City Guides
York
History
The city of York has a long and rich history. Founded in AD71, York was the centre of the Viking Kingdom of Jorvik and the capital of England. The city only began to lose its national importance during the Industrial Revolution, and it is the fact that mass areas were not cleared to build factories and mills during this period that has made the city the ancient wonder it is today!
The numerous medieval ruins in York, as well as the largest Gothic church in England, attract masses of tourism to the city every year, and the city is now home to nearly fifty museums and heritage centres. These include the Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens and the Richard III Museum.
The Jorvik Museum documents the Viking history of the city. Thousand-year-old exhibits discovered in the city are displayed in the museum, and Viking streets have been reconstructed for an underground tour. There are even the bones of Viking people, used to demonstrate our knowledge of their lives, battles, diets and disease. The centre is extremely popular with young people, and the centre hosts hundreds of school trips every year. It is not possible to book tickets, and queues are normally extremely long. Call 01904 543 403 for more information.
The National Railway Museum, beside the train station, exhibits transport materials and the world’s biggest collection of railway locomotives. The famous 4472 Flying Scotsman is housed in the museum and runs regularly. Visitors can also see the Mallard, the Japanese Bullet Train and a reproduction of Stephenson’s Rocket. Admission is free for most events. Call 01904 621 261 for details of special exhibitions.
For miniature railway enthusiasts, there is also the York Model Railway and its 323 metres of track, with up to twenty trains running daily.
The York Dungeon explores 2000 years of the darker side of history; and Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum, located in an original POW Camp in Malton, has won awards for its exhibitions’ representation of wartime Britain.
At three miles long, more remains of York’s original city walls than those of any other city in the country. Originally built by the Romans in the first century, the walls are a tourist attraction in itself. The three main gateways in and out of the city – gateways that once functioned as toll booths – are Bootham Bar, Monk Bar and Micklegate Bar. Micklegate Bar is the main entrance to the city, and traditionally the entrance used by visiting monarchs. The Multiangular Tower was built by the Romans in the third century, and still stands in the Museum Gardens today.
The twelfth-century Holy Trinity Church can be found in a secluded churchyard in front of the Minster. Protected by the Churches Conservation Trust, the church retains many of its eighteenth-century fixtures and fittings, as well as medieval stained glass. Not having been restored for two centuries, the church also boasts a lack of artificial lighting! Opening times vary, but details can be had by calling Mrs Leigh Wetherall on 01904 613451.
Clifford’s Tower was built by William the Conqueror in the thirteenth-century, intended to dominate political rebels in the North. The keep is all that remains of a medieval castle that once stood on the site. A trip to the top of the tower rewards with panoramic views of the city; and with family passes at £7.50, the Tower is a popular choice for an afternoon out.
Byland Abbey is the ruin of a Gothic monastery, containing the second largest collection of medieval tiles in Europe. Details are available from the English Heritage Society.
The numerous medieval ruins in York, as well as the largest Gothic church in England, attract masses of tourism to the city every year, and the city is now home to nearly fifty museums and heritage centres. These include the Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens and the Richard III Museum.
The Jorvik Museum documents the Viking history of the city. Thousand-year-old exhibits discovered in the city are displayed in the museum, and Viking streets have been reconstructed for an underground tour. There are even the bones of Viking people, used to demonstrate our knowledge of their lives, battles, diets and disease. The centre is extremely popular with young people, and the centre hosts hundreds of school trips every year. It is not possible to book tickets, and queues are normally extremely long. Call 01904 543 403 for more information.
The National Railway Museum, beside the train station, exhibits transport materials and the world’s biggest collection of railway locomotives. The famous 4472 Flying Scotsman is housed in the museum and runs regularly. Visitors can also see the Mallard, the Japanese Bullet Train and a reproduction of Stephenson’s Rocket. Admission is free for most events. Call 01904 621 261 for details of special exhibitions.
For miniature railway enthusiasts, there is also the York Model Railway and its 323 metres of track, with up to twenty trains running daily.
The York Dungeon explores 2000 years of the darker side of history; and Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum, located in an original POW Camp in Malton, has won awards for its exhibitions’ representation of wartime Britain.
At three miles long, more remains of York’s original city walls than those of any other city in the country. Originally built by the Romans in the first century, the walls are a tourist attraction in itself. The three main gateways in and out of the city – gateways that once functioned as toll booths – are Bootham Bar, Monk Bar and Micklegate Bar. Micklegate Bar is the main entrance to the city, and traditionally the entrance used by visiting monarchs. The Multiangular Tower was built by the Romans in the third century, and still stands in the Museum Gardens today.
The twelfth-century Holy Trinity Church can be found in a secluded churchyard in front of the Minster. Protected by the Churches Conservation Trust, the church retains many of its eighteenth-century fixtures and fittings, as well as medieval stained glass. Not having been restored for two centuries, the church also boasts a lack of artificial lighting! Opening times vary, but details can be had by calling Mrs Leigh Wetherall on 01904 613451.
Clifford’s Tower was built by William the Conqueror in the thirteenth-century, intended to dominate political rebels in the North. The keep is all that remains of a medieval castle that once stood on the site. A trip to the top of the tower rewards with panoramic views of the city; and with family passes at £7.50, the Tower is a popular choice for an afternoon out.
Byland Abbey is the ruin of a Gothic monastery, containing the second largest collection of medieval tiles in Europe. Details are available from the English Heritage Society.
Entertainment