08/03/2026
York sits where the River Ouse meets the River Foss, making it a perfect location for both a military base and a trading hub right from day one. It began as a Roman fortress in AD 71 as they expanded their invasion north from Kent and they called it Eboracum. After the Romans left, the Anglo-Saxons named it Eoforwic, roughly meaning “boar town.” I suppose if wild boars thrived there, it signified a fertile, productive ecosystem. It’s therefore not surprising that later the Vikings conquered the town, calling it Jórvík, which became one of the major trading cities in Europe and remained under Viking rule for about 100 years. After the Norman Conquest, the name York has been used from the 1100s onward.
What makes this city truly special is the surviving 4 km city wall that surrounds it, with layers of history preserved and restored, so we can still walk or jog on it today. I’m amazed that many of the city gates, important buildings, shops and even the little laneways (known as “snickelways”) are still in use.
York on Saturday was next-level busy, even though it was cold and gloomy. We had to squish through people in the bars, walked amongst the crowds to find delicious pork pies and ate them as we walked along because most cafes had long queues and even had to turn up early at a restaurant since we couldn’t get a booking. York was a prominent city centuries ago and its vibrancy continues on the same streets today, unbelievable! ❤️
