A Day In York

York is one of my most favourite places to spend a day. I love the range of shops and the beautiful buildings. I have a bit of a thing for old buildings and walking through the streets of York is like feeding my soul. I love the quirkiness of each building, the lack of straight lines, the way that none of the buildings match each other and yet they sit alongside each other in comfortable companionship

Ten years ago I had some cosmetic work done at a dentist in the very centre of York. I expected the city centre to be, well, a typical city centre. But I couldn't have been more wrong. The surgery was tucked away down a tiny little alleyway off the street below, right near York Minster (which you can just see in the photo)

That day I committed to several months worth of repeat visits to my new dentist's surgery and I fell in love with York. I wandered the streets, gazing at the buildings, the nooks and crannies, the little secret alleyways that seemed to appear out of nowhere

Every time I scheduled my next appointment with my dentist I looked forward to my day in York. I explored the shops and each little street, establishing favourite places and little traditions to revisit next time (I'm a creature of habit)

 My favourite place to stop for food and drink is Betty's Tea Room, if I have time that is, as there's usually a queue around the block. It's absolutely worth it though, their cream teas are delicious and if you're there at breakfast time I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict, they are the best I've had and I consider myself a connoisseur!

There are plenty of my favourite shops in York such as Crabtree & Evelyn, The White Company, Neals Yard and Joules as well as plenty of little independent shops, the best of which are the patisseries, chocolatiers and art galleries

One of my favourite trips to York really sticks in my memory. It was during the summer about five years ago, before I met Matt and I was living on my own, having recently bought my house. I had the most wonderful day (after the necessary dentist visit) I bought some new books and stopped for tea to start reading one. I visited a little art gallery on The Shambles (above) and spent half an hour debating whether or not to buy a painting that I'd fallen in love with but couldn't afford (I didn't buy it. I wish I had. I wish it was possible to know, when debating a purchase whether it is one you'll always wish you'd bought or whether you'll forget about it within 24 hours) I bought myself some chocolates and sat on a bench, watching a street band playing Beatles songs. I didn't stay long as I'd arrived early and when I got home I settled myself on my sofa in my little house with a cup of tea, my chocolates and my new book. I read the whole book that afternoon and evening, ensconced in a little warm bubble of happiness and contentment with the world

I remember that happy day every time I go to York. And every time, I wish I'd bought that blinking painting