Hoping to Get to York...

[robinbird79]

I am in the beginning stages of planning (and saving) for a possible trip to England in the Spring (really got my fingers and toes crossed). Since I know I won't have the money to stay for more than a week at most there are a few things I have to see that I didn't get to when I was there for a month in 01. I have to go back to Hampton Court, the Tower, and Madame Tussade's (sp??) and I'll be staying at a chain hotel while in London. The two places I have some questions about are Windsor and York.

1. I want to get to Windsor. I suppose it is a rather easy trip by public transportation to get there? Names of the stops I would need? Station I should start at in London?

2. York. I must see York. I know its a couple hour train ride up there but what station should I start at, etc? I am determined to stay in a B&B there. Any suggestions of a good one? I only plan on being there 1 day and 1 night.

3. Are there any sites connected to Richard III near York that would be very easy to get to while I am up there? Obviously I won't be renting a car or anything (being from America I'd most likely cause some fun accidents).

[EC2]

I

2. York. I must see York. I know its a couple hour train ride up there but what station should I start at, etc? I am determined to stay in a B&B there. Any suggestions of a good one? I only plan on being there 1 day and 1 night.
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Depending on how your budget is fixed, if you want excellent quality at a reasonable price, Gregory's guest house in York is excellent. It's a short walk into the centre, or you can get public transport. My son and his wife stayed there - on a budget - a couple of years ago and loved it. I stayed there with my girlfriend Alison when we attended the HNS Conference there. It was on my son's recommendation and we found it excellent value. Doesn't look that much from the outside, but the bedrooms are fab. Ask for the front bedroom as it's nice and big with a sofa as well as a bed. The Breakfast is great and will set you up for the day and the host and hostess are very nice, warm welcoming people.
Url here: http://www.gregorysofyork.co.uk/

[Misfit]

3. Are there any sites connected to Richard III near York that would be very easy to get to while I am up there?

Robin, can't help you but you might post this over at the R3 group at GR. I'm sure Brian might have a suggestion or two for you.

[robinbird79]

Robin, can't help you but you might post this over at the R3 group at GR. I'm sure Brian might have a suggestion or two for you.

Ah...thanks! Didn't even think about that.

<----off to post in the R3 group :)

[Vanessa]

The train from London to York goes from King's Cross.

Although I live just on the outskirts of York, I don't really know any B&Bs, not actually needing to stay there!:o

Here's (http://www.visityork.org/) a website which might be useful.

[Ash]

I 2. York. I must see York. I know its a couple hour train ride up there but what station should I start at, etc? I am determined to stay in a B&B there. Any suggestions of a good one? I only plan on being there 1 day and 1 night..


Mmm, I am remembering it being more than a few hours, but its been years so don't depend on me! ..Cant remember the B&B we stayed at but check to see if York has one of those book a night ahead things at their visitor center. When you are in London, go to that VC and tell them you are looking for a B&B in York. Thats how we got ours and we had very good luck with it.

BTW there is a tea house you must get to. I can't remember the name of it, only remember it has large glass windows, and a piano in the main room. The desserts were to die for (at the time thats all we could afford but we saw people eating some scrumptious stuff as well)

Walk along the wall of course, see Norvik VIking Center, Spend lots of time at York Minster (try to get there during one of the masses when they have a choir, I think its the afternoon mass)

[Margaret]

There's a super-express train to York from London that gets there really fast - around 2 hours, I think.

If you go in February (I know it's a bit chilly then), you might want to time your trip so you can be there for the Jorvik Viking Festival - boat races, mock battles, and fireworks at the end as archers set aflame a mock Viking funeral ship.

Also, see the undercroft of the Minster, which has some ruins of the old Roman fort that are well worth seeing - I got the chills when I read a plaque and discovered I was standing almost on the very spot where Constantine's troops proclaimed him Emperor!

I agree - a walk on the city wall is not to be missed.

York is a wonderful place to visit.

[Ariadne]

Yes, my husband and I took the fast train from King's Cross to York in about two hours - that was in 2003.

A colleague gave us a tour along the city wall and then to lunch at a vegetarian restaurant near the Minster. We didn't stay in the city (took another train to see a friend in Harrogate that evening) but I remember buying many books in the shops there. My suitcase was a lot heavier on the trip back!

[Vanessa]

BTW there is a tea house you must get to. I can't remember the name of it, only remember it has large glass windows, and a piano in the main room. The desserts were to die for (at the time thats all we could afford but we saw people eating some scrumptious stuff as well)

Walk along the wall of course, see Norvik VIking Center, Spend lots of time at York Minster (try to get there during one of the masses when they have a choir, I think its the afternoon mass)

I think you're talking about Betty's Tea Rooms (http://www.bettys.co.uk/cafe.asp?storyid=%7BEBCDFAEA-C6F5-4F2A-AB0E-7C07A94D5241%7D). I love the Fat Rascals (http://www.bettysbypost.com/item.asp?itmid=837) in there!:D

I agree that it's nice to walk along the wall and Jorvik Centre is a great place to visit.

[parthianbow]

1. I want to get to Windsor. I suppose it is a rather easy trip by public transportation to get there? Names of the stops I would need? Station I should start at in London?

Hi robinbird79
Windsor is extremely easy to get to from either London Paddington or Waterloo. You get out at Windsor Central or Windsor/Eton depending on what you want to see.

Check out times and fares on:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/WNC.html

[Vanessa]

3. Are there any sites connected to Richard III near York that would be very easy to get to while I am up there? Obviously I won't be renting a car or anything (being from America I'd most likely cause some fun accidents).

How about the Richard III Museum (http://www.richard3museum.co.uk/main.html)? I've never been to it myself but it looks as if it could be interesting.

[Madeleine]

Yes you should be able to get to York by train in 2 hours max, and I think I've done it in less (1.5 hours) but depends on how many stops your train makes between London and York.

Oxford is also very nice to visit and easy to get to from London, think you go from Paddington and it shouldn't take too long to get there by train - also Cambridge in the other direction, from Liverpool Street station is worth a visit if you're looking at day-trips.

[Libby]

How about the Richard III Museum (http://www.richard3museum.co.uk/main.html)? I've never been to it myself but it looks as if it could be interesting.

If you walk along the city wall behind the Minster you come to the RIII museum. It's a bit quaint, but okay for a quick look. Richard paid for the top level to be built.

Middleham is too far if you're only there for the day, but the museum in the park has the original Middleham jewel, which is very beautiful.


Sheriff Hutton, where a tomb in the church is said to be that of Edward, prince of Wales is located is not far away but you would need a car.

To be honest there's so much to see in York you'll be hard pressed to see even a part of it in one day.

[Margaret]

Only one day in York! Noooo!!! We spent a week there, twice, and did not exhaust the possibilities. I promise you will regret it if you don't spend at least three days there.

[robinbird79]

Only one day in York! Noooo!!! We spent a week there, twice, and did not exhaust the possibilities. I promise you will regret it if you don't spend at least three days there.

I'd love to spend more than one day there but I have no idea what my money will look like. If I can save up enough to stay at least two days I'd be ecstatic. :)

[Gabriele Campbell]

Only one day in York! Noooo!!! We spent a week there, twice, and did not exhaust the possibilities. I promise you will regret it if you don't spend at least three days there.

Oh definitely. I had three days and managed to cover a lot (Clifford's Tower, Minster including the Roman remains under it, Holy Trinity Church, Yorkshire Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Roman Bath, Richard III Museum, Guild Hall, Jorvik, a town walk, pretty much every Roman ruin I could find, and a ghost cruise on the Ouse river) but it was by far not everything. I stayed in a hotel in the very centre, on the ancient via principia. :)

If you have only one day, I'd say the Minster, Jorvik, Clifford's Tower and maybe the Roman bath (it's in the cellar of a pub) should give you a good impression of the different epochs of York's history. Just plan for a lot of walking. :)

[robinbird79]

Oh I don't mind walking.

I'd love to be able to see more things connected with R3 (like Middleham and such) but, unless I win the lottery, money will be tight so I'll probably only be able to do things right in York.