11 Amazing Places to Find Medieval York, England

York has played a large role in English history, from the time the Vikings invaded in the 9^th century to the beginning of the Tudor era. While the Vikings ruled the north of England, it was capital of the Danelaw and England’s second city; the title “Duke of York” traditionally goes to the reigning monarchs second son; and the archbishop of York is the second most important man in the Church of England.

The Middle Ages was York’s heyday. Much of the city’s layout originates from this time, and quite a few buildings are still in use. Read on for my recommendations of the best places to find Medieval York.

City Walls

The medieval stone walls that were built around York during the 13^th century are still mostly in place. They were built on ramparts created when Vikings buried the remains of the Roman walls before building their own walls on top. In the 19^th century, the walls were repaired and turned into a public walkway.

Walking the full circuit takes about two hours, but you could easily make a day of it – take it slowly, stop for lunch, and spend some time thoroughly exploring the bars.

Richard III Experience

The Richard III Experience is a small museum found in the city walls. It is housed in Monk Bar, the largest of the remaining gateways and the only one with a functioning portcullis. Most of the building dates from the early 14^th century, and Richard III himself had the uppermost floor added.

Richard III’s reign was short and grisly as he fought to retain power. The Experience takes a thorough look at warfare during this time, with displays of weapons and armour, and even the skeleton of a soldier from the Battle of Towton. It also looks at the case for Richard’s involvement in the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower.

Henry VII Experience

Complimentary to the Richard III Experience, the Henry VII Experience is housed in Micklegate Bar. It tells the story of Henry VII, particularly what happened after the Battle of Bosworth and the kind of relationship he had with the city of York.

Clifford’s Tower

All that is left of the two castles built by the Normans in the 11^th century is Baile’s Hill (a large mound of dirt with a few trees on it – pretty unremarkable) and Clifford’s Tower. Clifford’s Tower stands at the top of its’ own hill overlooking York Castle Museum. There isn’t all that much to do inside, but it has some gorgeous views.

Clifford’s Tower has played a part in many gruesome medieval events, including a Jewish massacre and the execution of Robert Aske. In fact, its’ name might come from a particularly horrible hanging back when it was still a wooden tower.

Yorkshire Museum

Set in the grounds of what was once the richest abbey in Northern England, Yorkshire Museum has a permanent collection of objects from Medieval York. Called “Capital of the North,” most of the objects displayed are Viking or late medieval. Highlights include the Bedale Hoard, St Mary’s Figure of Christ, and the Middleham Jewel.

Aside from the museum itself, the Yorkshire Museum Gardens house what remains of St Mary’s Abbey. In its’ day, St Mary’s Abbey was among the richest, most powerful monasteries in England. Also in the garden, you can find The Hospitium and the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital, neither of which are as impressive as the abbey ruins but are both medieval.

Barley Hall

This late medieval townhouse has been restored and opened as a tourist attraction. It was tenanted during the 15^th century by the Snawsell family; the father, William Snawsell, was mayor of York in 1468, after which he became an alderman until shortly before his death.

The restoration was done using medieval techniques and historically accurate materials as far as possible. Most of the house is interactive, so you can sit on chairs, pick-up objects, and try on the few available costumes. It’s great fun and very informative.

York Minster

It is believed that a small wooden church stood on this site in the 7^th century. The Normans built the first stone Cathedral here, and this building has morphed slightly into the Minster we see today – most of the present building dates from the 13^th and 14^th centuries.

While you’re there, check-out the undercroft museum. This space is used to display the Roman and Medieval objects found buried under the Minster during engineering works in the 1960s and 70s. Medieval highlights include Saxon Gravestones, the Horn of Ulf, and a ring worn by Walter de Gray (a 13^th century archbishop).

Merchant Adventurers Hall

Not to be confused with the Merchant Taylor’s Hall, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is one of York’s Guildhalls. Built during the mid-14^th century, it is still used as a meeting place for the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York. The Company used to be a guild of importers; today they manage the hall and several charities.

The building combines a Great Hall (for meetings) with an Undercroft (for charity) and a Chapel (for religion). The Great Hall is particularly spectacular, with a double ceiling; also look out for the Evidence Chest, a 14^th century box used to store the guild’s important documents.

There are also several smaller rooms (perhaps used for more intimate gatherings) with various items from the Hall’s history on display, including silverware, artworks, and a model Napoleon with a very interesting history. All visitors are given a written guide that explains what everything is and what it was used for.

JORVIK Viking Centre

From outside, the building that houses the JORVIK Viking Centre is disappointing; it looks nothing like you would expect. But once inside, the Viking theme becomes much more apparent.

Visitors are guided into a “capsule” that takes them through a recreation of 10^th century York. This recreation is based on what was found during an excavation of the site where the Viking Centre stands today.

Once the ride is over, there is a museum/display area that shows some of the Viking era objects that were uncovered on the site. These include the remains of two people, numerous combs, and a sock. There are also several “Vikings” available to answer questions and show off various aspects of Viking life.

Churches

By the 14th century, York had over 40 parish churches. More than a dozen church buildings from the medieval era still stand, and while some have been repurposed, many are still used as places of worship.

Unless you’re really into old churches, I recommend picking two or three churches (in addition to the Minster) and visiting those. They tend to look similar to each other after a while and it can be difficult to pick out something special about each one.

Click here to read my post on Medieval Churches of York.

The Shambles

The Shambles is a narrow lane that is said to be one of the UK’s most picturesque streets. Up until the 19^th century, it was home to the city’s butchers – several buildings still have their old meat-hooks and shelves for displaying meat on the front.

Today, it is lined with mostly non-meat-selling shops, including at least four Harry Potter themed shops, specialty food shops, and other stores perfect for buying quality souvenirs. Through a small alleyway on the western side of the Shambles, there is an open-air market that is also quite nice to wander around, and much less crowded.

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