Top York Culture

Skip the standard group tours and enjoy an alternative history of York during this award-winning, immersive guided tour of the city. Pass by top attractions—such as the Shambles and Jorvik Viking Centre—as you listen to your guide tell tales of witches, queens, and murderers that you wouldn’t hear on most other tours.

From plague to Vikings to butchery and murder, discover York’s dark history on this family-friendly tour led by a guide known for his dark sense of humor. See sights such as York Minster, the Shambles, and Bedern Hall, the silliest street in England, as you hear tales of bygone days, vile crimes, and things that go bump in the night.

York has a rich history, dating back almost 2,000 years, but finding out which heritage sites to see can be time-consuming. Hear tales and trivia you won’t find in the guidebooks when you join this walking tour, led by a guide with a passion for history. From Guy Fawkes to York Minster, from butchery to falconry, from martyrs to dungeons, get an in-depth perspective on this fascinating city.

Don’t worry about getting lost in the winding streets of medieval York during this introductory small-group tour of the city, ideal for first-time visitors and those with limited time in the region. See several York highlights—including St Mary’s Abbey, York Minster, and The Shambles—without worrying about directions, while benefiting from the insight of your guide throughout.

Exploring York on your own can mean wandering past centuries of history without really understanding what you’re seeing. This guided walking tour adds the stories and context that bring the city to life. As you stroll along the ancient walls and through York’s picturesque streets, your guide connects the landmarks to powerful figures such as Constantine the Great, Robert the Bruce, and Oliver Cromwell—explaining how their actions shaped the city you see today. Along the way, discover hidden details, natural features, and lesser-known corners you might otherwise miss, turning a simple walk into a deeper, more meaningful experience of York.

Families visiting York - this is York's only tour created specifically for children, and is ideal for wizard fans! Kids will enjoy a more engaging experience exploring York's history, magic, and mystery by walking around the city with a guide dressed as a wizard. Along the way, hear jokes, watch close-up magic, and search for mythical creatures at interesting locations–such as the York Minster, and the Shambles.

Enjoy a fully flexible and independent way to discover York’s highlights and history with this self-led, smartphone audio tour. Upon booking, download the app to your smartphone, and use whenever suits your schedule. With the help of the included GPS map and directions, you’ll discover key landmarks like the York Minster, York City Walls, and the Shambles; will learn about the city’s Viking history; and much more.

See a spookier side to York without the worry of getting lost during this guided ghost walk around the streets and snickelways (alleys) of the medieval city. Listen to your guide tell tales of York’s tragic past that you wouldn’t otherwise hear, ask questions along the way to learn more, and enjoy an atypical introduction to the city.

Blend history with entertainment on this spooky walking tour of York. You’ll hear historical tales as you walk through the city and marvel at the medieval architecture of sites like York Minster cathedral. Learn about the city’s history with an emphasis on stories related to witchcraft, the spooky, and the strange.

Take part in this true crime walking tour and uncover the grim realities of York’s criminal past. Along the way, you will learn about executions, arsonists, thieves, forgers, highwaymen, and murderers whose actions left a lasting mark on the city.

York is Europe’s most haunted city. Its over 2,000 years of turbulent history has created the perfect environment for lingering spirits. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll visit the city’s most haunted public houses, each one teeming with tales of ghostly figures and unexplained phenomena. The tour starts at Bootham Bar, one of York’s ancient gateways to the city. You’ll weave through medieval streets to visit historic pubs like the Hole in the Wall, where a prison hatch once allowed patrons to pass drinks to unfortunate inmates, and the Guy Fawkes Inn, named after one of Britain’s most notorious would-be assassins. Along the way, you’ll find out how the city’s pubs have been the setting for tragic deaths, sinister plots, and unexplained hauntings that continue to this day. You’ll hear about the Mad Maid who still cleans the Dean Court Hotel, the ghostly Roman soldier in the Hole in the Wall’s cellar, and the bride who appears only to those suffering from recent heartbreak.

Discover a variety of York's hidden treasures during this walking tour. Uncover the city's culture, history, and best-kept secrets with the help of you guide. From famous landmarks like Bettys and York Minster to tales of Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin, explore intriguing stories and overlooked marvels. Plus, delight in a chocolatey treat from York’s Chocolate Story, adding a sweet touch to your adventure. Whether you're a local or visitor, experience York in a different light.

Lots of walking tour itineraries are understandably full of happy historical facts, but what about the darker side of the story? This York tour doesn’t sugarcoat the villainous stuff—a guide talks you through the stories of some of the city’s most morally dubious characters and lets you wash the tales down with five shots of different rums inspired by these stories.

Delve into England’s colorful history and admire architecture dating back to the Middle Ages on this morning or afternoon York walking tour. Follow a guide through the streets of York and discover landmarks including Bedern Hall, Clifford’s Tower, Fairfax House, King’s Manor, the Multangular Tower, St. Mary’s Abbey, Stonegate, and St. William’s College. Hear how Emperor Constantine, Guy Fawkes, and Richard III shaped modern York, and learn of the English Reformation as you explore York Minster.

The heartwarming TV series “All Creatures Great and Small” has inspired a new generation with the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. Skip the stress of car hire and pair sights from the series with key locations from the creator’s life on this tour from York. Along the way, sample Wensleydale cheese, photograph Aysgarth Falls, and soak up views from high passes to get a taste of true English culture.

With beautiful architecture and medieval history, York is widely considered among England’s must-see cities—but pounding the sidewalks on foot takes time and effort. On this tour, hop into the saddle and spin through the city streets by bicycle, and hit top attractions like York Minster with ease. Follow safe routes inside and outside the ancient city walls, with your guide bringing York’s colorful Roman and Viking history to life.

Visiting any new city can be exciting, but challenging and costly to navigate for the first time too. With this York City Pass, heaps of logistics are sorted in one fell swoop. From York Minster to the York Dungeons to York’s Chocolate Story to discounts on hotel stays, this pass makes experiencing a new place so much easier.

Journey back in time on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of York, England’s quintessential medieval town. Your flexible 24-hour ticket enables you build a custom itinerary of York’s main attractions such as The Stonebow, Clifford’s Tower, Museum Gardens and more. With unobstructed views from the open-top viewing deck and 20 possible stops around town, you have the best of the city at your fingertips.

Round up the sights of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in just one day and without renting a car when you book this exciting small-group excursion from York. Drive past stone-walled villages, winding valleys, and grazing sheep, making stops at Bolton Castle, market towns, and the Aysgarth Waterfall. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Dales with multiple photo stops, commentary from your guide, and multilingual audio guides for a richer experience.

See the historic city of York from a different perspective during a 45-minute or 1-hour cruise on the Ouse River. Relax during a leisurely sail, accompanied by commentary that details the history and culture of York, and enjoy unobstructed views of landmarks such as Clifford’s Tower and the York Museum and Gardens. Choose from several departure times to suit your schedule.

York’s dark history isn’t always obvious as you wander its streets alone. This guided ghost walk reveals the city’s spookier side as you explore cobbled lanes and historic landmarks after dark. Follow your guide through some of York’s most atmospheric locations—including The Shambles, the Golden Fleece pub, Mad Alice Lane, and Clifford’s Tower—while hearing stories of mysteries, tragedies, and reported hauntings. Along the way, uncover the hidden legends behind the city’s top sights, turning a simple stroll into an entertaining and eerie introduction to York’s past.

This prebooked York Dungeon admission helps you save time waiting in ticket lines at the entrance, so you can get to the action quicker. Once inside, there’s so much to discover—including a ride, live shows, and interactive exhibits. As you explore the dungeon’s displays, you can learn more about York’s dark history, as well as notorious figures from the past—such as Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes.

Join us on an insightful walking tour of York, highlighting untold histories and diverse stories. On the Uncomfortable York™ tour, you will go beyond the conventional stories of the city, hearing about the impact of women, people of colour, and LGBTQIA+ individuals from York's past. This tour invites attendees to see beyond the stonework and uncover the lesser known narratives of York, while learning about the long and rich history of the medieval city. Walking through the beautiful city centre, you will discuss its early settlement, medieval expansion and vibrant industrial heritage. This tour was written and researched by academic historians from the University of Oxford and is delivered by trained guides from York. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot always accommodate last-minute bookings for private or group tours. Please contact us directly if you want to book a tour within the next 24 hours.

Movie enthusiasts, this one's designed just for you. Embark on a fascinating journey through York with an interactive tour that features movie trivia and group challenges. Along the way, discover iconic Harry Potter filming locations and enjoy additional elements such as video clips, costumes, and reenactments to enhance your experience. The tour is available in English, French, and German to accommodate more guests.