Walking the Wall in York

Part of the 12th century city wall looking back at the tallest building in town, York Minster 

Side view of York Minster from the city wall 

The 12th century four-storey Micklegate Bar was the most important of York's four gates and the one  monarchs used to enter the city.  The top two floors were added as living quarters in the 14th century.

Some of the half timbered buildings and narrow street of The Shambles, the old butchers street

13th century Church of the Holy Trinity and its pretty grounds

Inside the Church of the Holy Trinity showing their rare 17th century box pews

The original Betty's Tea Room Cafe on Stonegate serving high tea since 1910


A bit of mixed weather today as we successfully walked the 3 miles of the12th century wall that still surrounds the old town of York.  Its in remarkably good shape and we got some excellent views of the new York as well as York Minster.  We also checked out a couple of the gates that were added to the wall by the Normans.  After the wall tour it was time for lunch and we found York Hogroast, a very popular take-out that serves delicious pork sandwiches that are carved in front of you.  We had ours with English mustard and branston pickle.  It was delicious and very filling.  We were now ready to checkout more of the town.  One of the most unique places in old town is called The Shambles - a colorful old street that is filled with 16th century half-timbered Tudor buildings that was once the street of the butchers.  Continuing on our walk we stumbled onto a hidden gem called the Church of Holy Trinity that was accessed by an obscure gate that led to the grounds and 13th century church.  Inside, people sit in 17th century box pews which were common in Anglican churches until their widespread removal in the 19th century.  Back on Goodramgate (gate means street) we walked passed the oldest buildings in York, dating from the 1300's and onto Stonegate where we did some serious shopping before heading to one of York's best tea houses, Betty's Tea Rooms and some time to relax and unwind with a cup of famous Yorkshire tea.