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York is the traditional county town of Yorkshire, to which it lends its name. However, it did not form part of any of the three ridings of Yorkshire. The modern City of York, created on April 1, 1996, is a unitary authority — as well as York itself, this includes a number of neighbouring parishes which formerly belonged to the surrounding districts of Harrogate, Ryedale and Selby. It borders on North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

York is home to the University of York.

YORK is the north's most compelling city, a place whose history, said George VI, "is the history of England". This is perhaps overstating things a little, but it reflects the significance of a metropolis that until the Industrial Revolution was second only to London in population and importance, not only at the heart of the country's religious life, but also a key player in some of the major events that have shaped the nation. These days a more provincial air hangs over the city, except in summer when York feels like a heritage site for the benefit of tourists. That said, no trip to this part of the country is complete without a visit to the city. York is well placed for any number of day-trips , the most essential being that to Castle Howard , the gem amongst English stately homes.

Take a look at one of the maps dotted around the city centre and you're confronted with a baffling and intimidating prospect. If the tourist office is to be believed, there are around sixty churches, museums and historic buildings crammed within York's walls. In fact the tally of things you really want to see is surprisingly limited, with most sights within easy walking distance of one another. Even so, it's hard to get round everything in less than two days, and equally difficult to stick to any rigid itinerary. The Minster is the obvious place to start, followed by the cluster of buildings that circle it; then you might cut south to the Shambles , central to the city's old centre and pedestrianized grid, or walk around the walls from the Minster to Exhibition Square for the Yorkshire Museum and St Mary's Abbey , evocative ruins surrounded by the city's loveliest gardens. Thereafter you could walk through the main shopping streets to take in the Merchant Adventurers' Hall , most striking of the city's smaller medieval buildings, then deal with Clifford's Tower and the nearby Jorvik Viking Centre and Castle Museum . Lastly, be sure to leave time to take in the National Railway Museum , a superb museum whose appeal goes way beyond railway memorabilia. The York Museums pass (£9) gives five days' unlimited access to the Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and City Art Gallery, offering a fair saving on entry to these attractions.

York Minster, the historic cathedral church stands at the city's centre. The city centre is nearly surrounded by walls, pictured. To walk the entire circuit (including parts where walls never existed) is about 3 miles.

The Shambles is perhaps York's most iconic street. Formerly the lamb-butchers district, it retains most of its feel from around 4-500 years ago. It contains the shrine of Margaret Clitherow, and many gift shops.

The city has many museums, including the Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, Richard III Museum and the York Dungeon. The National Railway Museum is situated just behind the station, and is home to the largest static collection of railway locomotives in the world, including the world's fastest steam locomotive LNER 4468 Mallard.

York is also a major venue for horse racing at York Racecourse in the Knavesmire area, and every year, thousands flock to the city for the Ebor Handicap Meeting in August.

York is also noted for its wealth of pubs. The York area is said to contain one pub for every day of the year, although this is a little exaggerated. Similarly it has been said that there is no point within the city walls where one can stand and not be able to see at least one pub and at least one church.

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