York City Walls

York City Walls

A walk above the city

The old city of York, in the north of England, is wrapped in the most complete medieval walls in the country — and the wonderful thing is that you can walk along the top of them, high above the streets, all the way around much of the city. From this raised walkway, visitors look down on gardens, rooftops, and the great towers of York Minster, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Few cities offer such a magical way to see their history.

Layers of history

York's walls have been built and rebuilt over almost two thousand years. The story begins with the Romans, who founded a fortress city here called Eboracum and ringed it with stone walls. So important was Roman York that two Roman emperors stayed here, and one — Constantine the Great — was proclaimed emperor in the city.

Later, the Vikings captured York and made it the capital of their kingdom, calling it Jorvik. They too lived behind the city's defences, trading and crafting in its busy streets. Much of the stone wall we see today, however, was built in the Middle Ages, in the 1200s and 1300s, raised on top of the older Roman and Viking work.

The great gateways, or "bars"

The walls are pierced by mighty medieval gateways, which in York are called "bars". Each one guarded a road into the city, and they have splendid names: Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and the grandest of all, Micklegate Bar.

In the past these bars were not just doors but defences and even places of grim warning. The heads of traitors and rebels were sometimes displayed on spikes above Micklegate Bar, so that everyone entering the city would see what happened to the king's enemies. Today the bars are proud landmarks, and one even still has its medieval drawbridge mechanism.

A city saved and treasured

Over the centuries, as the danger of war faded, many English cities tore down their old walls to make room for new roads and buildings. In the 1800s some people wanted to do the same in York. But the citizens fought to save their ancient walls, and thanks to them the defences were repaired and protected rather than destroyed.

Because of this, York keeps its medieval character to a remarkable degree, its walls embracing a maze of narrow old streets, including the famous Shambles, a crooked lane of overhanging timber-framed shops.

A living monument

The walls of York are loved by everyone who lives in or visits the city. People walk them for exercise and pleasure, watch the seasons change in the gardens below, and use them to find their way around the old town. In spring, the slopes beneath the walls turn golden with daffodils.

Visiting today

Visitors can climb up to the walkway and stroll the walls, passing through the great bars and enjoying ever-changing views of the cathedral, the rooftops and the river. Information boards along the way tell the long story of Romans, Vikings and medieval citizens. Walkable, complete and steeped in nearly two thousand years of history, the city walls of York are one of England's greatest treasures.