An image of Halyna in the picture frame installation outside the York Minster.
City of YorkStudent Life

The sunny day in York

HALYNA MOLDOVANOVA
An image of Halyna stood in the photo frame built outside of the York Minster for people to pose in to have their photograph taken. The frame reads "York Minster Reyt Good View'.

Hi, my name is Halyna, and I’m a Forensic Psychology student. Summer 2025 has gifted us with some beautiful sunny days, and I’m making the most of them! My perfect sunny day in York is a mix of duty, joy, and a little adventure. 

Starting my sunny day in York

I like to start my morning with a cup of green tea and soya milk, then I head to the gym for a workout. As a YSJ student, I get a 20% discount per year at The Gym Group, which is a great bonus! After my workout, I’m free to enjoy the day however I want. 

And if you’re an early bird like me and love running, one of my absolute favourite spots is the path around the horse racing track on Tadcaster Road. The sunrise there is just magical — it’s often misty, quiet, and so peaceful. There’s something special about starting the day when the world is still calm, and the soft morning light makes everything look beautiful. 

River walks with coffee and a friend and remembering meeting Dame Judi Dench

Later on, I usually text a friend and invite them for a coffee and a walk along the river. One of my favourite paths is the one named after Judi Dench — she’s originally from York! Fun fact: I actually met her when I worked in a hotel here. I served her food during her stay — such a lovely and surreal moment. 

The riverside is full of life on sunny days. You’ll see people walking their dogs, couples strolling hand in hand, tourists snapping photos — and you can wave to the little tourist ferry as it crosses the river. 

If it gets too hot outside, I always recommend visiting the National Railway Museum (right by the train station). It’s free entry, spacious, and you can see how train travel has changed over the past 100+ years. Plus, it’s a great place to cool down indoors with air conditioning. 

Favourite meal-deal spots for lunch

For lunch, we love going to Zaap Thai Street Food York in the city centre — they have a brilliant meal deal that’s tasty and filling. But if we’re really hungry (which, let’s be honest, students usually are!), we sometimes head to Panda Mami Buffet, where you can eat as much as you want for £16. Absolute bargain!  

Zaap is right next to Museum Gardens, where I love feeding the squirrels — they’re so brave and friendly! It’s the perfect spot to relax in the sun or shade. 

In the evening, we often head to Monks Cross Shopping Park. There’s a bowling alley we love, plus lots of shops where I usually pick up groceries — Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi… whatever I need. 

Sometimes we end the day with a film at the cinema in Monks Cross — last time we watched Jurassic Park. Classic! 

Fitness, food, fun and fresh air

So that’s my perfect sunny day in York: some fitness, some food, some fun, and a lot of fresh air. Don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, and maybe even a hat — because when the sun shines here, you’ve got to make the most of it! 

If you’re already in York — go exploring! And if you’re not here yet, come visit for a YSJ Open Day on Saturday 16 August — then head out and fall in love with this beautiful city. 

If you’d like to learn more about what you can do as a student in York here’s Amy-Louise sharing what her favourite things to do in York are

HALYNA MOLDOVANOVA

I’m Halyna, a second-year Forensic Psychology student at YSJ with a deep passion for mental health, child development, and helping people find their strengths. I’m originally from Ukraine, where I worked for over ten years as a civil lawyer. But even while building my legal career, I was always drawn to psychology, self-development, and understanding how the mind works. Life brought unexpected challenges, and when I moved to the UK, I made the bold decision to follow the dream: to study psychology and make a real difference. I’m endlessly curious about how people grow, change, and overcome obstacles. I’ve studied NLP, meditation, and mindfulness, and I’m a big believer in the power of humour, resilience, and kindness.