The city was founded under the name ofEboracum in AD 71. It then became the capital ofBritannia Inferior, a province of theRoman Empire, and was later the capital of the kingdoms ofDeira,Northumbria andScandinavian York. In theMiddle Ages it became thenorthern England ecclesiastical province's centre, and grew as a wool-trading centre.[2] In the 19th century it became a major railway network hub and confectionery-manufacturing centre. In theSecond World War York was bombed in theBaedeker Blitz. Although York was less targeted during the war than other, more industrialised northern cities, several historic buildings were gutted and restoration took place up until the 1960s.[3]
York was known to the Romans asEburacum orEboracum, a Latinisation of theBrittonic*Eburācon. The latter may mean "place ofyew trees", from*eburos and*-āco(n), a suffix meaning "associated with".Eburos is also recorded as a personal name, however, so an alternative etymology would be "property of Eburos".[4] Indeed, the 12th‑century chroniclerGeoffrey of Monmouth attributed the name to a legendary king namedEbraucus.[5]
By the time of theAnglo-Saxon settlement, the Brittonic name had developed into something like*Evorōg (compare modern WelshEfrog). The Anglo-Saxons associated the first element with the wordeofor, meaning "boar", and referred to the city asEoforwīc (literally "boar town"). This was in turn adapted intoOld Norse as*Éorvík, which later becameJórvík or simplyJórk.[6] The Norse name was thenreborrowed into English asYork, a form that first appears in the 13th century. The Old English name survived asEverwyk orEverwich, becoming obsolete after the 15th century.[5]
Roman wall and the west corner tower ofEboracum. The top half is medieval.
Archaeological evidence suggests thatMesolithic people settled in the region of York between 8000 and 7000 BC, although it is not known whether their settlements were permanent or temporary. By the time of theRoman conquest of Britain, the area was occupied by atribe known to the Romans as theBrigantes. The Brigantian tribal area initially became a Roman client state, but later its leaders became more hostile and the RomanNinth Legion was sent north of theHumber into Brigantian territory.[7]
The city was founded in AD 71, when the Ninth Legion conquered the Brigantes and constructed a wooden militaryfortress on flat ground above theRiver Ouse close to itsconfluence with theRiver Foss. The fortress, whose walls were rebuilt in stone by the VI legion based there subsequent to the IX legion, covered an area of 50 acres (20 ha) and was inhabited by 6,000legionary soldiers. The site of theprincipia (headquarters) of the fortress lies under the foundations ofYork Minster, and excavations in the undercroft have revealed part of the Roman structure and columns.[8][9]
The Roman emperorsHadrian,Septimius Severus andConstantius I all held court in York during their various campaigns. During his stay between AD 207 and 211 the emperor Severus proclaimed York capital of the province of Britannia Inferior, and it is likely that it was he who granted York the privileges of a "colonia" or city. Constantius I died in AD 306 during his stay in York, and his sonConstantine the Great was proclaimed emperor by the troops based in the fortress.[9][10] In AD 314 a bishop from York attended theCouncil at Arles to represent Christians from theprovince.[11]
While the Romancolonia andfortress were on high ground, by AD 400 the town was victim to occasional flooding from the rivers Ouse and Foss, and the population reduced.[12] York declined in thepost-Roman era, and was taken and settled by theAngles in the 5th century.[13]
Reclamation of parts of the town was initiated in the 7th century underKing Edwin ofNorthumbria, and York became his chief city.[14] The first woodenminster church was built in York for the baptism of Edwin in 627, according to the Venerable Bede.[15] Edwin ordered the small wooden church be rebuilt in stone; however, he was killed in 633, and the task of completing the stone minster fell to his successorOswald.[8][16] In the following century,Alcuin of York came to the cathedral school of York. He had a long career as a teacher and scholar, first at the school at York now known asSt Peter's School, founded in AD 627, and later asCharlemagne's leading advisor on ecclesiastical and educational affairs.[17]
In 866 Northumbria was in the midst of internecine struggles when theVikings raided and captured York. As a thriving Anglo-Saxon metropolis and prosperous economic hub, York was a clear target for the Vikings. Led byIvar the Boneless andHalfdan, Scandinavian forces (referred to by the Anglo-Saxons as the "Great Heathen Army") attacked the town on All Saints' Day. Launching the assault on a holy day proved an effective tactical move – most of York's leaders were in the cathedral, leaving the town vulnerable to attack and unprepared for battle.
After it was conquered, the city was renamed from the Old English Eoforwic toJorvik. It became the capital of Viking territory in Britain, and at its peak had more than 10,000 inhabitants. This was a population second only to London within Great Britain. Jorvik proved an important economic and trade centre for the Vikings. Norse coinage was created at the Jorvik mint, while archaeologists have found evidence of a variety of craft workshops around the town's centralCoppergate area. These demonstrate that textile production, metalwork, carving, glasswork and jewellery-making were all practised in Jorvik. Materials from as far afield as thePersian Gulf have also been discovered, suggesting that the town was part of an international trading network.[18] Under Viking rule the city became a major river port, part of the extensive Viking trading routes throughout northern Europe.The last ruler of an independent Jórvík,Eric Bloodaxe, was driven from the city in AD 954 by KingEadred in his successful attempt to complete the unification of England.[19]
A panorama of 15th-century York byE. Ridsdale Tate; York Castle is on the right hand side of the river, opposite the abandoned motte ofBaile Hill.
In 1068, two years after theNorman conquest of England, the people of York rebelled. Initially they succeeded, but upon the arrival ofWilliam the Conqueror the rebellion was suppressed. William at once built a wooden fortress on a motte. In 1069, after another rebellion, the king built another timbered castle across the River Ouse. These were destroyed in 1069 and rebuilt by William about the time of his ravaging Northumbria in what is called the "Harrying of the North" where he destroyed everything from York to Durham. The remains of the rebuilt castles, now in stone, are visible on either side of the River Ouse.[20][21]
The first stone minster church was badly damaged by fire in the uprising, and the Normans built a minster on a new site. Around the year 1080,Archbishop Thomas started building the cathedral that in time became the current Minster.[16]
York prospered in the 12th century. In 1190York Castle was the site of an infamousmassacre of its Jewish inhabitants, in which at least 150 people were murdered, although some authorities put the figure as high as 500.[22][23]
The city, through its location on the River Ouse and its proximity to theGreat North Road, became a major trading centre.King John granted the city's firstcharter in 1212,[24] confirming trading rights in England and Europe.[16][25] During the later Middle Ages, York merchants imported wine from France, cloth, wax, canvas, and oats from theLow Countries, timber and furs from theBaltic and exported grain toGascony and grain and wool to the Low Countries.[26]
York became a major cloth-manufacturing and trading centre.Edward I further stimulated the city's economy by using the city as a base for his war in Scotland. The city was the location of significant unrest during the so-calledPeasants' Revolt in 1381. The city acquired an increasing degree of autonomy from central government including the privileges granted by a charter ofRichard II in 1396.
The city underwent a period of economic decline during theTudor period. UnderKing Henry VIII theDissolution of the Monasteries saw the end of York's manymonastic houses, including several orders offriars, the hospitals of St Nicholas and of St Leonard, the largest such institution in the north of England. This led to thePilgrimage of Grace, an uprising of northern Catholics in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire opposed to religious reform. Henry VIII restored his authority by establishing theCouncil of the North in York in the dissolved St Mary's Abbey. The city became a trading and service centre during this period.[27][28] King Henry VIII spent a lot of time travelling around the country on official Royal Tours also known as "progresses".[29] In 1541 Henry VIII and Catherine Howard visited the city of York on their royal tour. The royal party would have been met outside the walls by civic dignitaries before formally entering the city.[30] The civic dignitary would have been the Lord Mayor of York, who at the time of their arrival on 15 September 1541[31] was Robert Hall.[32] He owned the residential property at 74 Low Petergate. Following a special service held in their honour at York minster, Henry and Catherine rode from the minster down to Petergate, one of the five gateways, and over to the closed Benedictine abbey of St. Mary[33] which had been converted into a palace for the King to stay in while he visited York on his Royal Tour.[31]
In 1644, during theEnglish Civil War, theParliamentariansbesieged York, and many medieval houses outside the city walls were lost. Thebarbican at Walmgate Bar was undermined and explosives laid, but the plot was discovered. On the arrival ofPrince Rupert, with an army of 15,000 men, the siege was lifted. The Parliamentarians retreated some 6 miles (10 km) from York with Rupert in pursuit, before turning on his army and soundly defeating it at theBattle of Marston Moor. Of Rupert's 15,000 troops, 4,000 were killed and 1,500 captured. The siege was renewed and the city surrendered toSir Thomas Fairfax[27] on 15 July.
Following therestoration of the monarchy in 1660, and the removal of the garrison from York in 1688, the city was dominated by the gentry and merchants, although the clergy were still important. Competition fromLeeds andHull, together with silting of the River Ouse, resulted in York losing its pre-eminent position as a trading centre, but its role as the social and cultural centre for wealthy northerners was rising. York's many eleganttownhouses, such as theLord Mayor's Mansion House andFairfax House date from this period, as do theAssembly Rooms, theTheatre Royal, and theracecourse.[28][36]
The railway promoterGeorge Hudson was responsible for bringing the railway to York in 1839. Although Hudson's career as a railway entrepreneur ended in disgrace and bankruptcy, his promotion of York over Leeds, and of his own railway company (theYork and North Midland Railway), helped establish York as a major railway centre by the late-19th century.[37]
The introduction of the railways established engineering in the city.[38][39] At the turn of the 20th century, the railway accommodated the headquarters and works of theNorth Eastern Railway, which employed more than 5,500 people. The railway was instrumental in the expansion ofRowntree's Cocoa Works. It was founded in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree, who was joined in 1869 by his brother the philanthropistJoseph Rowntree.[40] Another chocolate manufacturer,Terry's of York, was a major employer.[28][41] By 1900, the railways and confectionery had become the city's two major industries.[39]
York was voted European Tourism City of the Year by European Cities Marketing in June 2007, beating 130 other European cities to gain first place, surpassingGothenburg in Sweden (second) andValencia in Spain (third).[51] York was also voted safest place to visit in the 2010Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards.[52] In 2018The Sunday Times deemed York to be its overall 'Best Place to Live' in Britain, highlighting the city's "perfect mix of heritage and hi-tech" and as a "mini-metropolis with cool cafes, destination restaurants, innovative companies – plus the fastest internet in Britain".[53][54] The result was confirmed in aYouGov survey, reported in August 2018, with 92 per cent of respondents saying that they liked the city, more than any of 56 other British cities.[55]
The City of York is governed by theCity of York Council. It is aunitary authority that operates on aleader and cabinet style of governance, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. It provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The city council consists of 47 councillors[56][57] representing 21wards, with one, two or three per ward serving four-year terms. Its headquarters are at theGuildhall and West Offices in the city centre.
The members of the cabinet, led by theCouncil Leader, makes decisions on their portfolio areas individually.[59][60] Following theLocal Government Act 2000, the Council Leader commands theconfidence of the city council; the leader of the largest political group and head of the City of York Council. The Leader of the council and the cabinet (consisting of all the executive councillors) are collectivelyaccountable for their policies and actions to the city council. The current Council Leader,Liberal Democrats' Cllr Keith Aspden, was appointed on 22 May 2019, following the2019 City of York Council election.
York's first citizen and civic head is theLord Mayor, who is thechairman of the City of York Council. The appointment is made by the city council each year in May, at the same time appointing the Sheriff, the city's other civic head. The offices of Lord Mayor and Sheriff are purely ceremonial. The Lord Mayor carries out civic and ceremonial duties in addition to chairing full council meetings.[57] The incumbent Lord Mayor since 26 May 2022 is Councillor David Carr, and the Sheriff is Suzie Mercer.[61]
York Youth Council consists of several young people who negotiate with the councillors to get better facilities for York's young people, and who also elect York'sMember of Youth Parliament.[62][63]
During Roman times, the land surrounding the Ouse and Foss was marshy, making the site easy to defend. The city is prone to flooding from the River Ouse, and has an extensive network of flood defences with walls along the river, and a liftable barrier across the Foss where it joins the Ouse at the "Blue Bridge". In October and November 2000, York experienced the worst flooding in 375 years; more than 300 homes were flooded.[78] In December 2015, the flooding was more extensive and caused major disruption.[79] The extreme impact led to a personal visit by Prime MinisterDavid Cameron.[80] Much land in and around the city is on flood plains too flood-prone for development other than agriculture. Theings are flood meadows along the Ouse, while thestrays are open common grassland in various locations around the city.
York has a temperateoceanic climate (Cfb) with four distinct seasons. As with the rest of the Vale of York, the city's climate is drier and warmer than the rest of theYorkshire and the Humber region. Owing to its lowland location, York is prone to frosts, fog, and cold winds during winter, spring, and very early summer.[81] Snow can fall in winter from December onwards to as late as April but quickly melts. As with much of the British Isles, the weather is changeable. York experiences most sunshine from May to July, an average of six hours per day.[82] With its inland location, summers are often warmer than the Yorkshire coast with temperatures of 27 °C or more. Extremes recorded at Linton-on-Ouse between 1984 and 2021 include a highest temperature of 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) on 25 July 2019 and 3 August 1990 and a lowest temperature of −17.3 °C (0.9 °F) on 4 December 2010.[83] The most rainfall in one day was 88.4 millimetres (3.5 in).[84]
York's urbanised areas are surrounded by a green belt that restricts development in the rural areas and parts of surrounding villages,[87] to preserve the setting and historic character of the city.[88] The green belt surrounds nearly all of the city and its outer villages, extending out into North Yorkshire.
The Yorkurban area (built-up area) had a population of 153,717 at the time of the2011 UK census,[89] compared with 137,505 in 2001.[90]The population of theCity of York (Local Authority) was 198,051 and its ethnic composition was 94.3 per cent White, 1.2 per cent Mixed, 3.4 per cent Asian and 0.6 per cent Black. York's elderly population (those 65 and over) was 16.9 per cent, however only 13.2 per cent were listed as retired.[91]
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2018)
Also at the time of the2001 UK census, the City of York had a total population of 181,094 of whom 93,957 were female and 87,137 were male. Of the 76,920 households in York, 36.0 per cent were married couples living together, 31.3 per cent were one-person households, 8.7 per cent wereco-habiting couples and 8.0 per cent were lone parents. The figures for lone parent households were below the national average of 9.5 per cent, and the percentage of married couples was also close to the national average of 36.5 per cent; the proportion of one person households was slightly higher than the national average of 30.1 per cent.[92]
In 2001 the population density was 4,368/km2 (11,310/sq mi).[90] Of those aged 16–74 in York, 24.6 per cent had no academic qualifications, a little lower than 28.9 per cent in all of England. Of York's residents, 5.1 per cent were born outside the United Kingdom, significantly lower than the national average of 9.2 per cent.White British form 95 per cent of the population; the largest single minority group was recorded as Asian, at 1.9 per cent of the population.
The number of theft-from-a-vehicle offences and theft of a vehicle per 1,000 of the population was 8.8 and 2.7, compared to the English national average of 6.9 and 2.7 respectively.[93] The number of sexual offences was 0.9, in line with the national average.[93] The national average of violence against another person was 16.2 compared to the York average of 17.5.[93] The figures for crime statistics were all recorded during the 2006–07 financial year.
The city's estimated population in 2019 was 210,620.[94]
Having "No Religion" was higher than the national average for York in 2011 and 0.9 per cent lower than having a religion in 2021.
Christianity has the largest religious following in York; 43.9 per cent of residents reported as Christian at the 2021 census. York has multiple churches, most of which are medieval. Leaders of different Christian denominations work together across the city, forming a network of churches known as One Voice York.[100]
Percentages in York following non-Christian religion were below England's national average, in the 2011 census. York's only Mosque is located in theLayerthorpe area, and the city also has aUK Islamic Mission centre.[103] VariousBuddhist traditions are represented in the city and around York.[104] There is also an active Jewish community.[105]
A July 2020 report by Council stated that York is worth "£5.2 billion to the UK economy ... with 9,000 businesses and 110,000 people employed across the city".[113] According toMake It York, the city benefits from features that include a well-educated workforce, "excellent transport links to both national and international markets, pronounced strengths in a range of high value sectors, a pioneering digital infrastructure," and support networks for businesses.[114]
York's economy is based on theservice industry, which in 2000 was responsible for 88.7% of employment in the city.[115]
Statistics based on 2019 data indicated that tourism was worth over £765 million to the city, supported 24,000 jobs and attracted 8.4 million visitors each year.[116]
The Employment Rate in 2018 was 78.8%. The private sector accounted for 77,000 jobs in 2019 while 34,500 jobs were in the public sector.[94]
The service industries include public sector employment, health, education, finance, information technology (IT) and tourism that accounted for 10.7% of employment as of 2016. Tourism has become an important element of the economy, with the city offering a wealth of historic attractions, of whichYork Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural activities. As a holiday destination York was the 6th most visited English city by UK residents (2014–16)[117] and the 13th most visited by overseas visitors (2016).[118]A 2014 report, based on 2012 data,[119] stated that the city receives 6.9 million visitors annually; they contribute £564 million to the economy and support over 19,000 jobs.[120] In the 2017 Condé Nast Traveller survey of readers, York rated 12th among The 15 Best Cities in the UK for visitors.[121] In a 2020 Condé Nast Traveller report, York rated as the sixth best among ten "urban destinations [in the UK] that scored the highest marks when it comes to ... nightlife, restaurants, and friendliness".[122]
Spark:York, opened in 2018 as part of the Piccadilly regeneration scheme, offers a range ofstreet food, drinks and live music.
Unemployment in York was low at 4.2% in 2008 compared to the United Kingdom national average of 5.3%.[115] The biggest employer in York is the City of York Council, with over 7,500 employees. Employers with more than 2,000 staff includeAviva (formerly Norwich Union Life),Network Rail,Northern Trains, York Hospitals NHS Trust and theUniversity of York. Other major employers includeBT Group,CPP Group,Nestlé,NFU Mutual and a number of railway companies.[123][124]
A 2007 report stated that the economic position at that time very different from the 1950s, when its prosperity was based on chocolate manufacturing and the railways. This position continued until the early 1980s when 30% of the workforce were employed by just five employers and 75% of manufacturing jobs were in four companies.[125] Most industry around the railway has gone, including theYork Carriage Works, which at its height in the 1880s employed 5,500 people, but closed in the mid-1990s.[125][126] York is the headquarters of the confectionery manufacturer Nestlé York (formerly Nestlé Rowntrees) and home to theKitKat and eponymousYorkie bar chocolate brands.Terry's chocolate factory, makers of theChocolate Orange, was located in the city; but it closed on 30 September 2005, when production was moved by its owners,Kraft Foods, to Poland. The historic factory building is situated next to the Knavesmire racecourse.
On 20 September 2006, Nestlé announced that it would cut 645 jobs at the Rowntree's chocolate factory in York.[127] This came after a number of other job losses in the city atAviva,British Sugar, andTerry's chocolate factory.[128] Despite this, the employment situation in York remained fairly buoyant until the effects of thelate 2000s recession began to be felt.[129]
Since the closure of the carriage works, the site has been developed into offices. York's economy has been developing in the areas of science, technology and thecreative industries. The city became a founding National Science City with the creation of ascience park near theUniversity of York.[130] Between 1998 and 2008, York gained 80 new technology companies and 2,800 new jobs in the sector.[131][132]
TheCOVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to havereached England after cases were discovered in York on 31 January 2020.[133][134] The pandemic caused an economic slowdown because of restrictions imposed on businesses and on travel in the UK; by January 2021, many cities were in their third lockdown and the country's unemployment rate had reached its highest level in over four years.[135][136] The retail, hospitality, and tourism sectors were especially hard hit in York.[137] In August 2020, the campaign "Make It York" and the city council embarked on a six-month tourism marketing plan "to reenergise the city while building resident and visitor confidence".[116]
A report in June 2020 stated that unemployment had risen 114% over the previous year because of restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic.[138] In addition to high unemployment during lockdown periods, one analysis by the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership predicted in August 2020 that "as many as 13,835 jobs in York will be lost in the scenario considered most likely, taking the city's unemployment rate to 14.5%". Some critics claimed that part of the problem was caused by "over-reliance on the booming tourism industry at the expense of a long-term economic plan".[137] Other analyses suggested that "York is well-placed for the high street to recover and evolve from the pandemic if new businesses focus on creating an attraction or experience rather than traditional retail". The North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership also "predicted a significant rise instaycation trips to York in 2021".[139]
The city's first hospital,York County Hospital, opened in 1740 in Monkgate[143] funded by public subscription. It closed in 1976 when it was replaced byYork Hospital, which opened the same year and gainedFoundation status in April 2007. It has 524 adult inpatient beds and 127 special purpose beds providing general healthcare and some specialist inpatient, daycase, and outpatient services.[144] It is also known as York District Hospital and YDH.[144]
York Magistrates Court
TheYorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust was formed on 1 July 2006 bringing together South Yorkshire Ambulance Service, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service and the North and East Yorkshire parts of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide patient transport.[145] Other forms of health care are provided for locally by clinics and surgeries.
Between 1773 and 1777, the Grand Jury House was replaced by John Carr's elegant Court House for theAssizes of the whole county. The Female Prison was built opposite and mirrors the court building positioned around a circular lawn which became known as the "Eye of the Ridings", or the "Eye of York".
1776 saw the last recorded instance of a wife hanged and burnt for poisoning her husband.Horse theft was acapital offence. The culprits of lesser crimes were brought to court by the city constables and would face a fine. The corporation employed a "common informer" whose task was to bring criminals to justice.[153]
The former prison is now theCastle Museum but still contains the cells.
York's location on the River Ouse, and in the centre of the Vale of York, means that it has always had a significant position in the nation's transport system.[26] The city grew up as a river port at the confluence of the Ouse and the Foss. The Ouse was originally atidal river, accessible to seagoing ships of the time. Today, both of these rivers remain navigable, although the Foss is only navigable for a short distance above the confluence. Alock atNaburn on the Ouse to the south of York means that the river in York is no longer tidal.[154]
Until the end of the 20th century, the Ouse was used bybarges to carry freight between York and theport ofHull. The last significant such traffic was the supply ofnewsprint to the local newspaper's Foss-side print works, which continued until 1997. Today, navigation is almost exclusively leisure-oriented.
Panorama of theRiver Ouse looking south from Lendal Bridge
Like most cities founded by the Romans, York is well served by long-distance trunk roads. The city lies at the intersection of theA19 road fromDoncaster toTyneside, theA59 road fromLiverpool to York, theA64 road fromLeeds toScarborough and theA1079 road from York toHull. The A64 road provides the principal link to the motorway network, linking York to both theA1(M) and theM1 motorways at a distance of about 10 miles (15 km) from the city. The trans-PennineM62 motorway is less than 20 miles (30 km) away providing links toManchester and Liverpool.The city is surrounded on all sides by an outer ring road, at a distance of some 3 miles (5 km) from the centre of the city, which allows through traffic to by-pass the city. The street plan of the historic core of the city dates from medieval times and is not suitable for modern traffic. As a consequence, many of the routes inside the city walls are designated ascar-free during business hours or restrict traffic entirely. To alleviate this situation, six bus-basedpark and ride sites operate in York. The sites are located towards the edge of the urban area, with easy access from the ring road and allow out of town visitors to complete their journey into the city centre by bus.[155]
Public transport within the city is largely bus-based.First York operates the majority of the city's local bus services, as well as theYork park and ride services. York was the location of the first implementation of FirstGroup's experimental and controversialFTR bus concept, which sought to confer the advantages of a modern tramway system at a lower cost.[156] The service was withdrawn following an election manifesto pledge by the Labour Group at the 2011 local government election.[157]Transdev York also operates a large number of local bus services. Open-top tourist and sightseeing buses are operated by Transdev York, on behalf ofCity Sightseeing and York Pullman on behalf ofGolden Tours.
The city has been a major railway centre since the first line arrived in 1839, at the beginning of the railway age. For many years, the city hosted the headquarters and works of theNorth Eastern Railway.[41]
The closest international airports areLeeds Bradford, which is 30 miles (48 km) away from the city centre,Teesside 47 miles (76 km),Humberside 54 miles (87 km). Further afield areManchester 84 miles (135 km) andNewcastle 95 miles (153 km).
Teesside Airport has one rail connection via Darlington and Eaglescliffe, with a limited service by bus fromits station. By road, it is accessible by theA19 north to theA67. Newcastle Airport has one connection via Newcastle station, with the metro toNewcastle Airport; it is accessible by theA1(M) north to theA1 then theA696.
Leeds Bradford and Humberside have no direct railway stations, with bus route connections instead. Leeds Bradford serves most major European and North African airports.[165] Humberside is accessible by theA1079 to theA15 via theA63; Leeds Bradford by theA59 to theA658 via theA661.[166]
York has an airfield at the formerRAF Elvington, 7 miles (11 km) south-east of the city centre, which is the home of theYorkshire Air Museum and used forprivate aviation. In 2003, plans were drafted to expand the site for business aviation or a full commercial service.[167] FormerRAF Church Fenton is also near the city and private; it is now calledLeeds East.
University of York, view across the lake toCentral Hall
TheUniversity of York's main campus is on the southern edge of the city atHeslington. The Department of Archaeology and the graduate Centres for Eighteenth Century Studies and Medieval Studies are located in the historic King's Manor in the city centre.[173]
It was York's only institution with university status until 2006, when the more centrally locatedYork St John University, formerly an autonomous college of theUniversity of Leeds, attained full university status. The city formerly hosted a branch of theUniversity of Law before it moved to Leeds. The University of York also has a medical school,Hull York Medical School.[174]
The city has two major further education institutions.York College is an amalgamation of York Technical College and York Sixth Form College. Students there study a very wide range of academic and vocational courses, and range fromschool leavers andsixth formers to people training to make career moves.[175]Askham Bryan College offers further education courses, foundation and honours degrees, specialising in more vocational subjects such as horticulture, agriculture, animal management and evengolf course management.[176]
St Peter's School, the city's oldest school. founded in the 7th century
There are 70local council schools with over 24,000 pupils in the City of York Council area.[177] The City of York Council manages most primary and secondary schools within the city.
This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2022)
Primary schools cover education from ages 5–11, with some offering early years education from age 3. From 11 to 16 education is provided by 10 secondary schools, four of which offer additional education up to the age of 18.[178] In 2007, Oaklands Sports College and Lowfield Comprehensive School merged to become one school known asYork High School.[179]
There is one "outstanding"[180] Roman Catholic secondary school in the city,All Saints School, which was founded in 1665, the school is split-site meaning that the education of lower years (years 7–9) happens on the Lower Site attached to the oldest running convent in the country,Bar Convent. And the upper years including sixth form are taught on the Upper Site which is on Mill Mount, the former site ofMill Mount County Grammar School for Girls. The Sixth form is the largest sixth form in the city. As a school it plays an essential role in York's Catholic community being the only secondary institution dedicated to the denomination. It was the first Catholic school in the country to admit girls for education in the 1660s.
The city is part of the UNESCOCreative Cities Network as a city ofMedia Arts. An unsuccessful 2010 bid by York city council and a number of heritage organisations to make aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site indirectly led to the city making a successful bid for its title.[185][186][187]
TheTheatre Royal, which was established in 1744, produces an annualpantomime which attracts loyal audiences from around the country. The theatre's veteran star,Berwick Kaler, often played thedame, before he retired from acting in the pantomime in 2019,[188] and officially parted ways with the theatre after the so-called "Panto Wars".[189] The Theatre Royal continues to produce an annual pantomime without Kaler, who came out of retirement in 2021 to star in a new panto at TheGrand Opera House.[190] Both the Grand Opera House and Joseph Rowntree Theatre also offer a variety of productions.[191][192] The city is home to theRiding Lights Theatre Company, which as well as operating a busy national touring department, also operates a busy youth theatre and educational departments. York is also home to a number of amateur dramatic groups.[193] The Department of Theatre, Film and Television and Student Societies of the University of York put on public drama performances.[194]
Interior of York's Grand Opera House
TheYork Mystery Plays are performed in public at intervals, using texts based on the original medieval plays of this type that were performed by the guilds – often with specific connections to the subject matter of each play. (For instance the Shipwrights' Play is theBuilding of Noah's Ark and the fish-sellers and mariners theLanding of Noah's Ark).[195] The York Cycle of Mystery Plays or Pageants is the most complete in England. Originally performed from wagons at various locations around the city from the 14th century until 1570, they were revived in 1951 during theFestival of Britain, when York was one of the cities with a regional festival.[196] They became part of the York City Festival every three years and later four years. They were mostly produced in a temporary open-air theatre within the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, using some professional but mostly amateur actors. Lead actors have includedChristopher Timothy andRobson Green (in the role of Christ) and DameJudi Dench as a school girl, in 1951, 1954 and 1957. (She remains a Patron of the plays). The cycle was presented in the Theatre Royal in 1992 and 1996, within York Minster in 2000 and in 2002, 2006 and 2010 by Guild groups from wagons in the squares, in theDean's Park, or at the Eye of York.[197] They go around the streets, recreating the original productions. In 2012, the York Mystery Plays were performed between 2 and 27 August atSt Mary's Abbey in theYork Museum Gardens.[198]
Each September since 1997, York has held an annual Festival of Food and Drink. The aim of the festival is to spotlight food culture in York and North Yorkshire by promoting local food production. The Festival attracts up to 150,000 visitors over 10 days from all over the country.[203]
The Assize of Ale is an annual event in the city where people in medieval costume take part in apub crawl to raise money for local charities. It has its origins in the 13th century, when anAssize of Bread and Ale was used to regulate the quality of goods. The current version was resurrected in 1990/91 by the then Sheriff of York, Peter Brown, and is led by the Guild of Scriveners.[204]
York ham
The Knavesmire, home of York Racecourse, plays host to Yorkshire's largest beer festival every September run by York CAMRA – York Beer & Cider Festival.[205] It is housed in a marquee opposite the grandstand of the racecourse in the enclosure and in 2016 offered over 450 real ales and over 100 ciders.[206]A product claimed to be local is York ham,[207] a mild-flavouredham with delicate pink colouring. It is traditionally served withMadeira Sauce.[208][209] The ham has been described as a lightly smoked, dry-cured ham that is saltier but milder in flavour than other European dry-cured hams.[210] Folklore has it that the oak construction for York Minster provided the sawdust for smoking the ham.[211] A likely apocryphal story attributes Robert Burrow Atkinson's butchery shop, inBlossom Street, to be the birthplace of the original York ham, or at least to have made it famous.[212]
York's centre is enclosed bythe city's medieval walls, which are a popular walk.[213][214] These defences are the most complete in England. They have the only walls set on high ramparts and they retain all their principal gateways.[215] They incorporate part of the walls of the Roman fortress and some Norman and medieval work, as well as 19th- and 20th-century renovations.[216]
The entire circuit is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km), and encloses an area of 263 acres (106 ha).[217] The north-east section includes a part where walls never existed, because the Normanmoat of York Castle, formed by damming theRiver Foss, also created a lake which acted as a city defence. This lake was later called the King's Fishpond, as the rights to fish belonged to the Crown.A feature of central York is theSnickelways, narrow pedestrian routes, many of which led towards the former market-places inPavement andSt Sampson's Square.[218]The Shambles is a narrowmedieval street, lined with shops, boutiques andtea rooms. Its unusual name comes from an old English term for an open-air slaughterhouse or meat market.[219] Most of these premises were once butchers' shops, and the hooks from which carcasses were hung and the shelves on which meat was laid out can still be seen outside some of them. The street also contains the Shrine ofMargaret Clitherow, although it is not located in the house where she lived.[220]Goodramgate has many medieval houses including the early-14th‑centuryLady Row built to finance aChantry, at the edge of the churchyard ofHoly Trinity church.
The southern entrance to York, Micklegate Bar, is a 12th–14th century structure.
In June 2015, YorkCAMRA listed 101 pubs on its map of the city centre, some of which are hundreds of years old.[221] These include theGolden Fleece,Ye Olde Starre Inne, noted for its sign which has spanned the street since 1733,[222] andThe Kings Arms, often photographed during floods.[223] On 18 June 2016, York CAMRA undertook a "Beer Census" and found 328 unique real ales being served in over 200 pubs in York, reinforcing the city's reputation as a top UK beer destination.[224]
In the centre of York, inSt Helen's Square, there is the York branch ofBettys Café Tea Rooms. Bettys' founder, Frederick Belmont, travelled on the maiden voyage of theQueen Mary in 1936. He was so impressed by the splendour of the ship that he employed the Queen Mary's designers and craftsmen to turn a dilapidated furniture store in York into an elegant café in St Helen's Square. A few years after Bettys opened in York war broke out, and the basement 'Bettys Bar' became a favourite haunt of the thousands of airmen stationed around York. 'Bettys Mirror', on which many of them engraved their signatures with a diamond pen, remains on display today as a tribute to them.[225]
The York area is served by a local newspaper,The Press (known as theEvening Press until April 2006),The York Advertiser newspaper (based atThe Press on Walmgate), and four local radio stations:BBC Radio York,YorkMix Radio,YO1 Radio andJorvik Radio. A local commercial radio station,Minster FM, broadcast until 2020 when it was replaced byGreatest Hits Radio York and North Yorkshire.[226][227][228][229][230][231] Another digital news and radio website isYorkMix run by former print journalists, that incorporates Local News; What's On; Food & Drink; Things To Do and Business sections with articles written by residents and local journalists.[232] In August 2016 YorkMix was nominated in two categories in the O2 Media Awards for Yorkshire and The Humber.[233]
On 27 November 2013, Ofcom awarded the 12-year local TV licence for the York area to a consortium entitled The York Channel, with the channel due to be on air in spring 2015.[236] This service is now on air asThat's TV North Yorkshire.[237]
York St John University has a Film and Television Production department with links to many major industrial partners. The department hosts an annual festival of student work and a showcase of other regional films.[238]
Rugby union has been played in York since the 1860s, with multiple teams currently playing within the city.York RUFC was formed in 1928, and amalgamated with theYork Cricket Club in 1966. The teams' home ground is at York sports ground at Clifton Park. The men's 1st team play inNorth 1 East, with the women's team in RFUW Women's NC1 North East championship.[251] York Railway Institute (RI) RUFC home ground is at the York RI sports club on newlane, York. The men's team currently compete in Yorkshire Division 4 South East (Yorkshire 4), and the ladies team play in the RFUW Women's NC1 North East championship.[252] Based at the York site of chocolate and confectionery maker NestleRowntree's, Nestle Rowntree RUFC was founded originally in 1894 and re-founded in 1954. They currently play their home games atYork St. John University Sports Field and they compete in Yorkshire Division 4 South East (Yorkshire 4).[253]
York Racecourse was established in 1731 and from 1990 has been awarded Northern Racecourse of the Year for 17 years running. This majorhorseracing venue is located on theKnavesmire and sees thousands flocking to the city every year for the 15 race meetings. The Knavesmire Racecourse also hostedRoyal Ascot in 2005.[260] In August, racing takes place over the four-dayEbor Festival that includes the Ebor Handicap dating from 1843.[261]
On 6 July 2014, York hosted the start of Stage 2 of the 2014Tour de France. Starting the Départ Fictif fromYork Racecourse, the riders travelled through the city centre to the Départ Actuel on the A59 just beyond the junction with the Outer Ring Road heading towardsKnaresborough.[262] In 2015, the inauguralTour de Yorkshire was held as a legacy event to build on the popularity of the previous year, with the Day 2 stage finishing in York.[263]
Motorbike speedway once took place at York. The track in the Burnholme Estate was completed in 1930 and a demonstration event staged. In 1931 the track staged team and open events and the York team took part in the National Trophy.[264]
An open rowing clubYork City Rowing Club is located underneath Lendal Bridge.[265] The rowing clubs of The University of York,York St John University Rowing Club andLeeds University Boat Club as well as York City RC use the Ouse for training. There are two sailing clubs close to York, both of which sail dinghies on the River Ouse. The York RI (Railway Institute) Sailing Club has a club house and boat park on the outskirts ofBishopthorpe, a village3 miles (4.8 km) to the south of York. The Yorkshire Ouse Sailing Club has a club house in the village ofNaburn,5 miles (8.0 km) south of York.
York Garrison is a garrison of the British army, which administers a number of units based in and around the city of York.[266][267][268][269] The garrison's current units are:[270]
In 2016 York becamesister cities with the Chinese city of Nanjing, in line with an agreement signed by theLord Mayor of York, focusing on building links in tourism, education, science, technology and culture.[277][278][279][280]
On 22 October 2014, it announced the first 'temporal twinning' with Jórvík, the Viking city on the site of York from 866 to 1066.[281] In 2017 York became UK's firsthuman rights city, which formalised the city's aim to use human rights in decision making.[282]
a There was no census in 1941: figures are from National Register. United Kingdom and Isle of Man. Statistics of Population on 29 September 1939 by Sex, Age, and Marital Condition.
b There is a discrepancy of 37 between Office for National Statistics figures (quoted before) and those on theVision of Britain website (quoted here).
^Russo, Daniel G. (1998).Town Origins and Development in Early England, c. 400–950 A.D. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 119–120.ISBN978-0-313-30079-0.
^Jones, Barri; Mattingly, David (1990).An Atlas of Roman Britain. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers (published 2007). p. 317.ISBN978-1-84217-067-0. Cemeteries that are identifiably Anglian date from this period; some graves are within the Roman cemetery on The Mount.
^Drake, Francis.A Catalogue of the Mayors and Bailiffs, Lord Mayors, and Sheriffs of the city of Your from anno 1273, 1 Edward I, and upwards, to the present year (1735).
^ab"York".Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved2 March 2021.
^"York UA/City: Total Population".A Vision of Britain Through Time. Great Britain Historical GIS Project.Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved19 July 2009.
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