While visiting the county of Yorkshire, followers of the historic trail often head to York, a traditional city where events dating from Roman to Victorian times have all been recorded. Architectural treasures stand as physical embodiments of the city’s past and are among its greatest attractions. For a significant number of visitors, the city’s high profile racecourse is the biggest draw card.
York Minster, the city’s famous Gothic cathedral is one of its most popular historic buildings and can reliably claim to be the largest church of its kind in northern Europe. Its history is long, with the earliest parts of the current structure dating back to the 11th century. Also on a historical tip is Clifford’s Tower, the last vestige of the city’s old castle, which was all but razed by William the Conqueror in 1190. An on-site museum gives greater insight into the history of the tower and castle.
A day out at the races can be a fun experience whether you are a serious fan of the sport or not, especially if you attend one of the bigger race meetings where the atmosphere is jovial among folk busy betting their lives away. The annual Ebor Handicap held in August is perhaps the biggest event in the calendar, with the International Stakes, Summer Stakes and Yorkshire Cup among other popular meetings.
Highlights
Jorvik Viking Center: the sights, sounds and smells of the city’s Nordic past are presented at this popular edutainment center.
York Minster: a visit to northern Europe’s largest church is a must for those with an interest in fine architecture and the history of the city.
York City Wall: the remains of the city’s old Roman walls are still well preserved and span part of its perimeter; take a walk around them for a sense of what the city was like during the Roman era.
National Railway Museum: is the world’s largest railway museum, and it offers visitors a history of trains from the earliest examples of locomotive engineering to modern electric vehicles.
York Castle Museum: located at Clifford’s Tower, this excellent museum takes a close look at the history of the city’s famous fortification that was built to protect the city against attackers during medieval times.
The Yorkshire Museum: this natural history museum takes an interesting look at the county’s past through archaeological, organic and textile based artifacts.