37 Facts About York

Name York is derived from the Brittonic name, a combination of eburos "yew tree" and a suffix of appurtenance *-ako, meaning "belonging to, ” or “place of" .

In 1190, York Castle was the site of an infamous massacre of its Jewish inhabitants, in which at least 150 were murdered, although some authorities put the figure as high as 500.

Guy Fawkes, who was born and educated in York, was a member of a group of Roman Catholic restorationists that planned the Gunpowder Plot.

Competition from Leeds and Hull, together with silting of the River Ouse, resulted in York losing its pre-eminent position as a trading centre, but its role as the social and cultural centre for wealthy northerners was rising.

York was voted European Tourism City of the Year by European Cities Marketing in June 2007, beating 130 other European cities to gain first place, surpassing Gothenburg in Sweden and Valencia in Spain .

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York was voted safest place to visit in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards.

In 2018, The Sunday Times deemed York to be its overall 'Best Place to Live' in Britain, highlighting the city's "perfect mix of heritage and hi-tech" and as a "mini-metropolis with cool cafes, destination restaurants, innovative companies – plus the fastest internet in Britain".

York is divided into 21 administrative wards: Acomb, Bishopthorpe, Clifton, Copmanthorpe, Dringhouses and Woodthorpe, Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington, Guildhall, Haxby and Wigginton, Heworth, Heworth Without, Holgate, Hull Road, Huntington and New Earswick, Micklegate, Osbaldwick and Derwent, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without, Rural West York, Strensall, Westfield, and Wheldrake.

York is an ancient borough, and was reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 to form a municipal borough.

The holder of the Royal dukedom of York has no responsibilities either ceremonially or administratively as regards to the city.

In October and November 2000, York experienced the worst flooding in 375 years; more than 300 homes were flooded.

York has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons.

Percentages in York following non-Christian religion were below England's national average.

York has multiple churches, most present churches in York are from the medieval period.

York is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, has eight Roman Catholic churches and a number of different Catholic religious orders.

York's economy is based on the service industry, which in 2000 was responsible for 88.

Tourism has become an important element of the economy, with the city offering a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural activities.

York's economy has been developing in the areas of science, technology and the creative industries.

York has been a major railway centre since the first line arrived in 1839, at the beginning of the railway age.

York railway station is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line from London to Newcastle and Edinburgh.

York was the location of the first implementation of FirstGroup's experimental and controversial FTR bus concept, which sought to confer the advantages of a modern tramway system at a lower cost.

The first free public library, the York Library, was built on Clifford Street in 1893, to mark Queen Victoria's jubilee.

The City of York Council manages most primary and secondary schools within the city.

York Mystery Plays are performed in public at intervals, using texts based on the original medieval plays of this type that were performed by the guilds – often with specific connections to the subject matter of each play.

In 2012, the York Mystery Plays were performed between 2 and 27 August at St Mary's Abbey in the York Museum Gardens.

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York's bid failed, leading to 'disappointment' from the team involved.

York's centre is enclosed by the city's medieval walls, which are a popular walk.

The north-east section includes a part where walls never existed, because the Norman moat of York Castle, formed by damming the River Foss, created a lake which acted as a city defence.

In June 2015 York CAMRA listed 101 pubs on its map of the city centre, some of which are hundreds of years old.

On 18 June 2016, York CAMRA undertook a "Beer Census" and found 328 unique real ales being served in over 200 pubs in York, reinforcing the city's reputation as a top UK beer destination.

York International 9s was an annual rugby league nines tournament which took place in York between 2002 and 2009.

York RUFC was formed in 1928, and amalgamated with the York Cricket Club in 1966.

York Racecourse was established in 1731 and from 1990 has been awarded Northern Racecourse of the Year for 17 years running.

On 6 July 2014, York hosted the start of Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France.

York Garrison is a garrison of the British army, which administers a number of units based in and around the city of York.

In 2016 York became sister cities with the Chinese city of Nanjing, in line with an agreement signed by the Lord Mayor of York, focusing on building links in tourism, education, science, technology and culture.

In 2017 York became UK's first human rights city, which formalised the city's aim to use human rights in decision making.