Things to See and Do in York
York Minster
A visit to York would be incomplete without a visit to York Minster. York’s Minster is renowned all around the world and is the largest medieval gothic cathedral in northern Europe. This is religious architecture on the very grandest scales: over 500 feet in length, 100 feet wide and with a central tower 200 feet high. The cathedral took over 250 years to complete and is the most visited cathedral in Britain. The Minster contains some of the country’s oldest and finest stained glass, has the city’s best views from the Tower and is rich in historical artefacts, dating back to the Roman age. Don’t miss the audio tour in the Undercroft! Press Contact: Alix Peacock, Tel: 01904 557216, email: visitors@yorkminster.org
City Walls
At 3.4 kilometres long, the beautifully preserved walls are the longest medieval town walls in England. About 2.5 million people walk along all or part of the City walls each year, enjoying some amazing views. The completion of the entire circuit will take approximately 2 hours. There are five main bars or gateways, one Victorian gateway, one postern (a small gateway) and 45 towers. The walls weigh approximately 100,000 metric tonnes. York Tourism has launched 4 self-guided walking trails for York – the City Walls Trail, Medieval Churches Trail, New Walk, York’s Georgian Riverside Trail and Time Team, an archaeological tour. Press contact: Kay Hyde PR Manager – Visit York, el: 01904 554451, email kh@visityork.org
JORVIK
JORVIK is a dynamic vision of York in the 10th century. This attraction should not be missed when visiting York as the visitor travels back in time to experience the sounds, smells and images of the city of Jorvik in AD975. New state-of-the-art flying capsules fly the visitor over and through the city. Visitors even travel through the houses and bedrooms of the people of Jorvik. Press contact: David Scott, Tel 01904 543426, email: davidpascott@googlemail.com
The National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is home to a wide range of railway icons and millions of artefacts, from Mallard – the world’s fastest steam engine – to the only Shinkansen Bullet train to be displayed outside Japan, to a lock of Robert Stephenson’s hair, to the record breaking Flying Scotsman. The Museum’s archives include 1.4 million photographs, 15,000 books and 7,000 historic posters. So whether you’re interested in the social history of the railways, the design of the Eurostar, the Japanese bullet-train or Thomas the Tank Engine, you will find it here. Entrance to the museum is free for everyone. Press contact: Emma Farley, Tel: 01904 686281, email: Emma.Farley@nrm.org.ukYork Castle Museum
York Castle Museum is famous for its collections of costumes, military and social history, with over 100,000 items to show. The collection of this museum was the brainchild of John Kirk, a country doctor and antiquarian, who between 1890 and 1920 rescued a variety of everyday items he realised were part of a vanishing way of life. In 1935, his collection was donated to the City of York. Everything you see is real, no item is replicated or fabricated. Many exhibits are displayed in a reconstructed Victorian ‘street’ where you can wander in and out of workshops, where saddlers, weavers and candle-makers plied their trade. The museum also contains a series of period rooms that reveal domestic interiors from various times, Jacobean, Georgian and Victorian. Press contact: Lee Clark, Tel: 01904 687673, email: lee.clark@ymt.org.uk
River Cruises With YorkBoat
York owes its existence to rivers Ouse and Foss. The island they created made York an ideal defensive site and the River Ouse has remained an important trading highway. Now the rivers are no longer for defence and trade has dwindled away, but much pleasure can still be had sightseeing. YorkBoat organises Guided River Trips that last approximately one hour and sail regularly throughout the day, from 10.30am, from city centre landings at King’s Staith and Lendal Bridge. Every YorkBoat has open sun-decks and comfortable lounges with panoramic windows to ensure a good view of the riverside landmarks in the city and countryside. The captain will tell the stories of York past and present. There is also a bar on board for those who would like to enjoy a cup of tea – or something a little stronger. Tickets are available on boarding the boat at King’s Staith or Lendal Bridge Landing. Press contact: Kay Hyde, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org
Clifford’s Tower
For the sheer drama of its setting and its chequered history there is little in York to rival Clifford's Tower. The tower stands on a high mound erected by William the Conqueror as part of his campaign to overthrow the North. He threw up two mottes (mounds) with wooden keeps on top - one became Clifford's Tower and the Baille Hill, which can be seen on the side of the river, although the tower there has long since disappeared. Clifford's Tower was the scene of what was perhaps one of the most terrible events in York's history. In 1190 the Jews of York sought refuge there after being attacked by a local mob. They were given the choice of being either baptised or killed, but they took a third option and committed mass suicide. At this time the tower was built of timber and so burned to the ground. It was rebuilt in stone. Press Contact: Nicola Bexon, Email: Nicola.Bexon@english-heritage.org.uk
TheYork Dungeon
A scary adventure through York’s darker past – certainly not for the faint hearted. Man’s inhumanity to his fellow men over the last 2,000 years is illustrated in a succession of grisly tableaux. The visitor is taken on a spine-tingling tour around plague ravaged streets of 14th century York, meets the ghostly roman legionnaires who march silently through the wall of a cellar and follows Dick Turpin on his way to the gallows. Press contact: Helen Douglas, The York Dungeon, Tel: 01904 632599, email: yorkdungeon@merlin-entertainments.com
York City Art Gallery
Occupying one side of Exhibition Square is the city’s premier gallery, housing more than 600 paintings – from lustrous Italian altarpieces to the northern millscapes of Lowry. There are also a number of works by York born William Etty, whose statue stands outside. The museum runs temporary programmes next to its permanent exhibition. York Art Gallery reopened its doors on 19 March 2005, following a £360,000 refurbishment project. Entrance is free to everyone. Press contact: Lee Clark, Tel: 01904 687673, email: lee.clark@ymt.org.uk
Ghost Walks
York has more ghosts than any other European city and lots of gory stories to go with them. Every night of the week there are guided walks around the city in search of the supernatural and the unexplained. One of the many York pubs said to be haunted – and one of the oldest – is the Black Swan in Peasholme Green. Various ghost tours start at 7.30pm/8.00pm, no need to book in advance. Press contact: Kay Hyde, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org
The World Tour of York
This entertaining tour not only covers the development of the city through its 2000 years of existence, it also enables the visitor to understand the York of the 21st century. Lasting approximately two hours, you can experience the incredible variety of history, heritage, culture, shopping, eating & drinking and entertainment that York has to offer. It enables the visitor to carefully plan the rest of their stay in the city and thereby enhance their experience. Tours leave St Helens Square at 11am and 2pm every Friday and Saturday (February 1st to December 23rd). No need to book in advance. Press Contact : Matthew, Exploring York Tel: 07981 242764, email info@exploringyork.com
The Shambles
The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. Although none of the original shop-fronts have survived from medieval times, some properties still have exterior wooden shelves, reminders of when cuts of meat were served from the open windows. The street was made narrow by design to keep the meat out of direct sunlight. But you can readily imagine the Shambles thronged with people and awash with offal and discarded bones. The outbreaks of the plague that periodically erupted in the city may be blamed on such unsanitary practices. It is easy to picture the noisy, chaotic jumble the street once was. Today the beautiful old buildings have been restored and now house cheerful cafes and quirky boutiques.
OUT OF TOWN
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a spectacular eighteenth-century palace, which has been home to the Howard family for 300 years. The construction of this magnificent palace took more than 100 years and spanned the lifetime of three Earls and numerous architects and craftsmen. As the house was built and decorated, the grounds were filled with lakes, temples, monuments and a grand mausoleum. Indoors, furniture, paintings, sculptures and a host of other treasures were assembled by successive generations after their tours of the Continent. Castle Howard is today still home to the Howard family. Further information: Tel: +44 (0)1653 648 444, email house@castlehoward.co.uk or visit the website on www.castlehoward.co.uk
Yorkshire Air Museum
This fascinating museum is authentically based on a World War Two Bomber Command Station. The unique displays include the original Control Tower, Air Gunners' Collection, Barnes Wallis' 'bouncing bomb' and a superb new Airborne Forces Display. The expanding collection of historical aircraft depicts aviation from its earliest days through to the World War Two. Items on display also include uniforms, log books, photographs and many other rare artefacts from WWI & WWII. Press contact: Ian Richardson, Yorkshire Air Museum 01904 608595, email pr@yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk
There are numerous attractions surrounding the city of York for the visitor to explore, including Beningbrough Hall & Gardens, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Estate, Harewood House (near Leeds), North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Pickering), The Royal Armouries (Leeds), and the World of James Herriot (Thirsk). For more information on these attractions please contact: Kay Hyde PR Manager – Visit York, Tel 01904 554451, Fax 01904 554460, email kh@visityork.org, website www.visityork.org
Shopping
For shopaholics, the York Designer Outlet on the outskirts of the city will provide an ideal opportunity to bag some bargain designer clothes. In the city centre itself you will find shops with character, with everything from high street stores to unusual boutiques, cafes and restaurants and a plethora of antiques shops. Press contact: Kay Hyde PR Manager –Visit York, Tel 01904 554451, email kh@visityork.org
York Designer Outlet
Those who would like to pick up a designer bargain should pay a visit to the York Designer Outlet. This outlet, situated just outside the city centre (10 mins by bus) offers a wide variety of designer shops. The outlet includes: Armani Blazer, Bookends, Burberry, Casa Italia, Cerruti Femme, CK Jeans, Cotton Traders, Daniel Footwear, Designer Shades, Dolce & Gabbana, Episode, Escada Sport, Famous Footwear, Fat Jackets, Hanro, Margaret Howell, Iceberg, Jackpot, Kangol, Olsen, Pilot, Price’s Candles, Pringle, Remington, Rockport, Singapore Sam, Travel Accessory, Outlet, Jacques Vert, Watch Store, Watsons Chilli Peppers, Ronzit Zilkha, Adidas, Coffee Express, Descamps, Alfred Dunhill, Karrimor, Levi’s, McDonalds, Oneida, Petit Bateau, Professional Cookware, Reebok, Paul Smith, Soled Out, Ted Baker, Tie Rack, Tog 24, Tommy Hilfiger, Toyworld, Vecorpi, Warner Bros Studio Store, Whittards, Wolford, Woods of Windsor, XS Music & Video.
York has over thirty museums, galleries and tours to choose from, contact us for further details. The Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors national parks are right on York’s doorstep, making the city an excellent touring base for Yorkshire.
For any further information and your free guide to York please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org
Press contact: Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org website: www.visityork.org