York - ancient walled city (Part 1)
So many visitors to England confine themselves to London, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, but I reckon that if you don’t go up north, you are missing lots of things, and one of those things is the impressive and historic walled city of York.
The city was founded in AD 71 by the Romans, but after their departure came under the Anglo-Saxons, and was then later ruled by the Vikings, until the unification of England. York still has plenty of its great past in evidence, so, if you are interested in history, then you will love York, which has some fantastic museums and architecture.
One of York’s most impressive museums is York Castle Museum, which has recreations of old streets and rooms. Here you can see different living rooms through the ages, including a Victorian room, and a typical 1950’s room. There are also collections of old domestic artefacts, including even old toilets – yes, really!
Outside The Castle Museum is Clifford’s Tower – a Norman keep built on top of a motte, which is open to visitors.
As tribute to York’s Viking past there is The Jorvik Viking Centre – a novelty of this museum is that you go in a little train through a recreation of Viking York, seeing Viking houses, and how people lived.
If you love trains, then you will enjoy a visit to the National Railway Museum, which is not far from York railway station. Here you can see old steam locomotives, and step into old railway carriages from days gone by.
One of the most impressive architectural sites of York is its minster – York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, and is right in the heart of the city centre.
In my next post I will tell you more about York’s streets and walls, and about an old convent with a secret.
Filed under: Architecture, Museums, Ancient historic sites, Religious Sights, Historic Sights, England
