And so our road trip brought us to Northern England, which has many places which can transport you back in time.
Two such places are the quaint city of York, and the busy, yet historically full city of Newcastle.
Arriving in York, I was instantly taken by the “loveliness” of the town – it was such a picturesque place, like something out of a fairytale or a period film.
I loved it.
Our first port of call in York was to explore the City Walls – the gorgeous remnants of the walls that used to protect the city.
Take a walk along the old walls and enjoy the beautiful surroundings while you’re at it – getting your share of history and scenery in the one hit!
Another popular tourist spot in York is stunning York Minster, one of the largest gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.
The first recorded church on the site was a wooden structure built hurriedly in 627, but the cathedral, as we know it today, was completed and consecrated in 1472.
The Minster is not only an architecturally stunning building but is a place to discover the history of York over the centuries, its artefacts and treasures.
If you’re interested in making a visit there, the Minster’s official website can help you out.
One more spot to make a visit to in York is Clifford’s Tower, which is almost all that remains of the former York Castle.
From the top of the tower you will get a stunning view of York – try and see if you can spot The Shambles – an old street in the town featuring those lovely overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century.
The Shambles used to be home to dozens of butchers, as so was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles.
Now, instead of finding butchers shops, you’ll find candy stores and chocolate shops – yum!
While in York we stayed at this gorgeous boutique hostel called The Fort, and were put up in one of their fantastic theme rooms – the UV Room.
I was pretty excited about this room, for obvious reasons – I mean, c’mon, just take a look at these photos below!
Our next destination was Newcastle upon Tyne, where the main item on our list was an afternoon of exploring the grand Newcastle Castle.
Inside you can get lost in the maze of stairwells and tunnels, and explore what life would have been like in the prime time of the castle’s life.
If you’re anything like me you’ll probably end up wandering through the castle imagining yourself in some sort of Game of Thrones episode…
Note: The entry fee to the Castle also gains you entry to the Black Gate, which has a special museum section, for all those lap up anything historical.
