York in England

Exciting Viking History and Many Things to See and Do

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York in Yorkshire, England, UK

York, a walled city in the North of England, steeped in history.

York was founded in 71 AD by the Romans and was called Eboracum,

Vikings called it Jorvik and the Saxons Eoforwick.

Within its walls, on which you can still walk in many places, are many museums and places of interest which denote the history of the city.

York is the capital city of the largest county in England, Yorkshire, and lies on the main East Coast railway line between London and Edinburgh, Scotland.

The train use a little more than 2 hours from London to York.

If arriving by train, you will arrive in a station originally built in 1839, with the present structure opened in 1877.

Attached to the station is the National Railway Museum with free entry.

It is the largest railway museum in the world with just under 300 rail vehicles on display.

What to see and do in York ?

The main touristic attractions are all within the city walls and include the Minster Cathedral, the Jorvik Centre, York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower.

york minster cathedral in York
The Minister Cathedral

The Minster is a fine Gothic cathedral built with a wooden Christian Church in the year 627.

The word “Minster” denotes that it was formerly a centre for Christian learning, and the Bishop of York is considered the second most important position in the English Church.

Take a guided tour to see and hear more about its exciting history.

The Jorvik Centre is an underground experience in the centre of the city.

It is situated on a site where digging first began in 1976 and has found, so far, over 15,000 objects dating back to the time that the Vikings ruled the area.

You are transported in carriages through a reconstruction of what life was like in Viking Jorvik over 1,000 years ago with animated models and smells.

The Castle museum shows what life was like in Georgian and Victorian York.

Exciting is Kirkgate, which shows a Victorian street of shops and a school.

There is also Debtor’s Prison.

cliffords tower in York

Clifford’s Tower

Outside the museum is Clifford’s Tower, all that is left of York Castle, built initially after William the Conqueror snatched the throne of England.

The tower has served as a prison and a royal mint. It is set on top of a high mound of earth.

Hop on Hop off city tour and City Pass

A great way to see all attractions is to go with the City Hop-on Hop-off Tour.

Another option is the One Day York City Pass that gives you one full day of sightseeing and entry to 25 attractions in York.

Festivals and Events in Yorkshire

Farmers Markets in York and towns nearby

Farmers market in York is held on the first Friday every month.

Website; https://www.yorkshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/york-farmers-market/

It can be a nice daytrip to other charming towns in Yorkshire and at same time visit their farmers markets.

The markets are held one day per month, so check out their website for information.

You will also get some good tips on exciting attractions in those Yorkshire towns.

Otley: (45 km / 30 Miles from York)
https://www.yorkshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/otley-farmers-market/

Wetherby: (21 km. / 13 miles from York)
https://www.yorkshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/wetherby-farmers-market/

Harrogate: (35 km. / 22 miles from York)
https://www.yorkshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/harrogate-farmers-market/

Knaresborough: (27 km. / 17 miles from York)
https://www.yorkshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk/knaresborough-farmers-market/

Shopping

The main shopping area contains many individual shops as well as a lot of chain stores.

Visit the speciality shops in Stonegate and the Shambles to buy individual gifts in shops which specialize in stamp and coin collection, home-made chocolate and sweets, or bakers purveying traditionally prepared cakes and pies.

The Shambles was first mentioned in the Doomsday book and still contains some 14th and 15th century buildings where the upper stories overhang street level. There are daily markets beside this area.