For our first nesting abroad experience, we chose York, England, located in the northeastern part of England, about 215 miles north of London. We wanted to ease into this nesting abroad lifestyle, and we thought that going to a place that spoke English would make our first trip a bit easier. We had visited England, Scotland and Ireland a few years before on a two week trip and spent two days in York. We found it charming and accessible, so we decided to go back.
What we Loved about York
Wonderful, amazingly friendly people with a great sense of humor. We made friends that will be life-long.
It’s really easy to take advantage of the many programs, lectures, clubs and events because everyone speaks English, (Even though, apparently, we speak “American” to them!)
If you love history, this is your town. There are so many fascinating historical places to visit, you’ll feel like you’re barely scratching the surface, even after three months. You’ll learn about everyone from the Romans to the Vikings to the War of the Roses, all in one charming, beautiful, very walkable town.
Lots of fun little touches – it’s a city of “easter eggs”- even in the very last week we were there, we were finding out delightful little surprises about the city – hidden symbols, great stories from history, little-known places to visit. Don’t miss the cats of York – I nearly did! They are delightful little life sized sculptures perched on ledges and windowsills around the Old City.
Shoulder seasons are not too crowded. You can easily get into the sights, and there is a very affordable year-long pass for the museums and another for the Minster which will allow you to visit unlimited times for one fee. I loved revisiting the museums on rainy afternoons.
York has one of the largest rail stations in Great Britain, with connections to just about anywhere in England, Wales and Scotland. It’s walkable from anywhere near the Old Town, and it makes it super convenient to get out of the town and see other nearby areas.
Al loves to bike. He brought his bike to York and had a wonderful time biking the many trails and country roads in the area with a great group of locals, one of who even came to the States to bike across the US with Al a year later. Sue loved the hiking trails that crisscross all over England. You can literally walk anywhere there – trails go through backyards, across pastures, through gardens, and all of them are well-marked and completely legal.
We found it very easy to connect with the local community. There is a huge amount of clubs for every interest, and they are very, very welcoming. Al became very active in a biking club, and Sue joined a knitting club that met every Wednesday in Rountree Park. We could have joined clubs to learn Italian, discuss movies, cook Thai food or do figure drawing, among hundreds of other choices. They are just neighbors getting together for a good time, but are well-organized and free or a nominal fee.
York is sparkling clean, has a very low crime rate and is very safe.
York has some great city-wide events. While we were there, we went to a four-day film festival, saw “Illuminating York,” an annual light festival, and enjoyed the start of the Christmas Market. We were also there for Guy Fawkes Day. There are concerts in the Minster and events in the opera house, too. If you’re bored, it’s your own fault!
What we Didn’t Love About York
Although it doesn’t rain hard often in York, it’s also rare to see blue sky for more than an hour or so at a time. Overcast and drizzle is the norm, and so a raincoat and umbrella are musts.
Although we loved the scones in York, as a whole, we didn’t find great food. Maybe we’re spoiled from living in Charlottesville, Virginia, which has a ‘foodie’ vibe, but for the most part, the restaurants in York were mediocre. Oh well. It helped us save money by eating at home.
York is not the cheapest place for nesting abroad, although the fall of the pound since Brexit has certainly helped. Check Expatistan.com for current city to city comparisons.