Having a grand old time in historic York

What a wonderful time we had in York! We visited the historic city as guests of the Mercure Hotel group, staying at Fairfield Manor just a few miles from the bustling centre.

After a long day of sightseeing and shopping, we arrived at the hotel slightly weary but felt instantly relaxed as we stepped inside the pleasant reception area. It was calm and quiet – a complete contrast to the city streets.

We were given a warm welcome by the reception staff as we checked in, and this was followed up with a courtesy call to our room to make sure we were happy with everything in our

The suite had a separate lounge, with a large flatscreen TV, sofa, side table and chairs, a spacious bathroom with a spa bath and a bedroom area with a kettle, coffee pod-machine and a second TV.

After a couple of hours' rest, we were ready to see what The Brasserie restaurant had to offer. We opted to share a bottle of the house red – Malbec – and a starter platter of breads and dipping oils, which arrived quickly and was just enough to get our appetites going for the main courses.

I chose cod loin wrapped in pancetta served with vegetables Provencale and potatoes while my partner tried the pan-fried chicken breast with dauphinoise potatoes. Both dishes arrived hot and looked delicious. We were both impressed with the presentation and the taste lived up to our expectations. My fish was plump and perfectly cooked and the chicken was succulent and a generous portion.

There was plenty of choice for dessert but we decided to order cheese and biscuits and finish our wine back in our room. It was a lovely, lazy way to end a busy day and after a comfortable night's sleep we felt refreshed and ready to see what else York had to offer. But that wasn't before we indulged in a hearty breakfast.

We indulged in a variety of fresh fruits with yoghurt followed by our choice from the cooked breakfast buffet and a couple of rounds of toast, with fruit juice and coffee to wash it down.

From the hotel it was just a few minutes' drive to the nearest York Park and Ride site. For £5.60 two adults can buy a return ticket to the city and children can tag along for free.

We got off the bus a few streets away from York Minster, arriving just in time to take the next available Tower Trip. Climbing 275 narrow and winding stone steps to the roof of one of the towers, we were rewarded with fine views, on a beautiful clear morning, which reached as far as the North Yorkshire Moors.

The Tower Trip is fairly physically demanding, but well worth the effort.

Mercure Hotels is promoting 'hidden secrets' near its various hotels and in York we were pointed towards York Cocoa House. Just around the corner from York Minster in Blake Street, this is a haven for chocolate lovers with a variety of sweet and savoury recipes in its cafe – all containing chocolate – and various workshops. We treated ourselves to some ready-made goodies to enjoy on our way to our next activity – more chocolate!

York is the home of chocolate and York's Chocolate Story takes visitors on a journey from the very beginnings of chocolate with the Aztecs to the social enterprises of the Terry and Rowntree families which led to mass production.

There's plenty of tasting along the way, finishing with a hands-on activity where we had great fun decorating our own lollipops.

York's Chocolate Story is one of the activities included in the York Pass, a cost-effective way of planning your visit.

A one-day pass costs £36 for an adult and gives admission up to a limit of £60 at more than 30 attractions plus a variety of other discounts.

We also visited the pungent Jorvik Viking Centre, the theatrical York Dungeon and the historic Fairfax House.

With so much to see, there is plenty already on our list for a return visit.

Travel facts

Visit www.visityork.org and book your accommodation with Visit York for an exclusive 20 per cent discount off a three-day York Pass. Visitors to York can book accommodation and explore things to do in the city all from this site.

Visit www.yorkshire.com for details of accommodation and attractions.

The York Pass offers a choice of free entry into over 30 York attractions and tours as well as restaurant and shopping offers. You can buy a one, two or three-day pass from York Visitor Information Centre by calling 01904 550099, email info@yorkpass.com or visit www.yorkpass.com

Visit www.mercure.com for hotel details, rates start from £64 room only.