We were up bright and early today for a day trip to York by train from Northallerton. This is a place I’ve always wanted to visit, and I was really looking forward to it. York is absolutely stunning, with its beautiful buildings and surroundings, but York Minster Cathedral definitely stole the show—its beauty is just incredible. Unfortunately, we didn’t go inside, as the boys weren’t in the mood to be quiet and calm, so we opted to walk around Dean Park Gardens instead.

From there, we tried to get our bearings, though I don’t think I ever quite figured out the layout of York (I was hopelessly lost most of the day!). We wandered down The Shambles, which reminded me of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter and the Ramblas in Barcelona. We couldn’t resist stopping by the Harry Potter shop, and Alexander was in absolute heaven there.

For lunch, we grabbed some sandwiches from Tesco and headed back to Dean Park for a picnic under a tree—half in the shade, half in the sun. It was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some food.

After lunch, we explored a little more and came across a garden behind the museum that had an “edible wood,” with lots of plants that can either be eaten raw or cooked. It was such a cool discovery! We spent some time at the York Museum next, which kept us entertained for a few hours. The museum had a great collection of Roman and medieval artefacts, and the boys had a blast with the dressing-up station (David even joined in!). Lewis was especially excited to see the dinosaur display, and there was an excavation exhibit where the kids got to try their hand at digging—such a fun experience for them.

Afterward, we headed back out into the sunshine for a snack on the grass and a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Of course, no day trip is complete without a sneaky McFlurry, which we grabbed along the way. We finished our visit with a McDonald’s dinner before heading back to the train station.

Travel Tip: We parked at Applegarth Long Stay Car Park, which was just a 10-minute walk from Northallerton Train Station. It was only £3.20 for the whole day, which was a great deal.

All in all, it was a fantastic day exploring the beautiful city of York, with a mix of history, sunshine, and a little bit of magic!