York is a cathedral city situated in North Yorkshire, England, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss. It serves as the traditional county town of Yorkshire and functions as the administrative centre of the City of York district. The area is governed by the City of York Council, which provides local services across the district that includes surrounding villages, rural areas, and the town of Haxby.

Founded in AD 71 by the Ninth Legion as a military fortress named Eboracum, the city became the capital of Britannia Inferior. It later served as the capital for the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria, and Scandinavian York, known then as Jórvík. The city endured Viking rule until AD 954 and survived the Norman Harrying of the North, with its historic buildings largely restored after damage during the Second World War.

The city centre features a compact warren of pedestrianised streets lined with centuries-old buildings ranging from Roman remnants to medieval timber frames. Key landmarks include York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, and the UK's most extensive preserved city walls, which are over two miles long. The old town is encircled by these defensive walls, with the castle situated on high ground near the river confluence.

York attracts millions of visitors annually to explore its well-preserved historical structures, including the Shambles and York Minster. Cultural attractions include the Jorvik Viking Centre and Britain's National Railway Museum. As a UNESCO City of Media Arts, the city hosts numerous festivals celebrating music, theatre, literature, and digital media, while its shops and markets offer local Yorkshire produce.

The built-up area had a recorded population of 141,685 at the 2021 census, while verified data lists the population as 208,400 as of 2016. Historically a wool-trading and confectionery-manufacturing centre, it became a major railway hub in the 19th century. York is located 27 miles north-east of Leeds, 90 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne, and 207 miles north of London.