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York
Excursion
*
This walking tour starts from point number 1 on this map.
When you arrive at each point read the description of the sight.
You will have the chance to discover and admire many of the most
beautiful and important sights of this city.
Entrances not included.
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
4
St Helen’s Square
5
St Helen’s Square was
a churchyard of St Helen’s
Church until the early 18th
century. The Square gets its
name from the Church that
dates back to the 13th century.
On the other side of the Square
is The Mansion House built
in 1725 as an official residence
for the Lord Mayor. The Square
in its current formwas created
in the 1920s when a number
of buildings were demolished
around the area.
Today the Square is a busy
crossway surrounded by
the High Street shops,
Stonegate, and the Cultural
Quarter of Museum Gardens
and Exhibition Square.
Street performers often occupy
the Square.
York Shambles
7
‘The Shambles’ is often used
as a general term for the maze
of narrow lanes, but at the heart
of this maze is the lane actually
called the Shambles, which
is one of the best preserved
medieval streets in the world.
Many of the buildings on
the street date back to
the late 14th and 15th centuries.
Shambles is the oldest street in
York. Back in the day it was
a street of butchers’ shops
and houses. The reason why
the street was made narrowwas
to keep the meat out of direct
sunlight.. The unique look of the
Shambles has been awarded
the title of the most picturesque
street in Britain.
Parliament Street
& Parliament Square
8
Parliament Street was built
in 1834, and it is also known
as Parliament Square.
It is the modern shopping
area in York.
Guildhall
6
The Guildhall is a replica
of a 15th century building.
The current building was opened
by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen
Mother in 1960. The original was
destroyed by a fire in an air raid
during World War II. The 15th
century building was built for
the purpose of council meetings
in 1445.When the Guildhall was
not used for Council meetings,
all different kinds of events took
place in the building. Sometimes
the Guildhall was used as
a Court of Justice. Access to
the Guildhall is through
the Mansion House arch from
St Helen’s Square.
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