The City of York

There has been a settlement at the current site of York City since Ancient British times.  The Romans built their settlement and called it Eboracum based on the original Ancient British name.

In the 6th Century the Anglo-Saxons arrived from Germany and Denmark and made Eboracum the capital of Deira, a Northumbrian sub-kingdom.  They turned the name into Eoforwic meaning 'wild boar settlement', confusing the Celtic word 'Ebor' meaning Yew Tree with their word 'Eofor' meaning wild boar.

In 865AD the Danes captured the North and in 876 Halfdene the Dane made Eoforwic the capital of the Viking Kingdom.  Later in 918 a mixed race of Norwegian-Irish Vikings settled at York and for many years the settlement was under control of the Viking stronghold in Dublin.  The Vikings interpreted the name Eoforwic as Jorvik.

In the medieval age the name York was generally used in placed of Jorvik.

Two infamous sons of York both met an untimely end.  

Guy Fawkes, who was hanged, drawn and quartered at the Tower of London in 1605.  And Dick Turpin, highwayman, hanged by Thomas Hadfield, himself a highwayman, on April 7 1739 at Knavesmire Tyburn, near to the current day racecourse.

Perhaps these two characters have spurred so many ghost walks around York.  The city is known as the most haunted in the world.  If you want to learn more about its dark past here are a couple of the many guided walks available :

The Original Ghost Walk of York
The Ghost Hunt of York

Also don't forget to visit . . .
The York Dungeon

Traveling Time

From . . .
London.............3 hours
Birmingham.....2 hours
Manchester......1 hour
Glasgow...........3.5 hours

Places To See

YORK MINSTER
York Minster Deangate, York YO1 7HH

A definite must-see this is the largest medieval building in England and the biggest gothic cathedral north of the Alps.

York Minster was built on what was once the headquarters of a Roman fortress.  Roman relics can be found in the Minster's Foundations Museum.

e-mail: visitors@yorkminster.org
website: www.yorkminster.org

CLIFFORD'S TOWER
Tower Street, York

This is the central stronghold of York Castle and sadly all that is left today.  First built by William the Conqueror to secure his control over the North.

There are good views over the city from here.

BAR WALLS
The medieval city walls offer perhaps the best views of the city.  The walk along the walls takes about 2 hours, but you can join and leave at numerous points if you don't have the time or energy!

One of the best sections is where the wall runs behind the Minster.  Access from the end of High Petergate close to the Theatre Royal and York City Art Gallery.

THE SHAMBLES
One of the best medieval streets in Europe.  So-named from the butcher's name shammels for the shelves used to display their meat.

Some of the buildings date back to 1350 and now lean towards each other across the street.

JORVIK VIKING CENTRE
Coppergate, York YO1 9WT
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Viking period of York.

email: jorvik@jvcyork.demon.co.uk
website: www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk 

NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM
Leeman Road, York
Largest railway museum in the world with a host of record breakers and history-makers.

Suggested Hotels

	Blue Bridge Hotel - Fishergate, York YO1 4AP
	Ramada Abbey Park York - The Mount, York YO241BN
	St Denys Hotel - 51 St. Denys Rd, York YO1 9QD
	Express By Holiday Inn York-Clifton - Clifton Park, York Y030 5PA