Cliffords Tower is one of York's best known tourist attractions. York was the site of two castles built by Wiliiam the Conqueror, and had become one of the most important cities in England as a base for administrating the North of England.

The original castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1086. It was made of wood and built on top of a high conical mound overlooking the River Ouse. This was destroyed by fire during a local rebellion the following year. The Tower was then rebuilt by the Normans after suppressing the rebels.Then, in March 1190, the Tower saw one of the most horrifying episodes in York's colourful history. Amid anti-Jewish riots in York, a group of 150 Jews took refuge in the Tower. They were given the choice of either being baptised or killed. But they took a third option and many of the Jews commited suicide rather then allow themselves to be captured by the bloodthirsty mob outside.The Tower was then set on fire and those who finally surrendered were massacred and murdered.

Another wooden castle was built between 1245 and 1265, but this blew down and was destroyed in a gale. A new stone tower of quarterfoil design, resembling a four leafed clover, was built on the orders of Henry III. The castle construction also included the bailey walls, towers, gates, two halls, a chapel, kitchen and prison. Fifty years later the roof of the tower was lost in a fire, and later the tower cracked from top to bottom when part of the mound subsided into the moat.

In 1322 the tower was given its present name when Roger de Clifford was executed by Edward II for treason. Clifford was hanged in chains from the tower and since then, the building has been known as "Cliffords Tower".