Summary
York is a city enriched with two millennia of history, offering remarkable historical attractions nestled within a charming medieval landscape.
The city was established as a fortified location by the Romans in AD 71, serving as a key site for emperors such as Hadrian, Septimius, and Constantius I during their military campaigns. Notably, it was here in 306 AD that Constantine the Great was proclaimed Roman Emperor following his father’s death.
One of the city’s most compelling features is York Minster, an exceptional example of English Gothic architecture, constructed atop the Roman fortifications and adorned with stunning medieval stained glass windows.
York still retains its ancient walls, originally erected by the Romans over 2,000 years ago, allowing for a comprehensive 3.4-kilometre walk along the battlements.
During the Industrial Revolution, York emerged as the central hub of the northeast’s railway network, making it home to the UK’s National Railway Museum.
Let us delve into the premier attractions in York:
1. York Minster
As the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, York Minster features numerous attractions, including the 15th-century East Window, the world’s largest expanse of medieval stained glass, measuring 24 meters.
The Minster includes 128 stained glass windows composed of approximately two million pieces of glass, intricately fitted with detailed tracery.
The Great West Window, an exquisite example of Decorated Gothic style from the 13th century, forms a heart shape known as the “Heart of Yorkshire.” The Central Tower, built in the Perpendicular Gothic style, proudly stands at 72 meters, remaining the highest structure in York for nearly 600 years.
Visitors can ascend 275 steps to gain a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
Additionally, The Undercroft, located beneath the cathedral, houses an interactive exhibition that spans 2,000 years of York’s history, featuring excavated Roman barracks visible through glass floors and a 1,000-year-old illuminated manuscript.
2. Shambles
Shambles, a picturesque medieval shopping street, meanders through the historic center of York from north to south, distinguished by its corbelled and half-timbered buildings, some of which date back to the 1300s.
This street originally served as a marketplace for butchers, intentionally narrow to minimize sun exposure on meats displayed on shelves beneath open windows, and vestiges of these shelves remain today.
Over the years, many butcher shops have converted into tea rooms, cafés, restaurants, and eclectic boutiques selling leather goods, fudge, Yorkshire wool, and jewelry.
3. City Walls
The historic city of York has been encircled by walls since Roman times, and these fortifications were modified by consecutive medieval occupants before settling into their current configuration between the 12th and 14th centuries.
The sole remnant of the Roman wall is the Multangular Tower located in Museum Gardens, erected in the 310s during Constantine the Great’s reign.
A leisurely stroll along the complete 3.4-kilometer circuit of York’s walls can be accomplished in just a couple of hours, showcasing 45 towers and four principal gates: Bootham, Monk, Walmgate, and Micklegate, all worthy of exploration.
Monk Bar features a functioning portcullis, while Walmgate Bar preserves its wooden oak doors from the 15th century.
4. National Railway Museum
In the 19th century, York became a quintessential railway town, significantly influenced by financier George Hudson in the 1830s.
By the onset of the 20th century, over 5,500 individuals were employed at the North Eastern Railway’s headquarters and workshops, while the modern York station serves as a key stop on the East Coast Main Line.
The National Railway Museum chronicles 200 years of rail history within vast halls, showcasing locomotives such as the Mallard, recognized as the fastest steam locomotive globally.
A Shinkansen engine represents the modern counterpart among the meticulously preserved locomotives exhibited.
The Station Hall pays tribute to a century of activities within a functioning station, while children can observe engineers at work in The Workshop, explore the intricate mechanics of engines at interactive displays, and experience a ride on a miniature train.
5. York Castle Museum
During the 18th century, much of the remaining stonework from York Castle’s bailey was repurposed to construct a Neoclassical hall that served both as a county administrative building and a prison.
Founded in 1938, the York Castle Museum authentically recreates several hundred years of York’s history within its interactive galleries, allowing visitors to explore historical cells and learn about life in a Victorian debtor’s prison or experience the opulence of a Victorian parlor and 17th-century dining room.
The museum prominently features the “1914: When the World Changed” exhibition, which commemorates the First World War and its ramifications in York.
Visitors can also stroll along Kirgate, designed akin to its Victorian appearance, reliving the fashion and musical culture from the 1960s.
6. Clifford’s Tower
Clifford’s Tower is the last remaining segment of York Castle, situated atop a grassy Norman mound. Originally constructed as a wooden tower in the 11th century, it met a tragic end in 1190 when York’s Jewish population, under siege, chose to commit suicide as the tower was engulfed in flames.
The current stone keep dates from the 13th century, maintaining its significance in York’s heritage, despite damage caused by an explosion in 1684. This tower has served multiple purposes, including as a treasury and prison, with informative panels detailing its storied past.
Visitors can access the battlements for spectacular views of York Minster, the cityscape, and the distant moors to the north.
7. Treasurer’s House
Located just north of York Minster, the Treasurer’s House is an elegant residence historically designated for the Minster’s Treasurer to receive esteemed guests.
Following the dissolution of the Treasurer post by Henry VIII, the residence was transferred to three successive Archbishops of York.
With elements from the 11th and 12th centuries, the present appearance of Treasurer’s House largely reflects a Mannerist redesign from the early 17th century, characterized by its curved gables, window pediments, and classical entrance.
During the 19th century, the house belonged to affluent industrialist Frank Green, whose impressive collection of furniture is showcased within.
The main hall, commissioned by Green, features an exquisite half-timbered gallery.
8. Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
A remarkable relic from medieval York, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is a timber-framed guildhall with origins tracing back to 1357. Established by a religious fraternity, it was subsequently awarded the status of Merchant Adventurers by Queen Elizabeth, thereby acting as the guild’s venue for performing charitable, commercial, and spiritual duties.
The hall features three principal areas: the grand Great Hall for feasts, the Undercroft which served as an almshouse for the ill and underprivileged, and the Chapel for worship by merchants and residents of the almshouse.
Today, around 160 Merchant Adventurers remain actively involved in York, and visitors can learn about notable figures from the guild’s history, as well as view an array of artifacts representing its extensive past.
9. Fairfax House
Adjacent to Clifford’s Tower, the Grade I listed Fairfax House exemplifies a distinguished Georgian townhouse, serving as a museum showcasing the lifestyle of the affluent class during the 18th century.
Constructed in the 1740s and acquired in 1759 as a winter residence by the 9th Viscount Fairfax of Emley, the house underwent interior remodeling by renowned architect John Carr.
Throughout its history, the building has served as a gentlemen’s club, building society, and cinema before being restored in the 1980s and converted into a museum.
Interior decorations reflect the era’s taste, featuring delicate stuccowork on ceilings, damask wallpapers, musical instruments, portraits, and antique literature.
Through its exhibits, visitors can gain insights into the social engagements and dining practices of that period.
10. Jorvik Viking Centre
In the 9th and 10th centuries, York was ruled by Norse warrior kings known as the Kings of Jórvík (the Norse term for York). This rich heritage is celebrated at the Jorvik Viking Centre.
After being affected by floods in December 2015, the center seized the opportunity to modernize and reopened in spring 2017 following a substantial refurbishment.
Visitors can embark on a journey back to 960, when York was under the leadership of the last Viking King Eric Bloodaxe, descending 6.5 meters to experience a reconstructed Viking-era Coppergate trading street, viewing around 800 authentic artifacts and witnessing craft demonstrations by costumed actors.
The lifelike mannequins throughout the center are particularly noteworthy, as they are modeled after skeletons excavated from a Viking-era cemetery.
11. St Mary’s Abbey
Founded in 1088, St Mary’s Abbey was once the wealthiest Benedictine abbey in Northern England, located to the west of York’s city walls, between Bootham and the Ouse.
Its ruins are situated within the Yorkshire Museum Gardens, following its dissolution under Henry VIII in 1539. Although much of the stone was removed in the 18th century, several portions of the nave wall and a prominent section of the crossing, featuring stunning Gothic windows, remain intact.
Traces of the cloister, hospitum, Abbot’s House, West Gate, and much of the protective wall constructed in 1260 can still be observed.
12. Yorkshire Air Museum
Established on the former RAF Elvington airfield, the Yorkshire Air Museum is notable not only for its extensive collection of aircraft but also as the most complete Bomber Command Station open to visitors.
The museum’s 50 aircraft reflect key developments in aviation history, ranging from a replica of George Cayley’s Golder (1853) to a Panavia Tornado multi-role combat aircraft (2003). Among the collection are seven well-preserved examples from World War II, including a Handley Page Halifax bomber and a De Havilland Mosquito, which has a wooden fuselage.
Visitors are encouraged to check the calendar when visiting York, as the museum frequently hosts “Thunder Days,” where spectators can see and hear operational Second World War and Cold War aircraft up close.
13. Castle Howard
A mere 14-mile drive from the Vale to the Howardian Hills leads to Castle Howard, a distinguished English Baroque stately home designed by John Vanbrugh for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle.
Construction of this magnificent residence commenced in 1699 and, following several Palladian modifications, concluded in 1811. Its iconic central dome is accentuated by a balustrade and adorned with cherubs, coronets, and urns, framed by a pediment and pilasters.
Visitors can explore a collection of portraits, period furnishings, and luxurious decorations, accompanied by information boards detailing the history of each room and its former inhabitants.
The expansive grounds, spanning 1,000 acres, are equally captivating, featuring an 18th-century Walled Garden, Woodland Garden, lakes, waterways, and an array of Grade I listed temples and monuments.
14. York Maze
The UK’s largest maze operates for a limited time each year, specifically during the summer school holidays from mid-July until early September.
The “Giant Maize Maze,” comprising a million individual maize plants, naturally attracts the most visitors; however, numerous side attractions are available to keep children engaged.
Children can attempt to navigate the Maze of Illusions, the Mineshaft Maze, and the Finger Fortune Maze.
Additional activities include a “Cobstacle Course,” straw bale mountain, tractor trailer rides, “King Kernel’s House of Confusion,” crazy golf, and even pig racing.
15. York Cold War Bunker
The most contemporary property managed by English Heritage is a somewhat unsettling 20th-century relic.
Located in the western Holgate suburb, the Cold War Bunker was commissioned in 1961 and is the sole preserved Royal Observer Corps (ROC) bunker.
During the Cold War, the ROC was tasked with notifying the public of potential attacks and evaluating nuclear fallout throughout the UK. The bunker accommodated 60 ROC personnel, and from Wednesday to Sunday, visitors may explore its dormitories, air filtration and generation systems, kitchen, canteen, operations room, and 1980s-era communication equipment.
