Mentioned by History Hit
10 of the Best Historic Sites in York
"Kirkstall abbey is a well-preserved medieval abbey which has stunning architecture and some great ruins. It is set in parkland and it is the perfect place for a walk. There is also an outdoor deli market where you can try some delicious food, such as a hot spiced wine or a fresh stonebaked pizza, or buy an artisan gift for your friends."
"Students can find it right between the Castle Museum and the Jorvik Viking Centre. Clifford’s Tower offers visitors stunning panoramic views over Old York, thus making it the ideal starting point for any visit to the city. There’s plenty to discover here, including the remains of York Castle built by William the Conqueror, a prison and a royal mint."
"You’ll find one of the biggest parks in Europe three miles north of Leeds city centre. Roundhay Park is a beautiful outdoor space that covers a massive 700 acres, with landscaped gardens, rolling parkland and two scenic lakes. It’s a great place to get back to nature, but you’ll also find a few man-made attractions here that are just as worthy of your time – think adventure playgrounds, sports pitches, tennis courts and a skate park."
"At 700 acres, Roundhay Park is one of the biggest urban parks in Europe. It’s twice the size of Hyde Park in London and offers a multitude of adventures. The vast network of paths stretches beyond the landscape gardens into the woodlands where you’ll find quaint riverside rambles, picturesque gorge walks and calf-burning hikes that promise incredible views."
"This park, which is four miles northeast of Leeds city centre, offers 700 acres of parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens. If it's really cold you can warm up in the indoor Tropical World, which has butterflies, birds, reptiles and even meerkats, or the early 19th century Mansion House which has a cafe. The car park is accessible via Wetherby Road, LS8 2JZ."
"There’s something for all ages at Swithens Farm in Rothwell. They have an open farm the kids will love from Tuesday to Sunday, featuring the likes of cows, pigs, rabbits, ducks, geese and two irresistibly cute micro pigs called Molly and Millie. Alongside the animals, they also have a play barn or those up to the age of 11."
"Spurriergate is open for refreshments and meet-ups Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2.30pm. We have free Friendly WiFi, a soft play area and a warm welcome. Come and meet your friends and make some new ones!"
"This Grade I listed Georgian church was nearly lost in the 1950s, but was saved when church officials decided that it was a building of historical and architectural importance. While it’s still a place of worship, Holy Trinity Church is also a lively community space and they put on all manner of events for you to enjoy, including art exhibitions, vintage fairs and live music – the acoustics are fantastic. Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HW."
"Leeds Art Gallery is free to visit and this summer has two current temporary exhibitions from artists Zadie Xa and Georgina Starr. Families can download learning and activity packs from home including Mindful Creatives fact sheets and colouring-in."
"Set inside a large and elegant building, an £8 million development back in 2015 has seen York Art Gallery rise to one of the best regional galleries in the country. Boasting 7 exhibition spaces across 2 floors and an outdoor Artist’s garden, there’s plenty to see for the art lovers visiting York, including an internationally significant collection of ceramics spreading across 2 galleries and temporary exhibitions that mean there is always something fresh to see. Keep your eyes out for works by hugely famous artists such as Turner and Hockney."
"York Art Gallery boasts the largest collection of British Studio Ceramics in the country in its Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA). The 19th century building (restored 2013-2015) contains works from the 14th century to the present day including altarpieces, drawings, paintings, prints and sculpture. Highlights include works by Pablo Picasso, L S Lowry and David Hockney."
"One of England's most impressive collections of sculpture is scattered across the formidable 18th-century estate of Bretton Park, 200-odd hectares of lawns, fields and trees. A bit like the art world's equivalent of a safari park, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park showcases the work of dozens of sculptors both national and international. The park is partly a homage to local heroes Barbara Hepworth (1903−75), who was born in Wakefield, and Henry Moore (1898−1986), though more of their works are on display at the Hepworth Wakefield."
"This outdoor gallery near Wakefield is in a former 18th-century estate encompassing more than 500 acres of fields, lakes, exotic trees,…"
"04/07/2021: Best place around for breakfast,would highly recommend this place most definitely making this my regular for breakfast and the homemade scones are out of this world,hats off to the chef. 04/07/2021: Best cafe I've ever been to. Food menu seems a bit limited but that may just be down to covid rules etc."
"Source: Photo by user Laura Blankenship used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Sitting right on the doorstep of the magnificent York Minister, is the quaint little cafe, Bennett’s Cafe and Bistro. Serving delicious cakes and coffees during the day, along with their all-day breakfast sandwiches, Bennett’s turns into a bistro at night, serving more pricey items such as their roast chicken breast with roast onion cream and wild mushrooms at 21 USD."
"Described as the perfect place to relax and to take a break from the bustling city life, Bennett’s Cafe & Bistro is situated next to the spectacular York Minster, and offers beautiful views of York. Serving a range of traditional English food with an Italian twist, such as bacon or sausage in lightly toasted ciabatta, Bennett’s Cafe & Bistro is known for its tempting selection of wholesome, freshly made brunch dishes."
"Grön is all about Scandi-inspired brunch from pancakes to crab scrambled eggs on toast and banana bread – “At Grön, we’re all about #KeepingItClean. From fresh, locally sourced ingredients to organic wines from local distributors – we’re committed to delivering a great brunch or dinner, with minimum impact on the environment. With milk alternatives always free of charge and an extensive range of plant-based options, we’re vegan and vegetarian friendly."