Aesthetic Spots in York

Recently, now that lock down has been lifted ever so slightly, many people in England have started to travel again, whether it be in the UK or abroad. It is definitely important for everyone to maintain social distancing to stay safe whilst doing so. Being able to take day trips again will have a hugely positive impact on our mental health; Research shows that the lack of movement, nature, sense of purpose and lack of connections greatly impacted mental health during the pandemic, detailed in an article by Steven C. Hayes. Even worse, those already struggling with mental health conditions potentially faced significantly worse conditions associated with staying indoors during the pandemic; these include having more vivid flashbacks of previous trauma and also re experiencing trauma associated with being trapped at home. This is detailed further here. These are things I can strongly relate to, meaning I was incredibly glad to be able to get outside more and travel again. I decided to go for a day out in York which was took under an hour to drive to. Previously, I had covered large areas of the city starting by the train station. However, this time, we parked by York Minster. In this post, I will be highlighting the top aesthetic areas around the York Minster area. These make for great Instagram and photography shots, as well as simply aesthetically pleasing places to stop and look at during your day in York. 

BETTY’S café TEAROOMS

First on my list would be Bettys Cafe Tearooms. These are extremely famous across the UK and definitely capture elements of strong British culture. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, we were not able to sit inside as it was only reopening the next day. However, everyone who I have spoken to have highly recommended it. The first tearoom was set up in Harrogate in 1919 and in 1937, Betty's opened in York. It began with Fritz Butzer, later known as Frederick Belmont. He is described as a Swiss Orphan who traveled Europe and then settled in England to start his business. More information on the history of Bettys can be found here.

SHOPPING STREETS & THE SHAMBLES

York is also littered with beautiful, aesthetically pleasing old buildings; many have now been turned into shops to create the beautiful high street. York houses a great variety of shops, both much loved chains and independent businesses. I visited Pandora and Jack Wills to pick up a gift for my sister's birthday. I also headed to Urban Outfitters which offered a 25% NHS discount, meaning I could afford to pick out a few more pieces! However, one of the most famous shopping streets in York is called The Shambles: it is a street with beautiful old timber-framed buildings. It is also well known for its Harry Potter shops which make for an interesting visit. 

INDEPENDENT CAFES 

One thing I always look for when travelling are independent cafes; yes, chain cafes can often be incredibly tasty and sometimes have a very cute aesthetic. However, unless it is one of the picturesque locations, these chain stores can often have disappointing appearances and definitely don't feel unique. Sometimes, they can even directly resemble the interiors of cafes which are right on your doorstep back at home. It is a better option to try to go for independent cafes to support the business as well as to find more picturesque locations and to try new things! I went to a place called The Drawing Board where you can get a big bowl of chips for under £3, as well as an incredibly delicious ice coffee. 

YORK MINSTER

Of course, you absolutely should walk past York Minster itself and the surrounding buildings when looking for aesthetic spots in York! It was completed in 1472 and devoted to Saint Peter. It has beautiful vaults, stained glass windows and bells, with a reconstructed organ after the original was damaged in a fire. It is famous for being the second largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe. It began as a small Christian Church which was destroyed by a fire in 741. The rebuilt church was then destroyed by the Danes in 1075, then rebuilt once again and restored throughout the years. The beautiful foliage makes for incredible pictures and the cream coloured stone of the surrounding buildings also adds to the aesthetic.

THE RIVER

The last place I would recommend in the York Minster area would be the bridges over the river. This is known as the the River Ouse, the sixth largest river in the United Kingdom. There are some beautiful independent food places surrounding the water. In addition, you can also go for boat rides which would make for some beautiful shots. 

PINTEREST INSPIRATION