Alright, forget London for a sec. Turns out, it’s not the coolest kid on the block when it comes to England’s top spots.
A survey by you.gov went out to suss out which city folks in England are vibing with the most. And guess what? York stole the crown.
As per Express.co.uk on Tuesday (April 16, 2024), they asked about 57 cities, and York, up in North Yorkshire, took the cake as the number one pick. Can you believe it? Like, nine out of ten Brits – that’s a whopping 92 percent – gave it a big thumbs up.
And get this: York wasn’t just dubbed the friendliest place to kick it in England. Nope, that honor was dropped by the crew at restless.co.uk.
According to these experts, the locals there are all about spreading good vibes, welcoming strangers with open arms and mega smiles, whether you’re popping into a shop or just strolling down the street.
But wait, there’s more. A survey from Booking.com back in 2023? Yep, you guessed it. York got a shout-out as one of the friendliest cities on the planet.
But what’s the deal with York’s appeal? Well, it’s like a time machine, taking you back to Roman, Viking, and Saxon times. You’ll feel those ancient European vibes all around.
Think medieval vibes with the iconic York Minster, those fancy Georgian houses, and old-school Victorian train stations. And if you’re into Vikings, the Jorvik Viking Centre is a must-hit, or check out the centuries of York’s history at the York Castle Museum.
Movie buffs, listen up! The Shambles area? Rumor has it, it’s the real-life Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. How cool is that?
Oh, and foodies, you’re in for a treat. York’s got over 350 spots to grab a bite or a brew. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, dive into the history of chocolate-making in the city.
Take York’s Chocolate Story, for example. They’ve got interactive tours spilling the beans on 4,000 years of chocolate history. Plus, you’ll find out how chocolate ended up in this rad city.
Juliana Delaney, CEO of Continuum Attractions, the brains behind York’s Chocolate Story, said: “Lots of tourists have already ticked off London, so it’s amazing to see more folks checking out other cities in England.”
“Our team hears it all the time from visitors – they love our cities and the cool stuff to do. And you know what? York being number one? Totally makes sense to me. That’s why we’ve been based here since ’84!” she added, with a grin.