My husband and I got fantastic airfares to London so we have decided to spend a week in London and a week in York in June which we've always wanted to spend more time in. We have booked Minstergate with the National Trust and will rent a car for day trips for 4 days. We plan on staying in town for the first two days and the last day and renting a car for the middle four days. I'd like to see Castle Howard again, Asygarth Falls, Richmond Castle and more of the Dales. Is York a bad base for these plans?

Will the parking situation be so difficult that we will be regretting our decision to stay in the town center? Minstergate is somewhere I have always wanted to stay in

The closet car park is Monks Bar which has overnight parking and the expense isn't the issue, driving into the crowded city after a long day out, not finding a spot and then driving out of the city again has me concerned.

Is there a better car park to park in that may get us out of the city easier?

Thanks for any advice.

Staying IN the very center of York would be marvelous, having a car in the very center of York would not be so marvelous . . .

It isn't the parking (assuming you don't mind the costs) - York is a medieval city not really geared for cars and there are lots of one way/narrow streets. You can make it work though -- because staying in Minstergate would be special.

That car park is 'fairly' close to the A19/Clifton for getting out towards the north.

Meant to add -- the long stay carpark at the station is relatively convenient -- but a longer walk from your rental.

Thanks janisj,

That's what I was thinking, Minstergate is worth the trouble. We will look at the long stay carpark at the station, thanks for the tip!

York is as good a base as any for the places you want to visit.
My husband parks at the station a lot as he often works in London and Newcastle. His main complaint is around the size of the spaces (we have a largish car)and the difficulty getting in and out of them - and he's a great driver.
He can claim the parking fees back - think they are about £16 a day.
York traffic can be awful - we avoid the ring road at weekends and at peak times. But if you wait until the rush hour traffic disappears, especially on weekday mornings, then it shouldn't be too bad.
North Yorkshire covers a very large area, so no one place is ideal when it comes to touring.
Week commencing Monday 29th May is a school holiday so if you are here for the very beginning of June expect everything to be much busier.
If you are driving out to Aysgarth, then don't miss Jervaulx Abbey and Bolton Castle too!
http://www.jervaulxabbey.com/
http://www.boltoncastle.co.uk/
Over in this area is the Wensleydale Heifer which does very good food.
http://www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk/

Morgana, thanks for your reply. I was just reading all your posts as I remember you as the expert from our last trip to Yorkshire! We are going at the end of June and will leave after rush hour as you advise. Ten years ago on our first trip to England together my husband drove and was freaked out by the ring road so I am very solicitous about his driving in the UK as I won't and the freedom and access a car gives you is unbelievable. We were based in Thirsk before so traveled to the west more on another trip.
We have been to the Heifer, one of my all time favorite meals, but for some reason missed Jervaulx and will go now. Bolton Castle on my list also.
We are pondering staying one night in a pub possibly in the Dales where we could drive see sights along the way, eat, drink without worry about driving, then go back to York, again driving to sights on way back to York. I have Sawday's book on pubs and the Forresters Arms is recommended in Carlton in Coverdale. Could you recommend an itinerary if we stayed at this pub or another that would include some of the sights I mentioned and/or Richmond?
Than you.

Sorry, I m meant to say that we had traveled to the east on our last trip. There's a reason I don't drive, not to mention my problems with distinguishing left from right��

Hi again. Yes, will try and suggest an itinerary. A few thoughts though before I do so.......
Have you been to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal before? It's a World Heritage site and absolutely gorgeous. Tons to see - the abbey ruins, Fountains Hall, Water Gardens, deer park etc.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fou...l-water-garden
Could I also suggest some other places to look at for your overnight stay? Not saying don't go to the Foresters by the way!
If you fancy a truly amazing splurge then there's the Yorke Arms, a Michelin starred restaurant with rooms in Nidderdale. This is a special occasion place but worth every penny. The food and everything about it is superb.
http://www.yorke-arms.co.uk/
Another lovely place is Yorebridge House (Wensleydale) - some of the rooms have hot tubs overlooking the river.
http://www.yorebridgehouse.co.uk/
The Wensleydale Heifer also does rooms.
Lastly the Fountaine Inn - more 'competitively priced' that the other two. Beautiful setting in Wharfedale.
http://www.fountaineinnatlinton.co.uk/

Ditto the Yorke Arms!

I haven't stayed there but the dining room is lovely, the service is impecable and the food sooooo good.

If you get to Richmond, don't miss the ruins of nearby Easby Abbey
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...sby/index.html
and also St Agatha's church next to them which has some wonderful medieval wall paintings in the chancel.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...sby/index.html

We were terribly disappointed when we visited Bolton Castle a few years ago as it felt very run down. The outside was more impressive than the inside. Has it improved since then?

We did like the ruined Middleham Castle just a stones throw from Jervaulx Abbey with its links to Richard III.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/castle...ham/index.html

Constable Burton Gardens are only a short distance from Jervaulx and are lovely too.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/garden...ton/index.html

Fountains Abbey is definitely worth visiting. Don't miss Ripon eithr which is a lovely unspoilt market town with a wonderful cathedral.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...pon/index.html
You don't say when you are visiting, but it is worth checking out whether Markenfield Hall is open during your stay. 2017 opening times are Sun 30 Apr - Sun 14 May and Sun 11 - Sun 25 June. 2.00pm to 5.00pm each day (last entry 4.30pm).
This is medieval moated manor house just south of Ripon. There is no shop or cafe but the volunteer guides are so enthusiastic and really bring the place alive.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/statel...eld/index.html

Ripon is actually a city not a market town. It's very proud of its reputation as the Cathedral City of the Dales! Not that it has a lot of competition.......

Hi Everyone,

We have been to Fountains Abbey a few times and Ripon once, loved both. Also Middleham which was a special experience. I love abbey ruins and wanted to stay at the National Trust properties at Fountains but they were booked.
I'll check out your suggestions ESW and yes Morgana please suggest an itinerary, it would be much appreciated. I will look at the pubs you suggested. I had been looking at the Fountaine Inn, it certainly is a good price! Thank you.

Fountains and Ripon Minster are both great visits, try and get shown around the Minster. Even the Fountains visit is really best focusing on the setting.

Bolton Abbey is best visited as a visit to a lovely piece of countryside. The Abbey itself was used as building material for the private house next door, except when shipped down the valley and sold off. The remaining chapel is pretty but not on the same level as Fountains. The walk along the valley up to the Strid is one of shear pleasure.

I'll assume you are staying at the Fountaine Inn - drive to Grassington, maybe pick up picnic supplies. Grassington has lots of little shops to explore too.

From Grassington head north (B6160 through Conistone, Kettlewell, Bucken and Cray. This is a gorgeous route and you'll no doubt be stopping to admire the views many times.
This road eventually takes you right up to Aysgarth and the Falls which I know you want to visit.
If you like waterfalls you can also visit Hardraw Force which is close by - a single drop fall.
 http://hardrawforce.com/

From Aysgarth head north again (via Castle Bolton if you wish which does look magical from the outside) and head for Reeth. If you have time you could turn west at Reeth and head deeper into Swaledale (Gunnerside, Muker etc).
However, if time is pushing on then once you get to Reeth (very pretty) you need to turn to the east and head to Richmond via Marrick. You'll get to see some of Swaledale and Richmond isn't far off - I know you want to visit the castle.
Richmond itself is attractive with a big, cobbled market square and a tiny Geeorgian Theatre which we sometimes go to (it's like sitting in someone's living room).
From Richmond head back to wherever you are staying that night (York?).
The disadvantage of this itinerary is that you miss Jervaulx Abbey, but it would be too long a detour off the route.
The advantage of this itinerary is that it will give you a really good tour of the Dales - you'll see some of Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Swaledale.

Lastly I am not sure if you will be able to access this, but BBC4 has produced a series of 'slow travel' programmes and the last one was a two hour, real time bus journey starting in Richmond and heading out to Swaledale. It got huge TV audiences and was wonderful!
It was called All Aboard the Country Bus.
http://www.dalesbus.org/countrybus.html

Thanks for the suggestions Morgana, and yes I do think that the Fountaine Inn would be closer to our budget than the Yorke Arms. The Wensleydale Heifer also has a nice package deal for midweek stays. I'll try and access the Country Bus program, if the link doesn't work I'll try YouTube.
Bilboburgler, we loved the Ripon Minster so maybe we will pay it a short visit. We are very excited about returning to the area, my only regret is the absence of our daughter who was 12 on our last visit. She loved York, particularly our meal at the beautiful ASK restaurant in the former Grand Assembly Rooms. She's twenty now and in college with an internship or working this summer. The memories these trips create are wonderful and lasting and I thank you all for your help!

The Minster, did you see the Alice carvings on the Pews?

Hi bilboburgler, No I haven't and I've been there 4 times! What are they and I will certainly look for them this time.

I can't add much to all this excellent advice other than a parking suggestion if all else fails which is the Park and Ride lots:

http://www.itravelyork.info/park-and...e-map-for-york

I imagine you've already done the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Whitby, etc.

The various animals carved into the choir pews are strangely similar to John Tenniel's work. If you chat to the staff they will point them out.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...nd-697305.html