North Yorkshire is one of the most historical places in the UK and is home to York. Many a York hotel take advantage of the medieval architecture, combined with the modern slant the city has taken on in recent years, with beautiful old buildings being restored to their former glory and used as hotels. Situated in the Vale of York, the city has somewhat slightly better weather than much of northern England, with the weather being both warmer and drier than the rest of the region of Yorkshire and Humberside.
The city was founded by the Romans in 71AD, who promptly built the now iconic city walls. The city walls have seen much development since their construction and quite a variety of uses. During their occupation of the city, the Romans constructed a wooden fortress, later rebuilt in stone and covering over 50 acres. The ruins of this stone fortress are now the foundation of York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe, situated between the River Ouse and the River Foss. 866AD saw the Vikings invade and conquer. They turned the city into a successful communication and commerce base, until the Norman intrusion of 954AD and the following unification of England.
York has flourished for most of its history, with the exception of the mid 1400s to the mid 1500s. It was during this Tudor period of history when York experienced considerable difficulty and unease between the monarchy, clergy and general population. During the English Civil War of 1642-1651, the areas of the city beyond the walls were badly damaged. Many lost their homes and it took several decades for the city to be rebuilt. This was done mostly in the late 1600s, by wealthy traders and gentry. The late 17th Century saw York begin to develop into a recognisable version of the cultured city it is today. The 1860s saw the arrival of the Rowntree brothers and their cocoa works and a vast increase in the wealth of the city and many of its inhabitants, but the character has been maintained. In 1968, the core of York was designated a conservation area, which has protected charming cobbled streets and medieval buildings from being lost.
Tourism has long been a mainstay of the prosperity of the city, providing the opportunity for a large choice when looking for a York hotel, many fine restaurants and cafes, considerable shopping and a good choice of holiday activities. Visitors to the city should enquire at the nearest tourist information centre, or ask at their hotel reception for more information on activities and places of interest in the area. Those staying in the city and surrounding suburbs will find a comprehensive selection of museums, galleries and arts performance venues to choose from and fill their days and evenings with. The largest railway museum in the world is the National Railway Museum, which can be found on Leeman Road. The National Railway Museum is free and often runs special events. From machines to mammals, the racecourse is another leisure ground popular with many throughout the country and sees many returning visitors. These, along with Viking festivals, Roman festivals, festivals celebrating food and drink, science and technology and several annual music festivals, keep York busy year-round. The birthplace of the famous Guy Fawkes sees the skies light up for almost a week of bonfires, fireworks displays and other festivities in his honour.
Aside from various festivities, York is a successfully growing business centre, being less than two hours from London by train and only an hour from Manchester Airport. The University, established in 1963, is one of the best in the country for scientific teaching and research, leading to the city becoming a founding Science City and generating much employment in these fields. The city has a history of being home to major confectionery, construction and engineering companies and this has grown to include most industries and economies.
All of this and more have led visitor and tourist accommodation to expand greatly. There are hotels for every visitor and price-range, from luxuriously-appointed hotel suites with on-site spas, gyms and swimming pools, to more basic B&Bs. A good York hotel will offer broadband internet connections; many have free parking, on-site hotel restaurants or bars and some offer conference centres and other business facilities. There are small, family-owned and run hotels, boutique accommodations and large hotel chains within the city.
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