York Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of York

    York is famous for the history it has on display, which can be traced back nearly 2,000 years. The city began with the Romans and was called Eboracum. The Saxons settled on the site and called it Eoferwic and then the Vikings came along and called it Jorvik. The city’s medieval Bar Walls are still visible today and are the longest town walls in the country. The medieval windi...Read moreng streets are also part of the city’s character. Elegant townhouses in the city show off its Georgian history. Fairfax House is one of these, and is open for visitors to enjoy. The railway arrived in York in 1839, bringing employment and new industry. Rowntree's Cocoa Works and Terry's Confectionery Works grew from small shops to big factories. In 1968 the centre of York was designated a conservation area. Read less

  • 2. Now in York

    Tourism is a big part of York today, as visitors flock from all over the world to soak up its history and visit its historic buildings. The city also has plenty of modern shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, festivals and other attractions to entice visitors. The University of York, which opened in 1963, now claims to be one of the top 10 universities in the country and has over 13...Read more,000 students. Read less

  • 3. Events in York

    York Racecourse has plenty of fixtures on its calendar during the racing season. Annual festivals in York include the Jorvik Viking Festival, Early Music Festival, Festival of Food and Drink, the Roman Festival, Festival of Discovery and the SightSonic Festival. The city’s museums and galleries offer a variety of events and exhibitions throughout the year.

  • 4. Attractions in York

    The Jorvik Viking Centre is York’s most famous attraction and is based around an unearthed Viking village from 1,000 years ago. Visitors are taken around reconstructed Viking streets and exhibitions. The National Railway Museum is free to visit and tells over 300 years of railway history. There are over 100 locomotives on display. York Castle Museum tells everyday history. A ...Read moreVictorian street has been recreated for visitors. There is also a Victorian parlour, an 1850s cottage, Jacobean and Georgian dining rooms, a 1940s kitchen and a 1950s front room. York Dungeon tells the city’s horrible history and is not recommended for the faint-hearted. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in York

    Among the historic buildings to visit in the city is Fairfax House, a Georgian townhouse preserved in its original style inside and out. Barley Hall is a medieval townhouse, which has been restored for visitors to enjoy. The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is a medieval guildhall and The Treasurer’s House has many stories to tell. Visitors wanting to walk around the medieval wal...Read morels of York are advised to start at the Museum Gardens, where the Multangular Tower can be found. York has many spooky stories to tell and there are plenty of ghost tours on offer around the city. Boat trips, bus tours and walking tours are another way to find out more about York. Read less

  • 6. Business in York

    Traditional industries still exist in York, and tourism is also a big part of the city’s economy. The shopping facilities cater for all tastes. The medieval cobbled streets are the setting for independent shops and boutiques. The city also has all the high street names and a designer label outlet village.

  • 7. Transport in York

    Rail links to York are good from the rest of the UK, including direct routes from London, Edinburgh and Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. There are four airports within reach of York: Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Humberside and Robin Hood Doncaster/Sheffield. It takes just 20 minutes to get to the M1 and M62 from York, giving good access to the rest of the UK.

  • 8. Entertainment in York

    The National Centre for Early Music is based in a medieval church in the city and offers a programme of live music events and festivals from the jazz, world music and folk scenes. Theatre venues in the city include Friargate Theatre, Grand Opera House, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York Barbican Centre and York Theatre Royal.

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in York

    York Minster is an icon of the city of York, built between the 1220s and 1470s. Visitors can enjoy the architecture and stained glass, take a guided tour and visit the shop.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about York

    York Minster has its own police force. There is only one other cathedral in the world that can make this claim, and that is St Peter’s, in Rome.

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  • Students work on major TV drama

    University students have played their part in a new high profile drama series. Scenes from ITV’s new drama Eternal Law were filmed in the city and at the University of York. Students from the university’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television acted as extras during the filming and one student even had a role behind the camera. Ollie Richards, an undergraduate, worked as a camera trainee during the York filming as part of a work experience stint. He said: “I …

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  • House gets Olympic makeover

    Patriotic couple Angus and Tricia Mitchell have had Olympic rings painted on the side of their house in an aim to get behind the London 2012 games. And the pair, from Burnby, near Pocklington, on the outskirts of York, are planning to add a crown to the artwork to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee later in the year. Mrs Mitchell said: “We’ve always wanted to do something like this, and now that the Olympics are coming we thought ‘let’s do …

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  • City celebrates 800 years

    A year of celebrations has been planned for 2012 to mark York’s 800th anniversary of self government. The celebrations, entitled York 800, mark the anniversary of a charter, signed in 1212 by King John, allowing residents to collect and pay their annual tax to the Crown, to hold their own courts and to appoint a mayor. As part of the festivities, the famous York Cycle of Mystery Plays will be held in August in the Museum Gardens. The outdoor plays, …

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  • Course helps residents love their hearts

    Residents in York have been learning to love their hearts thanks to a new course. The six-week course is being run by the Sport and Active Leisure Team at City of York Council and funded by the British Heart Foundation in an aim to help people who may be at risk of heart disease. People who are worried about their heart have been invited to take part in the programme to learn more about being more active, leading a healthier …

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