A Special Staycation in York

UK Yorkshire York Hotels and Reviews
A Special Staycation in York

Soon after the dawning of 2021 all four nations of the UK were once again in lockdown. All non-essential international travel was banned. Everyone needs a break and staycations fit the bill.

Now is the ideal time to consider the possibilities for a holiday in our own country. Flexible policies on hotel booking sites such as Hotels.com mean hotels can be booked now and cancelled as late as the day before the holiday. This is an opportunity to explore our own history, culture and countryside. The city of York is a great place to start.

York is one of England’s oldest cities and according to King George V1 “The History of York is the history of England.” The Romans named it Eboracum, the Saxons referred to it as Eoforwick and the Vikings settled here and called it Jorvik.
Constantine the Great outside York Minster in York

York Minster has dominated the city centre since the Middle Ages. Its recently refurbished stunning stained glass windows mean it’s impressive interior is now flooded with light. Stroll along the famous Shambles considered to be the best example of a medieval street in Europe. Float down the River Ouse on a boat or ramble along its banks. Stay a few days explore the surrounding countryside.
York Minster in York

North Yorkshire Moors National Park and Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Leave the city streets behind for a day to revel in the moorland, coastlines, dales and forests of the North Yorkshire Moors. Another wonderful day out, and one of my favourite places in England is the fabulous Yorkshire Sculpture Park. This huge park is the site of several galleries and outdoor exhibitions of sculptures by sculptors from all over the world. It features several works on permanent display by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.
Henry Moore   Upright Motives in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire, UK

Planning Your Staycation

Planning a staycation is complicated by lockdown restrictions, particularly when a tier system is in place. It is important to check overnight stays are permitted in the place you are travelling to and that local restrictions allow you to leave your own area. And pre-booking the attractions you want to visit.
Barbara Hepworth   The Family of Man in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire, UK

For your own safety it is important to check that your hotel complies with COVID-19 safeguards. The AA COVID Confident Assessment Scheme supports the hospitality industry as it will help rebuild consumer confidence. Once the holiday accommodation has satisfied stringent criteria it will be given a certificate. Holders of this certificate will have a logo on their websites and the certificate will be displayed at the property. A similar scheme operated by Visit Britain is called “We’re Good to Go”. Holiday accommodation that has carried out a risk assessment and has all the required safety procedures in place will have their consumer mark on display.
Novotel on the bank of the River Foss in York

Don’t forget to pre-book all the attractions you want to visit in and around York before embarking on your trip.

Written in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are those of the author Valery Collins, the Experienced Traveller
Valery Collins the Experienced Traveller An excellent raconteur, Valery has been writing about her experiences on the road since she started travelling 25 years ago. After publishing 4 books she turned to online travel writing and photography. Today she is editor, features’ writer and reviewer for ExperiencedTraveller.com and regularly contributes guided city walks to GPSmyCity.com