Any visit to York is generally considered incomplete without a visit to Clifford's Tower, the remains of an old stone castle first built in Norman times and further developed during the reign of Henry III. Never ones to buck the trend, Mrs SWSt and I decided to make good use of our English Heritage membership and venture inside. Clifford's Tower is all that remains of what was once a pretty extensive castle which at one time covered a large area of York and offered a strong defensive position. The tower itself is mostly derelict and fell into disuse a long time ago. However, the ruins themselves are still rather impressive from the outside. Although the tower ...  Read the complete review

Cliffords Tower is one of the premium tourist attractions in York. It was first built in the 11th century, although the tower which remains probably dates from the 14th century. It has a very long history, probably most infamously as the site of a mass suicide in 1190 by a group of Jewish people who were hiding from a mob. The ones who surrendered were killed. These days, it's a far more tranquil place and is located relatively close to the centre of York. It is next to the Castle Museum, which is where Dick Turpin was imprisoned before his trial. There is also a big pay and display car park here, which is handy if you are visiting either attraction. ...  Read the complete review