Just 2 hours by train from London, the medieval city of York and its surrounds have more than enough to keep visitors happy for a few days; from stunning architecture and the Harry Potter train, to  traditional fishing villages and some of the finest food in the UK.TimeOut travel and food expert Jill has all this and more on her doorstep. Meet the new York & Whitby Tripbod below and discover how her first-hand local knowledge can add the magic touch to your next trip.
Describe yourself in three words:
Curious, hungry, content
Why is being a Tripbod important to you?
I’ve tons of local knowledge and it seems a shame not to share it with people, and anyway I’m very proud of where I live.
Describe your local area in three words:
Beautiful, historic, fun
What’s special about your local area?
My area is the ancient city York where I live most of the time, and also the seaside town of Whitby on the north east coast of Yorkshire. York is full of history and yet you can reach all the major sights on foot: the city walls, York Minster, the National Railway Museum, the river Ouse, as well as pedestrianised shopping and eating areas.
Whitby has the sea, a little fishing harbour but also on the doorstep, 64 square miles of heather moorland. Wonderful for walking and it blooms a brilliant purple in August.
We have a rich industrial heritage, a rich literary history, the sand, the sea and the North York Moors. The North York Moors Steam railway, used in the Harry Potter films is a great way to get around. Being a food and travel specialist I can also give you the low down on  great restaurants and places to stay.
What is your favourite thing to do/see in your local area?
Walk the city walls of York, stop for lunch somewhere quiet and relaxing, visit a little one room pub or sit in a cafe by the river and take in the scene. On the coast we often walk along the beach from Whtiby to Sandsend then stop for tea and cake at the little tea cabin on the beach.
What is the best authentic local experience for visitors to do/see in your local area?
Visit York Minster, the biggest gothic cathedral in northern Europe. Not many people know you can visit the glaziers studio where they are restoring the biggest area of stained glass in the world, the great East Window, with two million pieces of glass and the size of a tennis court. Not many people realise you can also climb the 275 steps to the top for breathtaking views over the city.
In Staithes near Whitby, take a guided walk along the seashore with a resident fisherman. He will tell you all about the areas industrial past, as well as fishing, nature, birds and anything else that comes to mind. He will teach you how to find a fossil and search  for jet. The walk ends at a rickety old fishing hut where there will be lunch of soup, local lobster, salad and cake. The seaside doesn’t get much better than that.
The world ends tomorrow and you have one final meal, where do you go to eat and what do you order?
The Fox and Hounds at Goldsborough, a hidden gem in a hamlet north of Whitby. The food is simple and sublime. Maybe crab and chilli pasta to start, north sea halibut on borlotti beans and a garlicky herby salsa and then Jason’s chocolate torte to follow. Unpretentious but utterly brilliant food.
Your dream day: Â 24 hours & unlimited money to spend, what would you do for the day?
We have a house in Staithes and on a sunny day there is nowhere better. Largely undiscovered and unspoilt, it would begin with breakfast at the Sea Drift cafe, a bacon sandwich and a big pot of coffee while looking out to sea. Then a clifftop walk to pretty Runswick Bay and a drink at the Royal Hotel followed by a walk down to the beach for a bit of beach combing and fossilling.
Lunch might be a picnic on the beach or possibly a walk to  the Fox and Hounds. Back home for free time – by the fire with the papers or maybe on the sea front before taking an evening cruise with one of the fishermen to fish for mackerel or watch birds:  gannets diving, cormorants skimming across the water and all the seabirds that abound. If we’re lucky we might see porpoises and even whales.
Then back for a barbecue with friends on the flat rocks of the foreshore that are revealed at low tide and is our favourite spot. Of course we’d grill the best mackerel in the world – the one we’d caught ourselves. Nothing expensive or extravagant, just outdoor fun in the  sun among friends..
Contact Tripbod Jill to create a bespoke trip plan and experience the best York & Whitby has to offer, tailored to your visit dates, personal interests and budget.
