Spring crocuses, wintry tree

in Museum Gardens, with the multi-angular tower in the background.

Museum Gardens

Taken from the riverside path through the gardens. This is a favourite spot for wedding photos, though they are usually taken on the other side of the building.

St Mary's abbey ruins

For a quiet read or a lounge on the lawn, this spot by the ruins of St Mary's abbey in Museum Gardens takes some beating. For what I think is a better view, try this, and for history, this.

York Museums Trust

St Mary's Lodge, situated at the Marygate entrance to Museum Gardens, is home to York Museums Trust. 630,000 people visited the four venues managed by the trust in the 2010-2011 season, up by 100,000 from the previous year.

Puzzling Museum Gardens

The lush spring foliage almost hides the façade of The Yorkshire Museum at this point. The comprehensive museum and gardens website is well worth the visit.

Museum Gardens lodge

Directly opposite Lendal, the Museum Street lodge by the gate to the gardens is not to be confused with the much older gatehouse on the Marygate entrance.

Ruined gardens

The ruins of St Mary's Abbey in Museum Gardens, York. 

Welcome to JorvikDailyPhoto Ms Mak!

Stroll on!

The Marygate (north-west) entrance to the Museum Gardens mentioned yesterday, just a short walk from the Coach House Hotel. No prizes for guessing the name of the abbey.

The old ones are the best …

The old ice-cream joke on the banks of the Ouse, just outside of the Museum Gardens. For the benefit of non-native speakers, licked is a slang synonym for beaten. The almost invisible railway bridge in the background carries the east-coast traffic from London to Edinburgh.  

School's out 2

A visiting primary school having a history lesson by the Museum Gardens tower.

Just barged in …

There is no longer any commercial traffic on the Ouse, unless you count this floating café, but leisure craft bring a splash of colour to the river. Narrowboats, as these slender barges are called, are often tied up at this point, at the bottom of Museum Gardens, making an attractive summer scene.

Lady in red 2

Seen from Lendal Bridge, one of York's bus-boats arrives at the bottom of Museum Gardens. 

The King's Manor, York 3

Just along the alley from the Museum Gardens, this higgledy-piggedly mixture of brick, timber and stone at the side of the King's Manor is a delight - if you like that kind of thing. I don't think the wheelie-bin enhances the shot much, even with the artwork.

Museum Gardens palm and tower.

A palm in the north of England! It is surprising what will thrive in this climate given a bit of shelter and a sunny spot. A friend a few miles away has a regular crop of succulent figs, thanks to a warm wall and a good position. 

Permanent and temporary closure

The library is closed for refurbishment but the church has had its day, at least as a place of worship. The stone ruin looks good against the more recent brick. Behind these two buildings is Museum Gardens which is more park than garden, and a lovely spot for summer lunchtimes.