Last weekend me and my friend Megan visited York to sample the food, history and the local nightlife.

I’ve only ever been to York twice; the first time, was to see the Jorvik Viking Centre (on a school trip), and the second time was to see my friend who went to uni there (needless to say, there was very little sightseeing), so this weekend was the perfect opportunity to experience everything York had to offer whilst on a budget.

For a change of scenery, we decided to book a local guest house near the city centre and chose The Old Vic Guest House on Wenlock Terrace for £70 per night, per person. We loved our twin room – the interior was so nice – however we were a little disappointed with the distance of the Guest House. Their website stated they were only a 10 minute walk from the city centre, but unfortunately it took us 20 minutes to get there (and we’re fast walkers), and we were also taken aback by their dog which we didn’t expect. (I like dogs, but was surprised that this wasn’t mentioned on the website). Despite this, their full English breakfast was amazing – the portion size was huge and was very delicious and filling!

Two places I couldn’t recommend to visit more are York Minster (only a stone’s throw away from the high street) and Clifford’s Tower. Megan, having been to York before, recommended the city sightseeing hop on hop off bus. For £8 (we cheekily got student discount with my old uni card), we not only got to see the sights but learnt the history of York too. I would definitely recommend the bus, especially on a sunny day!

As we were shopping on the high street for some bits and pieces for our nights out, we came across The Cat Gallery on Low Petergate. As a massive cat fan (I own three), I just had to go inside and have a look! It was a cat lover’s paradise, with many books, cat toys and souvenirs – including the cutest Grumpy Cat teddy bears! If you’re a fellow cat fan, this place is a must-visit!

One place we ate was the Slug and Lettuce. Now I know it’s a franchise, however the decor alone is worth the visit! With colourful tables, chairs and wine glasses hanging from the ceiling, this is one Slug and Lettuce you would love to be seen in! I had a very healthy smoked salmon flatbread with avocado and sweet potato fries, whilst Megan went for a smothered chicken and fries.

Unfortunately it wasn’t all lovely weather in York, and on Friday afternoon it absolutely poured it down! We took shelter in All Bar One on New Street and bought a soft drink and chatted. Like the Slug and Lettuce, All Bar One looked amazing on the inside (as you can see, hanging glasses from the ceiling is probably a trademark in York), and it was nice to hang out, catch up and hide from the rain.

With two routes into the city centre from our Guest House, we opted for a walk down the river which was a breathtaking experience. It almost felt like we were in the countryside and even came across the local residents – ducks!

One place which was on our hitlist was Betty’s Tearooms. Probably one of the most famous tearooms in Yorkshire, we were eager to see if Betty’s lived up to its expectations. We did have to queue, but boy was it worth it! We were seated by the window (the perfect place to people watch), and decided what we were having. Megan went for a banana milkshake, whereas I fancied some homemade lemonade and a Swiss chocolate torte with fresh cream. Megan loved hers and said that her milkshake tasted just like ice cream, and my homemade lemonade was refreshing. We both left with smiles on our faces and agreed that queuing at Betty’s was definitely worth the wait!

I’m not gonna lie, one of the main reasons for our visit to York was the nightlife, and it’s safe to say that it didn’t disappoint! We bar-hopped and finished our last night in Yates – so classy I know, but definitely not regrettable! Overall we had an amazing time in York, and I cannot wait for my next adventure there!

Have you been to York before? What were your highlights?

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