York City Walls, York (must see)

The York City Walls are a historic and extensive fortification that has surrounded the city since Roman times. Today, York boasts more miles of intact city walls than any other city in England. They are known collectively as the York City Walls, the Bar Walls, or, less accurately, the Roman Walls. The latter term is a misnomer, since the majority of the surviving structure is not of Roman origin, and the layout of the walls has evolved significantly since the Roman period.

The walls date back to around 71 AD, when the Romans built a wooden fort near the River Ouse, covering approximately 50 acres. The fort’s rectangular boundary formed an integral part of its defensive strategy. However, these early fortifications proved inadequate during the Viking invasions, leading to the construction of more substantial defences.

Between the 12th and 14th centuries, new stone walls were erected, using the foundations of the old Roman walls and extending southwards across both sides of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. This expansion effectively enclosed the city, strengthening its defences against future threats. Today, sections of the walls stand about 13 feet high and 6 feet wide, offering a remarkable example of medieval engineering and strategic planning.

Access to the city was controlled through four main gates, also known as “bars”: Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar. These gates not only served as toll-collection points in medieval times but also played crucial roles in the city’s defence during wartime. Each has its own historical significance and distinctive architectural features, contributing to York’s rich heritage of medieval city defences.

Conveniently, the gates also provide access to the city wall walk. Make sure to ascend to the elevated stone pathway at Monk Bar, stepping onto the ancient ramparts to begin your walk above street level.

As you stroll along the stone walkway, take a breather and peer through the narrow arrow slits for views of the towering roofline and spires of York Minster.

When you reach Walmgate Bar, stop to admire its rare, original medieval barbican and heavy portcullis. The full circuit of the city walls takes around two hours.