Vibrant York
Yorkshire culture.
York offered our five day trip just enough to make it a city break full of rich cultural history during the day and vibrant cultural Yorkshire entertainment in the evening. By the time it reached the weekend the city centre was busying up, with more than a few hen dos. What makes York attractive is that it is a compact city in which we could walk into, and use buses with ease when necessary. The architecture is a mix of the old and the not so pretty new, with the Roman walls around it.
York Minster
The Minster sits proudly on the city skyline and is no disappointment when you arrive through the Shambles. Its formidable size makes it one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe and is a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Its roots go back to being a wooden church in 627 and then to its current structure in 1472.
It is slightly disappointing that the fee for non-residents is so steep at £20 so it is important you take advantage of the hour long tour to make the fee worthwhile. The tour is the difference between seeing and knowing.
One of the key features of the Minster is the Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. Another is the Rose window: a beautifully restored window in the south transept that commemorates the union of York and Lancaster. In 1984, a lightning strike caused a fire that severely damaged the South Transept roof and cracked the Rose Window’s 7,000 pieces of glass into about 40,000 fragments. Remarkably, none of the glass fell out, allowing for a ground-breaking restoration.
The next part to visit is the Chapter House. It is an octagonal room – it is architecturally special with with no central support pillar. Look out for the small figures above the seats.
Walking around York
Part of the charm of York is walking around the city centre. With the medieval walls and the river this takes in many of the sites on the tourist trail. The walls are the most complete in England is like stepping back in time. In Spring the daffodils are in full bloom along the walls. The walk itself takes about two hours. As you walk above the city you take in York Minster, and Clifford’s Tower.
As you walk, you will pass through the four “bars” – fortified gateways –each with their own story. Once completed you can descend into The Shambles. Originally a street of butchers (with meat hooks, it is now overly touristy, full of nick-nack shops. Still, it is York’s most iconic street with overhanging timber-framed buildings dating back to the 14th century, some of them are within touching distance of each other.
Read more in Parts One and Two
Pros
- York Minster is one of the most impressive cathedrals in the country
- The walk around the walls are a scenic way to traverse the city
Cons
- The Minster is pricey so take advantage of the guided tour
- Cliffords Tower is all that remains of the original castle.
