York
York has been an important seat of power in the north of England for much of its 2,000-year existence. The Romans, Vikings, Normans, Tudors and Stuarts all left their mark, many of which can still be seen in the architecture of the city’s historical buildings and numerous museums. The web of narrow medieval streets that remain to this day provide the perfect backdrop for shopping, and amongst the independent boutiques, vintage stores and popular high street names are lots of cafes, restaurants and pubs serving a mouth-watering array of food and drink.
Places to go in York
Historical buildings dot the cityscape, with York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, at the city’s centre. York Castle, a fortified complex of castles and other buildings, is another impressive landmark you should check out, which includes the medieval Clifford's Tower and Castle Museum. Yorkshire Museum and its Museum Gardens are also worth seeing, as is the Jorvik Viking Centre and the York Art Gallery. York’s rich heritage is also evident in the streets and alleyways that wind through the city centre; the city’s most famous street is The Shambles. The narrow lane of overhanging timber-framed buildings, dating back to the 14th Century, was once lined with butchers’ shops, but if you stroll down it now you’ll find a pleasant mixture of shops, cafes and restaurants. You should also explore the daily open air market, with more than 100 stalls selling a wide variety of dried goods, fruit and vegetables, and meat and fish.
Our Top Picks in York
We want you to enjoy the best that York has to offer and so here's a selection of our favourite things to see and do;
York Minster
The twin towers of York Minster dominate the cityscape and the giant bells within them echo for miles around. The Gothic cathedral is the second largest of its kind in of Northern Europe and a must-see on any visit to York. In addition to its size and architectural splendour, York Minster is home to some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in England, including the 23-metre Great East Window and the ornate Rose window. Over Christmas you can catch the illumination of the cathedral in a brilliant array of colours.
‘Bettys Mirror’
With the names and messages of some 600 airmen engraved across it, ‘Bettys Mirror’ is a touching tribute to the men who fought in World War II. The mirror is displayed at the Bettys York tea room in St Helen's Square, which during the war had a bar in its basement that was a popular haunt of American and Canadian ‘Bomber Boys’ stationed in the city. The tea room, the design of which was inspired by the magnificent RMS Queen Mary cruise liner, is a great place to stop off for a bite to eat while doing a bit of shopping or exploring the city.
Jorvik Viking Centre
The Jorvik Viking Centre takes you back in time to 975 AD when the city was the centre of Scandinavian power in the British Isles. The museum features a reconstructed Viking settlement built on the excavated site of what was then called Jorvik and displays some 800 artefacts recovered from the site. The museum’s ‘Viking’ staff will guide you around the settlement, educating you about what life was like in the area during the 10th Century.
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