This is a full eighteen-hole round through York. The map is the real city and the ball rolls along its actual streets, banking off the stone of the York Minster. Real attractions provide the structure for every hole. Six portals help move the ball across the 6.9 mi walk. Skip is a local guide who knows these alleys and bars by heart, provided there are no crumbs to distract him.
York Minster is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of York, North Yorkshire, England. Constructed in the English Gothic architecture style, the minster had its inception in 1220. It is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument. This church building is the seat of the archbishop of York. Formally, the site is known as the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York. You can pick out the distinct Gothic details that define the structure's exterior and interior spaces.
Established and opened in 1984, the Jorvik Viking Centre is an independent museum created by the York Archaeological Trust. It is located in York, England. Inside, you can find life-size dioramas and lifelike mannequins that show what Viking life in the city was like. To see these scenes, you ride in 'time capsule' carriages equipped with speakers. I've noticed the carriages make the whole experience feel like a trip back in time, and the attention to detail in the dioramas is something you can really pick out as you roll past.
Let me show you Victoria Bar, a historic building situated here in York. This site is a Grade I listed building, which marks its significance to the city's architectural heritage. Construction on the building was started in 1838. It is a great spot to pause and look at the stonework. I've seen plenty of crumbs dropped near the entrance over the years, though I usually prefer the higher ledges for a better view of the street. It is a wonderful example of the city's enduring character.
Let me show you the York Guildhall. This municipal building is located in St Martins Courtyard on Coney Street in York, England. You can find it positioned behind the Mansion House. As a Grade I listed building, it is a significant piece of the city's architecture. It is a city hall that serves the community. I've always liked how it sits just a bit away from the main bustle of the street, giving you a moment of peace before you head back out into the crowd. It is a great spot to pause and admire the local surroundings.
You will first notice the ruined keep of the medieval Norman castle in York. Known as Clifford's Tower, this castle had its inception in 1068 and was designed by Henry de Reynes. It is a scheduled monument that reflects a long history of use across the centuries; for example, the wider York Castle served as a jail and prison until 1929. I find the view from the top is the best way to get your bearings in the city, as you can see the layout of the streets from a bird's eye view.
Let me show you Walmgate Bar, which is a historic building here in York. When you look at the structure, you can pick out the details that make it a Grade I listed building. It is one of the points where the city's old boundaries are still very visible to anyone walking the streets. I've noticed that the air feels different when you stand right next to these old stones. It is a great spot to pause and look around before you continue your journey through the city.
Fishergate Postern Tower is a historic building. Because it is a Grade I listed building, it is one of the most significant structures of its kind in the area. I always suggest taking a moment to look closely at the stonework and the way the structure fits into the surrounding environment. It is a great example of the city's architectural preservation and provides a tangible link to the past for anyone walking through the neighborhood, whether you are a tourist or a local.
Look up at the overhanging upper floors of the buildings; some of these structures date back to the 14th century. This is The Shambles, a historic shopping street and commercial district in York, England. It was once known as the Great Flesh Shambles, and the name itself derives from the Old English word sċeamol. I've noticed the narrow layout makes it feel like you've stepped back in time while you walk, though it remains a busy place for visitors today. It is one of the most distinctive walks in the city.
You might expect a single focus here, but the Yorkshire Museum in York, England, is both a natural history museum and an archaeological museum. It is a place where you can find a wide variety of specimens and artifacts across five permanent collections. These displays cover biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy. It is a popular spot for visitors, with 122,780 people coming through the doors annually. I find the variety of subjects makes it a great place to spend an afternoon.
You can pick out the massive locomotives first before taking in the rest of the National Railway Museum. Located in York, England, this national museum is a key part of the Science Museum Group. It is a very popular spot for travelers, seeing 807,591 annual visitors. The museum was founded in 1975 and later won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001. I've always found the scale of the trains here quite humbling, though I prefer the view from the roof.
The Bar Convent Museum is a Grade I listed church building in York. This site was designed by architect Thomas Atkinson and had an inception in 1786. It is connected to the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre located at Micklegate Bar in York, England. That centre was established in 1686 and is the oldest surviving Catholic convent in the British Isles. Visitors can explore the history of the convent and the architecture of the building while learning about the religious heritage preserved within these walls.
The York Oratory is a Grade II listed Catholic church building located in York, England. This place of worship is also known as the Oratory Church of Saint Wilfrid, York. The construction of the building was started in 1864. George Goldie was the architect of the York Oratory, designing a structure that remains a significant part of the city's religious architecture. You can see the specific style and detail that Goldie brought to this Catholic church building as you move through the area.
Located on St. Saviourgate, the York Unitarian Chapel is a Grade II* listed church building. It is a place of worship that holds a significant position within its denomination as a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. This assembly is the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians. Visitors to the chapel can appreciate the structure of this listed building while learning about the religious community it represents in York, England.
York Barbican is an event venue located in York, England. It is a versatile indoor entertainment space that hosts a wide range of activities, including live music, comedy, sports, business events, and conferences. The venue takes its name from the nearby barbican attached to Walmgate Bar. I've always found it a handy spot for a show, and it is built to accommodate large crowds. Specifically, the venue has a 1,500 seating capacity and a 1,900 standing capacity. It first had its inception in 1991 and has been a part of the city's entertainment scene ever since.
Located on Walmgate in York, the Church of St. Denys is a church building that visitors can easily spot along the street. This site is a parish church in the Church of England. It is a Grade I listed building, which indicates its importance within the city's architectural history. Because it is Grade I listed, the building is protected and recognized for its particular value. Whether you are passing through the neighborhood or stopping specifically to see the site, the church remains a prominent part of the Walmgate area.
The Gothic architecture of Holy Trinity Goodramgate defines its physical presence on Goodramgate in York. This church building is a Grade I listed building and formerly served as a parish church in the Church of England. Because of its historical and architectural importance, the site is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Visitors to this part of the city can observe the specific stylistic details of the Gothic period while exploring the surrounding streets of York.
This Grade II listed building in York houses the York Art Gallery, an art museum that opened in 1892. Inside, you can find a collection of ceramics, prints, watercolours, drawings, and paintings ranging from the 14th-century to contemporary works. The independent museum is managed by York Museums Trust. It is a great spot to spend an afternoon, though the doors were shut for a major redevelopment in 2013. Everything was ready for the public again when it reopened in the summer of 2015.
This site is not one of the city's massive minsters. Instead, it is St. Mary's Church, a Grade I listed church building. Known as St Mary Bishophill Junior, it is a parish church in the Church of England. You can find this building in the Bishophill area of York. It is a place of worship that is also recognized as a Grade I listed building, meaning it is of exceptional interest. It remains a key part of the local parish landscape for those visiting the Bishophill neighborhood.
You can pick out the specific Grade II listed gardens that make Rowntree Park such a standout spot. Located in Clementhorpe, York, this 20-acre park is open to the public. It provides a wide stretch of greenery in the city, having first opened on 16 July 1921. I've found it's a great place to stretch your legs, though I usually spend my time watching the crumbs from the benches. It is a wonderful example of a listed park and garden that remains accessible to everyone who visits the area.