Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Dog Friendly York

Image captured by: Jessica Coates Photography
With more and more people treating their beloved pets as the valued family members that they are and wanting to include them in everything that they do, it's no surprise that dog friendly places are on the rise. We visited the picturesque city of York recently and were overwhelmed by what an incredibly dog friendly place it is. We found that everything we would have regularly done whilst we were there, we could do with the dogs, from visiting attractions to dining and shopping there really is no need to leave your furry best friend out!

Parking 

There are several city centre car parks within York but we found these to be quite pricey for the entire day so used Grimston Bar park and ride (YO19 5LA) The last bus from the city centre back to Grimston Bar is at 20.05 Mon-Sat and 18.05 on a Sunday and costs just £3.20 for a return, so you really can make the most of an entire day there without paying the earth to park! They do of course allow dogs on all of their buses free of charge.


Attractions

River Cruise

Our first stop took us along the beautiful River Ouse, the same river that brought the Romans and the Vikings to York! We played captain and took to the helm on board a self drive motor boat from City Cruises York a beautiful way to see the city at your own pace away from the hustle and bustle. 



Image captured by: Jessica Coates Photography
They were really fun and easy to drive (even I managed it) and the dogs loved being on the water with the summer breeze. They're available to hire for half an hour or an hour, we opted for the full hour hire which easily allowed us to do the entire route down to Millennium Bridge and back at a steady pace whilst stopping to take a few photos. 



Image captured by: Jessica Coates Photography

We booked this experience online prior to going but you can just turn up on the day and hire a boat providing there is one available at the time. if you're looking for a peaceful way to see the city or just something a little bit different to do whilst there then we'd thoroughly recommend the self drive boats at City Cruises York, both human and hound enjoyed every second!




York Museum Gardens

Set in the stunning surroundings of the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, York Museum Gardens is a great space to enjoy a spot of peace and tranquillity to relax and unwind in the heart of the city. This idyllic haven boasts over ten acres of beautiful botanical gardens and is an array of colour in summer months. Whilst dogs must be kept on a lead the gardens are free to enter and are definitely worth a visit on your trip. 



Dining

The Golden Lion 

When it came to lunch we were spoilt for choice, everywhere we turned there was a pub, café or bakery boasting the dog friendly sign and a bowl of fresh water on the doorstep. We opted to stop at The Golden Lion, a traditional no frills pub serving British classics situated a short walk from the Minster. The pub had a small roof terrace which allowed us to continue enjoying the sunshine and escape the busy bar area. 








Patisserie Valerie



When I think of York, I think of the world famous Bettys and their afternoon tea. Whilst they are unfortunately not dog friendly, there are plenty of places offering afternoon tea, cream tea, pastries and cakes that are, including Patisserie Valerie. We were greeted with a very warm welcome and literally everything on offer looked to die for! The staff at the Feasegate store were incredibly friendly and enjoyed lots of doggy cuddles. They serve afternoon tea all day so there is no need to book.






Shopping

I was a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of shops that were dog friendly in York. Some places think that being dog friendly just means allowing them in (but secretly preferring them not to be there) that wasn't the case here at all. Everywhere we went we were greeted with a warm welcome, approached with fresh water and dog biscuits, asked for photos and given lots of fuss and cuddles. 

The Shambles really is a dream, winner of Googles most picturesque street in Britain it's easy to see why. With its narrow cobbled streets and overhanging timber-framed buildings it reminds me of something straight out of the pages of Harry Potter (luckily for all us fans there are several shops dedicated to all things Harry Potter down the far end of The Shambles, more on that later!) 

Image captured by: Jessica Coates Photography

The beautifully preserved Elizabethan buildings are now host to shops selling souvenirs, jewellery, artisan bread and handmade chocolates to name but a few. If like me, you're a big fan or all things Christmas then a browse around the Nutcracker Christmas Shop is a must and adds that magic and cheer even in August! 


Whilst these shops are dog friendly, they are very small and busy so please bare this in mind when you visit!

My favourite shop of all though has to be The Shop That Must Not be Named dog friendly and selling everything Harry Potter that your little muggle heart could desire it's definitely worth a visit for any Harry Potter fans, big or small! The staff there are all amazing and made us feel very welcome!  


Please note The Shambles is a tourist spot, so it does get extremely busy, so this may be one to avoid if you have nervous dogs. 

We also visited many of the high street stores in York and all were dog friendly including Joules, Mountain Warehouse and York Gin to name a few. 

The people of York really did extend the warmest of welcomes to us and we had a fantastic day. Thank you to Jess and Echo for joining us and making our day extra special, will definitely be back soon!

Love Kelly and Murphy x


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