Visit York
Our trip to Great Britain was definitely one for the books. I spent months researching the areas that we wanted to travel and stop along the way. On this post, I will show our day by day travel itinerary. I found that because it doesn't hurt getting recommendations from others when traveling. We found the most amazing places to stay, eat, shop and explore. Keep in mind, I am huge history buff, with an art history background so this was all right up my alley. Below I have highlighted must see places to stay, shop and explore while visiting Great Britain. Excited to share this with you all.
First stop on our tour was in the beautiful city of York. We had less than 24 hours in York, but not to worry.. we saw so many great things on a short time frame. The picture to the left is of the York Minster, one of the largest cathedrals of its kind in Europe. As you can see, the cathedral hardly fit into our picture. A glorious sight to see, and a must stop when in York! This medieval city predates the ancient Romans which was once ruled by them. You can see the rich history and beauty when walking along the old cobble stone streets along the city walls.
York's most famous and oldest street is called "The Shambles." Here you will find antique stores galore, shopping, local pubs and eateries. The Punch Bowl Pub (pictured to left) is a great restaurant and atmosphere, immersing you right into the historic town on York. Stop here for a pint and people watch after a long day of sight seeing. Another great pub along this street is The Ye Olde Starre Inn. Licensed in 1644, a definite place to grab fish and chips all while enjoying their outdoor patio.
My husband and I stumbled upon the York Museum Gardens randomly making our way to Betty's Tea Room. The gardens are behind the medieval abbey of St. Mary's, dating back from 1055 AD. This is such a beautiful park with rich history, giving the similar vibes of Fountain Abbey (but on a smaller scale). The park leads your through the grounds of the old monastery, and medieval watch tower which brings you to the center of York. From here you will find a lot of shops, pubs and restaurants to get your day started.
A definite place to visit while in York is Betty's Tea Room. In the center of St. Helen's square, this tea room has been a famous landmark in York for quite some time. After opening in 1936, the war broke out and Betty's became a favorite local hangout for the airmen stationed close by. There are two areas at Betty's where you can have tea, upstairs in the Belmont Room (where we enjoyed our time), or downstairs in the main room. One thing I will never forget during our high tea experience was the beautiful church bells ringing in the background. It felt as though we were placed back in time. Such a magical and lovely event that we were glad we planned during our trip to York. One thing to note, there can be a very long line to get into Betty's, so make sure you make a reservation, and don't eat breakfast before you go, they fill you up on so many goodies. Worth every penny ;)
New Lady Betty Afternoon Tea is 32.95£ per person. It starts off with a glass of champagne, followed by their daily appetizer, finger sandwiches and lovely desserts. Each guest chooses their favorite pot of tea to enjoy. Venture out and try something bold and new, a different type of tea if your interested. Betty's tea room offers a whole book to pick from. Cheers!
