york

St. Michael le Belfrey is the only church in York to have been built in the 16th century and is the largest pre Reformation parish church in the city. It was built under the direction of the master mason to the Minster John Forman between 1525 and 1536. It replaced an earlier mediaeval church that was so badly maintained that parishioners were afraid to enter the building for services. The church takes its name from the Minster Belfrey which stood on the site before the church was built. The magnificent decorations behind the altar and altar rails were designed by John Etty and completed by his son William. The gallery was added in 1785 and the west front was rebuilt in 1867.
 

The city’s premier destination for art lovers has to be the recently refurbished York Art Gallery. Reopened in August 2015 after a development there is truly something for every taste here. Start in the light and airy Anthony Shaw Collection on the first floor and move through the numerous items of pottery and ceramic. Head downstairs to see a wealth of paintings and portraits including a few truly special pieces of York by Lowry. On a sunny day stop for a coffee or a spot of lunch on the forecourt outside Cafe No. 8 at the Gallery. The shops are certainly worth a snoop as well.
 

York Theatre Royal has been producing great drama in the beautiful city of York for over 250 years and is one of the country’s leading producing theatres. Each year the theatre entertains over 200000 people with its wide variety of performances, events and activities including the much loved annual pantomime starring Berwick Kaler, the UK’s longest running Dame. This is a lovely theatre and auditorium with lots of different things on and good sightlines from pit and circle.
 

Allerton Castle is the most important and elegant Gothic Revival Stately Home in England, built on the Gothic scale to impress. Listed Grade-I by English Heritage and steeped in English history the property was once owned by Prince Frederick the Grand Old Duke of York and brother to King George IV. Located just off junction 47 of the A-1 close to Harrogate, York and Leeds Allerton Castle is available for your exclusive use for weddings, private functions and events. Allerton Castle is maintained and operated by The Gerald Arthur Rolph Foundation for Historic Preservation and Education.
 

A licence to crenellate Hazelwood Castle was granted in 1290. Little remains of the mediaeval structure as it was totally rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries into a Georgian mansion. The private chapel dating from 1286 still exists in its original mediaeval form. For many years it was owned by the Carmelite Brotherhood who also owned Allington Castle in Kent but it is now a luxury hotel and wedding venue. Whilst retaining a relaxing, tranquil atmosphere in a historic setting, Hazlewood offers an inspiring venue for mid-week or weekend breaks as well as weddings, meetings and events all set in an exclusive estate in Yorkshire ideally located for York, Harrogate, Leeds and the East Midlands. The stunning interiors of Hazlewood add a wonderful dimension to weddings and family celebrations.
 

Known as 'The A1 Racecourse' as the road runs alongside the home turn, Wetherby is just 12 miles from Leeds. It attracts top class runners from all over the country and is regarded as a fair, flat, galloping course which suits long striding solid jumpers. The Bet 365 Charlie Hall Chase and the Skybet Castleford Chase are among the feature events. Racing first took place on the present site in 1891 and one of the latest of many improvements was the new Millennium Stand. The leading National Hunt track in Yorkshire, Wetherby's two feature meetings are the early November fixture which features the Charlie Hall Chase and their Christmas Meeting that plays host to the Castleford Chase.