A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY April
NORTH YORKSHIRE
York is atime machine of acity: to wander round its compact centre is to walk in the footsteps of Roman settlers, Viking invaders and Plantagenet kings. The immense Gothic cathedral of York Minster will keep you in its orbit, but try to get lost down beautiful medieval lanes and you’ll find amodern, creative community amid the monuments and museums of aWorld Heritage Site in waiting.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO Get your bearings on the City Walls (yorkwalls.org.uk), a 13th-century defensive perimeter that offers two miles of elevated walkways and viewpoints. The daffodils that cloak its ramparts are particularly striking at Clifford’s Tower (above), replanted to honour lives lost during the worst antisemitic massacre of the Middle Ages (english-heritage.org.uk). Dig into the city’s past at the Yorkshire Museum (yorkshiremuseum.org.uk), then come up for air in the adjacent York Museum Gardens (yorkmuseumgardens.org.uk). Spring sunshine lights up the limestone towers of York Minster; step in to see it shine through 128 windows containing more than half of England’s medieval stained glass (yorkminster.org). Then arm yourself with the York Open Studios 2024 programme to find modern treasures in the workshops of around 100 artists (13-14 and 20-21 April; yorkopenstudios.co.uk).
WHERE TO STAY The Grand hotel lives up to its name and offers special events such as Readers’ Retreats celebrating Yorkshire’s literary history (from £205/night, thegrandyork.co.uk). Railway House has eight apartments with a French country flavour (from £175/night; railwayhouseyork.co.uk), while The Bishop &the Bison is a characterful small hotel (from £125/night; bishopofyork.com).
