The historic city of York, England, is one of the highlights of a trip to the UK. With its fine medieval architecture, fascinating history and a long list of attractions its difficult to know what to do experience first. We talk about some of York's top attractions in this article, including its popular ghost walks. Yes, did you know that York is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the world. This city is haunted by no less than 140 different ghosts, and with an amazing 500+ recorded hauntings it seems that every room, building or street seems to be haunted in this beautiful city.
The historic city of York, England, is one of the highlights of a trip to the UK. With its fine medieval architecture, fascinating history and a long list of attractions its difficult to know what to do experience first. We talk about some of York’s top attractions in this article, including its popular ghost walks. Yes, did you know that York is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the world. This city is haunted by no less than 140 different ghosts, and with an amazing 500+ recorded hauntings it seems that every room, building or street seems to be haunted in this beautiful city.
York Minster is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe alongside the cathedral of Cologne. It has an amazing history, being first built in 627 for the baptism of Edwin, King of Northumbria. The English Civil War saw the city of York besieged by the forces of Oliver Cromwell in 1644, but Thomas Fairfax prevented any further damage to the cathedral.
Some essential sights for a visit to York:
York Minster We have already spoken a little about this magnificent gothic buiding but did you know that it has its own police force? Thats right, after an arson attack in 1829 that destroyed parts of the east transcept and south west tower the guardians of the cathedral were put in place to protect it.
The Shambles This street used to be where the butchers of York made their trade but today is full of little coffee shops and other little curious shops. It is probably the best preserved example of a medieval street in Britain, the second storeys of the fifteenth century houses that form each side of the street lean inwards so far that the roofs on either side are almost touching each other.
Clifford’s Tower This is one of the 2 forts built by William the Conqueror following his conquest and was originally designed as an important base for administering the north of England. In the later part of the 13th century, the keep was rebuilt in stone. It was given a quatrefoil plan, of which there is no other example in England. The keep later became known as Clifford’s Tower after Roger de Clifford, who was hanged there in 1322.
Jorvik Viking Museum York gets its current day name from the viking invaders that once conquered this city, calling it Yorvik. The Viking Centre is a popular visitor attraction in the UK where you can travel back in time and experience the sights, sounds and smells of what was formerly a great Viking city.
The Guy Fawkes Inn is a York townhouse and is famous for being the birth place of Guy Fawkes. Guy Fawkes was born in 1570 and is famous in English history as ringleader of the ‘Gunpowder Plot’, the failed terrorist plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, on 5th November 1605. This is the source of the British ‘bonfire night’ celebrations which take place on the 5th on November.
If you are looking for a place to stay in York full of character then you can do alot worse than a stay at The Guy Fawkes Inn. Located adjacent to the Minster it provides a very convenient base with which to explore the city. Some room seven have 4 poster beds, and the GastroPub restaurant offers a menu with old English dishes and serves a variety of ales brewed specially for the inn, make sure you try the the Guy Fawkes Ale.
Karen can help you find hotels in york england at her online guide where she writes more articles about York, England and york hotels.
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