For the girl that loves a gift guide and picking out her presents ahead of time this past year for Christmas I was drawing a serious blank. There were a few things that I have had my eye on for a very long time (Chanel quilted and the Cartier Love bracelet) but at $4,000+ each, those will stay on the list a bit longer. Instead of wrapping things up my boyfriend did exactly as I asked and planned a few surprise activities.
Well one was more than an activity, it was a weekend trip up to York in the North of England where he had booked an adorable hotel but the rest was up to us! In case you do not live in England, there was a massive storm that hit the entire country this weekend so we tried to plan all of the outside activities on Saturday . After brunch this included visiting The York Museum Gardens, St Mary’s Abbey, the Hospitium, St. Leonard’s Hospital, The Shambles, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, and afternoon tea at Betty’s. Take a look:
My two favourite things on Saturday from our weekend in York were visiting the York Minster and the Clifford’s Tower as we were able to climb to the top of both – 275 steps and 100 steps respectively, for gorgeous views over York. Even though York Minster is under construction you still get a “wow” moment the minute you walk through the door. We enjoyed exploring the Cathedral but our tower climb to the top gave the best views of the flying buttress and capital of the North. Clifford’s Tower on the other hand, is the only part that remains of York Castle which was built by William the Conqueror in 1086. This tower sites on the top of a conical hill and while it is small, it worth the admission fee, make sure you take up the 360 degree walk around the tower and take in the views of York.
On Sunday we barred the weather and checked out two museums, The York Art Gallery and the Jorvik Viking Centre, ending our weekend in York with quite a bit of culture. The art gallery had an exhibit on called “coast to Coast” of marine paintings particularly the Gustave Lois panting called Belle-Ile-en-Mer. (You can see more or the exhibit here). The York Art Gallery which cute but I liked it and the building had beautiful architecture. This second museum was the Jorvik Viking Centre, essentially a viking museum which covered the history of the people who settled in York for almost 300 years, from 793 to 1066.
Would you like to spend a weekend in York ?
A Walking Tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
An Evening Boat Cruise in Budapest
The Singapore Botanic Gardens
My Guide to a Roman Holiday
pauline says
Yes I’d like to go there very much. I’d actually like your boyfriend to give my boyfriend some boyfriend lessons.
Maybe you could do a whole blog post on what makes for a good boyfriend and then a lot of us girls could send it along hint hint hint. Glad you had such a good weekend
Lucy says
What a charming weekend get a way.
Very romantic and plenty of sights to see. Looks like it was a lot of fun!
Terrie says
Personally I like the experience gifts the best.
Spending time together and making lifelong happy memories is right up my alley.
Linda Hilliard says
Kelly, how fun that your boyfriend planned some surprise trips for a Christmas present – and the gift that lives on through your experience and long after in your memory. Fantastic photos as usual and I like your fun outfit. Your pix brought back some great memories of my trip to York a number of years ago and sounds like you worked around the weather as best as you could.