Things to do in York

York, a city where ancient and modern sit side by side; a city founded nearly 2,000 years ago by the Romans - a city bursting with history.

In the days when much of Britain was covered in thick forest, York occupied a much envied position. The junctions of its two rivers, the Ouse and the Foss, made it an easily defendable position and the Ouse - tidal until the building of Naburn lock in 1757 - and its tributaries were a splendid highway for travelling around the great county of Yorkshire.

York has the most complete circuit of medieval city walls anywhere in the country, still with its four main gates. You can walk along the ramparts for almost two miles and have outstanding views of city. Gaze at history as the buildings roll back time down the centuries.

It seems everyone has had their hand on York, Roman remains, Saxon structures, Tudor timber, Georgian sophistication to name but a few. If your interest is history then York is not to be missed. Give yourself a few days to see York properly. It can't really be 'done' in a day.

Jorvik-Viking Centre. Probably the next most visited place in York. 'Jorvik' transports you back to the 10th century to encounter the sights, sounds and smells of the Viking city. The Vikings, not just warriors as we tend to think of them but traders and craftsmen determined to make this their home, made York (Jorvik) the capital of their kingdom. Their bustling trading centre, was based on what is now Coppergate. Remains of this centre were uncovered in the 1970's and now form the basis of the world-famous Jorvik Viking Centre. They gave the city so many of its street names - ‘gate’ is the Scandinavian for 'street' and York abounds with ‘gates’.

Cliffords Tower: It stands on a high mound erected by William the Conqueror as part of his campaign to overawe the rebellious English inhabitants. He threw up two mottes (mounds) with massive wooden keeps on top - one became Clifford’s Tower and the other Baile Hill, which can still be seen on the side of the river, although the tower there has long since disappeared. Clifford’s Tower was the scene of what was perhaps one of the most shameful episodes in York’s history. In 1190 the Jews of York sought refuge there after being attacked by a local mob. They were given the choice of being either baptised or killed, they did neither but rather committed mass suicide. At this time, the tower was built of timber and so burned to the ground. It was rebuilt in stone. Clifford’s Tower is a famous emblem of the city.

Theatre Royal A huge variety of performances are seen here - something for everyone.

National Railway Museum This railway museum has a mass of interesting exhibits - if you love old trains this is for you

Castle Museum: Take a stroll back through time in the fully reconstructed Victorian and Edwardian streets.

Fossgate & Walmgate:

Fossgate runs from Pavement down to the River Foss and the start of Walmgate. Once known as Tricksters Lane after the unscrupulous traders who set up shop there. Mysterious tunnels in Fossgate, discovered when a pub was demolished in the early 1960s, are now thought to be the Roman sewer system.

Goodramgate:
Old buildings are plentiful in Goodramgate, including the oldest row of houses in York. Lady Row dates from the 14th century and today houses a selection of tiny shops. Goodramgate leads up from Petergate to the attractive Monk Bar.

Grape Lane:
Grape Lane is one of the oldest streets in the city. It had the unsavoury reputation in medieval times when it was Grope Lane and the home of York's ladies of ill repute. Now boasts quality shops and restaurants.

Petergate:
High Petergate and Low Petergate, leading from Minster Gates to King's Square, have some wonderful of shops selling designer and elegant clothes, reproduction furniture, antiques and gifts. It is also home to Scott's, a butcher of such reputation that the queues are often out into the street. Petergate also has a number of plaques known as firemarks. In the 18th and 19th century, the insurance companies had their own private fire brigades and these plaques identified the properties that each company insured. Keep an eye out for them on the front of the buildings at first storey level.

The Shambles: The most popular of all York's streets is also one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. The street was home to the butchers of York and takes its curious name from the 'shammels', the shelves which butchers used to display their meat. You can still see these heavy shelves in front of some of the shop windows and the hooks where the meat was hung. Some of the buildings date back to 1350 and the timber-framed buildings lean towards each other across the street.

The Shambles

One of the most famous people who lived in the street was Margaret Clitherow, wife of a butcher and daughter of a former Lord Mayor. She was accused of treason for harbouring Catholic priests during the Elizabethan era when Protestant England was on the verge of war with Catholic Europe. She was arrested, questioned and crushed to death under a huge weight of stones when she refused to answer the inquisitors' questions.

City Walls: A very popular thing to do is walk the walls. You can walk for almost two miles on the wall. First built in Roman times, they have been added to and rebuilt over time – so that different parts date from different centuries. York’s city walls are among the longest and best-preserved walls in England. For information on the walls try:

Ghost Hunting!: And if you haven't had enough excitement for one day try The Ghost Hunt of York. Their site is only a click away or you could phone 01904 608700. York is supposed to be the most haunted city in Europe - shame not to have a spooky experience while here!

York Walk Claims to reach the parts of York other visitors miss! Entertaining Historical Guided Walks. Qualified guides inform and entertain you as they personally conduct you around the ancient city of York. No need to book, just turn up on the day.

Car rental in York:         Avis - 01904 610460    (closed Sunday)
                                    Hertz - 01904 612586
                                    Budget - 01904 644919
                                    Europcar - 01904 656161

Some car hire firms take days off - ask on the phone if they will be there for collection/return. For on-line car rental take our Travel button above.

Parking in York: Take the stress out of driving in York - you can Park and Ride. See details Web

For an excellent concise history lesson of York with suggestions for walks and places of interest Web