York
York is a city in the north of England, on the River Ouse, near its confluence with the River Foss. The city's geographic coordinates are 53°57' North, 1°05' West.
York was county town for Yorkshire which takes its name. Now it is a part of a unitary authority named City of York which is surrounded by the county of North Yorkshire.
York is dubbed the "eternal city" and is renowned for its history which is preserved in the city's buildings. Since Roman times, York has been the main city in the north of England. For the Romans it was a major military base, named Eboracum. Emperor Septimius Severus died there in 211 AD, and Constantius Chlorus, the father of Constantine I, died there in 306.
The Vikings called the city Jorvik.
York Minster is the largest medieval cathedral in England, and dominates the city's skyline, while surrounding York's centre are the city walls, built by Henry III in 1220.
A popular tourist attraction is the Shambles, an old street with overhanging timber-built shops, now occupied by souvenir shops as opposed to butchers.
York is also noted for its wealth of pubs. The York area is said to contain one pub for every day of the year, although this is now a little exaggerated.
York has one football team in the English league: York City. Since the 1960s it has also boasted one of the country's leading universities: The University of York.
Places of interest
- Archaeological Resource Centre, York
- Bar Convent Museum
- Barley Hall
- Clifford's Tower
- Jorvik, The Viking City
- Micklegate Bar Museum
- National Railway Museum
- National Centre for Early Music
- Treasurer's House
- York Castle Museum
- York City Art Gallery
- York Minster
- Yorkshire Museum
- See also: other Yorks