Edwin Doran Sports Travel | Destinations : York

York is a city in northern England, where the Rivers Ouse and Foss merge. York is the traditional county town of Yorkshire, to which it lends its name.

The city was founded in AD 71, and has a rich Roman and Viking history. The historical aspects of York attract a great deal of tourism, the jewel in the crown being the city's historic cathedral church, York Minster, which stands at the city's centre. The city centre is nearly all surrounded by walls, and to walk the entire circuit (including parts where walls never existed) is about 3 miles.

The Shambles is perhaps York's most well-known street, and still retains an historic feel as well as being home to many gift shops. It also contains the shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow (1556 - 1586), a martyr of the Roman Catholic Church, and sometimes called 'the Pearl of York.

York has many other narrow streets and passages, commonly known as Snickelways.

The city has many museums, including the Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, Richard III Museum and the York Dungeon. The National Railway Museum is situated just behind the station, and is home to the largest static collection of railway locomotives in the world, including the world's fastest steam locomotive, the LNER 4468 Mallard.

York is also noted for its wealth of churches and pubs, with many of the remaining churches in York dating from the medieval period.

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WHAT TO DO

York Minster ~ The largest medieval gothic cathedral north of the Alps and a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass. Explore the history beneath your feet in the Undercroft and enjoy magnificent views from the tower top.
Jorvik ~ Travel back 1,000 years and explore York's Viking history exactly where the archaeologists found the remains of the original Viking-age City of 'Jorvik'. See the reconstruction of the actual Viking-age streets, over 800 of the items discovered on site. Learn what life was really like in the special exhibitions.
National Railway Museum ~ Discover the story of the train at the world's largest Railway Museum. Explore The Works, see the world's finest collection of Royal trains, the record breaking Mallard and a replica of Stephenson's Rocket, then get up to speed with the new advanced Japanese Bullet Train.
York Castle Museum ~ Experience life as a Victorian, walk down cobbled streets and peer through the windows of shops long gone. Take a journey through 600 years of life in Britain, from parlours to prisons, marriages to the mill house. Discover a city at war and stumble into an underworld of highwaymen.
Clifford's Tower ~ Originally built by William the Conqueror to subdue the rebellious north, this castle was rebuilt by Henry III in the 13th century. Fantastic panoramic views of York and the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower show why it played such a key role in the control of Northern England. A series of special events run throughout the summer weekends.
York Dungeon ~ More than 2,000 years of gruesomely authentic history back to life ..... and death. Delve into the darkest chapters of the grim and bloody past, recreated in all its dreadful detail, you should realise that everything you experience here really happened.
Yorkshire Air Museum ~ A living memorial to all the Allied Air Forces personnel who operated from Yorkshire during the Second World War. Located in Elvington, York.
Ghost Tours ~ Several to choose from:
The Ghost Walk ~ 7.30 from the Minster every night, whatever the weather. Travel back in time, cross the centuries and experience the stories that make up the hidden and blood chilling history of York's ghostly tradition. Tales, Victorian tragedies and true accounts of modern day ghostly phenomena create a spine tingling experience that will haunt you forever. Equity qualified guides. 1 hr 10 mins.
The Ghost Hunt ~ 7.30 from The Shambles every evening. The Victorian Guide in his frock coat, cape and top hap manifests at the bottom of the Shambles. Ringing his death bell he gathers the awaiting ghost hunters. This is a journey that takes your emotions from horror to hilarity on the country's most innovative guided walk.
The Ghost Detective of York ~ 7.30 from the Jorvik Centre, Coppergate. This tour takes you along narrow passageways and dark streets to investigate bloodcurdling tales of scandal and death. Phantoms, ghosts, apparitions and supernatural stories of the strange and macabre. Every night from Easter to Hallowe'en and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November to March.
The Shakespeare Project ~ An ambitious plan to produce all of Shakespeare's 37 plays in approximate chronological order in York over the next 20 years at various venues. The first production was Richard III in November 2002 followed by The Taming of the Shrew, Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus and Love's Labour's Lost. For details of future programmes, contact York Visitor Information Centre.
York Boat ~ Make the most of your time in York and take to the river by day or night, whatever the weather. Relax with a drink from the bar/coffee shop and enjoy the comfort of the heated lounge or open sundecks.
City Screen York ~ Dubbed one of the finest quality cinemas in Europe, it contains 3 luxurious screens with a superb choice in comfort, sound and vision, as well as a spacious riverside cafe-bar and restaurant.
Shopping ~ Delightful shops and boutiques in and around the cobblestone streets of The Shambles and the city centre.

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York