Would you do York for a week??
 

We will be staying in London for a week and will do day trips. The next week I was thinking of going North and staying in York. Is a week to long for York, what day trips could we do. Could we do Scotland by train for the day???

I think a week is too long. We did a day trip from London a couple of years ago and thought that wasn't enough. Scotland on a day trip doesn't do it justice IMO. I'd spend a couple of days in York and then the balance of that week in Scotland.

My problem is we are using Marriott points and I have to stay a week in one location. The week in London is fine but the next week is tricky. I can't believe I can't find a Marriott in Scotland that will take three people in a room.

Of course a week is not too long - it just depends on what you want to see/do.

Besides the city itself which easily will fill 2 days, there are: Castle Howard, the Moors/and the North Yorkshire Morrs steam railway, Whitby/Robin Hood's Bay, Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal, all the Herriot connections - and that is just the short list.

I've stayed a week or more more than in/near York a few times and have barely scratched the surface. Other possibilities - day trips up to hadrian's Wall, or driving through the Dales.

As for which is better for your week - you can fill a week w/ wonderful sites no matter where you pick. IMHO it is so sad when folks think they have "seen it/done it" in a day or two.

I agree with you about not trying to do a city in one day. When we do Europe we usually go for 5 to 6 weeks. But it gets very expensive so we try to do points and timeshare exchanges when we can. I am sure we will love York and find lots to do. thanks for the advice

And a day trip to Scotland to pack in a year's sightseeing is nice not just in getting a peak at Edinburgh, one of Europe's most spectacular cities but you get to ride one of Britain's most scenic rail routes as it goes along the coast much of the way. In fact one poll recently ranked the Berwick-Edinburgh train line Britain's most scenic - though i would give that title to the Maillag- Fort William - Glasgow line. so the train ride itself will be a part of a great day. And Edinburg's Waverly train station - one of the quaintest in the UK, is right in the heart of town, just below the castle and Royal Mile. A day here you will surely enjoy. Buy a cheap advance purchase ticket in London or, for better fares, online at www.nationalrail.co.uk - for walk up fares you could pay top dollar. But if you're doing day trips from London, training to York and Edinburgh and back to London then you should strongly look at the Brit Railpass, which can be used on any train anytime - just walk on - cheaper fares are often highly restricted. For more on BritRail passes in the US i always advise going to BETS (www.budgeteuropetravel.com) and calling them as they are experts with service far exceeding Raileurope - their free European Planning & Rail Guide includes an excellent chapter on Britain and British trains. But if you want to investigate the online fares and lock yourself into certain trains, etc. you can beat the price of a BritRail but not i think for walk up fares - and if going to Edinburgh i'd want to be able to take any train back - no telling how long you'd want to stay. If the not unusual rainy day maybe just a quick look, etc.

I would not do Edinburgh as a day trip from York because you would spend too much time going back and forth.

York for a week would be just fine if you have a rental car. I had a home exchange in Scarborough for two weeks once and used it as a base. I saw many of the sites you would want to see although you would probably make different choices.

In York I recommend the Castle Museum (a museum of daily life), York Minster and the National Railway Museum as "must sees". I am not so crazy about the Jorvik Viking Center but many people like it.

Fountains Abbey is worth 4 hours. It is a world heritage site and there are lots of ruins.

Castle Howard will occupy you nicely for a day.

Eden Camp, a museum devoted to the Home Front during WW II is very interesting. I spent about 4 hours there. You might take more or less depending on interest.

Whitby Abbey (I never got there, by the way, as I ran out of time) is loved by many. I did take the hike down to Robin Hood's Bay (and back UP again).

Of course, Castle Howard is one place you will want to see. I actually visited 3 times during my stay in the area. Once I visited the house and grounds. The second time was for a reenactment of an English Civil War battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers. The third time I went to a concert on the grounds.

There are lots of other places, including many historic homes in the area. I did take the train that goes through the moors from Pickering. I did not go to James Herriot's surgery, as it was closed for rennovation when I went.

The castle in Scarborough is very interesting, by the way. It is only ruins but very well explained. It took a beating in the English Civil War.

There is a theater in York for evening entertainment. There is another in Scarborough called the Stephen Joseph, which has plays that try out before going to London. I saw 3 plays there. One was an Alan Ayckborn play and he was there the night I went. It is worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

During the summer there is lots going on all over. I even saw monks sing vespers at Riveaulx Abbey--a real treat. Check with tourist information when you arrive and they will have information on everything going on during your stay.

Then, the next time you have points, try and find a place near Edinburgh and do it. There is lots to do in both Edinburgh and York. You would not have a bad time in either place.

We have been to York twice, stopping over for couple of days on way by train from London to Edinburgh. I could gladly spend a week in York and do some daytrips. If you plan to travel by train, you can get BritRail passes in USA efore you leave (assuming you are in USA). We took day trip to Harrogate, a lovely old spa town. Would love to go to Castle Howard. Next trip we would go to the village of Thirsk, as we are James Herriot fans and his restored vet office is there. Durham would be easy day trip by train. Edinburgh is around 2 hrs by train and a beautiful trip it is, along the seacoast. If you have a car (we haven't dared to tackle the "wrong" side of the road yet), the possibilities are numerous. York itself deserves 2 or 3 days but we could spend longer just soaking it up.

Everything that FauxSteMarie says is exactly right. Add to it what Iscott said and you have the perfect holiday. I have spent a week in York twice and loved it. I would live there tomorrow if I could afford the house prices. The rental car is what makes the holiday. Go for it. As a former resident of Edinburgh, I much prefer York.

I thank all of you for your advise and will book my York hotel today - I love England and I am so looking forward to seeing another part of this lovely country.

LAab: You will have a lovely time in York. But I will warn you - if you are so sensitive that flanner's fun upset you that much - then do not get into ANY conversation in any Yorkshire pub.

Nonsense. None of my English or Scottish friends have that sort of "humor." (And I use that term very loosely.)

Almost every Brit on here has that sort of "humor" to one extent or another. Some people just may not notice when they are being sent up . . . . .

Oh, and do go to Harrogate as was suggested. I spent a few days there & loved it.

Flanneruk's remarks were just as LSab portrayed them--nasty and an effort to posture itself into superiority. Fortunately, I have never met anyone in the UK cut from that sort of cloth.

Or being put down.

My DH and I stayed a week in Leeds, not too far from York. If we had planned better, we would have stayed in York - a MUCH cooler city!

Here is our trip report, we did lots of daytrips around the area, most of which have been mentioned above. Lots to do!

http://www.greendragonartist.com/BItripreports2005.htm

Another suggestion for a daytrip from York would be Durham. I studied there several years ago and it was a very nice place to visit. There was a grand cathedral, a castle (that has been incorporated into the university) as well as a nice town square. It's worth a visit with you being so close. Have a great trip.

When you "do" ;) York Minster, don't neglect to go down to the undercroft where they have done some interesting excavations. We found it quite interesting.

I'll also chime in with FauxSteMarie in stating that the Jorvik Viking Center is a bust. I suppose if there's absolutely nothing else to do, then proceed at your own risk!

Gee all these people agreeing with me today.

I have done a lot of home exchanging in the UK, France and Germany--which makes for some unusual trips. You just go where you get the swap and do day trips from the location. It is never boring and always an adventure. You never know when you start out looking for a swap where you will end up and when. Scarborough didn't sound like such a great location but it turned out to work for me for exploring the moors.

Insofar as Durham is concerned--get this--there is a baseball time. You read that correctly. When I swapped in Scarborough, I ran into the team posing for promotional photos on the beach. I started "razzing" them putting on my best NY accent and they got a kick out of it. I really do not know what level they play at compared to Americans. It was a team of young men. I gathered there is a league. Who knew there was baseball in the UK?

Leeds is supposed to have a wonderful museum of armour. I have never been to it but it is on my very long--ha!--list. That's another day trip.

Hi, I am lucky enough to live near York, and of course there's plenty to keep you going for a month, let alone a week. So here's some info from a local.
You don't mention when you were visiting. Although places like Fountains Abbey open all year, others don't. Castle Howard, Harewood etc are 'put to bed' usually from the end of October to Easter. So do check on the websites if you are visiting out of season.
My hit list would be (in no particular order)-
1) York (2 days easily to see everything)
2) Castle Howard
3) Yorkshire Dales (walking, scenery, waterfalls, abbeys)
4) Yorkshire Moors and North Yorks Moors Railway.
5) North Yorks coast - Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay, Staithes etc
6) Fountains Abbey
7) Leeds if you are into shopping. Some of the best shops outside London in a compact centre.
8) Harewood House
9) Holy Island
And of course you can easily visit Edinburgh by train! For goodness sake, my husband commutes from York to central London for work at least once a week! The GNER service is quick and efficient. The food is good so catch an early train, breakfast on the train and be in Edinburgh mid morning. The scenery on the way up is fantastic so bag a seat on the right hand side of the train to catch the views - the sea practically comes up to the line in places!
Hope this helps.
M

And don't miss Betty's.

http://tinyurl.com/y7gd69

Morgana and Carrybean. Have it absolutely right. York is central to Yorkshire which is apretty attractive part of the UK. Loads to do, but don't stay in York for the whole week get out and about.

I would also check the yorkshire web site for festivals and how they fit in with your visit. The cities around York have all the usual jazz festivals plus may and mela.

You know I deliberately omitted Betty's. I had some of the worst--and driest--cake in there for a very high price. I know most people like it, but, at least in so far as I am concerned, I thought it was overpriced, not very good, and totally a waste of time.

Feel free to ignore my advice. I know I will be out voted, but I would never go back to eat at Betty's again.

I do recommend against doing day trips to Edinburgh or London using York as a base. While the train ride to Edinburgh is scenic if you go along the coast, you would not have much touring time before you had to return because you would spend too much time on the train.

My personal take on the entire continent of Europe is that you could simply throw a dart at the map (which is what I do with my home exchanges in a way). Wherever it lands, there would be plenty to do within a 1-2 hour car ride one way to occupy you for two weeks with day trips--and probably for much longer. You can't go wrong with Edinburgh or York (for the attractions of the city itself, if forced to choose, I would vote for Edinburgh). There is no point in trying to cover too much ground and seeing everything on that list you have developed because you would simply get it exhausted and spend too much "schlep" time and not enough time looking. After many trips to both the UK and continent, I haven't come close to "knocking off" everything on my list--and probably never will. Max out the attractions and sites near where you are sleeping and save the others for another time.

By the way, the Borders region of Scotland-England also has a lot of interesting sites (not all of which, of course, I have seen).

Newby Hall is also worth a half a day. Also, whatever your faith, or lack thereof, make sure you attend evensong at the York Minster every chance you get. Sublime music. Plus, you'll avoid having to pay admission to see the interior of the church.

I agree that, with day trips, a week in York will be fine. However, I am not the greatest fan of the city of York itself. I like it, but it feels a bit "Disneyfied". The area of the shambles especially. I personally would not want to base out of there for more than two nights. I'd prefer to move on to somewhere in the countryside. But that's just me. Like I said, with a car to get out and around, you should have a terrific time.

I do agree with recommending evensong at York Minster. I cannot tell you in how many cathedrals I have been to evensong because I go every chance I get in the UK.

By the way, I am Jewish, but the music is heavenly no matter what faith you are.

Faux, thanks for the Betty's heads up although everything I had a few years ago was just wonderful. I hope you just hit a bad day.

My experience of many trips to Bettys is that the food is OK but overpriced and it's the atmosphere that you pay for.

We do still go from time to time, particularly with my grandparents who really like the atmosphere.

Also in York is the area called the "Shambles." You should probably have a look - see while you're there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shambles_(York)

Thank you all for giving me such wonderful and appreciated advice. I wish I was leaving today!! We will be on our trip late June early July. Thanks again!!

Whether I hit Betty's on a bad day or not, I would choose some other place to have a piece of cake the next time--so much hype and so unsatisfactory!

We loved York -- even though I grew up in England, we never visited until our daughter did her junior year at the Uni.

Best memories were evensong at York Minster, the Dales, Castle Howard, lots of pubs, nice places to eat, and (for DH) the railway museum. We did an excellent walking tour of the city walls with a local resident as guide (found through our hotel, IIRC) -- he was so engrossed in his topic that the tour lasted twice as long as advertised! After that, we were ready for toasted tea cakes at Betty's, for sure.

Train trip to Edinburgh would be feasible and the scenery is great, as others have suggested. Once you get to Waverly station, you could very easily get one of the "round the city" bus tours that leave right from the station. Good way to get an overview, and if it's a nice day, you can sit on the open top. But truly, there's so much to see in both places that you should just go back and do Scotland as its own trip. In late June, you'll have those long daylight hours -- should be a lovely time to visit.