The medieval walls of York are the most complete circuit of city walls in the UK. Its four impressive gates, or 'bars', and almost all its ramparts are open for walking around the city in daylight hours. There are three major stretches: from Layerthorpe Bridge to Bootham Bar, from the Barker Tower to Baile Hill and from the Fishergate Postern Tower to the Red Tower: a walk of almost two miles with spectacular views!

Generally the six-foot wide wall stands to a height of thirteen feet. The massive ditch was only ever water-filled around Walmgate Bar. Built of Magnesian Limestone, mostly in the 13th century, to replace a wooden Norman palisade, some of the walls still contain reused Roman gritstone which betray their very early origins. Originally a defensive measure, they later became an important trade barrier which enabled the controlled collection of taxes.

Next Stop: Monk Bar

York Shortcuts Roman Remains City Walls Monk Bar Goodramgate Bedern Chapel & Hall St. William's College York Minster Treasurer's House Dean's Park Minster Library Minster Yard Constantine's Statue Petergate St. Michael Le Belfry Bootham Bar City Art Gallery King's Manor De Grey Rooms Theatre Royal St. Leonard's Hospital Museum Gardens Multangular Tower Anglian Tower Yorkshire Museum St. Mary's Chapter House St. Mary's Abbey St. Mary's Hospitium St. Olave's Assembly Rooms Stonegate Snickelways Barley Hall St. Hel Square Mansion House Guildhall St. Martin Le Grand Roman Baths St. Sampson's Parliament Street King's Square Shambles Ghost Walks St. Crux Parish Room Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate All Saints' Pavement Archaeological Resource Centre Coppergate Jorvik Viking Centre Merchant Adventurers' Hall Dick Turpin's Grave Walmgate Bar York Story Fairfax House York Dungeon Clifford's Tower York Castle Museum Dick Turpin's Cell National Railway Museum Micklegate Bar York Races Bishopthorpe Palace

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