York Spectacular sweeping views, littered with Roman ruins, remains of dinosaurs, rare Roman artefacts and some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds in Europe.

Founded by the Romans as an army post in 71 AD, its centrepiece is the immense and beautiful York Minster – one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in the world and undoubtedly a highlight of the city. You’ll feel as though you have stepped back in time on a visit to York. Its beautifully preserved city centre is enclosed within medieval walls, which contain a maze of narrow cobbled streets and stunning architecture.

The largest medieval cathedral in Northern Europe, York Minster was built on the site of previously built chapels and churches, the remnants of which can be seen in the crypt and foundations of the current cathedral which was built between 1220 and 1480. Light and spacious inside, the cathedral’s 11-tonne bell, Big Peter, tolls everyday at noon and is said to have the deepest tone in all of Europe.

Following the lines of the original Roman Walls, you can walk along the remaining sections of the city’s medieval wall to experience York from another fascinating perspective. Visit Clifford’s Tower, just outside the city centre. Originally built by William the Conqueror, it was burned to the ground twice before Henry III rebuilt it in the 13^th century. It offers spectacular sweeping views of York and the surrounding countryside. For a different perspective again, you can take a Yorkboat tour along the River Ouse – a day or night tour will give you plenty of opportunities to photograph the city’s beautiful buildings and bridges.

In the late 1970’s, archaeologists discovered the houses, yards and workshops of the Viking-age city of Jorvik as it stood 1,000 years ago. The Jorvik Viking Centre has been built on the site, recreating the city for tourists to see, as authentically as possible. The centre displays over 800 of the 40,000 artefacts that were found in the excavation, including the Lloyds Bank coprolite – the largest example of human faeces ever found to date, measuring 19 ½ cms long!

To get an idea of what York would have looked like in Roman times, visit the Yorkshire Museum where you can wander the museums botanical gardens, littered with Roman ruins, see remains of dinosaurs, witness rare Roman artefacts and some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds in Europe. Take a stroll down The Shambles. In 1862 it was home to 26 butchers and slaughterhouses; now it’s a charming cobbled street lined with 15^th century Tudor buildings.