Durham to York trains

The Shambles is an ancient cobbled street that looks captivating on even the dullest winter day. Dating back to the Domesday Book, its nooks and crannies will charm your socks off.

Its leaning timber-framed buildings were once home to as many as 26 butchers in medieval times. That’s a lot of meat! York obviously wasn’t a great place to be a vegetarian in the olden days.

Today, the street has much more variety, filled with quirky boutiques, quaint cafes and artisan food shops.

You have to pay to get into the minster, but it doesn’t cost a penny to stand outside and admire it. The architectural magnificence really tugs at the heart strings.

One of the UK’s greatest historical buildings, this Gothic masterpiece is incredibly old too – the last stone was laid in the 1400s.

If you do want to step inside, lots of treasures await. The Undercroft takes you on a 2,000-year journey through interactive chambers beneath the Minster. You can also climb the 275 steps up the Central Tower for life-affirming views of York.

Ambulance trains did a sterling job during the First World War, transporting millions of sick and injured troops to hospital. They were pretty much like a mini-hospital packed onto a train.

To show its appreciation, the National Railway Museum has recreated a lifelike ambulance carriage, complete with ward, pharmacy and nurses’ mess room.

You can share in the stories of the staff and passengers through letters, diaries, photos and drawings. Be warned – some of them are incredibly moving.

Other famous trains include the slinky looking Mallard – still the world’s fastest steam train despite setting the record in the 1930s!