Friday in York

My sister-in-law, A., had Friday (24 July) off and took us to York. This beautiful city has everyone a visitor could wish for: History, beauty, culture, green spaces, a huge choice of shops and places for food and drink. Of course, it attracts crowds of tourists (such as us), and to reduce traffic in the centre (which is still very busy), the city offers a very good park & ride system. You don’t have to wait long for the next bus dropping you off at various points in the centre, and the return fare for one adult is 4 £.

We got off the bus opposite the Museum Gardens and had a leisurely stroll there while waiting for my niece B. (who lives in York) to arrive.

The Yorkshire Museum

The four of us then went to a large, recently opened independent bookshop - the dream of every book lover! Shelves from floor to ceiling line every wall in the maze-like rooms on two floors, complete with ladders on rails when you want something from the upper boards. 

If you want to look them up, here is their website.

After we‘d spent quite a bit of time (and a little money) in there, lunch was next on our agenda. We went to the York Minster Refectory, where we‘d been before on B.‘s recommendation. As at our previous visit, we were happy with the friendly service and delicious food. The Ploughman‘s Lunch I chose from the menu‘s Light Bites section could easily have served two! 

A stroll through The Shambles followed.

Scenic boat cruises on the river Ouse were on offer, and for the first time since we have made a day out in York a fixture of our holiday, we took this opportunity to see and learn more of the city. 

It was really nice and relaxing to just sit there, listening to the guide‘s more or less witty commentary and observing the scenery while the boat was tuckering along at a gentle pace.

Back on dry land, B. was ready to go home, and we walked her to her car before having tea/coke at a café opposite the Museum Gardens, where we boarded the P & R bus afterwards.

A. drove us back to Ripon, and although fields, meadows and gardens are parched from weeks without rain, it was still a nice drive through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

Our landlord and landlady asked us over for a meal that evening, and it was especially nice to sit in their back garden in the golden evening light until it became too chilly to be comfortable and we retreated indoors.