I was born in England and lived there for 26 years. My family is originally from Yorkshire (a historic county in Northern England) so we visited this part of England every year. We are lucky that Houston has a nonstop flight to Manchester and then is it only an hour and half drive to York (the historical capital of Yorkshire). Other airlines also fly nonstop to Manchester from several cities in the USA. If you have ever entered England through London Heathrow Airport, then you will appreciate the much shorter immigration lines at Manchester!
I don’t recommend self-driving in England as flights from the USA typically arrive in the morning, so you will be tired. If you are not used to driving a manual transmission car on the left side of the road then it could be dangerous.
Visit the historic city of York
York is a historic walled city in North Yorkshire. It was built by the Romans but was taken over by the Vikings then the Normans. This medieval city has an amazing cultural and historical presence. You can feel the history as you walk around the 13th century cobble stone streets. At the center of the city is the incredible Gothic cathedral, York Minster. It is so large we could not fit the cathedral in one photo unless we were a few miles away.
Clifford Tower, the remains of York Castle built by William the Conqueror, offers stunning panoramic views of the city and the perfect place to view York Minster. This is a good starting place to get an overview of the city. You can also walk on the medieval walls surrounding York.
A trip to York would not be complete without a visiting the award-winning JORVIK Viking Centre. The Centre is located where excavations of houses, workshops, and backyards of the Viking age were discovered. The museum takes you through a reconstruction of Viking-Age streets so you can see, smell, and hear life in 10th century York. It is a very unique experience.
Explore the Yorkshire region
There are many places to visit within an hour of York, which makes it the perfect base for your visit to England. Nearby are:
- Whitby – famous for Jet (a black mineral), Whitby Abbey, and its association with the novel Dracula.
- Scarborough, Bridlington, Robin Hoods Bay and Hornsea – traditional English seaside towns. Don’t forget to try fish and chips on the seafront and “99” ice cream cones.
- North York Moors – great for hiking.
- Goathland – famously used as “Hogsmeade Station” in the Harry Potter films. You can even ride a steam train here.
- Castle Howard – one of Britain’s finest stately homes.
- Kilburn White Horse – a figure cut into the hillside
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