York Minster Cathedral, York, Yorkshire
Enter the Orb
One of the stained glass windows in the York Minster
York Minster, the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe has launched a new dome of discovery - the Orb. Over the course of four-evenings, York Minster’s two-thousand-year history will be illuminated to a degree never seen before today in celebration of the opening of the Orb, a new visitor attraction showcasing some of the world’s most treasured stained glass and medieval art at York Minster. Illuminating York Minster, 31 October to 3 November, 2012. The Orb remains open through to 2015 with additional special events over the next several years. (Look for additional special events in the city of York at the end of this blog post.)
Beginning in October 2012 visitors to York Minster are in for a once-in-a-lifetime treat because tours are now offered to watch in action the behind-the-scenes ongoing restoration of the Great East Window; as well, tours are offered to the Masons’ Lodge on the southeast lawn of York Minster. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:pm tours depart from inside the west end of York Minster to see the restoration of the Great East Window. Reservations are highly suggested.
Where is York?
The city of York is a fascinating meld of ancient history and modern sophistication…and approximately two-hours’ by train from London, England. The accolades keep on coming in for York: York was voted (May 2011) ‘Britain’s Favourite Small City’ in an independent poll commissioned by the Rough Guide (and conducted by YouGov); and, York was crowned Best Gastro Destination in the UK and fifth best in Europe by Trip Advisor, the largest on line travel review site (Oct 2011). London to York in true luxury.
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One of the largest projects within York Minster Reveale, highlights the restoration of the Great East Window designed and created by master glazier and stained glass artist John Thornton in England during the 15th century. Thornton was born in Coventry, west Midlands about 95 miles (153 km) from northwest central London. Coventry is twinned with Dresden.
The east window is the largest in the cathedral and contains approximately 1,680 square feet (156 m2) of glass. Thornton’s York Minster stained glass work in the International Gothic style is considered on par with the Sistine Chapel.
The artist was commissioned in 1405 by the Dean of York Minster to glaze the choir east window. The son of a glazier in the royal glass-painting workshops at Westminster in 1351, Thornton was the ideal candidate for the work. Thornton is known for his use of yellow and for his distinctive faces. His masterpiece is considered to be that of Saint John the Baptist seen in the Great East Window of York Minster.
New state-of-the-art multi-media galleries and new displays of historic collections and interactive interpretations will create new learning opportunities for all ages. Improved access to the South Transept, Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt will totally transform the York Minster experience.
York Minster’s “East End” stained glass windows are being restored with a £10.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund www.hlf.org.uk
Boy George to headline Yorkshire Festival in 2013. There will be more than 100 festival venues throughout Yorkshire in 2013. Club Coastival, in the Scarborough Spa, headlines boy George as part of the exciting weekend of music, arts and family fun. Some of the venues include: Three Peaks Race to the Leeds Waterfront Festival and the Grassington Festival to the Ilkley literature Festival; North Yorkshire: Harrogate Flower Show, Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage, Tastes of Yorkshire (Ripon), Settle Storytelling Festival; South Yorkshire: St Leger and Cliffhanger; East Yorkshire: Beverley Folk Festival, Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival and the UK Windsurfing Championships at Bridlington; West Yorkshire: Huddersfield Literature Festival, Wakefield Rhubarb Festival, Bradford International Film Festival, and Marsden Cuckoo Festival. Yorkshire’s festival website will launch March 1, 2013. www.yorkshire.com/festivals
For more information about event and tours happening at York Minster visit www.yorkminster.org and to book tickets, visit www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org
Bettys traditional simnel cakes / York, Yorkshire
Secret Vegetable Garden / Yorke Arms, Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale
Get Wrapped Up in York this Christmas!
Following the success of last year, the city of York is once again hosting plenty of festive events which set York up to rival other popular destinations this Christmas. As well as offering visitors the well known and hugely popular St Nicholas Fayre, which will return to the streets of York for its 21st year in 2012, York is now establishing itself as the top city destination to shop and experience the festival season with a succession of Christmas markets, festivals, concerts, an outdoor ice rink and seasonal activities from November right through till Christmas. With a whole host of activities on offer form the city’s attractions — a unique collection of independent shops and designer boutiques, three pantomimes to choose from, and a festive atmosphere which in recent years has heralded York as the ‘most Christmassy city in the UK’ — this year’s Christmas season is set to be the city’s biggest and best.
For more information about everything going on in York this Christmas, or for a free guide to Christmas in the City, visit www.visityork.org/Christmas
York Wrapped Up – Plan Yourself a Cosy Winter Getaway to York. Offer Runs From 5thNovember to 28th March Inclusive:
Exclusive ‘York Wrapped Up’ breaks include:
- 2 night’s accommodation, including breakfast and a FREE dinner for two or Yorkshire Hamper on your first night of stay in selected York hotels, B&Bs and self catering. (*dinner at hotels only, B&B’s and self caterings offer the Yorkshire hamper.)
All visitors booking this break will also benefit from: An exclusive deal on the York Pass - 3 day pass for the price of a 2 day, saving £10 per person. (£48 instead of £58).
- Fantastic East Coast Rail deals.
- Exclusive discounts offers downloadable online at restaurants and shops.
For Full Details and to Book Your ‘York Wrapped Up’ Break visit: www.visityork.org/wrappedup
City of York, Yorkshire
York – An award-winning city
« York was hailed as Britain’s most beautiful city – and the place where most people want to live (July 2011). York received 17% of the votes in an independent survey conducted by the search engine Bing to find the most attractive place in the UK and one in ten people named York as the city they would most like to move to.
« Best Cycle Rail Station in the UK (Nov 2011), awarded by East Coast
« The Shambles was awarded ‘Most Picturesque Street in Britain’ by Google Street View Awards (2010). Check out the chocolate trail in York (Shambles).
Bronte Walk along the moors / Haworth, Yorkshire
The York Minster cathedral used to allow York’s chocolate to be sold on its property…but this is history now.
Travel by train and get a get deal with Brit Rail. I really enjoyed my rail adventure in Yorkshire, London and Scotland.
www.britrail.com
http://www.britrail.com/passes/britrail-pass
How you save when you travel by rail through England, Scotland and Wales. Purchase a BritRail Pass between March 15th and April 15th, 2013 and receive an extra travel day added to your pass for free! See BritRail’s website for all the details on special offers. It’s so much fun to travel with a Brit Rail Pass as you can hop off and hop on the train at different destinations. BritRail Passes are valid for six months from the date of purchase, you can use your pass to travel anytime in the summer and beyond.
To further sweeten the deal, this promotion can be combined with BritRail’s range of discount Passes, including the BritRail Party Pass (up to 50% off on the third through ninth passengers), BritRail Family Pass (one child per adult travels free), BritRail Senior Pass (up to 15% off in first class), BritRail Youth Pass (up to 20% off in first or standard class), Eurail Pass Holder Rate (up to 50% off for youth with a valid Eurail Pass) and the BritRail Guest Pass (up to 25% off for you and a British resident).
http://www.grandcentralrail.com/extra-service-to-london
www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk Annual Jorvik Festival: 16th – 24th February, 2013
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks/
Film location for modern adaptations of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. National Trust area offering outstanding landscape vistas with eroded ancient millstone. You won’t believe the sunsets from atop a rock formation…uttering breathtaking. Don’t forget to have a picnic!
www.yorke-arms.co.uk Michelin starred restaurant with rooms in a rural Harrogate estate setting with organic vegetable gardens. Enjoy the famous Nidderdale lamb pie, and Yorkshire Blue cheese! and then spend the night in an historic room or suite and enjoy a wonderful stroll in the country air before breakfast…or, simply enjoy the morning in your big comfy bed in peace and quiet.
www.nineteenyork.com You’ll find this exciting spot to dine or just enjoy high-quality coffee and desserts in York and just minutes from York Minster.
www.yorkshire.com Info on Bronte Walks along the Yorkshire Moors.
http://www.eastcoast.co.uk
London (King’s Cross train station) to York railway station.
For information on Art on the Underground see
http://art.tfl.gov.uk
For Full Details and to Book Your ‘York Wrapped Up’ Break visit: www.visityork.org/wrappedup Winter Getaway to York. Offer Runs until 28th March Inclusive:
If you are visiting London and intend to use the Tube and other forms of public transport, you can buy a Visitor Oyster Card, delivered to you before you travel. Start using it from the moment you land in London, avoiding queues at the airport to buy tickets. The Visitor Oyster Card calculates the cheapest fare for your journey. You can purchase a Visitor Oyster Card before your trip to Britain at the VisitBritain shop. www.visitbritainshop.com
London, England: Charles Dickens’ former home reopens with great expectations
http://bit.ly/VDywN3
link supplied by eTalk.
Hamleys Department Toy Store in London, England
The Grange Hotel / City of York, Yorkshire, UK
Visiting Yorkshire? You may wish to take a look at some of the finest baby gifts…the stuff made for royalty. You might see the Duchess of Cambridge taking her baby out for a stroll in a Silver Cross pram – all of the Queen’s children were wheeled around in the legendary brand and the prams’ contemporary designs are popular across the world. The Silver Cross pram was invented by William Wilson from Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1877, and they are still being manufactured in Yorkshire in the North of England today. I loved teddy bears as a child and still do…. Every baby needs a teddy bear and the definitive toy emporium Hamleys, on London’s Regent Street, is a one-stop-shop of delightful gifts for baby and children of all ages. The world’s largest toy shop stocks classic British brands such as The Great British Teddy Bear Company, who create teddy bears dressed in iconic British costumes. www.hamleys.com
TOOT, TOOT!
Mallard 75 – Celebrating Britain’s Steam Record
2013 will see the National Railway Museum mark the 75th anniversary of Mallard officially becoming the fastest steam locomotive of all time and to celebrate, a series of commemorative events will take place at the National Railway Museum – including a never-before-seen gathering of all six surviving A4s at York in July. On 3 July 1938, the mighty Blue Mallard was recorded as reaching the awe-inspiring speed of 126mph on the on the East Coast Main Line, breaking the existing German record of 124 mph set in 1936. For more information and for a full listing of events taking place to mark this celebration visit www.nrm.org.uk
Terrific Toys and Tremendous Tiny Trains at Two of York’s Top Museums This Half Term
(16th – 24th February 2013). Visitors to York are invited to take a trip back to childhood as the city’s two largest museums break open the toy cupboard. www.nrm.org.uk (National Railway Museum) orwww.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk
New Chocolate Workshops – Just In Time for Valentines at York Cocoa House
Due to popular demand – York Cocoa House has now launched drop-in chocolate making taster courses. The workshop sessions allow visitors to try their hand at chocolate truffle making or even design their own chocolate bar whilst being told fascinating stories of how the city of York is to this day referred to as ‘the home of chocolate’. Suitable for all ages and abilities, visitors are able to go online to book a spot in one of Cocoa House’s regular workshops or alternately can pop along to one of its drop-in sessions – which are open to all with no need to book – for more information visit www.yorkcocoahouse.co.uk/events
Do you like to be spooked? York Dungeon Re-launch as One of York’s Most Loved Attractions in Spring 2013
The York Dungeon, one of York’s most loved and longest established visitor attractions, will re-launch on 22nd March and promises to be better and bolder than ever before. £2 million investment from attraction owner Merlin Entertainments, the York Dungeon brings 2000 years of authentic York history to life with a unique mix of talented live actors performing in 11 scarily funny shows, stunning special effects and new edge of your seat surprises. Look for special characters including gunpowder plotter Guy Fawkes, infamous highwayman Dick Turpin and Viking King Eric Bloodaxe. Plus a full supporting cast of colourful characters, including the friendly torturer, crazy plague doctor and a judge that you might class as bonkers. These will be more authentic theatrical sets, new scripts and costumes to provide guests with a dramatic and unique experience. Trip Advisor gives York Dungeon top marks! To celebrate the launch a limited special offer, saving over £6 per ticket is now available online. www.thedungeons.com/york
From Farmyards to Greenhouses – One-of-a-Kind Roving Restaurant Kick Starts Dinner Series in York
York is known as a hub of exciting food events. In the fall there is a huge food festival. Now something new is afoot and it looks to be a tasty treat. Sustainable dinners in orchards, farms, greenhouses and other unique venues begin a 12-month 2013 dinner series produced by The Laden Table catering company. Each dinner is a collaboration of local food artisan and farmers, who will come together to provide diners with stylish rustic meals. So far the catering company has some inspiring venues on board including Helmsley Walled Garden, The Bivouac and also some further afield such as Chapel Down Vineyards and The Hop Ship in East Sussex. The dinner series begins in York at Bar Lane Studios on Friday 25th January and Saturday 26th January 2013. Dinner will be cooked by Georgina Welburn, Head Chef at Nidd Hall. For more information visit www.theladentable.com Tickets may be booked at:www.wegotickets.com/TheLadenTable
Look what’s been unearthed beneath York Minster Cathedral
York’s Roman Past Discovered Beneath York Minster
York Minster has revealed that further links to York’s Roman past have been discovered during construction work on the new visitor development in the Undercroft. Archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust have unearthed a section of Roman road beneath the Minster – the road is just one of the many stories about York Minster’s ancient past, which will be revealed in February 2013 when the archaeological analysis on all of this year’s excavations is revealed. A series of special events and activities is also planned as part of the Jorvik Viking Festival (16 – 24 February 2013), in partnership with York Archaeological Trust. For more information about event and tours happening at York Minster visitwww.yorkminster.org and to book tickets, visit www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org
Festival of the Passions to Celebrate York Minster’s 1000 Year-old Musical Tradition
9th – 24th March 2013. An inspiring new musical event for York Minster, featuring one of the UK’s leading choirs, The festival of the Passions heralds the arrival of Holy Week and celebrates York Minster’s 1000 year-old musical tradition. Over two weeks, the dramatic story of the Passion of Christ will be told through a series of special musical concerts. The centrepiece of the festival will be York Minster Choir’s powerful performance of Bach’s sacred oratorio, St John’s Passion which will take place on the 23rd March. The Festival will culminate in the Palm Sunday Procession through the city on Sunday 24 March, heralding the arrival of Holy Week, and celebrating York Minster’s 1000 year-old musical tradition. For more information and to find out what events are on during The Festival of the Passions, visit www.yorkminster.org London to York in true luxury and refinement.
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Photos and text copyright © by May DeLory
