City Walls
History
Dating back to Roman times, the York city walls represent a
complex and colourful historical journey, which you can trace yourself by
walking around the remains of the walls encircling the city centre. The
foundations of the walls were built by the Romans in the first century AD,
though the majority of what stands today dates from the 12th
centuries, with some Victorian restorations.
The Gates
The gateways into the city – Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar
and Micklegate Bar – acted as toll booths during the medieval period, and are
still standing today. Each of these points now houses a small museum, namely the
Richard III Museum at Monk Bar, and provides an interesting insight into the
history and function of the gates.
Take a Stroll
One of the nicest ways to get an overview of York on a sunny day,
a stroll around the tops of the city walls takes you past the Minster and
even allows you to peer into the beautiful Deanery Gardens as you pass. Just
2.5 miles long, the walk takes no longer than two hours, and access is possible
at each Bar.
Information
Admission: Free
Opening times: 8am – dusk