IN LOVE WITH YORK

Located on Castlegate, a stone’s throw from Clifford’s Tower, Pairings, run by sisters Kate & Kelly, is a relaxed, friendly table service bar with an appreciation for fine wines, beer, whisky, gin and cocktails. Choose from a selection of small plates and sharing boards, featuring the absolute best in locally sourced charcuterie and artisan cheese.

York’s last surviving windmill is also the oldest 5-sailed windmill in the country. Despite having worked since 1770, it’s still hard at it, producing traditional stone-ground flour thanks to some sturdy restoration work. It’s a real hidden gem worth taking a wander out of town for.

This modern North African restaurant with a beautiful, covered, and heated garden is a delicious dream of a place. The chef and owner, Tarik, serves up a range of small and big plates influenced by his culinary journey that began in his native Algiers and continued throughout the Mediterranean Basin.

Tea drinkers – you will love this shop. Their philosophy is that every person who walks through their door is unique and that there’s a corresponding infusion to meet their requirements. Delicate and aromatic, rich and fruity, or light and refreshing, there’s something for everyone. They stock an impressive selection of black and green teas, chai, oolong, pu-erh, herbal infusions, Ayurveda blends, rooibos and all the accessories you need to brew like a pro.

Offers carefully curated and regularly changing collection of ethically sourced homewares and lifestyle products to bring joy. With a focus on small spaces and slower living, the store stocks pieces to elevate simple, everyday pleasures with well designed, beautifully made and thoughtfully created objects. An absolute delight and a much loved York independent to visit.

If you can, be sure to get a lunch or dinner table at this Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Tommy Banks. Set in a characterful 19th-century building, Roots’ menus are inspired by the constantly evolving palate of produce grown on the Banks’ family farm and kitchen garden. A specially curated drinks pairing is offered alongside the tasting menu.

Clifford’s Tower is one of the best-loved landmarks in York. It is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. Climb to the top of the tower to explore the spectacular new roof deck and take in the amazing 360° views over the heart of the ancient city. On a clear day you can see as far as the North York Moors!

Established in the 1830s, Museum Gardens is a botanical wonderland. But there’s more than greenery to enjoy. There’s The Yorkshire Museum and its ancient artefacts, the remains of St Mary’s Abbey, built in 1088 and bursting with stories of William the Conqueror and Henry the Eighth and The Hospitium – a sort of early hotel for merchants who were not allowed to stay in the main abbey with the monks.

This antiquarian and second-hand bookseller has a large general stock housed over four floors. They have substantial sections of old children’s and illustrated books, Folklore, British and Medieval history, and they’re good for literature, art and architecture, theology, and philosophy too. There’s also a print room full of old maps and prints, with old lithographs and engravings of York and Yorkshire, as well as a good selection of decorative prints and wood engravings.

Walk the 3.4k of York’s City Walls (also known as The Bar Walls and The Roman Walls), and you’ll see this pretty city at its best (plus lots of the gorgeous gardens lovingly tended by its residents). The finest, longest and best preserved of any in England, the walls feature four big gateways and over 40 towers. Over a million people a year take a walk through 1900 years of history on these walls that were all about defences and are now all about history.

Explore one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals. Experience vast spaces and breathtaking medieval architecture, discover York’s Roman roots and learn about the Minster’s role in Viking York. The cathedral has more medieval stained glass than anywhere else in the country and in 2018, for the first time in nearly a decade, visitors are able to see one of our most famous works of art – the Great East Window – revealed following a major restoration and conservation project.

Tucked behind York Minster, this city centre townhouse is not as it first appears. In 1897, Frank Green (the grandson of a wealthy industrialist) bought and created a lavish show home, grand enough to impress Edward VII during his visit. He was passionate about history and indulged this by saving Treasurer’s House and other buildings in York.

Head here to see a collection of paintings that spans more than 600 years and ranges from 14th-century Italian panels to 20th-century works by LS Lowry and David Hockney. There’s also a massive collection of British studio ceramics at the Centre of Ceramic Art on the first floor, plus a great café, gardens, shops, and a learning space. And the building itself is a gem dating back to 1879.

Head to this perfect-for-people-watching place on one of York’s most popular indie streets for coffee that’s, without doubt, some of the best in the city. Their chunky sandwiches hit the spot at any time of day. You should also download their ‘Now That’s What I Call Kitchen Dancing’ playlist on Soundcloud.

@kiosk_cafe