I do love a ghost tour. Am I believer? Yes, I think there may be something out there. But I just find them interesting and a bit of fun. With a few days off and trying to visit a bit more of the UK, it was time to head up to York and check out the "spooky" side of the city.
A comfy 4.5 hour train ride and I pulled in to a drizzly York and headed off to find my B&B. Comfy, friendly and a 10-minute walk into the centre of town - all good. First stop, lunch at The York Roast Co, Famous for its Yorkshire Pud wraps, I went for the pork roast in the Yorkshire pud - unwrapped. Points deducted for no crispy crackle - they sell it separately. Tasty. Best I've had - nope, but still good.
Lunch sorted, time to walk it off with a stroll around the streets admiring the cute buildings and even cuter shops. The Shambles is the only street in Britain where you can buy a wizard’s wand, a chocolate bar, a magic spell and a pork pie within 30 seconds. It’s old and crooked and walking down it feels less like sightseeing and more like participating in a structural engineering experiment. Every building leans at an angle. Did I succumb to the lure of medieval trinkets and purchases? Course I did. I had a Butter Beer at the Potions Cauldron, a pie and stood in line because it was there, to buy an individually hand painted ceramic ghost. No regrets.
Time to go check out the Golden Fleece. Another building that looks like it could topple over at any moment. But then again, it's one of York’s oldest pubs mentioned in the archives as early as 1503. As well as 4 guest rooms, it has several resident ghosts and is one of the most haunted pubs in England. G&T in hand I wandered around checking out corners where ghost might be lurking. I did not meet Lady Peckett, One-Eyed Jack, Roman Soldiers or any of the other ghosts. There were no chains rattling or icy breezes - well maybe a chilly draft, but I assumed it came in from the open door to the beer garden. I imagine they were all at Bingo night at the pub down the road.
8pm and it was time to meet my fellow ghost hunters on a ghost tour. Although it had turned a little chilly, this was June, so still broad daylight. Kinda takes away from the ambience of a ghost hunt. Our ghostly guide was an entertaining chap and told many a fine tale as we wandered around the street of York. This is definitely a thing here as we crossed paths with a Mad Alice tour, another ghost tour and waved at the ghost bus as it trundled past. With so many people out in fore searching, it was hardly surprising that we did not see any ghostly apparitions - that and the fact that it was still broad daylight. But a fun night had by all. Ghosts included.
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