York holds a lot of memories for me. I did my undergraduate degree in York and even stayed on for a little bit after I graduated; I grew up, fell in love, made friends for life, learnt how to live by myself, got a job, moved in with my boyfriend and accompanied drunken companions to A&E. I loved my University experience but it was pretty intense. I felt heartbreak, crippling self-doubt and learnt to love myself, not without the help of the people I met here. I whizz through York on the train regularly but this trip was the first time I’d stepped foot in the city since I still had friends living in halls. Arriving out of the station and walking along the medieval walls, exploding with cherry blossoms, I almost burst into tears. Everything was so sweetly familiar. It felt smaller somehow. James recently stayed in York with uni friends for a conference and I was so jealous, we had decided to book a weekend to stay just the two of us.
It was bizarre being in York on a weekend – as students we avoided the town centre on a Saturday at all costs. York is excessively popular with hen nights, so on weekends you can’t move for penis balloons and people drinking rose at your favourite cocktail bars. My favourite drinking spot has always been Evil Eye, so we snuck in a couple of midday cocktails to avoid the evening rush. The tables were just as sticky as I remembered, the drinks just as ludicrously strong. It’s a pretty fantastic place (both York and Evil Eye) so if you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend it. It’s probably too small for me at this stage of my life, but I would definitely move back in the future. It has beautiful old architecture, a rich history and medieval cobbled streets, the best Cathedral in Northern Europe (sorry Durham) and a pretty fantastic selection of pubs.
We were so lucky with the weather on our trip, we had a mini heatwave! I got to break out my summer clothes! This meant we spent lots of time meandering outside, took a walk in the countryside and hired a boat on the river for Sunday afternoon. We had lunch and dinner and afternoon tea at the vegan institution that is El Piano because how could we not. We walked along the walls, climbed to the top of the minster, and found the glorious flower bouquet photographed above. I carried it home and admired it on the table in our apartment all weekend. It warms my heart to know there’s a flower guild making bouquets and leaving them as surprises for people. I love flowers, so finding this really was the cherry on top of a perfect day.
I was just as excited about our apartment as I was about returning to York. Over 600 years old and located on Stonegate, it was advertised as haunted, and came with a ouija board and a “beware of the ghost” plaque above the fireplace. The rooms sagged in the middle where the wooden floors had sunk over time, and the individual glass panes fogged around the edges. I know it’s a little tacky, but I love ghosts and the idea of haunted houses. I find the occult and mystical things so exciting, and I always have. The book collection was amazing, particularly the handwritten copy of “The Snickelways of York”. My favourite touch was the visitor book which contained accounts of all the ghostly experiences people have had in the apartment over the years. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any ghosts, although we did have friends over both nights, which might have scared them away. The interior was beautiful too. The four poster bed (with curtains!) and iron-footed bath made me feel like an extra from the Tailor of Gloucester (if you haven’t read that particularly twee Beatrix Potter story, really what have you been doing with your life?) I would stay again in a heartbeat. I love you York.
I LOVE that photo of the ducks. I so wanna visit York someday .)
Thank you! York University Campus is completely overrun with ducks, and I always looked forward to spring time when there would be ducklings everywhere. They’re the cutest!
It’s funny–I know exactly how you feel about returning to York. A few years ago, I went back to the university where I went to graduate school. It was a long holiday weekend and the students had all gone back home so the campus, and the town even, were pretty much deserted. I got all emotional! Your weekend in York sounds magical!
It’s a strange feeling returning to somewhere so familiar, isn’t it? Especially if you’ve grown up a lot since you were last there, places always look different to how you remember them. It was a very special trip!
Oh York, what a wonderful place : )
Your pictures make me want to head there IMMEDIATELY! I toured to the beautiful city of York a few times with work, back in the day, and always sampled a cocktail or two at Evil Eye ; )
Looks like you had a grand time. And that bath tub……..!
Gemma
http://www.fadedwindmills.com
You absolutely should! I hope you’re getting on a train right now! It’s a beautiful bath tub, isn’t it? wish I could have taken it home with me
I went to university in York too! Almost a decade ago though (yikes, where did that time go?) It’s such a lovely place.
Oh, that’s so cool! What college were you in? I was in Derwent, which didn’t seem like it had been touched since the 60s. I love York
These picturs are just too beautiful. I visited York for the first time this year, even though it’s only an hours drive from me (?!) & fell completely in love with it. I would have loved to attend uni there. It’s just a gorgeous place
I loved reading about your memories you gained & life lessons taught whilst there! ^_^
Katie // Words by Katie
I can’t believe you hadn’t visited before! Thank you Katie, I’m glad you enjoyed it
What a beautiful city! I have never been to York, just Yorkshire but would love to visit after seeing these beautiful photos. That bath is what dreams are made of too!
Hayley-Eszti | http://www.hayleyeszti.com
Hayley, you have to visit, I think you would love it! Yorkshire’s great, I often miss it. The countryside is just so beautiful.
This seems like the loveliest day! York looks so pretty and charming. Really quaint! It’s so nice to go back to places with happy memories.
Glad you got a nice little trip in and had some fun! I’m definitely noting this for my “someday I hope I can get to Europe” trip… 
Xo – Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
You’re going to have so many places to visit on your trip, you’d better have a couple of months to travel! It is pretty quaint, it’s honestly like a fairytale city xx
York looks absolutely beautiful and like a great place to visit for a weekend. I can totally relate to going back to a place after having left it and having that bittersweet feeling. It is a place that feels familiar but foreign at the same time, sort of like a distant dream, but it can be a really beautiful feeling as well. And oh lord, streets filled with hens night sounds like the least exciting thing ever!
Rae | Love from Berlin
You describe it so well Rae, a distant dream is exactly what it feels like. It’s nice to be nostalgic but it’s not a feeling you want to cling too for too long. Haha, I feel bad for complaining about hen nights but they can be so annoying!
That bed is stunning! Such a great trip. Thanks for sharing girlie.
❤︎
Dakota D.
http://fannypacksandvisors.com
Instagram/Snapchat/Twitter: @missdsquared413
Ahw thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! x
it’s so silly i used to live so close to york and never visited! i always had plans to but will have to execute them some other time.. it does look like such a pretty place! and i can imagine it being both strange and lovely going back for you! xx
I can’t believe it! That’s always the way though, isn’t it? We never act like tourists in the places that we’re from and end up missing stuff. It was a weird feeling but I’m so glad I went xx