Robbie Dale comes up with high-minded suggestions for students who know what city they are in.

THROW your hands in the air and let out a gasp of relief: you've navigated another term without any knowledge of what happened on Monday of week three reaching anyone who cares.

Of course, with the freedom of holidays comes, for most of us at least, a trip back home to a winter wonderland burgeoning with badly fitting trousers (oh, that's why I left them behind) and inquisitive relatives.

As an early Christmas present from me to you - here's how to deflect those "how many extra pairs of socks did you have to buy?" questions with something your mother will be proud of.

You'll have noticed by now that York is a fairly historic kind of a place, what with those walls and everything.

Students however, are deemed to take little notice of such beauty beyond a drunken calculation as to the trajectory needed to launch oneself over the Minster.

Whether true or not, I'll guess that you haven't really made much effort to seek out the finer gem-stones in York's historical crown, it's only to be expected from a demographic for which a cereal packet can achieve the height of stimulation.

There are certain things you can't have failed to have noticed around York, however. You'll pass Clifford's Tower regularly, and you can't miss the Minster from anywhere in the city. If you haven't had a gander at either, get yourselves along smartish.

If you want to head a bit more off the beaten track however, Barley Hall, which you can find just off Stonegate, is a restored example of a medieval town house. Open all week except Mondays, why not impress your aunties with your knowledge of how fifteenth century folk lived their lives?

And if that gives you a bit of bug, you can head to Fossgate and Europe's finest medieval guildhall. The Merchant Adventurer's Hall is earlier than Barley House and simply looks dead cool. Plus, with two historical sites under your belt, you can impress granny and grandpa equally.

There are many more attractions around. Think of this as spurring you on to dig deeper into York's heritage. You never know, your new-found expertise may prevent another knitted scarf next year.

Updated: 13:29 Friday, December 12, 2003