A journey of 360,000 miles finally came to an end today as York's Jorvik Viking Centre's "time cars" were moved into retirement prior to the attraction's renovation.

The cars have taken the 1,052 year journey back in time 40 times a day since the centre opened in 1984, but today's visitors were the last to hear Magnus Magnusson's commentary as they took a trip around the re-creation of Viking-age Coppergate.

The next time the centre's doors will open to the public - next spring- they will unveil a brand new attraction, following a major £4.8 million redevelopment.

Richard Kemp, director of attractions for Jorvik's owners, York Archaeological Trust, said: "This is a day of very mixed emotions - sadness that the fantastic displays seen by over 12 million people are to be dismantled, and excitement at the start of the refurbishment that will return Jorvik to the forefront of visitor attraction technology by Easter next year."

The centre's directors have been keen to ensure that visitors to York over the winter will not miss the Vikings altogether.

Many of the displays from the Viking street will be temporarily located in the adjacent St Mary's building in an exhibition called The Jorvik Story.