Hotels in York Centre

Inside York's City Walls

York is a very busy city and parking is limited and also expensive, so to make the most of your visit whether it is to see the many attractions or just shopping, you are advised to take advantage of the Park and Ride services at easy accessed points on the main approach roads to the city. Because York is an ancient walled city it is no coincidence that the many thousands of visitors who visit York, stay within the walls themselves. There are many and varied hotels in York centre and from these tours can be arranged.

A walk along the walls provides interesting panoramic views over the rooftops of the city and gives you an excellent introduction to York. The Richard III Museum is housed in Monk Bar. A complete circuit of the 2.5 miles of remaining walls can take up to two hours, but if this is too long then a visit to the most popular section overlooking the Minster and Deanery gardens is recommended. Micklegate Bar is considered to be the most important gate into York as it guarded the southern entry point traditionally used by the monarch; also heads of traitors were displayed here ending with the Jacobite rebels of 1745.

The walls are open to the public from 8 am until dusk and admission is free, they are accessible by staircases at each entrance gate or Bar. An early morning walk will avoid the crowds and provide plenty of Photo opportunities.

A traditional museum, quite different to the Castle Museum, is the Yorkshire Museum. The Museum is housed in a Greek style building completed in 1829, which lies in the shadow of St. Mary's Abbey, once the North's wealthiest abbey and near a Roman Fortress wall. The site covers 10 acres of botanical gardens, which retain the atmosphere of York's unique past.

Anyone wishing to use their York centre hotel as a base for exploring will find plenty to occupy them in the area around York. For the flight enthusiasts there is the Yorkshire Air Museum which is a fascinating and dynamic museum, authentically based on a World War Two Bomber Command Station. The unique displays include the original Control Tower, Air Gunners' Collection, Barnes Wallis' prototype 'bouncing bomb' and a superb new Airborne Forces Display. The rapidly expanding collection of historical aircraft depicts aviation from its earliest days, to World War Two with the awesome and unique Halifax rebuild through to post war jets. www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

However, if driving your car does not appeal, leave it secure at your York centre hotel and stroll down the ancient Shambles and have a drink and a meal at one of York’s many excellent traditional pubs.