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queue snaking around the corner when I visited – but for equally good food without the wait, try The Fat Badger nearby, home of quality pub classics. Then walk it off with a gentle stroll around the pretty Valley Gardens. Nidd Hall publishes leaflets outlining local walking trails or points of interest and runs regular day trips for a nominal charge, worth flagging up to solo travellers or those without their own transport.
w YORK This Roman city has played a key role in British history as a centre of medieval trade, a focal point for the church, and a hub for the manufacturing of railways, Rowntree’s sweets and Terry’s of York chocolate – and it depends on how sweet-toothed you are as to which of those seems more important. Those who fall on the side of sweets can make a beeline for
York’s Chocolate Story (entry £12.50 for adults, £11.50 for senior citizens), while more conservative sightseers should make time for the artworks, stained glass and fascinating history of York Minster (entry £15/£14, including guided tour; check in advance for opening times). But for guests who’d rather amble around, York is a pleasant place to wander down cobbled streets, duck in to one of the little walled-off pub gardens set back from the street, or stop to watch street entertainers drawing in the crowds. The Shambles, a medieval shopping street, which was actually mentioned in the Doomsday Book by William the Conqueror in 1086, still boasts late 14th and 15th-century buildings, and is worth a visit. Though if clients are at all unsteady on their feet, do warn them it’s frequently packed with
visitors, many crowding in to the shops along the street, which is said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley. It’s also worth noting the
park-and-ride system, which is a time-saver for most clients, might not be the best option for visitors with limited mobility.
w MANSION HOUSE Nidd Hall can’t help but impress on arrival, with its grand honey- coloured mansion set in 45 acres of Yorkshire countryside, and a fishing lake, tennis courts, archery and a bowling green dotted around its grounds. The terrace is a good spot to take in the view over afternoon tea, or there’s an elegant reading room to retreat to during rainy days. The property comes with an
interesting history of its own; it was built in the 18th century by a Bradford wool merchant and is said to be the place where Edward VIII met Wallis Simpson in the 1930s. There’s a mix of standard,
signature and historic rooms, which are spacious and comfortable with modern furnishings including reading chairs, a bathroom with grab rails, and all-important tea, coffee and biscuits. Our ground-floor room
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travelweekly.co.uk 15 March 2018
York is a pleasant place to wander down cobbled streets or stop to watch street entertainers
opened on to a patio and chairs which, although overlooked by other guests, was a pleasant spot to sit on a sunny afternoon. The good-sized pool seemed
to be well used by guests, judging from the number of swimmers in there, with a small
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