Over a million people a year take a walk through 1900 years of history on York's city walls.  Built in Roman times, they've been added to and rebuilt over time and now have parts from across the centuries.  Originally built as defences, the focus is now on conservation.  

Improvements to city walls

A series of improvements to York's city walls, which are the most intact medieval walls in England, were officially launched on Thursday 31 August 2006.

The improvements include:

• A multi-media installation inside Bootham Bar aimed at encouraging people to walk all the way around the city walls.
• Beautifully designed and constructed information panels at each of the access and exit points around the city walls.
• 12 plaques of stone and metal, designed by sculptors, inserted into the wall walk around the city.
• Brass pavement markers that form a trail between sections of the city wall, making it easier for residents and visitors to navigate the entire walls circuit.

Opening times

Open every day from 8.00am to dusk except when there is a risk of ice resulting in slippery conditions.

Closed on Christmas day.

Closing times

These are the times when the closing process starts beginning at Fishergate Postern travelling anti-clockwise. This takes takes about one hour.

• January - 3.30pm
• February - 4.30pm
• March (upto the clocks changing) - 5.30pm
• March (after clocks changed) and April - 7.30pm
• May - 8.00pm
• June to July - 9.00pm
• August - 8.00pm
• September (start to mid) - 7.00pm
• September (mid to end) - 6.00pm
• October (upto the clocks changing) - 5.00pm
• October (after clocks changed), November and December - 3.30pm