One of the things I love most about being at university somewhere far from home is the visits from friends and showing them round a city I can call my own. I’m lucky to have friends in other universities too so I can escape for a nice little city break every now and then.
My good friend Beth studies philosophy in York and since first year we’ve made an effort to travel up and see each other. It’s such a beautiful place and each time I go we explore new hideouts and I get my own personal tour guide for free! This particular trip was a very fleeting one, as I was super busy in my last week of term finishing up assignments and working, but we managed to fit a lot of festive activities in.
COAT M&S (from a charity shop) | JUMPER Cow Vintage | SKIRT Topshop (old) | BOOTS Pull & Bear
I arrived pretty late in the evening, so we caught up over a bottle of red wine and headed out for a couple more drinks at Dusk, a cosy little cocktail bar. The following morning we cleared our (slightly hungover) heads with a detoured walk into town following the river and filling in on our lives since we both returned to uni a few months ago.
My favourite of York’s features are the colourful buildings and amazing architecture, and the way no two houses are the same. It gives so much character to the cobbled streets and ensures that wherever you go there’s always something to look at and plenty that catches your eye. I could spend all day getting lost down alleyways and in the vintage shops scattered through the city.
We explored the York Christmas markets, which were truly unique in terms of the Winter Wonderlands I’ve experienced before. The lights were glittery and the stalls offered something different – camper vans dishing out mulled wine and crepes, wooden huts selling cheeses and jewellery and a dreamy teepee selling Bailey’s hot chocolates and other Christmassy delicacies.
For lunch Beth took me to the most amazing Thai place – My Thai, tucked away on a side street and so tiny that we almost couldn’t be seated. The decor is quirky and cosy, with fairy lights and bunting giving it a homely feel, and the brightly coloured furniture contrasting with the wooden theme creating a kitschy atmosphere. Portions are huge (maybe even a little too big for me!) – and for £7.99 you can choose a starter and main; I had the spring rolls and tofu pad Thai. It was deliciously flavoursome and I’d go again just for the cool tableware – the funky orange patterned plates and silver water cups.
This is my lovely friend Beth who had me to stay!
York is definitely a city that you have to visit again and again to discover all its hidden nooks and crannies, and after my third trip I’m starting to get my bearings! That said, there is so much more culture for me to see and hopefully I will return in the future.
Lily x
LILY ROSE KING 