March 22nd, 2009
In all my time living Up North, both before I moved to Cambridge and on my return with Paul, I had never been to the Jorvik Viking Centre on Coppergate in York. This museum and tourist attraction has been open many years and has become a favourite with the many tourists who queue up everyday to get in.
Yesterday as we finished off a trip into town for lunch we passed the Jorvik Viking Centre, only this time, on the spur of the moment, we went in. We paid our entrance fee of £8.50 each and I also gift aided that fee so an extra 28p in the pound could be reclaimed by the York Archaeological Trust who own and operate this museum attraction.
We entered down some stairs and then went into a room with a large video wall for a quirky introduction to what lay ahead. After that, we were gently carried around (Disney style) in seats that travelled through the recreated sights, sounds AND smells of York 850 – 950 AD. Climbing out of the seats we then had the opportunity to wander through the museum itself where a number of artefact’s and information points were scattered around for you to read up on the history of the Vikings and what part they played in York. It was actually quite interesting and our only minor complaint was that it is quite small and we were left feeling that the £8.50 entrance fee was a tad excessive. However I suppose the old supply and demand rule kicks in and given they always have queues, you can understand why they charge so much. Of course having allowed them to claim the tax back on our entrance fees, we do now of course have the right to re-enter the museum free of charge for the next twelve months.
Pryordurkin rating. 4 stars.
Posted in Arts and Entertainment