Christmas in The Beautiful City of York
If you are one of the growing army of people who prefer to make a getaway over Christmas rather than do the traditional thing around hearth and home, you’d be forgiven for thinking that only places worth visiting are abroad. Think again – and take a look at visiting York in England. It’s a beautiful city at the best of times, but over Christmas it’s transformed into a magical wonderland and with an abundance of cheap York hotels, accommodation over the festive period won’t break the bank. York positively glistens over the Christmas period, with decorations, lights, activities and events throughout December to rival the best of either London or Paris!
What’s New For Christmas Time
The Ice Factor, an award-winning skating rink, takes pride of place outside the McArthurGlen designer outlet, along with festive Christmas markets making up a log-cabin village square, fairground rides and a 30′ Christmas tree. The Ice Factor rink is rated in the top ten by both the Guardian and Times newspapers. Also on an icy theme is the York Festival of Angels, an annual celebration of all things ice when the city’s streets are transformed into living ice-sculpture galleries with al-fresco dining and a cast-iron promise of a ‘snow’ shower or two.
York Minster
Imposing York Minster, Europe’s largest Gothic cathedral, plays a central role in the spiritual side of a York Christmas with a full programme of events throughout December, including carols by candlelight and special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
If you’d rather just visit the cathedral and revel in the magnificence of the architecture, York Minster offers two-for-one entry on selected dates through November to January.
Elsewhere in the city, both historical and contemporary York attractions gear up for Christmas events at places such as Fairfax House and Castle Howard, or you can enjoy glitzy, musical entertainment with an international flavour at the York Barbican Centre.
Minster Quarter
Christmas shopping in York, from Micklegate to the Minster Quarter, offers something for even the most discerning of shoppers. From independent boutiques and vintage shops selling jewellery, clothing or books to the main high street brands, York’s cobbled shopping streets enrich the seasonal atmosphere by setting contemporary consumer must-haves in the midst of olde worlde charm. Open-air markets run daily, with hundreds of stalls and a variety of traders offering unique gift ideas or local produce.
If you fancy a change from the traditional hustle and bustle of Christmas, or you just want to blow away the cobwebs of too long spent indoors, an alternative way to explore the delights of the city is to hire a bicycle. As one of only twelve UK locations to be awarded Cycling City status, York boasts over 100 kilometres of cycling routes.
Also in the ‘unusual activities’ camp is York’s rubbings trail. Panels scattered around the city make up an entire map when all the rubbings are taken and put together. It’s a quest that can be enjoyed by both adults and children and is a novel way to explore the city.
York is a city to rival the great and the good throughout Europe. A haven of cultural and historic inspiration, York celebrates the new and exciting whilst embracing the time-honoured and traditional. It’s the best of both worlds wrapped up in a compact, easily explored and charming Yorkshire city.
