Jessica Waring With the weather getting warmer and our first glimpses of the summer inspiring us to look for some alternative day time activities, we at One&Other decided that it was time to think about some fantastically different things to do come ‘shine!! Take a glimpse; bask in the rays in the most appropriate ways possible.
The David Hockney Trail
Venture further a field and take the unofficial David Hockney Art Trail and monopolize on the sunny weather by adventuring through the Yorkshire countryside, scouring the area for the specific locations that proved inspiration behind Hockney’s very aptly name paintings. Whether it be ‘The Road to York through Sledmere’ or ‘Wheat Field near Fridaythorpe’ feast your eyes on some very picturesque landscapes. If you are an appreciator of David Hockney or whether you just appreciate the beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds this could well make for a pretty splendid day out.
(With the route suitable for both cyclists and drivers head to the starting point that is suggested to be the Village of Shiptonthorpe on the York to Hull Road, the A1079. Break your trip down into the legs that the googlemap suggests and enjoy the ‘rolling chalk hills’ and the serene locations whichever way you see fit, arming yourself with a picnic basket or a bottle of Pimms).
Top 5: Beer Gardens
In September One&Other posted an article (here) on the best beer gardens in York. That was September, now it’s March and we’re about to wade into the weather that in September we were clinging on to. Why not be inspired by the sun, bag yourself a table in one of these treasures and enjoy a cold pint or a fruity cocktail until the sun goes down and the chill picks up! (The Lamb and Lion, The Secret Garden, Evil Eye, The Habit and City Screen)
Ice Cream in the sun.
Ice cream is a traditional ‘cool down’ that we Brits seem to use whenever the hot weather gets a little stifling. Either the ‘ice cream man’ in his van ventures close that we get our fill that way or else we as ‘Yorkonians’ can venture to a place a little less ordinary, and a little more enchanting. Sit outside on the rickety old furniture at Licc and devour a mound of ice cream or frozen yoghurt in either traditional or unique flavours whilst you revel in the intimate atmosphere of the doll-like pastel world.
Make the most of The FREE things that York has to offer
York is brimming with plenty of free or inexpensive things to do so to inspire you we’ll include a short list (within a list) of what you can get yourself involved in even with tight purse strings.
Wait for a beautiful day and take a picnic to the Museum Gardens. Get there early though, at the first sign of sun the grass gets inundated so be an early bird, find a lonely cranny and pop a squat.
If the sun gets too hot, take a break and amble around the York Art Gallery, take a gander at some internationally famous pieces or else one of the visiting exhibitions and get your fill some beautiful works of art.
Catch a note or too from one of many regular buskers hanging about the city, you can’t beat listening to some cracking music whilst you recline in the sun slurping an iced drink. One to always look for is the chap who sets up his piano at the base of the Minster.
Take the opportunity to wander York and find a few of its hidden gems.
Take a stroll down ‘Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate’ (a very short stroll) rent your own ‘little red boat’ at the docking station a couple of minutes down the quay and loll in the sun with a glass of wine, check out the vast collection of shops dedicated to one thing and one thing only, there’s a bunch of cute tiny one in the shambles, candles that look like cupcakes, a shop dedicated entirely to selling loaves of bread, another selling wool. I’m encouraging you to find your own treasures; there are plenty of them.
Enjoy the sunshine, who knows how long it’ll last.
