Spotlight: JORVIK

Is that the smell of real Norsemen or did Mum go back on the cabbage diet this week?

When I was growing up, the arrival of JORVIK the Viking Museum in nearby York was very big news

However, most of the talk was about the queues to get in or the fact that the experience includes the Real Smells of Viking Britain. .

No one told me about the gift shop, which is a delight, and must now be a destination for hordes of Game of Thrones in search of Norse paraphernalia. Here are just 5 of the many things to love about the JORVIK gift shop. (By the way I think it’s also the only Museum that imposes capitalisation for its name which is further testament to its Alpha status.)

Straight away, you know you are somewhere special when the options include Weaponry and Drinks.

Large Drinking Horn £52. You can get 1.5 litres of ale or mead in this Horn. There’s also a more ladylike version which holds a full bottle of wine which I have had gift wrapped and sent to my hovel.

Let’s not mess about. We know what we are here for. The Weaponry section (only accessible to those 18+) boasts three axes and a “Practical Sword”. And each of them is a Thing of BEAUTY.

Genuinely lovely woollen chenille mix scarves with celtic decoration. Yours or your nearest Handsome Pillager’s for just £32.50.

This is apparently a bestseller for the store, and the pic online was fairly unassuming, if cute. Further research revealed its distinctive charm. I am considering getting this as a ring holder. Bronze Fertility God, Frey, £36.