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In many ways the history of York is the history of England. Located on the other side of the Pennine Hills from Lancashire, about a 1½ hour journey by car along the M62 Motorway or by train from Manchester, York is a city crammed with history, and many things for the visitor to see. York is an old city.

The West Front York Minster; The Shambles; St William's College

First as a Roman city (Eboracum, built around 71-73 AD), later as a Danish and Viking stronghold (around 600 AD, and by then known as Yorvik), then as a medieval one, with its political and religious intrigues (and regarded as important enough for the Archbishop of York to be declared Primate of England by the Pope around 735 AD), and finally as an elegant Jacobean and Georgian town of great beauty.

York Minster. Aerial photograoh provided courtesy of Webb Aviation © 2008.
All rights reserved - www.webbaviation.co.uk

York was the birthplace of Guy Fawkes (who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament) and the final resting place of the highwayman, Dick Turpin, who was hanged and is buried there. It was also in York that the Constantine the Great was declared Emperor of the Roman Empire.

The Danish heritage of York is everywhere, surviving in its streetnames - Monksgate, Micklegate, Stonegate, Swinegate, Newgate, etc - the "gate" suffix coming from the Danish word "gat" meaning "street" (and not as many suppose "a gate"). It is often said in jest that in York ..."all the streets are "Gates", the gates are called "Bars", and the bars are all pubs." At one time there were 10,000 people in the Danish settlement of Yorvick, and it was here that Danish kings lived to rule over Northumbria for more than 50 years.

Dominating the city is York Minster, arguably Britain's finest gothic cathedral, and the largest in Northern Europe. Begun in 1220 and not completed until 1472 it illustrates graphically the rivalry that existed between Canterbury and York for the Primacy of the Church of England - each trying desperately to outdo the other in scale and grandeur. The Minster is too imposing to miss out of any itinerary of the City. Entrance is free, though donations to the upkeep are welcomed, and access is limited, particularly during religious services. The undercroft is also worth visiting, offering insights into the original Roman settlement lying beneath the Minster, as is a trip up to the roof with its panoramic views of the City and over the Vale of York - both of these charge an entrance fee. Entry to the Minster itself now requests a 'voluntary' suggested payment of around £3.50 (GBP) per person - that, apparently, is calculated on the basis of the cost of maintaining building and the number of visitors who arrive annually!

Medieval York frequently received visits from the King and Parliament, and many surviving institutions, like the Minster, St Peter's School, St William's College and The Merchant Adventurers Company have an unbroken history since medieval times. Other important features of the city are the City Walls and streets like the Shambles. The old city walls are intact for about 60% of the perimeter, although the city has stretched far beyond its original boundaries; the walls are well worth a walk, offering splendid elevated aspects of the townscape and the Minster. The Shambles is an old narrow shopping street of great charm and character - well worth a visit just for the window shopping.

St William's college has an elegant teashop on the green overlooking the Minster and is a popular rest for refreshments, (accompanied by musical entertainments performed by minstrels).

The Monument to the Emperor Constantine; Monk Bar; York Minster.

If you are looking for accommodation or other information about visits to York, there are Tourist Information Centres at:

De Grey Rooms: Exhibition Square, York YO1 2HB. Tel: 01904-621756
and
York Railway Station: Fax: 01904-626173.

Website: www.york-tourism.co.uk. Email: tic@york-tourism.co.uk

• Tours of York
  1 day tour including overnight hotel (bed, breakfast and evening meal included. See: Northern Tours.
  
  
• York Boats
  Guided boat trips on the river throughout from springtime to early autumn, including floodlit evening cruises, summer nights afloat and self drive motor boats. For details: Tel: 01904 628324.
  Email:info@yorkboat.co.uk. Website: www.yorkboat.co.uk.
  
  
• Jorvik Viking Centre
  Coppergate, York YO1 9WT.
  Tel: 01904-643211 (24hrs information). Advance Bookings: 01904-543403
  Website: www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk.
  A journey of discovery into Danish life deep below the street of York. A recreation of the Viking City of 948 AD.
  
  
• National Railway Museum
  Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ. Tel: 01904-621261. Website: www.nrm.org.uk.
  Children under 16 and the over-60s go in free. Winner of the White Rose Tourism Awards 1999. Extensive collection of engines and rolling stock including royal carriages and steam engines.
  
  
• Merchant Adventurer's Hall
  Fossgate, York YO1 9XD. Tel: 01904-654818. Email: the.clerk@mahall-york.demon.co.uk .
  Europe's finest medieval guild hall built in 1357. Available for hire for weddings, receptions and dinners, and licenced for civil marriage ceremonies.
  
  
• York Castle Museum
  The Eye of York, York YO1 9RY. Tel: 01904-653611. Fax: 01904-671078. Website: www.york.gov.uk.
  Recreations of cobbled streets and collections of costumes and textiles as well as artefacts from military and social history through the ages.
  
  
• The Yorkshire Museum
  Museum Gardens, York YO1 7FR. Tel: 01904-629745. Fax: 01904-651221.
  Website: www.york.gov.uk
  Set in the midst of 10 acres of beautiful gardens, the museum contains some of the finest collections of European archaeology from Anglo-Saxon to modern times.

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