York: Jewel Of The North

If the prospect of going out of the UK for a break doesn’t appeal or is outside of your price range this year then why not visit somewhere closer to home? One place to consider is the City of York; somewhere which has massive amounts of history and culture on show.

What to see around York

York’s history stretches back over two thousand years so, as you might expect, there is much to see. A good way of starting your time there though is to have a walk around the city’s walls.  All four gateways are still intact, including the notorious Mickelgate where the heads of traitors and criminals were impaled.

Inside one of the other gates (Monks’ Bar) stands a hidden a museum dedicated to one of York’s most interesting personalities: Richard III. The museum sets out both sides of the argument over a whodunit which has baffled writers even since Richard’s own day; namely did he murder the Princes in the tower? Yet while looking around remember to bear in mind that the museum is run by the Richard III society; who seek to exonerate Richard of these charges – so the argument may not be as balanced as it is made out to be!

One must -see- sight, which dominates the city’s skyline, is York Minster; one of the largest medieval cathedrals in Western Europe. The Minster dates from the thirteenth century and within has several massive stained glass windows. York had a strong reputation for producing stained glass in the middle ages and some of the panels are actually original, having survived the Reformation.

You might also like to climb to the top of one of the Cathedral’s towers, where you can see across the entire city and beyond. Yet, if you have a fear of heights then this is not recommended!

Near the Minster is the York Castle Museum. This is built upon the original site of York Castle, which was erected by William the Conqueror. Outside is a statue of Constantine, the Emperor who introduced Christianity to the Romans and who was proclaimed ruler at York. Within are many collections ranging from armour and militaria to historical clothing with the museum often putting on special exhibitions. It can be worth checking ahead to see what’s going to be on to ensure you don't miss out on anything.

York also has many hidden sights to discover. There are several churches dotted around which are well worth seeing. One of these is dedicated to the patron Saint of Norway, St. Olave, testifying to York’s Scandinavian heritage. This church is said to date from before the Norman Conquest, having been founded by Earl Siward of Northumbria, but much of the architecture has had to be restored as the building was heavily damaged in the civil war.

However the oldest Church in the city is St. Mary Bishophill. It was built upon the civil quarter of the old Roman garrison and if you look closely you will see much Roman masonry in its walls. There are also some fine examples of Anglo Saxon architecture within the Church; this is uncommon to see since most churches were totally rebuilt after the Norman Conquest.

Another hidden gem is the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. This fourteenth century building was the headquarters of the guild that controlled foreign trade in York up until 1830. The building itself is timber framed and has changed little since the middle ages. Well worth a look.
 

With York so easy to get to there really is no excuse not to pay it a visit!