Jorvik Center York

[reluctantbrit]

Is it worth for 2 adults? DH and I are on a weekend trip in March and while we have been to York before with DD, we didn‘t go to the Jorvik Center.

We are quite into history, know a decent amount of Viking history and the reviews are very mixed.

I had wanted to go there ever since I was about 8. For that reason, it was good to go. I can also see why it got all of the attention that it did when it opened as it must have been quite advanced for its time. It reminded me of something that you'd get at Disney or Universal - a theme park take on history. Enjoyable but no substance to it.

There's a Victorian street in the Castle Museum with a sweet shop where you can buy sweets. Perhaps it was there you visited?

The memory of the Viking straining to have a poo still makes me laugh.

I think I appreciated it much more as an adult tbh (was very scared as a child). The animatronics are impressive.

I went when I was a kid in primary school. I'm 38 now. I remember making a clay pot, banging on the table and shouting orders to our teachers to serve our meals.

This is a past life memory that bears no resemblance to the Jorvik museum.

Are you one of those Actual Vikings?

I went last summer with my DD (13), we enjoyed it and it didn’t smell!
As everyone is saying the Castle museum is excellent.
If you are prepared to go a bit further out then Eden Camp is excellent.

Wow, that is quite a response. We went to several Viking museums in northern Germany and Denmark already.

We will skip it. We did the Castle Museum and loved it. Unfortunately the Treasurer's House is closed until April (last time it was closed because we were too late in the year, story of our life it seems).

We are only there for Saturday and 1/2 day Sunday.

I already looked at Ghost Tours and will convince DH we need to do the Chocolate one.

Betty was a disaster last time - no tables for hours. Maybe with no hangry 8 year old we have more patience.

Yes it must've been there - thanks!

Probably The Shambles, used to be interesting and full of little cute shops but now its been taken over by Harry Potter fans

Find out if it still smells or not. If it does its fun if it doesn't don't bother

Looking at the pictures it could have been there but it could have been the street in the museum. Does a shop in the street in the museum actually sell sweets?

In all honesty I find Bettys to be really overrated. It used to be lovely but the food is pretty poor and the queues are outrageous. We’ve had better food at Bills!!!

I grew up in Harrogate so a trip to Jorvik was compulsory. Went in primary school and again first year of secondary.

Is Dig! Open when you're there? That's fun. If DC are primary age.

It does (of “genuine Viking Britain”, not damp).

If you really want to go to Betty's, you can book for Afternoon Tea. It's not a bad meal (albeit it is still afternoon tea, and you get what you're given in that respect) and there's no queuing. (I much prefer Betty's in Harrogate to York though)

We aren't a big fan of afternoon tea, we hoped for just a cup of tea and some cake/scone.

We actually ended up in a Teddy Bear Cafe, first floor of a teddy bear shop. Cute and simple.

Adults-only, don't bother

Go to the York Cold War Bunker instead if you can get in. It's only 10-mins from York City Centre and absolutely brilliant.

No it's aimed at small children and is a waste of money.
I came on to say York Cold War Bunker but @IceIceBabyBump has beaten me to it.

Snap. DH and I went to York for a break last year. I thought it would be much more of a museum. We were very disapponted

It is more geared up to kids, they have a 300 year old fossilised 💩 on display 🤣.

Probably not worth it for 2 adults unless you're needing to get out of the rain.

I think we would prefer sitting in a pub/cafe if it rains as it seems that would be far more enjoyable.

Another vote for the Art Gallery and can I add the Minster. It’s been a while but we went down into the crypt and found it interesting. The Shambles was sadly overtaken by queues for the Ghost Merchant and the Potter shops last time. There’s a brilliant cafe dedicated to all things scone related there though.

We went to the bunker last year and it was great. Really interesting and the guide was quite funny.
The shambles is full of quirky shops and I’ve enjoyed a meander round there.

It's worth going to once. Probably wouldn't go again, but having had a look (and the history under the floor is great) I'd say go once. Haven't seen anyone mention it, but the Yorkshire Museum (in the Museum gardens, near the river) have a brilliant Star Carr exhibition on at the moment which is well worth a look, particularly if you are interested in Neolithic and other prehistory.