Christmas in Yorkshire

Cosy pubs, treat-laden markets and a wealth of history: there are few better locations for a rural-yet-urban Christmas combo than York, Harrogate and Studley Royal, says Vivienne Crow

- Vivienne Crow

The sounds of the rainforest surround me in the darkness - the exotic bird calls and insect noises of Central America. I'm in Mexico, the land of the cacao tree, from the beans of which chocolate is made. Well, that's not strictly true; I'm actually in York, witnessing an immersive recreation of the overthrow of the Aztecs by Hernán Cortés, the 16th-century Spanish conquistador who reputedly introduced chocolate to Europe.

York's Chocolate Story is just one of the city's many fascinating attractions - places that, as well as being educational and entertaining, provide respite from the winter chill as I wander narrow medieval streets such as the Shambles, and stroll along the city's defensive walls. As Dr Adam Parker, curator of archaeology at York Museums Trust explains, the city has been continuously inhabited for nearly 2,000 years, and many different peoples have left “an indelible mark”.

“It's been the capital of a Roman province and Anglo-Saxon and Viking kingdoms, and is the seat of an archbishop,” he says. “It's held a prominent place in the historical, religious, economic and cultural history of the north and of our nation.” His words ring in my ears throughout my short stay in North Yorkshire.