If you think that a chippy lunch, a historic tour of York and a mulled wine and a mince pie shouldn’t exist on one dinky river cruise boat – you are wrong. This unexpected amalgamation of food,  history and nature was unexpected, but charming.

After skidding over the icy cobbles of King’s Straith, we boarded our cruise vessel and set off on a cruise that would take us along the Ouse past York Minster, the Yorkshire Museum Gardens, the National Railway Museum, and the city’s train station, as well as the major bridges. 

Starting off with our complimentary mulled wine, the low winter sun poured through the clouded windows of our boat. Our conductor, a Yorkshireman notably wearing shorts in -1C, was an asset to this tour. His self-deprecating historical narration of the city’s major buildings made for an entertaining journey. Delivered over the intercom in well-timed intervals, York’s city river cruise is sprinkled with fun niche facts more than an extensive, sleepy history. However, the stand-out was easily the fish and chips. Always best enjoyed with a view, this was a certified step up from a seafront treat. 

Importantly, our lunch was piping hot, with crumbly, light pollock and crispy, vinegary fries. The boat is temperate, and you can shed a layer whilst looking out over the Minster turrets. If you’re feeling brave, you can also pop onto the roof for a shot of fresh air and panoramic views of the beautiful city. 

The trip lasts under an hour, which I would say is the ideal amount of time to polish off your lunch. Then you can have a refill of your mulled wine – tuck into your mince pie – and land you back on King’s Straith fed, watered and historied. The Festive Sightseeing Cruise runs between 21 November and 31 December. This cruise will operate as the Festive Sightseeing Cruise, offering a seasonal twist to your experience on the River Ouse. 

The Festive Sightseeing Cruise costs £16 per adult ages 16+, and from £10 per child. This will run until Tuesday, 31 December. The standard York Sightseeing Cruise is £14 per adult and the Fish & Chips Cruise is £28 per adult, from £18 per child aged between 3 and 12 years-old. The Fish & Chips Cruise operates only at 1.30 pm daily, which coincides with the Festive Sightseeing sailing at the same time.