The city of York was founded in 71 AD by a Legion of Roman soldiers. Due to its prime position on the River Ouse and its centralised location, York flourished under Roman rule, which lasted until 415 AD. Though the power of Roman influence faded over time, modern visitors can still appreciate York’s distinctive past if they know where to look.
The best place to start one’s journey through Roman history in York is with the city walls. Though the rise and fall of empires in York has led to much decay of the original structure, there are still sections of the original Roman York wall. There is a lovely wall walk around most of the structure, though guests should note that most of the walk features sections of the wall that do not have original Roman stonework. The walk is still enjoyable, but is not the most historically invigorating option in York.
Therefore, for the true enthusiasts, the best part of the wall is the Multangular Tower. This ancient tower is the largest and most distinctive relic from the Roman era. The tower is located in the Museum Gardens, a large complex with a number of impressive botanical gardens. However, if plants and flowers are not of particular interest, the Museum Gardens is still worth a visit since it is also connected to the Yorkshire Museum, which has one of the largest collections of Roman artifacts in the UK. Guests can view mosaics, tombstones, even ancient Roman hair, and then cap off the experience with a visit to the tower.
Beyond all that, there is still much for the Roman-minded tourist to seek out while on holiday in York. One of the most popular venues is The Roman Bath. Interestingly, this ancient bath was discovered under a local pub. Rather than destroy the bath to pave the way for renovations, the pub decided to utilise the structure. Now guests can visit the ruins in a small museum under the pub, which even has an interactive feature to communicate more about the role of a bath in ancient Roman society.
The real trick to experiencing ancient Rome in modern York is to find the right place to stay. To find the best selection of York hotels, visitors can look at lastminute.com hotels to find accommodations that are both cost effective and in the best location for a rousing Roman holiday.