We recently spent a couple of nights in York, which proved to be a bit of a trip down memory lane. Not my memory lane (although it’s not my first visit), but rather Helen’s as she spent three years at university there. Obviously this was more than thirty (or forty, or fifty, or more depending on audience and arithmetic) years ago, but there was still plenty to bring back happy memories of a time before responsibilities.

It’s probably worth stating up front that this wasn’t a photography trip (although it did give me an opportunity to give a new piece of kit a test run). Instead it was an opportunity to relax and enjoy a place that played an important part in Helen’s formative years. To that end, the first port of call was the university. It’s undoubtedly expanded in the decades since Helen left, but seems a little shabbier in places although, happily, the goose poo is no deeper!

From the university we meandered back towards the city, eventually picking up the city walls. While they’re often referred to as the Roman Walls, very little of the Roman construction remains and the course of the walls has changed significantly over the centuries.

The walls have the distinction of being the longest set of city walls in the UK. Arguably, they’re not the most impressive nor are they the most complete. Berwick’s impressive Elizabethan walls would like a word…

What the walls do offer is a number of convenient entry points to the centre of the city and riverside access to both the Foss and the Ouse. The city boasts an impressive number of public houses; we only really had time to tick off a few, so we may need to return!

The city itself is something of a mixed bag; the older small winding streets and lanes remain, but the older trades have largely been squeezed out by recognisable brands and a plethora of themed souvenir shops. There are, however, still some interesting, quirky (and expensive) shops if that’s your thing.

Aside from the walls the other main feature is York Minster. The site itself dates back to the 600s, although the bulk of the fabric of the current building was built between the 1200s and late 1400s. Significant renovation has been undertaken, most notably after the 1984 fire with the result that the interior is as impressive as any building that I’ve visited. Any exploration of York needs to take in the Minster.

Our final stop was the National Railway Museum. York’s association with the rail industry goes back almost as far as the railways themselves and the museum is well worth a visit. It’s fantastic value for money (free) and despite an ongoing programme of development it’s really very well presented.

*The Great Hall*
Leica Q3 | 28mm f/8.0 1/50s ISO 1250

Conclusion

York was a great break and, from where we are, really accessible. We travelled by train, with a journey time of just over an hour and a half, and the purple palace five minutes’ walk from the station provided an excellent base. We ate well, walked for miles and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

From a photography standpoint the Leica Q3 did the job I wanted it to do superbly. After Malta I was looking for a one-stop solution; something that would provide excellent image quality when I don’t want to carry a bag of gear or the faff of changing lenses. The Summilux 28mm is magnificent, while the 61MP sensor gives almost all the cropping flexibility you need. One in the plus column…

Nostalgia I - York

Conclusion

Malta: Holiday Snaps