Postcards Winter 2022 US | Page 57

Best of the rest mound was burned down in 1190 after a horrific incident during which York ’ s Jewish community of around 150 men , women and children committed mass suicide after they were besieged by a mob . The current stone building was used as a treasury , occupied by a royal garrison during the Civil War and later used as a prison .
York ’ s status as a prosperous trade and commercial route can be seen in the impressive timber-beamed Merchant Adventurers ’ Hall and the 15th-century Guildhall . Its status as the center of Christianity in the north of England is reflected in the glorious York Minster . The first stone church was built around 633 ; a completely new cathedral was begun in about 1080 after the Minster was burnt down during the Harrying of the North in 1069 , when William the Conqueror ’ s knights laid waste to Yorkshire and the surrounding area . It ’ s a must-visit masterpiece today , with beautiful handcrafted stone and an array of medieval stained glass , including
the Great East Window , the largest single medieval stained-glass window in the United Kingdom .
As an important center of transportation since the Romans turned up and linked the city to their famously efficient roads , York was also key in the foundation of Britain ’ s rail network , with one of the earliest permanent stations and a variety of merging railways leading to the York-based North Eastern Railway Company providing train services throughout the north of England .
To combine appreciation for its rich railway heritage with a stay in the city , it ’ s worth booking into The Grand , the only five-star hotel in York , which is housed in the former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway . It ’ s a beautiful Edwardian building with plenty of original features and architecture to admire , plus the added bonus of a luxury spa , cookery school , highend restaurant and even its own apiary , so guests can be assured that the honey at breakfast comes from very local bees .
Shambles One of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe , the Shambles is rumored to have inspired JK Rowling — a wander down its cobbled streets with overhanging buildings does draw inevitable comparisons to Harry Potter ’ s Diagon Alley . Full of cafes , gift shops and independent boutiques , it ’ s easy to imagine bygone times while enjoying a more pleasant modern shopping experience .
The Hole in Wand Fans of wizardry will enjoy ‘ the world ’ s most magical golf course ’, with its nine-hole adventure where intrepid players step through a giant picture frame , past bubbling cauldrons and putt the ball into all kinds of illusion and trickery .
The Bloody Tour of York Head down the snickelways and sidestreets with Mad Alice , who will reveal 2,000 years of gruesome tales in this 90-minute walking tour . The stories are fascinating and macabre but not too scary for younger guests , and the lively , engaging guide brings history to life .
Betty ’ s Tea Room Betty ’ s is a Yorkshire institution — head to the York branch , opened in 1936 , its interiors inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner , for the legendary afternoon tea complete with sandwiches and scones . Make sure to buy one of the famous ‘ fat rascals ’, a big bun , which is sort of a cross between a scone and a rock cake , packed full of fruit and topped with glacé cherries and almonds .
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