There is no easy way in which to summarise all that the beautiful, medieval city of York offers its visitors. The city enjoys a location amid some of England's finest scenery, founded almost two thousand years ago where the rivers Ouse and Foss meet, and surrounded by the rolling green countryside of the Yorkshire Moors and Wolds and the Pennine Hills.
One of the most visited cities in Britain, York offers every attraction the modern visitor could wish for, yet has taken meticulous care to preserve its ancient heritage and architecture. Enclosed by the most complete medieval defensive wall in England, York's ancient streets wind their way to the cherished centrepiece of the city: the breathtaking York Minster. The largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, and easily one of the most beautiful in the world, York Minster was built in the thirteenth century but occupies a spot upon which churches have been built since 627AD.
York's historical legacy is undeniable; stunning buildings from virtually every period from the medieval era onward can be found in and around the city, whilst popular attractions such as the Jorvik Centre and a host of museums entertainingly recount every aspect of York's life story. But history aside, modern-day York offers a seemingly endless fund of enjoyable sights, attractions and activities to suit the interests of every visitor, young or old.
York's only national museum contains more than one million
exhibits spanning three hundred years of British railway history,
but the trains themselves - a collection of almost three hundred
items of rolling stock including famous locomotives such as the
Mallard, the Flying Scotsman and the Duchess of Hamilton - are the
real stars of the show.
This eighteenth-century five-sailed windmill, the last surviving of York's three original mills, once produced high-quality flour for the city. The subject of a restoration project by devoted volunteers in 2001 Holgate Windmill, surrounded today by modern houses, is both a fascinating museum and a remarkable feat of engineering.
Following the lines of original walls built around York by the Romans, the current city walls date from the thirteenth century and can be walked in their four-and-a-half mile entirety, taking in various original medieval features including the city's gates and to providing excellent views of York's different aspects.
The Yorkshire Museum is undeniably a York highlight but its beautiful ten-acre botanical gardens are unmissable in their own right thanks to the stunning flower displays, immaculate lawns and historic buildings within.
11/05/2022 · By Sukie Chapman
From wild moorland and floral meadows to ever-dramatic coastlines, the very best of England's natural beauty is often framed by a train window. Here's three of our favourite English railways.
Read more
18/01/2021 · By Katie Shaw
We hope you've been inspired by our travel resolutions; the perfect starting point to falling back in love with travel and planning the ultimate 2021 escape. If you've settled on your dream travel resolution - whether you want to go iconic with a trip on a world-renowned railway or liberate yourself on a solo adventure - now's the time to make it happen.
Read more
27/09/2019 · By Georgia Shipley
In celebration of British Food Fortnight we wanted to share with you some of our favourite dishes from the British gastronomy scene.
Read more15/07/2019 · By Kathryn Beeson
There's something romantic about steam travel that goes beyond looking at the past through rose-tinted lenses.
Read more
