A beautiful collection of footpaths, the Snickelways of York are located in York, England. The Mad Alice Lane, Hornpot Lane Nether and Finkle Street are a part of the Snickelways of York. These narrow lanes are quite interesting- some of them date back to the medieval times and some to the modern ages. They were quite popularized in Mark W. Jones book, 'A Walk around the Snickelways of York'.
This is the most famous street in York and the only one to be listed in the Domesday book. It's quaint and very picturesque with its narrow cobbled streets known as "Snickelways" and the timbered shops leaning so close they nearly touch each other. The street probably gets its name from the low wide shelves called 'shammels' on which the butchers displayed their meat. Now it's a street of souvenir and coffee shops.
Cliffords Tower, one of York's most impressive landmarks, is perched on a hill in the center of the city. There are many steps to negotiate in order to get to the entrance, but once inside you can climb to the very top of the tower and walk around within the walls the view of the city from here is quite stunning. Read and discover the Tower's secrets and fascinating history.
York is at its most picturesque in springtime when the daffodils are blooming. These beautiful spring flowers enhance the earthen ramparts, which were razed by the Romans and the Anglo-Danish kings of York but strengthened later by the Normans. There are miles of encircling medieval wall which has been carefully maintained and restored over the centuries and which still has considerable remnants of the original Roman walls integrated with and strengthened by the medieval structures. The entrance to the walls is free and they are open during daylight hours.
Countless riveting details come together to form the glorious York Minster, a masterpiece of Gothic design and ecclesiastical art. Built between 1220 and 1480, the cathedral features among northern Europe's largest medieval churches and is the seat of the Archbishop of York. Originally a 7th-century chapel built for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria, excavations have revealed the vestiges from the Norman and Roman periods as well, shedding light on its long and eventful history as a religious center. The intricate facade is aptly matched by an equally lavish interior, its design spanning the breadth of the Gothic period with elements of the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles enmeshed with one another. Of special note is the cathedral's stained glass windows, with the Great East Window being the world's largest span of medieval glass. High above it all arch the striking vaulted ceilings of the York Minster, the United Kingdom's grande dame of Gothic architecture.
St. Mary's Abbey was once the most powerful and wealthiest monastery in the North of England. The abbey and its religious order were influential and prosperous landowners, until the reign of Henry VIII, when the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act brought an end to the prosperity. In 1539 the abbey was closed by order of the crown and all property was confiscated. The remains of the abbey are still a very impressive sight and are located in the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum Gardens. Admission to the gardens is free.
Located in the Holgate region of York, the York Cold War Bunker is a semi-subterranean war site which was active during the Cold War. Built somewhere in the 1960s, the bunker was constructed to observe the nuclear explosions in case of their occurrence in Yorkshire. This two-storey building consists of a generating plant along with an air filtration plant. It also encloses a kitchen, canteen, radio communication and residential facilities.
At the Goddards House and Garden of York, catch a glimpse of chocolate manufacturing giants, the Terry family’s history, and lifestyle. Constructed in 1927, the Arts and Craft house has ornate designs and detailed hand-carved furniture and fittings. Explore the beautifully landscaped gardens, which are divided into smaller parts, including a kitchen garden, greenhouse, bowling green, a tennis lawn, rock garden and others. Enjoy a family picnic in the grounds or indulge in a delicious orange chocolate cake at high tea in the magnificent hall here. As timings are seasonal, check their website before visiting.
Situated north of York, Castle Howard is an exemplary and stately English home. This 18th-century abode served as the ancestral home of the Howards. While the interiors of this palatial structure are bedecked with fine furnishings and an impressive collection of art, the environs of the castle boast many awe-inspiring gems too. The dense woodlands and serene lakefronts are among the major attractions of the castle estate. The 18th-century walled Rose garden and the ornamental vegetable garden are unmissable on-site attractions too. A land-train takes young visitors to the adventure playground nearby, while the host of cafés and gift shops promise to keep the adults entertained.
Helmsley Castle was built in the 12th Century and so the first thing the visitor is confronted by is a spectacular double row of earth works, which helped make it a formidable fortress in its time. Later, in the Elizabethan period, extra buildings and rooms were added and it is in these rooms that the exhibitions are held. There is also, in tableau form, a history of the castle, which is rather an interesting, visual way of telling the tale.