YORK

"The history of York is the history of England", so King George VI. said. Indeed, the city (123 000 pop.) has seen it all in its 2000-year: roman emperors, warlike viking, norman knights, kings and nobles. And all have left their mark: In the streets, the Shambles, and the magnificent Minster. Take a stroll on the 5-km-long wall, you will find the best insight into the medieval city center of York.

York Minster
Surely the ideal starting point to explore the city. York Minster is both - cathedral and Minster. It is the mother church in the northern provinces of the Church of England, established by the Archbishop of York and the largest Gothic church in England. Its greatest treasure is the stained glass. Everything about the history of the cathedral you will learn in the Crypt. Entrance Minster £ 5
Battle of Fulford 1066 tour. In 1066 the greatest shield wall battle in world history took place - no, not the Battle of Hastings, but in fact the Battle of Fulford, fought just outside York on the 20th September 1066, just a few weeks before Hastings.
Jorvik Viking Centre. Daily 10AM-4PM (winter), 10AM-5PM (summer). An amazing recreation of the Viking settlement at York, on the site of the Coppergate archaeological excavations of the 1970s.
Ruins of St Mary's Abbey, Museum Gardens (near Minster). A great place for a picnic.
Eboracum Legion Bathhouse. Daily 10AM-5PM. A great venue for food, drink and entertainment - complete with a Roman period bathhouse in the cellar. One of York's oldest attractions, visitors can see the remains of ancient York, with insights into Roman military life and hygiene.

food
Betty's Café Tea Rooms
A good cake and afternoon tea in a cafe's famous Art Deco house. Try the satisfying fruit cake Fat Rascal 6-8 St. Helen's Square

where to stay
Bar Convent
Right in York today, the nuns of the Order of St.. Virgin Mary, the oldest monastery in the country manage it as Bed & Breakfast. The word bar does not mean the gin and tonic, but refers to the gates of the house. 15 rooms 17 Blossom Street
Travelodge York Central
The chain has opened 200 budget hotels in England, one of them directly in the center of York. 90 rooms 90 Piccadilly

Fountains Abbey
The ensemble (35 km) was declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage. It includes the fabulous ruins of the Cistercian monastery from the 12th century and a landscaped garden of the 18th century. (March-Oct. daily 10am-5pm, Nov.-Feb. Sat-Sun daily. 10am-4pm, entrance: £ 5,50)

Transportation:
plane: The nearest major Airport to York is Leeds-Bradford International Airport (LBA) about 30 miles away. There is no longer a bus route from the airport to York but passengers could, if they choose, travel by train to Harrogate or Leeds and catch a bus from there. Manchester Airport is well connected to the York by an hourly direct train service that runs throughout the night.
train: York is one of the main hubs of the UK rail network, with a large range of services and destinations to choose from. The station itself is an attraction, and was voted the 'nicest' station in the UK in 2007. Because of the number of lines that pass through, services tend to be frequent. While intercity trains can be expensive, regional services are relatively affordable. York is situated halfway between Edinburgh and London on the East Coast Main Line. The newly nationalised 'East Coast' run services along this route with trains running approximately every half hour between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. There is an hourly train service to and from Manchester International Airport 24 hours a day. This stops at Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester, making it possible to have a late night out elsewhere in the North but still make it back to York.