York: a City Steeped in History


by Andrew Regan - Date: 2007-02-27 - Word Count: 408 Share This!

Often described as the "last English city", York is one of Britain's most beautiful and historic towns, popular with tourists from around the country and overseas. Located in North Yorkshire, at the intersection of the Rivers Ouse and Foss, the City of York is traditionally located in a small area contained within the city walls, with the surrounding areas known as the Ainstay. The modern city of York, however, is much larger and contains many historic sites that are sure to interest visitors of all ages.

Perhaps York's most famous landmark is York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. As the seat of the Archbishop of York, the cathedral still maintains important significance for the Church of England, but is just as widely seen as one of the best examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in Britain. Located in the centre of York's medieval walls, York Minster provides a guiding landmark for both residents and visitors and offers a staggering reminder of the city's religious and historical significance.

The Shambles, a narrow medieval street, is another popular area of York. Strewn with tiny shops, tea rooms and small boutiques, the Shambles also represents an important era in York's history. Upon closer look, the shops along the Shambles possess hooks from which butchers used to hang meat. Furthermore, the street's charm is added to by the fact that it contains the house of Margaret Clitherow, a martyred saint of the Roman Catholic Church who is sometimes known as "the Pearl of York", thus entrenching the street firmly in the context of York's turbulent past.

If you're planning to visit York, you'll also find a range of museums and galleries to visit. One of York's most famous tourist attractions is the National Railway Museum, run by the National Museum of Science and Industry. The National Railway Museum is home to a vast array of historical transport material and boasts the largest collection of railway automotives in the world. Other attractions include the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, Richard III Museum and the York Dungeon.

When planning your stay in York, you're sure to find a range of hotels in York that are centrally located, so you'll be able to access the city's most popular and best-known hotspots quickly and easily. What's more, York is home to some of Yorkshire's best pubs - so, after a hard day's sightseeing, you know you can look forward to an enjoyable evening of merry-making as well!


Related Tags: york, hotels, attractions, historic, cathedral, galleries, museums, gothic, york minster, margaret clitherow, pearl of york, national railway museum, york dungeon, yorkshire

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist.

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