Micklegate Bar area in York
 

i'm planning a vacation to York in the near future, and have found what looks to be a nice flat on Priory St. near Micklegate Bar. however, the 2007 Lonely Planet guide refers to "beery, sloppy Micklegate" which has "gone from moribund to mental especially on weekends." ugh.

does anyone know the current situation at Micklegate?

thanks,
melissa

We rented a beautiful flat off Priory St, within sight of the wall and gate, a year ago for a week long visit. We found the location fine and an easy walk into town and the attractions. Our flat was situated so we couldn't hear noise from Micklegate.

We had my mom and teenage niece and no one found the location offensive or mental. My niece discovered a great bookstore with vegetarian cafe about a block from the flat and she spent a lot of time there. Mom was able to get groceries every morning and we could go out at night after our kids were asleep. That's our experience and we would stay there again if the situation presented.

I'm absolutely no expert on this.

But every year or two, the flanner clan does its bit to add to the general degeneracy in York. The last time was a Saturday evening, about six months ago, a bit to the NW of Micklegate.

As far as I could tell, the crowds were mainly on, or west of Micklegate. East - which is where Priory Lane is - was pretty (no, very) peaceful. The crowds at chucking-out time were considerable, and boisterous. There were a couple of pratts throwing up - but no violence or serious anything. In other words, practically indistinguishable from any other English town - except, oddly, the biggest cities, where Saturday night crowds are often better behaved.

That Saturday night, Priory Lane seemed fine. But it's on the way between the clubbing belt and some hotels, so it's possible a stag or hen party will traipse through it some evenings. The phenomenon is really a Friday and Saturday night thing.

But before you start thinking about alternatives, think hard about them, if that doesn't sound too Irish.

You could stay somewhere else altogether. But all towns of any size are pretty much the same. Among the smaller ones - well, Skipton's lovely, but what's there to do at night?

You could stay somewhere outside York. But there's the rub. To do that, you've got to get out of the town at night (you REALLY don't want to eat in York's outskirts). The real problem with the crowds is they dominate the cab queues and crowd the buses after 2300. And what on earth is the point of going to a medieval city and staying somewhere you're surrounded by semi-detached houses?

Or you could stay elsewhere inside the walls. In a hotel, you might not have the crowds in the street, but they'll dominate the hotel: the queue for breakfast at the Moat House on a Sunday morning is like the queue outside Harrods sale - only the food's better in the Horrids queue. In another flat, it's pot luck whether you hit the crowds.

The Great Weekend Binge is a far deeper-rooted aspect of Yorkshire than Castle Howard or Wensleydale cheese. Actually it's as central a part of the British way of life as moaning about the weather. View it as an anthropologist would and you'll leave York a much wiser woman. But there really is very little to worry about.

thank you both for the encouragement. our party includes a 12 y.o., so we are usually home by 9 or 10pm at the latest. didn't want to have to fight the crowds off our doorstep!

i like the location and the flat for lots of other reasons, so it's a keeper for now. here's the url in case there are other opinions: http://www.holidaylets.net/properties/19105

checked out the url. agree with flanner. But looks ok. I would feel comfortable staying there and I visit york avery couple of months

thank you!