A Day Trip from Rosedale to York

At Rosella Cottage, we always advise visitors to this part of the World to put a trip to York on their holiday agenda.

York is just such a fabulous place to visit. 

It is one of the oldest and one of the prettiest English cities; and it is the capital of Yorkshire!

And what history you'll find!

The Romans established York as a modern city with the founding of their fort of Eboracum on the banks of the River Ouse in 71 AD. 

Eboracum was so important to the Romans that Emperor Severus ruled over the entire Roman Empire from York in 210-211 AD.

And the Emperor Constantine the Great - the first Christian Emperor -  was proclaimed as ruler of the Romans in York in the year AD 306.

You can still see evidence of the Roman occupation of York today by a visit to the Multangular Tower, built in 209 AD and now standing  in the Museum Gardens.

Once the Romans departed our shores, Eboracum became known by the new "owners" - the Saxons - as Eferwic.  And King Edwin of Northumbria made Eferwic his capital city.

In 627 AD, Paulinus became the first Bishop of York and he founded St Peters School in that year.  St Peter's is the oldest school in the Christian World and still to be found with buildings near the Minster.

In 867 AD, Eferwic was seized by the Viking raiders from Scandinavia who renamed the city "Jorvik"; and the Vikings occupied York for the next 100-years. 

Little of the Viking city of Jorvik remains, except perhaps the references to "gate" in the city street names ("gate" is a Norse word meaning "street").

One thing that does remain from those early Viking days, however, is to be found in the excellent Jorvik Viking Centre in Coppergate.  We'll highly recommend a visit to this excellent exhibition which is one of England's premier tourist attractions.

In 965 AD, Jorvik was freed from Viking rule by the Anglo-Saxons who again, ran the city for the next 100 years.

After the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066 AD, William came to York; and he burnt the Anglo-Saxon city to the ground.

But he rebuilt York with two castles to guard the North, generally; and the River Ouse specifically. 

He also rebuilt and extended the city walls to their present positions and ordered a new Minster to be built.

You can still visit Clifford's Tower - rebuilt in 1244 AD -  to stand on the site of William's castle mound.

And you can also walk the Norman city walls - rebuilt in the thirteenth century - which stretch for 3-miles around the inner city area. 

They're the most complete and longest city walls in England.  It really does make for a fantastic historical walk.

Close to Clifford's Tower, you'll also be able to visit the Castle Museum.  This really is an excellent and interesting museum; and you can even see the prison cell where the condemned highyway man Dick Turpin ate his last meal before going to meet the hangman in 1739.

The highlight of any trip to York has to be a visit to York Minster.  Building began on the "new" Minster in 1220 AD and continued for the next 250 years.  It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Europe and has some of the best stained glass windows you'll ever see.  It really is awe-inspiring.

Another interesting and historical site to visit in York city centre and near the Minster is the famous narrow medieval "Shambles".  The Shambles (from the Saxon word fleshammels - meaning meat shelves or "butchers shops") was once the street housing Yorks meat-trade.  Nowadays it's packed with tourist shops but it makes for an interesting walk down the narrow street with its overhanging buildings.

Once you've had enough history, you'll find York is a great place for shopping.  It has loads of interesting artisan shops, crafts shops and galleries and all the usual high-street favourites.  You'll have no trouble finding something you like!

There are also plenty of places for refreshments.

Lastly, we recommend that you use the very good park 'n' ride system of buses to get into and out of York.  It's a good system and allows you to drive from Rosedale Abbey and park-up just off the York ring-road; and then catch one of the very regular buses right into the heart of town.

It's much easier (and cheaper) than trying to drive into the town centre and find a parking spot. 

That's our tip of the day!

Rosella Luxury Holiday Cottage

Rosella Cottage is a luxury holiday home in Rosedale Abbey in the heart of the North York Moors.  Built in 1850 but now completely refurbished; we have a cosy lounge, kitchen, a king-size bed in a big bedroom with vaulted-ceiling and exposed beams, and a lovely en-suite.

We've got a village-centre location and we're easy walking distance to the village shop, cafes, and village pubs with great restaurants.  To view availability and for bookings, just click here.