Exhibition Square

Exhibition Square was created in 1879 to provide a pleasant public space between Bootham Bar and York's new art gallery. It has an attractive fountain.

Exhibition Square is arguably one of the best viewpoints in York: in addition to the fountain and Statue of William Etty, it offers attractive views of Queen Margaret's Arch and Bootham Tower (aka Postern Tower), York Art Gallery, the Old Blind School Principal's House, the King's Manor, the De Grey Rooms, York Minster and Bootham Bar.

Image 1

Exhibition Square and the York Art Gallery building from the steps of Bootham Bar, with St Leonard's Place in the foreground.

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Image 2

The statue of William Etty and the fountains in Exhibition Square, with the perimeter wall of St Mary's Abbey, the Postern Tower and Queen Margaret's Arch beyond.

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Image 3

Smile for the camera. A couple pose for a photograph beside the fountain in Exhibition Square. In this view, the late afternoon sun illuminates Bootham Bar and the west end of York Minster.

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Image 4

The fountains and statue of William Etty, with parts of the King's Manor, the Old Blind School Principal's House and the Art Gallery building visible beyond. (The first two now house part of York University.)

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The square originally included a central garden surrounded by railings, but this was removed in 1972 and replaced with the fountain with paved surround that we see today.

All this makes Exhibition Square a pleasant place to relax for a while, despite the constant stream of traffic on St Leonard's Place and Bootham nearby.