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York

Travoley
York
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York Travel Guide

  • About York
Too often cities are called ‘unique’, but there are few that can be considered as truly unique as York. After all, how many rest on the foundations of both a Roman fortress and a vital Viking settlement? How many were a linchpin of both the Norman conquest and English Civil War? Ancient, attractive and enduring, York stands alone.For several hundred years, this was England’s second city, the gateway to the north, crucially positioned between the rivers Ouse and Foss. Today, it still wears the marks of its remarkable history – with typical Yorkshire pride.Walking the cobbled streets of the medieval-conjuring Shambles or scaling the old city walls, you can feel history at your feet, while every time someone digs up the ground, the past comes bursting to the surface.Most visitors start with the extraordinary York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Its soaring spires gleam in the sun and imbue the city with mystery at night, brooding over the skyline.Then there’s the formidable Clifford’s Tower (started by William the Conqueror), which is reminiscent of a French castle, and the famous ‘Bars’ – medieval gatehouses that punctuate the old city walls. Finally, there are many impressive museums exploring the potency of York’s past lives.Of course, York is also a modern city that doesn’t depend only on tourism. Straight-talking and friendly, the locals appreciate the city’s incredible past without being paralysed by it.While exploring the shadowy medieval alleyways between streets, stopping in at old rickety pubs and quaint tea rooms, you’ll also find noisy bars and live music venues catering to the sizable student population, as well as a few bohemian cafes and little art galleries.Meanwhile, York’s restaurant scene is dynamic and well respected, with some superb examples of British gastronomy and plenty of top-notch pub grub.Ultimately, though, this fascinating city is dominated by its venerable architecture – York is truly one of the most beautiful places in Britain. Especially so in autumn and winter when, despite the cold, the medieval atmosphere and looming Minster make it even more mysterious and alluring than usual.
  • York History
Archaeological discoveries suggest that the area surrounding the city has been inhabited for as long as 10,000 years, but York didn’t really get going until the Romans arrived. In 71AD, the Ninth Legion marched here from Lincoln and set up a city called Eboracum. Parts of the Roman fortress can still be seen, particularly the Roman baths and remnants found under the York Minster cathedral.Two Roman Emperors died in Britain, both of them in York – Septimius Severus in 211 and Constantius I in 306. The city was an important strategic base for the Romans in their northern campaigns until the withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century.Soon after, the Anglo-Saxons took over the region and renamed the city Eoforwic. In 601, Pope Gregory sent a mission to convert the British to Christianity with York as its religious centre, leading to the construction of churches. In 867, the Vikings captured the city and renamed it Jorvik, from where the name York stems.In the 10th century, York became part of the Anglo-Saxon state, but invasions from Scandinavian forces were frequent. In fact, the routing of a Norwegian occupation of York by King Harold in 1066 was a direct factor in the Norman Conquest.When William the Conqueror met Harold at Hastings, he faced an English force weakened and tired after its engagement in the north. York was subdued by the Normans and the Minster was rebuilt. Clifford’s Tower was constructed in 1244 and the city walls were completed in the early 14th century. But after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, York’s churches fell into disrepair.Having been one of the most important English cities in the Middle Ages, York began to decline in the 15th century. During the English Civil War, it was besieged by parliamentary forces for its support of the Royalists, after which it lost its prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries.In 1942, Nazi Germany’s Baedeker Blitz dropped bombs on the city. The Guildhall and the Bath Assembly Rooms were damaged, but many of the city’s historical buildings were left unscathed.
  • Did you know?
The House of York was one of the most powerful in England and produced three kings, including Richard III, who was defeated in the Wars of the Roses in 1485. York’s iconic Clifford’s Tower once formed a part of the medieval Norman castle, but later became a jail. The city’s location was selected by the Romans for being near the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss, giving it strategic superiority.
  • Weather in York
York is filled year round with events to attract shoppers, horse-lovers, foodies and culture vultures.In winter, temperatures fall to around 1°C (33°F) and rise to around 21°C (69°F) in the summer. Spring and summer are the best time of year to visit this northern city, with its annual Race meetings starting in May and continuing until October over dedicated weekends.The city tends to be heaving with visitors in the summer but the same is true in the run-up to Christmas, when visitors descend on the atmospheric old town festooned with Yuletide decorations for festive gifts.

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