York

York is a city located within the shire county of North Yorkshire in England. The city was built on the area where the Rivers Ouse and Foss meet, during the Roman times nearly 2,000 years ago. What was once a walled city now extends its boundaries beyond, making York into a sprawling urban area that it is now.

Sights & Activities

One of the city’s oldest structures is the York Castle, whose remains visitors can view along Tower Street. The Clifford Tower is the only prominent part of the castle that withstood the passage of time. The tower was constructed in the 11th century and the tower was built in quarterfoil plan, resembling a four-leafed clover when viewed in the air.

Visitors can also go strolling along The Shambles, a street in York with structures dating back as early as the 14th century. It used to be lined with numerous butchers’ shops and most would display their meat products out in front of their shops. This is evident in the presence of meat hooks that still hang in some of the structures today, though the shops have long been converted to other use. Little else have changed in the street’s appearance, though, and visitors can imagine themselves being transported to early times when they head out to this particular part of the city.

Along the River Ouse is the York Museum Gardens, a complex of botanic gardens that were built on the grounds of the former Abbey of St. Mary, which exists only in ruins today. Established during the early 19th century, the gardens are open to the public for free. It is a popular venue for open air music and theatre performances, as well as the location of several festivals. Apart from the abbey, visitors can also view several historic structures located within the gardens, such as the remains of Eboracum, a Roman fort, the remains of the Anglian Tower, and an octagonal observatory. In the eastern part of the gardens are the remains of St. Leonard’s Hospital. The gardens also feature the Yorkshire Museum which showcases collections related to biology, archaeology, astronomy, and geology.

When visitors venture out to the National Railway Museum, they get to learn about the history of British rail transportation and on the social impact of this particular mode of transportation. Visitors of all ages will surely enjoy looking at the numerous locomotives and related items on display. It is also considered the largest museum in the world that focuses on railways. This particular attraction is located along Leeman Road.

Another attraction worth visiting is the York Minster, considered to be the second largest cathedral in the continent. Formally known as The Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of St. Peter in York, it is also the seat of the Archbishop of York. One of its famous features is the Rose Window, a stained glass window located in the south transept of the cathedral.

Another historic structure is the Bishopthorpe Palace, located along the River Ouse in the southern part of the city. Set in a wooded area, the house has been the official residence of the Archbishop of York since the 13th century.

Weather

The best time to visit York is during the spring months of March to May. However, for those who don’t mind being out in the sun, the summer months of June to August would also be ideal. However, just like the rest of England, York weather is fairly unpredictable so visitors should come prepared for any eventually and must expect rainfall on any given day especially during the winter months of December to February. On the bright side, York rarely experiences any drastic weather changes and the overall condition for the rest of the year is described as mild.