Heritage

York Minster

2011-10-04T07:34:09-08:00

Large gothic church housing the largest collection of medieval stained glass in England.

York Gate Garden

2011-10-04T07:34:08-08:00

Inspirational one acre garden widely recognized as one of Britain's finest small gardens. A series of smaller gardens with different themes and in contrasting styles are linked by a succession of delightful vistas. Striking architectural features play a key role throughout the garden which is also noted for its exquisite detailing.

York Cold War Bunker

2010-08-05T09:20:14-08:00

The York Cold War Bunker is a two-storey semi-subterranean Cold War bunker in the Holgate area of York, England, built in 1961 to monitor nuclear explosions and fallout in Yorkshire in the event of nuclear war.

The building was used throughout its operational existence as the regional headquarters and control centre for No. 20 Group Royal Observer Corps YORK between 1961 and 1991. It is an English Heritage Scheduled Monument and was opened in 2006 by English Heritage as a tourist attraction.

During its Cold War operational period the building could have supported 60 local volunteer members of the Royal Observer Corps inclusive of a ten man United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation scientific warning team. They would have collated details of nuclear bombs exploded within the UK and tracked radioactive fallout across the Yorkshire region, warning the public of its approach.

The fully restored building contains air filtration and generating plant, kitchen and canteen, dormitories, radio and landline communication equipment and specialist 1980s computers and a fully equipped operations room with vertical illuminated perspex maps.

The attraction opens every 1st and 3rd weekends of each month and Bank Holidays from 10am - 3pm and is only accessible by one hour long tours, departing every 30 minutes and includes a 10 minute (PG rated) informational video about nuclear war. Access on weekdays is by arrangement for school and other interested group visits.

Yaxley Hall

2011-10-04T07:36:17-08:00

Yaxley Hall is an intimate country house located on the Suffolk/Norfolk borders. It is a private home, which the owner makes available on a limited basis throughout the year. The property has been the subject of a recent thorough refurbishment including the reinstatement of a large Gothick window.

Yarmouth Castle

2010-08-05T07:27:51-08:00

Yarmouth Castle is a small off-square blockhouse built by Henry VIII in 1547, to guard Yarmouth, Isle of Wight harbour. It was built as part of Henry's second device programme to fortify the English coast with a chain of coastal defences known as Device Forts or Henrician Castles. These were built to guard against the threat of foreign invasion. As it is a later fortification it did not have the earlier rounded or concentric shape but a square keep with angular bastions. It is now owned by English Heritage.

Wyken Hall Gardens

2011-10-04T07:36:17-08:00

Wyken is an Elizabethan manor house surrounded by a romantic, plantlovers' garden with maze, knot and herb garden and rose garden featuring old roses. A walk through ancient woodlands leads to award-winning Wyken Vineyards. The 16th century barn houses the Vineyard Restaurant featured in Michelin and Good Food Guides, and the Leaping Hare Country Store, described in Country Living as 'a model of what a shop should be.'

Wycombe Museum

2011-10-04T07:30:52-08:00

Set in historic Castle Hill House and surrounded by peaceful and attractive gardens.

Wroxeter Roman City

2010-08-05T09:53:42-08:00

Wroxeter (or 'Viroconium' ) was the fourth largest city in Roman Britain. It began as a legionary fortress and later developed into a thriving civilian city. Though much still remains below ground, today the most impressive features are the 2nd-century municipal baths, and the remains of the huge wall dividing them from the exercise hall in the heart of the city. The site museum and audio tour reveal how Wroxeter worked in its heyday, and the health and beauty practices of its 5,000 citizens. Dramatic archaeological discoveries provide a glimpse of the last years of the Roman city, and its possible conversion into headquarters of a 5th century British or Irish warlord.

In February 1859 workmen began excavating the baths complex, and by April much of the present site was exposed and thronged with fascinated visitors, including Charles Dickens. Donated by the landowner for public viewing, Wroxeter thus became one of the first archaeological visitor attractions in Britain.

Wrest Park

2010-08-05T01:11:38-08:00

Wrest Park is a country estate located near Silsoe, Bedfordshire, England. It comprises Wrest Park, a Grade I listed country house, and Wrest Park Gardens, also Grade I listed, formal gardens surrounding the mansion.

Wotton House

2011-10-04T07:30:52-08:00

The Capability Brown Pleasure Grounds at Wotton, currently undergoing restoration, are related to the Stowe gardens, both belonging to the Grenville family when Brown laid out the Wotton grounds between 1750 and 1767. A series of man-made features on the 3 mile circuit include bridges, follies and statues.