On Tour: York, Day 4

Monday March 9, 2026.

For the first time this weekend, I slept in, so I didn't go for a walk before breakfast.

However, after breakfast we went to Shambles Market and had a quick wander around the city, before heading back to the hotel to pack.

The rest of the morning was spent relaxing, before we headed to a bus stop so that Emma could catch a bus to the station, while I completed a final walk.

So, I headed south along 'Foss Island Road' and onto 'Paragon Street', keeping outside of the city walls, until I reached 'Skeldergate Bridge', which I used to cross the 'River Ouse'.

On Tour: York, Day 3

Sunday March 8, 2026.

Another morning and another early rise... for me.

Again I went into ninja mode, leaving Emma to sleep as I quietly left the room and made my way into the cool morning air. 

I headed south, along 'Foss Islands Road', before turning onto 'Navigation Road', then along 'Hope Street' until I reached 'George Street'. I entered 'St George's Churchyard' and found Dick Turpin's grave, having not been able to see it from the Necrobus the night before. 

On Tour: York, Day 1

Welcome to the first in a series of blogs about my visit to the historic city of York, this past weekend.

Eboracum was originally founded in AD 71, by the Roman Ninth Legion who had conquered the Brigantes Tribe. On its founding it became the Roman capital for Britannia inferior. 

Following the Roman withdrawal from Britain it became the capital of the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria, and Scandinavian York.

During the Middle Ages, AD 735, York became the centre for the northern England ecclesiastical province, covering the northern third of England and the Isle of Man, consisting of 14 dioceses.

During the nineteenth century York became a major railway hub and a centre for the manufacturing of confectionery.

Today, York is a bustling Cathedral City covering an area of 33.7 km2 (13.0 sq mi). To put this into context, my hometown of Watford has an area of 21.5 km2 (8.3 sq mi), while London has an area of 1,572 km2 (607 sq mi). It is home to many historical buildings, streets and the Minster.

For the long weekend of Friday March 6 to Monday March 9, York would be where Emma and myself would be staying, as it was a place that neither of had visited. Our friend Steve was looking after Erin and Keilyn, at our house, for the weekend.

Friday March 6, 2026.

We left Watford via Watford Junction, taking a National Rail train to Euston. From there we walked the short distance to King's Cross station, stopping to grab some food from the Market on King's Cross Square.

We then made our way into the station and waited for the platform allocation to be announced, before heading through the ticket barriers to platform 3. After stowing our luggage we took our reserved seats and sat back and enjoyed the smooth ride to North Yorkshire.