YORK MINSTER

This gigantic cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the world and is the undisputed icon of the whole city and indeed of Yorkshire. In 1220, the Archbishop of York decided to replace the Norman building that stood there with a jewel of Gothic architecture capable of rivaling Canterbury, the superb neighbour to the south. The challenge was met! This colossus can even tease Notre Dame, and its medieval stained glass windows (West Window) are considered the most brilliant in Britain. But it's the whole thing that is so beautiful, and it's a delight from the inside as well as the outside. During your visit, don't miss the statues of the King's Screen and the organ which is leaning against it. The circular Chapter House is also absolutely enchanting. For a small additional fee, you can reach the top of the Minster from the central tower. The views over the city and the Yorkshire countryside are breathtaking. As are the very narrow and steep stairs leading up to it... However, beware of peak hours and busy days, when the building is quickly taken over by groups of tourists. If you don't have enough time, at least take a tour outside.

Undercroft. When the Minster threatened to collapse in the 1970s, salvage attempts revealed some 2,000-year-old rubble. Descend into the bowels of the earth to view the remains of an ancient Roman fort, original early foundations and finds around a Saxon cemetery