'Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh.
W. H. Auden, one of the best English poets of all time and called ˜the best mind of this century' by Joseph Brodsky, thus wrote of what is important in ˜clicking' with certain people. Being from York himself, Auden must have been privy to this fact from the very childhood, for York is often considered to be among the merriest and cheeriest cities in the UK.
Located in North Yorkshire and graced with the picturesque union Ouse and Foss rivers, York is a city that has seen its fair share of history and contemporary, past and present, old and new colliding together to create a mesmerizing blend of anything and everything that's worth pondering over.
York is among the handful of walled cities left intact, not only in the UK, but anywhere in the world. Deliberate efforts have been made to preserve the great heritage and majestic remembrances of fortitude and chivalry that these walls have witnessed over centuries. If you are thinking of visiting York to imbibe into history or indulge into contemporary, a littler run down of the state of various grades and classes of York hotels might well be needed for you to be able to plan your trip accordingly.
Budget Stay in York
Not to disregard the tourism legacy of York, but finding cheap hotels here in York is extremely easy. Again, tourists should consider it a positive things, and not an indicator of waning tourism stats, because tourist footfall in York has consistently been on the rise in past few years.
Cheap hotels do not necessarily have to be shabby, dilapidated and worn out. There are quite a few hotels in York that can put many standard hotel rooms elsewhere to shame, despite being very affordable.
Among such picks, Hampton by Hilton is the top choice. It's quite rare to have an opportunity to stay at a Hilton hotel for a nightly price anywhere below $150, but Hampton by Hilton lets you do exactly that. And of course, it should go without saying that the hotel carries all the brand value that Hilton is known for.
Hotel 53 and Travelodge York Centre are two similar, but lower in key, affordable York hotels that you can resort to for comfort, convenience and budget-friendliness.
Regal Life of Walled Cities
Tourists who wish to spend a good deal of money by staying at a luxury hotel can expect a moderately wide array of choice from the walled city of York. It's not that York lacks hotel establishment strength, it's just that there are simply not enough luxury hotels in York for the size of the city or the number of tourists it attracts each year.
Among available options, Novotel York Centre is the best known for its landmark status and the level of luxury it accords to its patrons. In other picks, Marriott Hotel York is a great option for those who have business in the York City Centre. The Royal York Hotel is better suited for families because of their flexible tariff plans.
Planning on Sightseeing in York?
There's much to see in York if you are a history buff, or you take immense interest in knowing the nuances of the city that you travel to. In that sense, York has a wealth of information, attractions and entertainment options on offer for all kinds of tourists.
The York Castle Museum is one of the finest architectural and historic museums in the country. Loaded with an unimaginably vast wealth of artefacts and heritage, the museum is best known for its coverage of various stages of evolution of Yorkshire from a wasteland to a rich farmland. The building of the museum was built in the first century AD, marking almost 1,000 years of existence.
If you want to travel to medieval times of York, you must visit the Shambles, a congested lane housing markets of the medieval times, where you can buy everything from exotic tropical fruits to local handmade jewelry.
National Railway Museum is another great sight to see for tourists who wish to get educated about the history of the railways of England. The Great York Maze is a vast organic maze where it's easy to get lost, but difficult to find your way back (remember ˜The Shining'?).
York Minster is housed in a building that seems to be older than time itself. Architecture beautifully, it is quite successful in evoking a feeling of piety from its very appearances. Among other things to see, the Walls of York (also known as York City Walls) and York Brewery are two notable names.
Things to Remember While Sightseeing in York
The one and the only thing that tourists traveling to York must remember is that York is not a traditionally maintained (like London) or conveniently developed (like Devon) tourist city. It is, still, very much a regular city where most people live to earn a decent living.
The presence of many sights laid across generously however makes it a good tourism hub for the Yorkshire County. So, expecting too much of top notch hospitality or seamlessly operating city tour buses from York would be akin to inviting disappointment.
Also, having a fair knowledge of the city's history will help you get a keener insight into the historical significance of sight you will be visiting.
Local Travel in York
York is, though not a small town by any definition, not a huge city or a metropolis by any stretch of imagination. So, getting around York should not be a major concern for tourists.
Renting a private cab always turns out to be an excellent choice of local transport in cities like York. Also, if you have a valid UK driving license, you can even rent a car for the duration of your trip, to make things even simpler for you!