Top York Walking Tours

Explore the highlights of York without being stuck in a tour group on this self-guided treasure hunt. No need to carry a physical map, as all of the clues and maps can be accessed through your smartphone. Along the way, pass by top landmarks, and learn interesting stories about the city that you might discover otherwise.

Discover the imperial capital that shaped an empire. Long before it was York, this city was Eboracum—a crucial northern powerhouse of the Roman Empire where emperors ruled and stayed. On this immersive walking tour, you’ll leave the modern streets behind to trace the monumental footprint of the Roman legions. Led by an expert historical guide, we strip away the myths to look at the real history, engineering, and daily lives of the people who built ancient York. From high-status citizens to the soldiers guarding the frontier, discover how Rome stamped its authority on the British landscape. Perfect for history enthusiasts and curious travelers looking for an authentic, deep-dive exploration of York’s classical past. **NB: that later tour slots will require the first stop to be the Roman Baths Museum. Please also note that the City Walls may be closed due to maintenance, or foul weather, particularly over winter when the walls have reduced access hours.**

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.

Explore York’s Dark side in our York Horrors and Haunts smartphone guided walking tour. You’ll be guided step by step to the sites where pure horror took place and hear the history and mayhem that occurred here. And you’ll hear about a few ghosts that linger. Go at your own pace. Stop anytime. Go anytime-1pm or 1am. Professionally narrated and infused with sound effects and music to set the mood. Be guided step by step using location aware walking tour technology. This is a hands-free experience, so feel free to keep your phones in your pocket and your eyes wide open. Go anytime, 24/7. And listen again anytime. The tour never expires. It’s yours!

See a side of York’s history and art that lots of tourists miss out on on this small-group walking tour through the Shambles and Shards that focuses on the stained glass found in local churches. But don’t worry—you needn’t be a major art history buff to enjoy this experience. The tour is relaxed and accessible to all knowledge levels.

With rich Roman and Viking history and beautiful architecture, York is among England’s must-see cities—but exploring independently means you may miss its hidden secrets. On this private walking tour, follow your guide through historic York and find out what makes the city special. Explore top attractions like Clifford's Tower, the Jorvik Viking Centre, the Roman walls, and St Mary’s Abbey, and enjoy skip-the-line access and sweeping views along the River Ouse.

Discover the rugged beauty of rural Northern England on a full-day tour from York—no need to rent a car or tackle the area's country roads yourself. Explore traditional English moorland villages, Hutton-le-Hole and Goathland, famed filming locations for the Harry Potter™ movies. Head into the North York Moors National Park for panoramic views over the rolling countryside, then wander Whitby at your leisure, with options to visit Whitby Abbey, the port, or the Captain Cook Museum. Return via the Hole of Horcum.

York is known for its medieval streets, ancient city walls, and beautifully-preserved buildings; and this private tour is the perfect way to make the most of your visit. Instead of studying a map, look up and admire the sights as a private guide shows you the city’s must-see sights. Places passed on the route include the York Minster, the building where Guy Fawkes was born, Clifford’s Tower, and the Shambles.

Chocolate fans—this is the one for you! Rather than simply buying chocolate from a shop in York, this experience allows you to learn how to make your own chocolate bar from scratch. Learn special techniques used by chocolatiers—such as how to temper chocolate, and experiment with different flavor combinations too. At the end of the lesson, enjoy the perk of being able to take your chocolate bar away with you.

See the historic buildings and monuments of York through a lens on this unique walking photography tour. Take photos with the guidance of your professional photographer guide, and learn about the history of the ancient city as you go. Learn how to take photographs of landscapes, buildings and street portraits on your own camera, whether you have a state-of-the-art machine or you’re using your smartphone.

Join this experienced and knowledgeable guide on a walking tour around the City of York and some of it's most famous attractions! Delving deep into the city's history with plenty of fun facts and maybe a few jokes along the way.

Puzzle fans need look no further than this immersive York treasure hunt murder mystery, set in 1491, that’s sent to your phone (over the Telegram app) as a series of riddles. Discover classic sights and quirky delights as you unravel each cryptic clue, unlock the path to the next location—and bring the criminal to justice. You’ll cover around 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), with two optional pub breaks en route.

This is a great choice for first-time visitors to York. Enjoy the personalized experience of a private tour that helps you uncover York’s famous sights—such as the York Minster and St. Mary’s Abbey—as well as secret corners of the city that you likely wouldn’t uncover if exploring alone. As it’s a private tour, you can also make requests if there are any particular places you’d like to see.

Explore York's vibrant culinary scene on a guided food tour that takes you through the historic streets and hidden gems of this iconic city. Sample six delicious foods, including cheese, noodles, and gelato, as you uncover the stories behind each bite. You'll even sample warm fudge from a 19th century whilst watching a demonstration of it being made. With an expert guide leading the way, enjoy a multi-course tasting experience that celebrates local flavours and independent eateries. Come hungry and ready to savour the rich history and diverse cuisines of York. You'll also visit key York landmarks and learn some fun facts (like how many jumbo jets can fit inside York Minister!). - Guided tour lasting approximately 4 hours with a maximum group size of 12 - Discover six unique food stops, featuring a variety of cuisines - All food included in the tour - Ideal for food lovers seeking to experience York's local culinary scene - Local history and fun facts

Explore the ancient city of York in a new and unique way on this self-guided treasure hunt tour. Using GPS technology, follow the guide app’s clues and solve puzzles to reveal hidden locations on your map. Walk through the streets like a local, and take short-cuts and secret passages to the most iconic York tourist spots, the best way to avoid the crowds. Win points as you travel—will you reach the top of the national leaderboard?

Get off the beaten path of the tourist trails and come join us for an exciting exploration of the fascinating story behind York’s unique snickelways. Discover the history of the city as told by its ancient alleys, secret snickets, charming courtyards, and long-lost lanes. This walking tour will take you on a journey through the paths of the city known only to locals, giving you a unique perspective on York’s rich heritage. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to uncover the stories that lie around - and in - every corner in York!

Unearth 2,000 years of York’s history on the ultimate bespoke walking tour! From Roman roots to medieval majesty, you’ll discover the iconic Roman Column and the breathtaking York Minster. Stroll the historic City Walls, explore the serene Museum Gardens, and stand before the ancient Multangular Tower. Marvel at the Georgian elegance of the Mansion House, step into the hidden medieval world of Barley Hall, and wander the famous, timber-framed Shambles. Finally, look up at the commanding Clifford’s Tower. Expertly tailored, deeply engaging, and perfectly paced—this is the definitive York experience. Book your unforgettable journey today!

Visit some of York's best and lesser-known sights and meet the cast of characters who have helped shape the city, from an ancient Roman outpost to the exciting city of today. • Enjoy three walking tours around the city. One tracing the city wall, another examining its ancient history and the final tour looking at its haunted spots • Hear from producer James Easton, a local resident, passionate about the history • Have complete control over when you start and finish with the ability to linger at stops en route • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and 3 codes listed under “Before You Go”. Simply install the VoiceMap mobile app and enter your codes. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. The app has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

A fantastic walk around the city centre of York, enjoying stories about its long history. You and the host Kay will visit 5 great independent eateries, all serving delicious food with great passion. Food that is all sourced locally and with influences from around the world and each carefully chosen tasting makes up part of the city's vibrant food and drink scene. With a knowledgeable guide and the company of other foodies, you and your taste buds will not only thoroughly enjoy yourself but you'll be supporting these local independents too. You will be walking around the city centre and will end on Castlegate. You walk a little less than a mile in total. It is all flat although some of the streets are cobbled. There are minimal stairs at all your tastings although some have restrooms which are accessed by stairs. The host Kay do recommend having a very small breakfast – you want to save yourself for some delicious tastings!

With a colorful history dating back thousands of years, York ranks among England’s oldest cities—but exploring independently means you risk missing its hidden secrets. On this walking tour, begin with pickup at your central York hotel and explore the city’s narrow streets with your private guide. Capture the city on camera from vantage points around town, and delve into 2,000 years of Viking history and heritage.

This is a great pick for travelers interested in discovering some of the best independent eateries in York. Save time scrolling through restaurant reviews, and learn about the local food scene from a guide instead. The tour visits five independent food venues for tastings that make up a generous lunch and passes by famous landmarks such as the York Minster along the way.

Any tourist can visit York and enjoy its historic buildings and picturesque cobbled streets, but what about learning about its past as Jorvik, as the Vikings called it hundreds of years ago? This private tour takes you through a side of the city’s story that most visitors miss out on.

Designed for travelers with a historical interest in the supernatural, this private 2-hour ghost tour of York — one of the most haunted cities in the world — allows you to customize your itinerary to suit you. Choose to visit sites with countless reports of ghost sightings, including York Minster, and The Shambles, and listen to frightening tales rooted in York’s 2,000-year-old history. The start time and location of your tour is up to you.

If you’re looking for a fun alternative to predictable sightseeing tours, then this is it. Set off with a private guide on a tour that reveals stories about York’s criminal history—including takes of the Yorkshire Ripper, Dick Turpin, and William the Conqueror. Along the way, break up your walk with stops at key landmarks, such as Clifford’s Tower, St. George’s Field, and the Guy Fawkes Inn.