After my visit to Manchester, I hopped on the train to York. Like Manchester, I had never visited York but I had grand Jane Austen dreams the minute York was added to my itinerary. It’s been a dream of mine to visit the English countryside and this is the closest I would get to it. I couldn’t wait!

After arriving, I settled into my room at The Grange Hotel. The hotel was located just outside of the heart of York in a beautiful old mansion.

Once I made it to my room, I changed and then I set out to explore the old city of York. Luckily, I had a York Pass which grants me entrance into numerous sites and attraction, like JORVIK Viking Centre and York Minster.

JORVIK is a super cool museum about the Vikings who inhabited the area over 1,000 years ago. If you’re into Vikings, history, or excavation, JORVIK is a must-see. There is even a ride through the excavated town ruins.

After taking in the awe-inspiring York Minster, I head up the stairs to the Roman walls surrounding York city center. I’m always amazed by anything the ancient Romans built. This was no exception. The walls gave a great vantage point to scope out the rest of the city. You can even pop into a few exhibits that are housed in a few of the towers. (And if you have your York Pass, you’re good to go!)

After exploring York Minster and the Roman city walls, I had quite an appetite, so I head over to Betty’s Tea Room for lunch and proper English tea.

Betty’s is an institution and you’re “required” to visit if you’re in the area. (I’m kidding, but not.) Inspired by the maiden voyage on the Queen Mary, Betty’s is a classic tea shop that has divine pastries.

Since pastry is their specialty, I ordered their daily quiche. It was light, buttery and full of flavor. I treated myself to some hazelnut chocolate cake and a proper tea as well. It was decadent and I deserved it.

In the late afternoon, I stroll over to the Shambles. It’s the oldest and best preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. This is a great area to do some shopping, grab a snack, or wander the streets and stare at all of the history surrounding you.

I head back to the hotel for a quick nap before dinner. I decided to make a night out of dinner by including two stops for the evening. First, I popped by the Evil Eye. The Evil Eye has an AWESOME beer selection. (I had one of my faves Delirium “Tremens”.) Then I head over to Mr. P’s for a gin cocktail and small bites. Mr. P’s Curious Tavern is a great spot with a super fun menu.

Well, after another fun – and yummy – adventure, it’s time to head home. I had a wonderful visit to York. Next time, I will stay longer and make it to the countryside. I think the Lake District is calling my name.

York, thank you for a charming visit.

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A million thank yous to Visit Britain, Visit Manchester and Visit York for inviting me to visit Manchester and York! Shout out to Virgin Atlantic for my flights to Manchester and The Grange Hotel for my hotel room in York. If you’re interested in visiting York, learn more at www.visityork.org. All opinions and images are my own.