Time travel is the order of the day in the majestic city of York.
The North of England spot really is a jewel in Yorkshire’s crown with every street and crook and cranny filled with glimpses of the past.
Such an easy place to stroll round and admire the buildings which give a nod to the city’s links with Roman roots and Vikings past, it’s a great place to spend time exploring.
When your children become older, it’s harder to keep them entertained, but enticing them with food and fun is a great way to gain their interest.
So, with easy connections from Lancashire to Yorkshire by train, I took Ruaridh (15) and Flossie (12) on a day out to see the magical medieval city which sits in the banks of the Rivers Ouse and Foss.
Our first stop was for a bit of terrifying fun, with a history lesson thrown in too. We headed for The York Dungeon, which takes you back over the 2,000 years of the dark goings on.
And what fabulous fun it is! With 10 live actor shows and specially designed sets to keep the adrenaline going, the tour is hilarious from start to finish.
The tour takes you from the iconic York Minster to the vengeance of the Vikings, right through to The Plague in 1551 and the infamous Guy Fawkes.
With plenty of audience participation, the tour will have you laughing and screaming in equal measures and it’s a great way to brush up on the past.
After all the heart-stopping moments, we needed a sugar rush and so where better to go than York’s Chocolate Story, which is a must for those with a sweet tooth.
Another interactive experience, you learn the origins of chocolate from the cocoa bean, right up to the city’s famous chocolate producers, Terry’s Craven’s and Rowntree’s.
When you enter the shop, the smell of chocolate puts you in a great mood and the exhibition upstairs of chocolate memorabilia is fascinating, who knew Japan had so many different kinds of Kit Kats!
There are stories from people who worked in the city’s chocolate factories and displays of the equipment they used to create their delights.
As you would expect, there is a fair amount of chocolate too and lots to try as you tour around. Once the theory is out of the way, there is a chance for truffle making in the downstairs chocolate lab.
With expert guidance, you are taught how to make a chocolate lollipop and delicious truffles with lots of sweet bits to give them a unique taste.
Just two of many great attractions on offer in York to keep the family entertained over the holidays.
For more information and prices, please visit: www.thedungeons.com and www.yorkschocolatestory.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of The York Dungeon and York’s Chocolate Story
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