A few weeks back I headed to York for a day trip.
Sheffield to York takes just under an hour on the train, not long at all.
As soon as we arrived I was quick to hook up to the free CityConnect WiFi. Although I’ve been to York a few times over the years I never quite remember my way around. I found it very easy to sign up for the wifi and was pleased to be able to do it through my Twitter account.
You simply select CityConnectWiFi within the list of optional networks. It will then take you to a page where you can pick how to login, accept the terms and conditions and then you’re set to go. I found that I needed to log into the network a couple of times throughout the day as it managed to disconnect. That was probably because we visited places such as The York Dungeons so all signal was lost. Overall I absolutely loved having access to free wifi and it’s something that I think should be pushed out across all cities.
I made good use of the wifi in York. it helped me to locate The York Dungeons, places to eat and it was also useful to figure out how far away the station was. I’ve put together some of the ways in which I used the free wifi and how I think others could benefit from it:
– Easy to pull up Google Maps and locate the attractions you want to visit.
– Open up Foursquare, turn on location settings and find the best places to eat.
– Especially handy for tourists from overseas, we all need free wifi to share photos, use maps and find locations.
– Open up Maps, turn on location settings and locate exactly where you are.
– I even managed to Face Time with my parents who were in Iran at the time who called to wish me a Happy Birthday.
I think there’s lots of potential for shops and brands collaborating with CityConnect to create a truly interactive experience in the city centre of York.
The York Dungeon – I hadn’t visited anything like this in recent years and if I’m totally honest, it’s not something I’d originally have considered doing. However, since visiting I would totally reccomended it to other people and would be keen to go again in the future. The York Dungeon is a 75 minute experience which takes you on a journey through the history of York. The experience is filled with brilliant actors, special effects and top quality scenes. There are funky smells and creepy sounds throughout each section. I even found myself in a room of mirrors which was delightfully confusing. I had a good laugh, found it a little scary and as you can imagine, had lots of fun.
York’s Chocolate Trail was in full swing and the centre of the town was filled with stalls. It just so happened to be Easter Day when we were there (and also my birthday) so there were lots of places to make your own Easter Eggs or buy very fancy ones.
There’s also York’s Chocolate Story which was clearly very popular as we didn’t manage to make it inside. I’ve done a little research and it seems it’s a guided journey through the history of York’s famous chocolate-making families. The website is filled with lots of information, I think this would be an ideal visit for any chocolate lover, especially little children. It sounds like quite an interactive experience – something York is excellent at providing.
I was kindly sent some chocolates from York Cocoa House a a few weeks ago and they were honestly the best I’ve ever had. I have a whole post dedicated to them coming soon.
It’s very easy to spend the day walking around the cobbled streets, eating delicious ice cream and taking all the sights in. You really don’t have to get fully involved with the attractions to appreciate a good day out in York. However, there is lots to do and as I’m sure many of you know, York is filled with history.
I personally think it’s nice to fit a couple of attractions into your day trip, especially if you don’t live too close. I’d suggest The York Dungeon, a walk around York city walls, Betty’s Tea Rooms and York Minster. I’ve put together a list of places you should consider visiting next time you’re in York.
Things to do in York:
– The York Dungeon
– York’s Chocolate Story
– York Minster
– York Castle
– Jorvik Viking Centre
– Betty’s Tea Rooms
– The Shambles
I’m sure some of you will know that I’m a big fan of Foursquare, I even dedicated a whole post to it. Anyway, with the option of free wifi I was quick to swipe my location settings on and search for the best spot for lunch, coffee and ice cream. I like that whenever you leave your locations settings on Foursquare is quick to let you know of any nearby spots that might interest you.
As I mentioned, it happened to be my birthday when we visited York so I was very kindly treated to a birthday lunch. After a lot of deliberation and some confirmation from Foursquare we decided upon Winner Winner. The menu is full of delicious treats, cocktails and craft beers. We all decided to go for The Mother Clucker which was filled with hot sauce, jalapeños, peppers, onions and of course, chicken. It was delicious. We shared that huge portion of chips which were very crunchy, I loved them. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to visit Winner Winner and try their cocktails, I’d probably go for the same burger again as it was just that good.
I’d like to thank CityConnect for inviting me to experience the free WiFi in York. I had a lovely day with P and DB and I’m looking forward to my next visit.