York
Historic Viking and Roman City
If you visit one city in the north of Yorkshire, York has to be the one not to be missed with a history spanning centuries a unique Viking heritage beautiful buildings complete 13th city walls and incredible Gothic Cathedral perhaps the most beautiful in the world York has to be top of the list.
Start your tour of the city with a walk around the walls for a unique view of the city and the awesome cathedral children will love this adventure, the walls are interspersed with gates called bars. Bootham bar in medieval times had a particularly grisly use, during the wars of the roses the heads of executed enemies were displayed on spikes above the entrance.
After touring the walls visit the minster itself, it is the largest medieval cathedral in all of northern Europe and the seat of the Archbishop of York the 2nd highest post in the Church of England.
York was the Roman city of Eboracum and had a large military garrison, it was here in 306AD the army proclaimed Constantine the great Emperor. York was also the centre of Viking England, and their Jorvik kingdom no visit is complete without visiting the Jorvik Viking museum one of the most popular attractions in England.
The Jorvik Centre is a fascinating museum displaying the city’s Viking remains. You can even have a go at archaeology yourself at the DIG excavation pits, with replica finds from York’s Roman, Viking, medieval and Victorian eras.
York has so much history that one day is not enough to see this remarkable place with so many interesting buildings and quaint medieval streets like the shambles the most visited medieval street in Europe you will be amazed at how well preserved these places are.
Interesting buildings include the treasurer’s house, Clifford’s tower, and the Merchant Adventurers hall, there are also several museums like the York castle museum and the Yorkshire museum, but the one that kids will love is the national railway museum, with a great collection of famous trains including the mallard and a replica of the rocket.
York sits on the river Ouse in a beautiful setting and although full of history is still a modern city it has excellent independent shops cafes bistros and restaurants some of these can be found lining the river.
Other nearby attractions include castle Howard a stately home set in 1000 acre of grounds this was used as the setting for the hit TV series Brideshead revisited.
Activities in York
Guildhall
Merchant Adventurers Hall - Medieval Guild hall
Museums
Yorkshire Museum - The Museum of Yorkshire
Jorvik Vikiing Centre - Jorvik Viking Centre
National Railway Museum - York National Railway Museum
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