive and research centre, to its already impressive list of resources.

This Year’s Festivities

The festival runs from June 2nd-11th, and from 9.30am – 5.30pm daily. Included in the festivities is a massive public space full of trains covering a space the size of eleven football pitches, and includes retired speed-engine legends like the Flying Scotsman, Class 395, East Coast 91110 and Tornado. The NRM has worked on exhibits for novice train lovers, and fans of Chuggington who can pick up a special book and find the original vehicles their favourite trains are based on.

For the more seasoned aficionados, there are daily talks from members of the industry, film screenings and modern industry demos to keep you up to date on all the developments from within the world of railways. Also in attendance will be poet Ian McMillan, cartoonist Tony Husband and magician Ollie Mealing.

How to Get There

If you’re travelling by rail, it couldn’t be simpler. Just look up some cheap trains to York, hop off at York station and follow the signs! Ticket holders to Railfest can also get money off their next ticket booked through festival partners redspottedhanky. If you’re coming from slightly closer nearby, the museum is just a ten minute walk from York’s city centre, or the Green Line 2 bus picks up and drops off from right outside the museum.

If trains are your passion, there is no better place to be next month than the National Railway Museum in York. All aboard!

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to https://www.redspottedhanky.com/trains/trains-to/york/.

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The Romans founded the city in 71AD, naming the fortress town on the banks of the River Ouse Eboracum. It quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain.

The name York came from the Viking word Jorvik, following their capture of the city in AD886. Even beyond the time of the Vikings York’s position by the Ouse and on the key trade route between London and Edinburgh meant is became a major transport hub.

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Although this slowly declined thanks to the rise of Hull to the east and Leeds to the west, the rise of the railways saw a revival in the city’s fortunes in the 1800s and in the modern era tourism and a reflection on its eventful and often grizzly past now dominates its economy.

Tourist attractions include York Minister, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, which is located in the city’s heart. The labyrinthine York Castle and the city walls also point to its ancient past.

The ‘snickelways’ and ‘shambles’ are two excellently preserved examples of the small, winding medieval streets of yesteryear, containing an array of shops and food places to while away an afternoon or two.

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There are numerous museums and galleries to satisfy your culture fix with the Yorkshire Museum, Jorvik Viking centre, the National Railway Museum and the York Art Gallery amongst others. The Theatre Royal, Grand Opera House and Joseph Rowntree Theatre also mean your evenings are well catered for too.

As it is a town centred on tourism it is no surprise that accommodation-wise York has enough to satisfy all tastes and budgets. This ranges from basic accommodation found at the City’s University to the luxurious Royal York Hotel, comparable with the finest London Hotels or Dubai Hotels.

The kaleidoscopic clientèle from affluent tourist to impoverished student also means there are varied eating options available, from budget cafes, traditional pubs and quaint tea rooms to the height of luxury and fine dining.

Many visitors to England struggle to make it beyond the boundaries of London, and if they do it usually isn’t to venture north. However, those that do head to York will be rewarded with a city that offers all the charm England can offer with the facilities to meet the needs of even the most picky of tourists.

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National Railway Museum was opened in the current premises in 1975, however the collection originated from the early 19th century. Today, the National Railway Museum has a national collection of historically significant railway vehicles and artifacts associated with the railway, with the various written and visual records. You can see here more than 100 locomotives and nearly 200 other vehicles. In 2001 National Railway Museum was awarded as the Best European Museum (European Museum of the Year Award in 2001). In addition to various exhibits you can also ride the giant Ferris wheel and special small train here.

York National Railway Museum, England, UK by Xerones

York National Railway Museum is open all the year daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except of December 24, 25 and 26. Admission is free. It is the biggest railway museum in England and the largest railroad exhibit of its kind in the world.

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