York is located in the county of North Yorkshire, which is in the north of England. It is a very beautiful and ancient city, the history of which dates back to the times that preceded the Roman Empire. Many of the historic buildings and their fragments preserved here are the oldest in Europe. The city is also notable for the fact that it is the residence of the Archbishop of York - the "younger" of the two English archbishops of the Anglican Church.
Of course, there is also a "must-do" category for York: you must visit the Minster - the largest Gothic cathedral in England with truly outstanding stained glass windows; walk along the city walls (14th century, about 10 amazing gates), the Shambles quarter of medieval houses and see Clifford Tower.
HOW TO GET
York doesn't have an airport, so you have to fly to London or another big city first. The choice of airport depends on the purpose of the trip: if York is the only destination in England, then it is better to choose an airport in the northeast, in a city with a direct road connection to York. If you plan to visit not only York, but also other cities of the United Kingdom, then you should fly to one of the London airports: firstly, a flight to London is usually cheaper, secondly, London airports are conveniently located in relation to each other, and on domestic significant discounts apply to flights.
There are several ways to get to York from London: by train from King's Cross station (just under 2 hours, ticket price 115 GBP), by bus (tickets can be bought online, at the station before departure and at the Tourist Information Centre) or by rental car. The prices on the page are indicated for September 2018
If York is the main place of your stay and you are not going to drive around other cities a lot, it is better not to rent a car: it is not easy to drive here and there is nowhere to park.
TRANSPORT
We have already emphasized that you should not drive around York: endless road repairs, narrowing them for bicycle lanes and improper organization of traffic turn the city into one big traffic jam every day, especially during rush hours.
If you are coming by car from another city and will leave no later than 8:00 p.m., use the Park and Ride parking lot near the center or five similar parking lots in the surrounding area. If you are staying overnight at a hotel, make sure it has parking for customers.
If you don't use a car, how can you get around? In York, of course, there is a network of bus routes and they connect all the most interesting sights, but, firstly, they are not very cheap (for short distances, a taxi will cost less), and secondly, buses are affected by traffic jams also spread.
It is better to explore the city center on foot: firstly, every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. it turns into a pedestrian zone for everyone except for disabled drivers and emergency vehicles, secondly, the historical center is small, it can be walked with a quick step from edge to edge in 20 minutes.
It is recommended to move around the city by bicycle: York is the most favorable city for this transport in the entire United Kingdom. The topography of the area is flat, there are a large number of bicycle routes laid out in the city, the maps of which are available on the Internet, and there are more than enough bicycle rental points and parking lots in the city.
It is worth knowing that for riding a bicycle in the city center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as well as without lighting devices after dark, violators face a fine.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
As already mentioned, York Minster is the main attraction and business card of the city. This majestic building is not only the largest cathedral in northern Europe, but also the medieval building with the largest stained glass windows. The cathedral stands on the spot where King Edwin was baptized. Construction began in 1220.and lasted 250 years. The cathedral burned several times, the last time it was restored in 2007. Entrance to the Minster is paid for adults and free for children under 16 years old.
Jorvik Viking Center
Jorvik Viking Center (Jorvik Viking Centre) - a museum at the site of archaeological excavations, during which the city of the 9th century was discovered. A tour of it is a trip in a "time machine" through a reconstructed Viking settlement of a thousand years ago. Real archaeological finds are also on display for viewing. In even more ancient times, a trip to the Bath of the Roman legion Eborake (that's what the Romans called York) will allow you to immerse yourself. During the Roman rule, the 6th Roman legion was quartered here. Thanks to this, even today you can admire the Roman Baths in miniature.
Art gallery
In the Art Gallery you can see the works of English artists, as well as famous painters of Italy and Northern Europe. Next to the city station is another interesting museum - the National Museum of Railways. More than 50 locomotives are presented here, the oldest of which was produced in 1829.
SHOPPING
York is known for its boutiques and unique shops. There is, of course, a standard set of modern boutiques in the center, mandatory for every large European city, but the real pride of York shopping is not them. Paradise for seekers of rare things - Shambles. It is a picturesque medieval narrowest and busiest street in York, with wooden shop signs hanging over the heads of passers-by. There used to be butcher shops here, but today there are souvenir shops.
During the existence of the city, many districts have radically changed their appearance, but not Shambles - here everything is almost the same as it was in the Middle Ages.
In addition to the shops, York is also known for its chocolate factories and university.
NEW YEAR'S YORK
Traditionally, the New Year in England is not celebrated as widely as Christmas. On the eve of Christmas in York, the fair of St. Nicholas, one of the most popular in Great Britain, which is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The fair has several markets specializing in gifts, crafts and local farm produce. Markets are located on Parliament Street, St Sampsons Square and Coppergate. The works of artists and craftsmen from all over the region are exhibited in the Guild building. Barley Hall, a magnificent medieval mansion, hosts a craft market with traders dressed in medieval fashion; at the college of St. William's market of decorative and applied arts, where you can buy handmade products. And on New Year's Eve itself, the sky above York is illuminated by the lights of numerous fireworks.
