to wonder what's so great about York?

[FartBlossom]

Everytime someone mentions going to York, living in York, visiting York there is lots and lots of people saying ooh its lovely there, wish I lived there I love it there blah blah blah. Why?

I was born and bred in York and have just moved out of York so have lived there for 33 years apart from 3 years at Uni in Manchester.

I have got nothing against it, but really don't see its wonderful appeal at all. Is it because Im so used to it I dont see what others see? Is it because I know about a slightly darker side to it? Is it because it truely is wonderful than a lot of other places, but I dont know that as I haven't lived in most other places?

Chub Agree, OP needs to go and live in Oldham, Wolverhampton, Dudley... Infact any town just outside a major city that isn't a property hotspot. She'll soon see that a place like York is gorgeous in comparison.

YY The Cheese Straws Trendy - I miss them most of all :)

I lived there. Loved it mostly for its history and atmosphere. Tis a bit too flat though. I think familiarity can often take away from the magic.

Cheese straws are Yuck, but Thomas's do the best Cheese and Onion sandwich ever.

Oh and I did go to Uni in Manchester so have lived in a big city and dont think York is much better than Manchester TBH. Mind you Ive not been back to Manchester for a while, but I only go back to York to visit family now anyway not to see york itself.

Big difference between visiting a place and living there.

York is my absolute favourite weekend away destination. It's only 2 and a half hours by train for me. I only know the centre/ touristy bits and I absolutely love it.

I have no opinion on the quality of life of York residents, as I've never explored the wider area.

Having said that, I live in Edinburgh and I love it passionately, more than any tourist ever could. Dark side and all.

Methe Disagree about Oxford. Yes there are some pretty grim estates and it's really split- those with money and those with little.
But it's a lovely town, compact, has everything- theatres, bars, shops, museums etc. When I visit family there I see a really interesting place , somewhere I'd love to be able to afford to live!

I love York, but I get what you mean. I originally hail from the west of Ireland and get sick of people going on about how brilliant it is. I'm always very quick to point out the downsides.

Do you prefer where you are now, OP?

YABU. We moved to York for DH's work. I thought I'd hate living up north again, after five or so years of being young and trendy in London, but I fell in love instantly! Perhaps I'm easily impressed, being from Doncaster an'all

Currently half-considering moving to Oxfordshire, again for DH's job, but I'm not sure if the Thames quite lives up to Ouse?

not too sure about the Oldham bashing. It has its troubles but not all bad.

Fart Did you really live inner city Manchester (Ancoats, Moston, Blakley, Compstall, Newton Heath) or did you live in studentville ( Rusholme, Fallowfield,Didsbury,Chorleton...) ?
Big difference!!

I have previously lived in Oxford and York. Loved Oxford, struggled with York but have no idea why. I'd like to visit York again - especially to go and nose at the Roman remains under the cathedral, but I wouldn't want to live there again. I can't explain why though.

I used to live there, and was glad to leave. It looks pretty, yes, but there were lots of things I didn't like.

1. Nothing going on culturally. Crap theatre and art gallery, and a long way from anywhere which does have culture. Obviously this is not a sticking point for everyone, but it is for me. There was just nothing to do other than shop or drink.
2. The city centre was a no-go area on a Friday or Saturday night. The undercurrent of violence was really unpleasant.
3. Within the space of five years, I was mugged twice, another time had my purse stolen without noticing till I got home, had my drink spiked when I was out on a week night in a very quiet wine bar with just one friend (her drink was also spiked), and was followed home by weirdos more times than I can remember. My housemate was flashed at, and a student on my course was raped. I'd lived in London before moving to York and felt much more unsafe in York in the evenings than I did in London.
4. The crowds in the city centre during the summer and in the weeks running up to Christmas were worse than Oxford street.
5. Provincial attitudes. When I lived there, there were virtually no non-white people living there (don't know if this has changed). Our neighbour was from west Africa and had his house egged on numerous occasions and people did monkey impressions at him in the street. A Chinese family who moved to the city to open a takeaway were hounded out.

I did love the beautiful countryside nearby though, and would definitely go back to the North York Moors or the Dales. And I still miss the Italian bread shop on the Shambles, the Beer and Cheese shop on Fishergate, and the fish stalls in the market.

career not bashing Oldham. Just pointing out that it (as an example) isn't as nice as York. It isn't. Along with many many other places.

FartBlossom is there a way you can say/hint what the worst street is (the one you lived on) without outing yourself? Only I think we've just bought a house on it! Only place we can afford. But I love York. We came as students and stuck

It's getting more ethnically diverse btw (can't remember who posted about that)-it was one of the things I really missed about London but now it's not AS middle class and white. Still probably 90% though, but getting slowly better! When I was at uni there was ONE black guy in my year-no exaggeration.

well no its not. Have to concede that one!

Oh I love it CremeEggThief Ive moved from a council estate in York where ATM there is a court case going on regarding 5 men smashing up the house opposite me with baseball bats while the children were sitting in the window they were hitting, all due to drugs apparently. Where the children of the street would often throw stones at our house (snowballs if there was snow). I now live in very rural North Yorkshire where everyone is friendly. Ive been here 2 months and I know more people here in my little village than I did after 7 years in one street in York. The people of York are quite reserved (myself included) and it can be difficult to get to know the York people.

We went to York on our honey moon, used to have breakfast in the theatee and there was a peacock in the gardens there that we used to talk to. We then went back earlier this year and went round the art gallery. We bumped into the exact same peacock - stuffed!

I grew up in York too - well, a tiny village just outside. I live in London now - York is bloody fabulous, I plan to move back to North Yorkshire one day.

I know the 'rough' bits of York and I think the 'dark side' you're talking about is the slightly depressing low-social mobility housing areas when all the tourists see are the designer shops and expensive restaurants... Yes, it's a stark contrast, but the dark side of London is teenagers with guns and knives, serious drug-dealing, extreme poverty down the road from million-pound mansions... I think your perspective might be a bit skewed.

kaloo if anyone follows me on MN they will know who I am anyway. It was in the area initialled TH and the initial of the first word of the street is E. If you were a student you would have lived in the same area.

Oh no, StealthPolarBear. I remember the peacock - he used to wander around the quad at King's Manor, the building where my University tutors were based. I always used to worry that he would get run over when he crossed the busy road outside.

I studied in York and nearly moved back there 4 yrs ago. In the end we chose Harrogate instead because I found York too rough, I find parts of Harrogate too rough too . I have obviously lived a very sheltered life. (grew up living in the middle of nowhere, only rough element the werewolves on the moors, I thought the local market town was too rough).

I have also lived in London, Nottingham and Edinburgh amongst others, they are all rough too (although I love Edinburgh).

My parents grew up on council estates in Salford and Bolton, they would be ashamed of me.

Ah-I did not quite the same but we've bought close to there. In H. On PL, off DA. If that makes sense!!

York is also far too crowded with all the tourists. Very pretty town centre though.

Crazy, he has a surprised look on his face!

Crazyspaniel - I would agree with your point about provincial attitudes, that would be my only worry about moving back up there.