PETS WELCOME SELF CATERING IN YORK, ENGLAND
Life on the Cobbles of York. Discover the City of York with your dog.
Taking a dog on a tour of a city is not easy because of the number of people and traffic. Dogs are not allowed into most visitor attractions such as museums and art galleries unless they are guide dogs. Although York is wonderful to visit, it really may be better to leave your dog in kennels for the day unless you are prepared to restrict yourself to only dog friendly sightseeing. The York riverboat tours allow dogs so that is one way of obtaining a guided tour of major landmarks. The Minster Inn is one of several pet-friendly pubs in York; perhaps that allows you to visit the Minster whilst one person has a drink in the pub with the dog?
In a few cases, it is possible to leave your dog in a fenced compound or dog kennels back at your self-catering cottage accommodation. This is the ideal situation that gives you somewhere to stay and babysits your dog whilst you enjoy a day out. A stay in rural Yorkshire is recommended for dog owners because walks are all around you and nowhere is that far to drive in Yorkshire.
York is known throughout the country as a destination for discovering the past and for architectural gems. It certainly has a lot of charm and the attractions appeal to all ages. However, the city isn’t just a living museum and it also offers great cuisine and shopping. An afternoon’s shopping excursion in York could involve charming independent stores and exciting galleries, as well as the well-known chains. In the summer months, street performers entertain the crowds. A farmers’ market regularly takes place in the city centre’s Parliament Street and all the produce comes from within a 40-mile radius of the city. As for restaurants, you’ll find Italian, Mexican, French, South American, Portuguese dishes and more. Fashionable cafes, charming tearooms and friendly pubs give the streets a lively buzz.
If the kids don’t like shopping, you can bribe them with a trip to York Dungeon (not recommended for children under 10 years old or anyone with a nervous disposition). Explore the dark side of history with the help of special effects and live actor interpretations. York’s ‘gallery of rogues’ are on show, namely Dick Turpin the highwayman and Guy Fawkes, leader of the Gunpowder Plot. Learn about the effects of the plague, how so-called witches were dealt with and the workings of a torture chamber. History was never so enthralling!
More history is on show at the Jorvik Viking Centre. It’s a very immersive experience here as you’re taken for a ride through a typical Viking village. You will smell what the villagers are cooking and some other smells you’d rather not know about! Archaeologists, who uncovered thousands of artefacts from their excavations on this site, were able to piece together the layout of the settlement, dating back a thousand years. You will see how the people lived and worked, making history come alive. Children prefer this to textbooks any day!
Of course, the most iconic building in York is York Minster. This magnificent Gothic cathedral never fails to impress and tourists come from all over the world to see its stained glass windows, organ and gargoyles and the sheer grandeur of its design. For the best view in the city, climb the 275 steps to the top of the medieval Central Tower. If you want a detailed history of the Minster, volunteers give guided tours, which last for around an hour.
The young and the young at heart will get a kick out of the National Railway Museum. The history of the railways is seen through more than a hundred locomotives and rolling stock from the beginning of the railway industry to the present time. Some of the most fondly remembered trains are here, including the Mallard and the Flying Scotsman. Royal trains also make an appearance, including Queen Victoria’s ‘Palace on Wheels’. More recent examples of rail technology can be seen with the Japanese Bullet Train. In addition to seeing the displays, children enjoy the play area and riding on the miniature train.
York Castle Museum is a much-visited attraction for school groups and with good reason. Through all its rooms, streets and shops, the past is presented in great detail. Armour and weapons are part of the collection along with domestic items such as toys. The Sixties gallery is a more recent exhibition, displaying the fashion and musical tastes of that optimistic decade. In contrast, the museum prison is a foreboding place, where Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman, pops up again. One of the most popular areas, however, is Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street, which has been expanded in 2012. Its cobbled streets and horse drawn cab evoke the era and the shops are staffed by informative ‘shopkeepers’ in costume. Every shop, in fact, is a replica of an actual shop in York’s history. These include a sweet shop, a chemist’s and a grocer.
Clifford’s Tower is another iconic landmark of the city. Perched on its mound, it is instantly recognisable. After being burned down twice, King Henry III rebuilt it in the 1200s. William the Conqueror had originally ordered its construction, as a defence against northern invaders. Go up the spiral staircase to the top for views over the city.
If you and your family like to take a sightseeing tour when you’re in a new city, several companies in York provide a service. Bus tours are very good for giving an overview of the attractions and an interesting historical background too. The red, open top and closed top double deckers are a familiar sight around the streets of York. If you want to get close to the attractions and stay fit, you can hire a bicycle. Of course, the river has played an important part in the city’s history. Boat tours on the River Ouse are a relaxing way of seeing some of the sights from a different perspective. You can join a short sightseeing trip or book a lunch or dinner cruise. Floodlit tours are an opportunity to see York by night. If you prefer to be under your own steam, you can hire self-drive motorboats.
Theatregoers have a choice of theatres in which to see drama, comedians and musicals, including the Grand Opera House. Audiences have been coming here since 1902 and many household names have appeared over the years, including Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and Vera Lynn. In 1987, major restoration work copied some of its original period features. York Theatre Royal has a café bar offering dinner and theatre deals and it has a kids’ corner for families. The theatre’s art exhibition spaces showcase local artists.
York is a treasure chest of the best of the past plus all you would want from a modern city. There’s a vibrant atmosphere here, no matter the time of year. For a city this size, it really punches above its weight and is bursting at the seams with things to experience.
DOG FRIENDLY PLACES TO VISIT FROM YORK
Places to visit within an hour's drive of York.
The Yorkshire coast and large seaside towns like Bridlington are about an hour's drive from York city centre. Dogs are not permitted on the majotr Yorkshire beaches from the 1st of May until the 30th of September, outside these dates, your dog can enjoy racing along the beach.
York to Pickering is 38 minutes drive, just a touch further for the North York Moors National Park.
York to Harrogate is 42 minutes drive - see the old pump house.
York to Leeds for shopping and nightlife is 42 minutes drive.
York to Bolton Abbey on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales for a day out is 1 hour 5 minutes
