Whether it’s first dates, second dates or a year-long overdue date night with your partner of many years, we can all take the time to appreciate the fact that in-person dates are officially back on the cards! And let’s hope that they’re here to stay, as dates can often prove to be the perfect opportunity to get out into the city and discover new experiences, whilst getting to know someone new, or spending time with someone we love!
If your idea of the perfect date is an event which will leave no room for awkward silences, then we have just the guide for you. Today we’re shining the spotlight on some of the events taking place in York which will give you an equal dose of culture and romance! Let’s begin!
York Historic Pub Walks
Discover the rich history of York’s beer and pub heritage by taking a guided walk with one of the city’s most experienced tour guides. If you like to keep things moving on a date, then you can essentially view this as an alternative, and slightly more high-brow pub crawl! On the tour, you’ll hear all about the pubs of York, as well as the centuries of significant events, people, and of course ghosts and spirits associated with them.
A typical walk includes roughly 15 establishments and lasts 1.5 – 2 hours. You can meet at the junction of College Street and Goodramgate, and from there you’ll venture into the city to marvel at York’s public houses.
The tours can be tailored to any requirements you have, and can include any specific pubs or routes that you might have in mind, all walks free from Minstergate.
Chocolate Truffle Masterclass
What says romance and fun quite like making your own chocolate truffles together from start to finish? Hosted at York Cocoa Works, this Chocolate Truffle Master Class covers a whole range of techniques to enable any chocolate lover to fully master and understand how to work with what is arguably most people’s favourite food.
Although the mechanics of making chocolate can sometimes be a little tricky, we’re sure that at this event, conversation will struggle to run dry!
During the workshop, you can learn how to master 3 different types of tempering methods, as well as learn to form the truffle shapes, beautifully wrap them, and of course take them away to enjoy with your date. Courses are available every month and can be booked online.
DIG Deeper – An Archaeological Adventure for Adults
For any of the history and archaeology fans out there, why not dig deeper into the stories of York’s archaeology at one of DIG’s adult-only tours. This archeological adventure is designed specifically for an adult audience as it gives a more in depth insight into the ground-breaking work of York Archeological Trust.
The tour runs every afternoon and is led by incredibly well-versed archaeologists who are happy to answer any questions about life in the archaeological trenches. Together, you can use your trowels and brushes to uncover real archaeological finds in the pits at DIG, but it is worth mentioning that the soil is clean and will not ruin your carefully thought-out date outfit! You’ll also be able to handle replica items of some of the greatest discoveries in the DIG collection.
Pre-booking is essential and can be done through the DIG website.
Malcolm Ludvigsen’s Art
For a quieter and perhaps more intimate date, why not pay a visit to the exhibition of artist Malcolm Ludvigsen’s artwork, and celebrate the unbeatable scenery of Yorkshire.
Based in York, Malcolm spends much of his time on the beaches and headlands of his Yorkshire homeland, endlessly fascinated by the sea and sky. His artwork reflects the people and places of Yorkshire in full-colour, proving to be a genuine marvel to look at.
In 2013 Malcolm won the “Oldie British Artists Award” in a major competition for British artists age 60 or over for his landscape entitled “Filey”.
The exhibition is held in the incredibly charming Village Gallery on Colliergate, and is open to the public until Saturday 19th June.
City Cruises York – Sightseeing Cruises
For a date which requires little to no effort, and allows you to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking scenery across York, we of course have to recommend York’s City Sightseeing Cruises.
On a daytime cruise, you can escape the busy bars and restaurants of York and instead marvel at the fascinating buildings, bridges and historic sights of York from a whole new perspective, from the River Ouse. With a bar on board, we can assure you that romance will truly set sail. Sailing daily, you can catch a cruise from 10:30am to 3pm from King’s Staith, and the cruise sails for 45 minutes or 1 hour.
For an evening cruise, you can extend your evening in York and enjoy a 1 hour guided river trip down the Ouse; your guide will colour the history of York whilst you enjoy the city in lights!
Images: York Cocoa Works, DIG, River Ouse
