York city walls

York city walls is a medieval defensive structure in York, England, that runs roughly 3.4 kilometers around the old town center. The wall connects four major gates and several towers distributed along the circuit, offering views over the city and surrounding streets.

The first fortifications appeared in 71 AD under Roman rule and formed the foundation for the later town walls. The current limestone walls were built between the 12th and the 14th centuries, then supplemented by Victorian restoration work during the 19th century.

Each of the four main gates carries the name bar and shows the building style of its era, as merchants and travelers once entered the city through these points. The gates served as checkpoints where goods were inspected and tolls collected before anyone could pass into the town center.

You can walk along the top of the walls daily from eight in the morning until dusk, reaching them through several access points near Lendal Bridge and Bishopgate Street. Sturdy shoes are advisable, as some sections are uneven and feature steep staircases.

At Walmgate Bar stands the only surviving barbican on an English town gate, with its original portcullis mechanism still visible. This defensive structure with its two towers provided extra protection and could channel attackers into a narrow enclosed space where they were vulnerable.