Blog ≫ 2024 ≫ York: day two
I shouldn't have broken up our holiday to York into days like this, as it's really only two days.
Saturday morning, I get up when I want right? This Saturday we reallly did. Gave up on the idea of parkrun as it was an hour's walk from where we were staying, would have taken too much out of the day. So instead we went looking for a leisurely breakfast. Walked back into town, past some climbing wall place that had its own cafe, that did look good, but we just wanted cafe. Tried a couple of vegan places I had on my list, but too busy.
We ended up at Spring, as it was not too full, there was no queue. We were drawn by the size of the queue in the place next door, wonder what we were missing there? They seem to love a queue in York. I had avocado and tomatoes on sourdough, the others had meatier things. The coffee wasn't brilliant.
More nice walking round. The Merchant Adventurers Hall was right by the cafe, and looked great. But we didn't go in this time, instead headed to York Castle Museum. York Castle is confusingly split into two attractions. The castle museum is in the grounds, and really good, it has the jail, and it has a huge collection mostly from one man, of treasures, how we used to live. A couple of bits are set up as whole streets from a bygone era, really good.
I will be back with more. Need to give up the computer during my lunchbreak as T1 needs to do some homework on it.
BACK! There was also a good display of the old prison, with projections of actors as 18th century staff and inmates of the prison, and a complete interior from an old pub that had been saved, plus more modern things.
After we headed to the other bit of the castle, the original keep, known as Clifford's Tower. This is owned by English Heritage, and we're members, so no fee for us to go in. It's ont a proper steep old motte, and nicely made accessible inside with walkways right up through it where the floors no longer are. It doesn't take long to do though, if we'd paid the full fee just for this I think I'd feel I'd overpaid.
Next we did The Shambles, the Diagon Alley of York. It was way to crowded, insanely so. It's nice and narrow with the properties leaning in and it's full of shops that are a bit Harry Potterish too. T2 especially enjoyed the christmas shop there, but mostly we struggled our way to the other end to get somewhere quieter.
There is an odd "ghost" shop with a huge queu outside it. It's quite famous, you queue for hours to buy one of these ghost ornaments. Two things they love in York, ghosts and queueing. We did not queue.
Instead we headed to a pub, a small traditional pub, The Snickleway Inn. It turns out to be right next door to the amazing restaurant from last night, and this is an amazing pub. Just small and normal, but a proper pub interior, good beer, a little corner nook for us to sit in. Thye had horse racing on the TV for some punters and indie pop on the stero for others. Great, liked it a lot.
We went in some good shops, but didn't do tonnes of shopping. I didn't find an outdoor shop that I thought would be a given, but there was a great crime bookshop, and a great comic shop. I didn't buy anything but T2 bought pokemon cards and some comic books for a friend's birthday.
Next we tried to go to Spark, a kind of box park food court. Nephew had recommended it and I knew there was vegan food there, vegn burgers and dirty fries. It was busy though, it was busy everywhere, and there was a queue just to get in, so we gave up on that. Luckily there's a pub right next to it, The Red Lion, which claims to be the oldest pub in town. It was good, there was room for us to sit, and the real ale was good for me. This one not so good for Clare.
Last pub stop of the weekend was Brew York, a huge brewery complex with various different options, including some good looking food. This place was full with fancy dress themed parties, and it did not feel entirely halloween based. I think it's always like it. They show films in this place too and have a cocktail bar that we didn't go in. Enormous place.
Our dinner this evening was curry, but it nearly wasn't. We thought we had somewhere booked, but then it fell through. Our back-up place was Bombay Spice, and it was quite nice but not amazing. Ghey did however have a clearly marked out allergen menu, which shows me I should not be freely ordering of a normal Indian menu. They did have a few dishes for me, I ate less than I normally would I think.
Not too late a night, and back for more TV.
Guessing 2084 cups of coffee from my espresso machine 1 prob'ly comes to £0.98 a cup (including actual coffee and servicing 1 so not the electricity).
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⬅️ York: day one :: It's not grim up North ➡️