York Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), York

Established by the ancient Romans in 71 AD, the city of York breathes history. It first appeared as a walled settlement when the Ninth Legion of Rome conquered the local tribe known as the Brigantes. The town became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria and Jórvík, emerging as a major river port and part of the extensive trading routes throughout northern Europe.

The word York is derived from the Brittonic name Eburākon, which is a combination of eburos "yew-tree" and a suffix -āko[n] meaning "belonging to-, place of-". When the Danish army, led by Ivar the Boneless and Halfdan, conquered the city in 866, its name became Jórvík, which gradually reduced to York in the centuries following the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror in the 1060s.

In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading center and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained. In the 19th century, the city became a major hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing center, a status it maintained well into the 20th century. During the Second World War, York was bombed as part of the Baedeker Blitz. Although less affected by bombing than other northern cities, several historic buildings were gutted and restoration efforts continued into the 1960s.

With the emergence of tourism, the historic core of York became one of the city's major assets, and in 1968 it was designated a conservation area. Among other attractions, the latter includes the huge (second-largest in northern Europe) 13th-century Gothic cathedral – York Minster – with medieval stained glass and two functioning bell towers; the City Walls on both sides of the River Ouse with four main gates, known as "bars", housing an exhibition tracing the life of 15th-century Plantagenet King Richard III; the Stonegate street, described as the most attractive in the city and one of its busiest; and more.

The above were supplemented by the establishment of the Jorvik Viking Centre in 1984, revealing a Viking settlement with numerous 1,000-year-old artifacts; and the York Dungeon in 1986, featuring a live-action horror show based on factual events from the city's history.

If you wish to learn more about York's turbulent past and discover the way it is today, follow this introductory walk and explore York in its variety.