Top Activities on the Ground in York

Delve into the dark side of York, and see the city in a new light, on this evening ghost bus tour. Visit notorious local haunts of restless spirits and pass eerie sites such as York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the grave of Dick Turpin, the infamous highwayman and murderer. Throughout the tour, hear anecdotes and fascinating facts about York’s grisly past, and make key stops for a closer look at the city’s most haunted buildings.

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.

Swap predictable walking tours for a fun and alternative way of exploring York—a Viking–themed treasure hunt game. Using your smartphone, enjoy the freedom of a self-guided experience that’s played by chatting to a character—Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking King of York. By solving riddles, you can make your way around the city, and uncover key landmarks along the way.

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.

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.

You don’t have to join a tour group to discover York. This self-guided audio walking tour lets you set the pace and pick up and drop the route when it suits you. Hit all the signature spots—York Minster, Stonegate, Mansion House, the Shambles, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world, and more. The app works online and offline, and includes geodata, so you don't need to waste money on roaming charges.

Uncover the medieval marvels of historic York on a bespoke walking tour with a private guide. Learn about York’s rich history as you walk around the centuries-old walls, pose for photos with a backdrop of the city or visit the wall museums (not included). Your private tour is yours to customize as you please, so you could also pay a visit to York Castle, stroll down the atmospheric The Shambles or take a peek inside the magnificent York Minster.

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.

See a new side of Yorkshire on a full-day tour from York, visiting film locations from the classic British TV show “Heartbeat“. Admire the rugged scenery of the North Yorkshire Moors, get a taste of local life in villages like Pickering and Goathland, and visit the seaside resort of Whitby. It’s ideal for fans of the show who also want to see the countryside through the eyes of a local.

An Immersive Ghost Hunt: Don’t just listen to a tour guide—become a paranormal investigator in a gripping, story-driven mystery to save York from restless spirits. True Chills & Dark History: Uncover the genuine, bone-chilling lore of Europe’s most haunted city, from the phantom Roman legion of Treasurer's House to the medieval "snickelways." Built-in Pub Stops: The route purposefully passes York’s most notoriously haunted taverns (like The Golden Fleece), perfect for pausing the game to grab some "liquid courage." Interactive Urban Puzzles: Crack codes and solve riddles using real-world details hidden in plain sight on centuries-old gravestones, blue plaques, and Tudor timber beams. 100% Flexible & Private: No rigid schedules or crowded groups. Play instantly on your smartphone, pause whenever you like, and explore York entirely at your own pace.

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.

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.

Explore the captivating city of York through an interactive scavenger hunt that blends history with adventure. This unique experience allows you to uncover the tales of York's Roman and Viking heritage while visiting iconic sites like Clifford's Tower and the Yorkshire Museum. With your app guiding you, stroll through The Shambles and decode the mysteries of the city's street names at your own pace. Perfect for families, friends, or couples, this activity promises a fun and informative way to sightsee while capturing memorable moments along the way.

Discover York from a different perspective on a self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt of the city. Solve riddles and clues that lead to the next location, showing all the city highlights. Solve interesting puzzles, have fun and learn new things about York. Explore the city and find hidden gems at your own pace. Try a new type of experience with your smartphone, the perfect mix between a walking tour, sightseeing, and a scavenger hunt. Enjoy the tour in English.

The real beauty of this tour is the efficient use it makes of your holiday/vacation time. On first inspection, it may appear quicker to take the train. While the train is a great option for some, by the time you have caught a taxi, hauled your luggage to the correct platform at the station, and done the same again at the other end, you have spent nearly a full day travelling, missing out on historic sites such as Hadrian’s Wall, Bamburgh Castle, the wild Scottish border country or the other wonderful sites and landscapes we travel through along the way.

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?

Survive an apocalypse in York today with Zombie Scavengers! An app will provide you with a list of items needed to survive the zombies. Find these items in any order you'd like and perform fun zombie themed challenges for points. Come up with a system to get the most points in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. Your friendly remote host will help you throughout the game via chat. Get enough points to survive the zombie apocalypse in York today!

Turning City Streets Into an Adventure Playground! Get a unique perspective of the city centre on this self-guided, interactive treasure hunt. It's the best way to see York! On your adventure, unlock a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles and completing challenges, earning points along the way. During your Quest you will not only discover the city's highlights but explore hidden gems, learn some fun facts about the places you visit and see things that most people just pass by. As the activity is all self-guided through the app, you can start your Quest when you want (see opening times for this Quest), there are no set starting/ending times. No groups to follow. You can go at your own pace, stopping for longer in one location, taking a break or having a snack in one of the many cafes and pubs along the trail OR you can make it a race and try to get to the top of the city leaderboard! Instant acess with nothing to print from home. Will you conquer the Quest?

Using an app on your smartphone, you'll be given nearly 120 objects to find during your scavenger hunt. You'll then wander throughout the downtown area searching for the items. Once you've found the object, you'll send a photo in to score points. Along the way, you will perform challenges for even more points. You'll have 13 categories of objects you can find in this city walk, with each object varying in points depending on the difficulty. Don't worry, you won't be alone. You'll have a remote guide that will be texting you during your game if you need help or have a question. They will also encourage you and give you hints along the way! The objective of the game is to have fun, rank #1 on the leaderboard, and try to get as many points as possible by finding all of the objects!

The Drowned City is an interactive tour that takes you through the city’s fascinating and often dark history to reveal a hidden world of Vikings, Medieval architecture, and Victorian trade. Follow the clues and solve riddles to find your way through the winding cobbled streets of York, with the aim of saving the city from an invasion of mythical beasts.

This Quirks & Snickets tour consists of a trail of clues that guide you around York. It takes the boredom out of repetitive walking tours, allows you to solve riddles, and helps you discover hidden sites that you might not find otherwise. The clues are easily accessed through your phone, making it a fun and convenient way to explore the city.

Unravel the mysteries of York with the Gift the Romans Quest, a thrilling treasure hunt perfect for families and friends. As you navigate the historic streets, your team will rely on strategy and creativity to solve engaging riddles, unlocking the next chapter of the story and inching closer to a tasty reward. This self-guided adventure, designed for groups of 2 to 8, allows you to explore at your own pace, stopping for coffee or sightseeing whenever you like. With a full year to redeem your quest, there's no rush to embark on this unforgettable journey through time.

Explore the haunted streets of York in a thrilling self-guided quest. Equipped with just your smartphone, navigate through the city as you solve riddles and uncover ghostly tales. Engage with 13 spectral stories, each leading you to hidden gems while you enjoy the freedom to stop for a coffee whenever you like. Perfect for teams of 2 to 8, this adventure lasts around 90 minutes and can be enjoyed at your own pace, anytime within a year of purchase. Kids under 8 play free, making it a fantastic family outing.