York

Background

York lies in North Yorkshire, England, where the rivers Ouse and Foss meet. York Minster is described as the second-largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and was completed and consecrated in 1472; York's city walls are the longest town walls in England, and all four main gates, Bootham, Monk, Walmgate and Micklegate Bars, still stand; the timber-framed houses of the Shambles jut out storey by storey; and Clifford's Tower of York Castle overlooks the city. In AD 71 the Roman Ninth Legion built a timber fortress where the two rivers meet, called Eboracum, and remains of the fortress headquarters can still be seen beneath the Minster. In 866 the Vikings captured the city and renamed it Jórvík. In the Middle Ages York was a centre of the wool and cloth trade, and in the 19th century it became a railway hub and a confectionery centre, home to the Rowntree's and Terry's factories.

Local customs

• Walk a stretch of the city walls for views of the Minster and the old town roofs
• wander the Shambles and the "snickelways"
• visit the Jorvik Viking Centre to see Viking-age York.

Travel tips

• Minster and museum admission is subject to the official websites
• the wall walk is free, though some stretches have many steps and no railings
• the city centre is best on foot, and a full day is recommended.
• York is a railway hub in northern England, with trains to London, Edinburgh, Leeds and other cities
• the centre is compact, so you can see the main sights on foot. York can be visited all year: spring and summer bring long days, ideal for walking the walls
• winter brings a Christmas market, with short days and long nights.