York and Yorkshire: A stopover in the north of England

York is a city with a rich historical heritage. It still bears traces of the Roman, Viking and Anglo-Saxon settlements that followed until the Middle Ages, when the city retained all its importance.

Spared the alterations and destruction of the 19th and 20th centuries, York today boasts an extremely well-preserved medieval heritage. York Minster, York's impressive cathedral, is the symbol of this: its intact architecture makes it a masterpiece of Gothic art, and the city's major attraction.

York's historic centre is still surrounded by 13th-century city walls, from which you can enjoy breathtaking views over the criss-cross of ancient streets below. A visit to York would not be complete without a full tour!

Undeniably one of the most beautiful streets in the whole of England, it is said that The Shambles takes its name from the days when it was home to a meat market. Those bygone days have given way to a variety of quaint shops and cafés, but meat hooks and shelves still protrude from the timber-framed buildings, some of which date back to the 14th century. If you're familiar with the look of The Shambles, you're probably a Harry Potter fan. This iconic street was the inspiration for the set of 'Diagon Alley', a London street in the films...

York is also home to some magnificent gardens, including those surrounding the Yorkshire Museum, the city's cultural institution which organises many temporary exhibitions. When the weather is fine, take a guided tour of the old town, take a boat trip on the River Ouse, or sit back and relax in one of the many cafés lining the banks of the river: York knows how to cultivate a certain art de vivre!

The York Pass allows you to visit many sites in and around York. It's well worth it if you're planning to explore the city from top to bottom.

York is home to a major national university. With its large student population, the city is cosmopolitan and culturally vibrant. And there's no shortage of nightlife either! If you're looking for a good night out, the many pubs in the city centre offer a real English atmosphere.

York has as many great boutique addresses as it does historic sites. Stop off for a drink at the City Screen, for example, a cinema with a pretty café overlooking the river.

Or try Café No. 8, a charming bistro in the city centre that uses local ingredients and was recently voted York's best restaurant. For something a little different, round off a day of sightseeing with a cocktail and some delicious Asian food at the Evil Eye Lounge.

Betty 's tea rooms are also a must when visiting York. Take home some of their famous cakes, known as "fat rascals". There are also many arts and crafts shops. Why not pack your bags with some original prints and pottery?

A historic county surrounding York, Yorkshire is renowned throughout England for its unspoilt natural areas, provided you exclude the major urban and industrial centres of Leeds and Sheffield.

From London, why not travel to Yorkshire on the famous London train, the Flying Scotsman, from Kings Cross station?

The scenery is breathtaking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, to the north-west of York, as it is in the North York Moors National Park, this time to the north-east. These are rural regions, still remote and sparsely populated, whose character is just as much at home in the sunshine as it is under a blazing sky.

You'll never tire of these small, green country roads, winding through wild moorland, pastures dotted with sheep and cultivated fields, stopping off at an inn, an authentic B&B or a small English-style cottage...

A word of advice if you're staying in Yorkshire: keep your hiking boots handy! There are many footpaths in the Yorkshire Dales, including the North York Moors, the ideal way to soak up the unspoilt countryside.