| York Town Guide |
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Orientation | |
| Because much of York dates back hundreds of years, the city is basically a confusing mass of winding medieval streets. But that is part of the charm of York. Even if you have a map you will undoubtedly get lost, but most people would agree that simply wandering through the narrow streets and alleys is one of the best ways to see the city. York is packed with interesting shops, museums, historic buildings and sights to see, so you will inevitably come across something interesting - the best advice is to go with the flow. But for those who need to know their bearings, the most obvious landmark to start from is the City Walls, for most of the interesting sights are contained within them. There are several walks that take you along the top of the walls, which is a good way to get a feel for the lay out of the city. And along the way you will come across several of York's "Bars", the medieval gateways into the city, some of which are excellently preserved. York's most famous attraction, the York Minster is situated just inside the City Walls to the north of the city centre. The twisting streets to the south of the Minster are known as The Shambles and are a delight to wander through, with some of the best shops in the city. To the west of the Minster, just outside the City Walls, is the Yorkshire Museum where you can find out all about York's colourful history. And nearby is the City Art Gallery. Back inside the City Walls, to the south there are several interesting museums worth visiting, for example the York Story, Fairfax House and the Castle Museum. And for those that prefer something a little more gruesome, this area is also where you will find the York Dungeon. And nearby is one of York's most famous tourist attractions, the famous Jorvik Viking Centre which vividly re-creates the city's Viking past. Also within the City Walls is Clifford's Tower, the remains of a 13th century castle, with the excellent Castle Museum close by. And to the west of the city centre, outside of the City Walls, is the National Railway Museum, one of the biggest museums in the world purely dedicated to railways. There are plenty of other sights to see in and around the city, many of which are covered in our A-Z of York, so it is worth exploring around York yourself. And if all else fails, and you can't stand the prospect of getting lost, there are plenty of tours available that will show you the sights. |
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