The City of York attracts visitors from across the world every year, drawing on its rich history to make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Founded as Eboracum by the Romans in the year 71 AD, York was home to the Ninth and later the Sixth Legions of the Roman Empire. The city, situated at the confluence of the rivers Foss and Ouse, quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain and in 211 AD became the capital of the province Britannia Inferior.

Additional influences from the Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons and Medieval times make York a beautiful city with a busy social calendar and can be visited any time of year. Nicknamed the “City of Festivals", tourists can experience festivals on a wide range of topics and themes. These include the Viking Festival, Roman Festival, Ghost Festival, Multicultural Food and Arts, Lesbian Arts and the Christmas Fayre; and as a city equally suited for a romantic getaway or a family holiday, the highlights include the York Gallery, The York Dungeon and Castle Howard.

The York Gallery combines displays of fine paintings and ceramics, ranging from as far back as the 14th century until present day. This spring, until 13 May, the special exhibition ‘Relationships: Contemporary Sculpture’ is on display, featuring sculptures by some of Britain's leading contemporary artists which explores the idea of relationships. The title piece of the exhi

bition is Damien Hirst's ‘Relationships’, most famously featured in his 1991 solo show Internal Affairs.

The York Dungeon offers fun for all the family, bringing visitors back to the dark and grizzly streets of the Roman city of York. Displays and live actors create a unique experience that is exciting enough for everyone, but not too scary to bring your children. All the features are based on actual historical records, from the Labyrinth of the Lost Roman Legion to the Implements of Torture and the chilling tale of highwayman Dick Turpin. If you are planning a visit, the Dungeon offers a discount if you pre-book tickets online.

Castle Howard is the largest private stately home in the UK. Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699, it took over 100 years to complete and is well-known for its towering dome. Open to the public from 1st March to 2nd November, the Castle combines intimate and dramatic interiors with over 1,000 acres of gardens and is filled with magnificent collections gathered by the Howard family. It remains a firm favourite with tourists and was most recently awarded the White Rose Award by the Yorkshire Tourist Board, naming Christmas at Castle Howard the Tourism Experience of the Year 2007.

The city of York is easily accessible via road or rail transport from most major UK cities, so if you’re looking to visit the city, then booking travel and hotels in York now is relatively straight forward and a good way to get the best deal possible.