I know. This is probably a really stupid post considering the fact that you’ll be coming here to study and not to be a tourist. But when your friends come over, if they ever want to, you should know some of the more standard places to bring them to.
The York Minster
Note that this isn’t the York Minister. This isn’t some parliament guy. This is a really Gothic-inspired church. It’s located in the city centre. If you ever need to orientate yourself in the city centre, just look for the giant spire sticking out like a sore thumb because the Minster tower is the tallest building in the city centre. Every Sunday, the bells ring and the ringing echoes throughout the whole city centre. You can hear it very loud and clear. With your UoY student card, you can get into the Minster for free, but climbing the Minster tower is going to cost you. But of course, there’s a rumour that if you climb the tower before you graduate from your degree you’ll fail your exams so I, being superstitious, have yet to climb it 😛
Clifford Tower
I actually have been up here, and it’s the remains of a tower if I remember correctly. It’s located opposite the Hilton York and if you want to get to town using the number 4 bus, you ring the bell once you see this tower. It’s a very long and steep climb to the top of the hill, and then another climb to the top of the tower. Again, you need to pay to get it, so I recommend just doing what all UoY students do before they graduate.
Roll down the hill. I kid you not.
The hill is so steep you will roll down the hill on a drunken night out. I went out with a few friends and one of them lost their specs while rolling down XD XD XD I chickened out and didn’t want to ruin my nice new dress with mud and rain so I rolled down like… a quarter of the hill hehehe.
Jorvik Viking Museum
Oh this place is amazing! It’s located on Coppergate, which is just one street down, running parallel to Piccadilly (this is where you get off when you’re heading to town on the 44.) The museum details York’s viking history and how it got the name ‘York’! The main selling point of this place? IT SMELLS LIKE VIKING. The Museum pides itself on recreating smells from that period. No, it doesn’t smell like sweaty guys and dead animals and sea creatures. Grow some imagination. It smells of incense, something really exquisite and light. I am the kind of person who is addicted to perfumes and smells so this really impressed me. At certain sections, it smells like a warm coal fire, sometimes it smells like smoked meat, or even bak kwa. It has many different smells and I recommend it to anyone wanting a different-than-usual museum experience.
Again, students get discounts so bring your student card!
Railway Museum
You got me. I’ve never been here before.
York Ghost Walk
If you have a thing for ghost walks, York is the most haunted city in the UK. Yup. Try sleeping now.
There’s this really cool bus that will pick you up and bring you to the most haunted places. Alternatively, you can follow this really cool tour-guide person. He will be the only person dressed in tweed and wearing this really old trench coat with a top hat and walking stick in the middle of the day, advertising the ghost walk in the city centre. They bring you to the bank of the River Ouse, and the Shambles, and all around the nooks and crannies of the city centre, telling you stories of who killed who and who was related to who. It’s really cool!
The River Ouse
Pronounced ‘ooh-s’. The River Ouse is the river that runs through York city centre. It’s a really pretty sight and really great for sunset pictures. Just don’t mention that people have died in the river by accidentally falling into it on a cold winters’ night whilst drunk. Yes. It doesn’t matter how good you are at swimming. The water is so cold, your body will go into a cold seizure and you will be unable to swim, and essentially drown. DON’T JUMP INTO THE RIVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
The Shambles
The Shambles is said to be the oldest shopping(?) street in Europe. It’s really picturesque! It reminds me of Diagon Alley. Just a little bit though. There are some really small shops and small businesses that sell like artisan stuffs. One of it sells pulled pork sandwiches, another sells candies, another sells exquisite soaps. Just take a picture there and be happy.
Yes. I’ve just about run out of things. I’ll add more as I remember them.
~:Denise
Comments