All York Tours & Excursions in 2026

York is an ancient city that’s filled with more history than most tourists realize. Embark on an immersive walking tour and listen to tales of its history, from Roman times to the Vikings to the plague and to present day. Hear stories of Roman toilets, discover the grisly details of Dick Turpin’s execution, and learn about the gruesome cures concocted to cure the Black Death as you pass by the Minster, Jorvik Center, Shambles, Clifford’s Tower and more.

This Private Tour provides the opportunity for you to get out into the countryside to enjoy the fresh air and stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We will pick you up from your hotel (or other location of your choice) at 10.00am and head out of town for a circular tour of Wharfedale and Nidderdale, with alternative potential stops at Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Pateley Bridge and Fountains Abbey to suit your preferences. There will also be scenic photo stops along the way. You will be able to buy food and drinks en route, but feel free to bring your own food along and we will stop somewhere suitable for you to have a picnic away from any crowds. The itinerary for this tour is flexible, talk to your Driver when you set off to decide how you want to spend your time, based upon your personal preferences. Departs 10.00am and drops off 2.30pm.

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.

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.

This is a private Brontë Country tour from York, designed for guests who want more than a standard day trip. Instead of joining a coach or following a rushed group route, you travel with your own local driver-guide through Haworth, the Yorkshire moors, Brontë landmarks, literary viewpoints and atmospheric village stops. The tour combines famous Brontë locations with the wider landscape that shaped their writing — moorland views, historic churches, stone streets, remote ruins and quiet corners often missed on larger tours. The pace is flexible, with time for photos, short walks, café stops and exterior-only visits if preferred. With door-to-door pickup from York, private transport for up to four guests, and local storytelling throughout the day, it is a personal, comfortable way to experience Brontë Country without hiring a car or joining a large group.

The audio guide is a convenient mobile companion for a self-guided walk around York. The tour is designed specifically for getting to know the city in a short time (1.5–2 hours). Follow the route on the map in the app to walk from the railway station to Lendal Bridge, passing the city’s main sights. You will definitely see: York Minster, Clifford's Tower, City walls, Micklegate Bar, The shortest street in England, Ancient Roman ruins. The tour includes 23 interesting stops. All stories are written by professional journalists and historians with a touch of humor and a love of travel. After downloading the tour, the app works offline. You can always hear the audio guide clearly through your headphones. Enjoy fascinating stories and legends as you move at your own pace, without needing to follow a tour group. At any moment, you can stop to rest in a café or turn down a picturesque alley, then continue your walk around the city.

Explore York with an award-winning, qualified historian guide! We'll travel through 2,000 years of history as we walk along Roman roads, medieval walls and royal thoroughfares. This tour incorporates every inch of the most complete set of historical city walls anywhere in the UK. Find out why and how these fortifications were built - and hear the stories of those who dared to try to breach them..!

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.

Delve into the world of wild edibles with a personalized foraging walk near York. Over 2 to 2.5 hours, you’ll explore the rural landscape while learning to identify around 18 edible plants. This private experience allows for hands-on interaction, where you can touch, taste, and smell the plants under the guidance of a knowledgeable tutor. Ideal for couples, families, or anyone eager to deepen their understanding of foraging. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing your date and time, making it a perfect gift for any occasion.

Get your bearings and explore York like a local on this exclusive private walking tour, led by an expert guide. More than just a history lesson, this immersive experience brings the city’s rich past to life as you stroll through its cobbled streets, ancient walls, and hidden corners. Step back in time to Viking-age Jorvik, walk in the footsteps of Romans along the city’s famous walls, and uncover how York evolved from a medieval religious center to the vibrant, historic gem it is today. From grand landmarks to tucked-away treasures, your guide will share the stories that make York unique.

Learn how Yorkshire gin is made without guessing your way through tastings on this guided experience at Hooting Owl Distillery in York. Led by a master distiller, the tour explains the distillery’s process, origins, and the legend of Sir Owlfred Tyton Hodgins, so you understand what you’re drinking—not just sampling it.

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.

A unique opportunity awaits in the tranquil surroundings of a rural York farm, with a private basket weaving day designed for two. Under expert guidance, learn the intricate techniques of willow weaving, transforming English grown willow into a beautiful, functional basket. This immersive workshop not only teaches you how to prepare willow, create a sturdy base, and weave the walls, but you also get to finish your basket off with a pretty, plaited effect decorative border.

Experience the freedom of exploring without the extra weighting in York. Our luggage storage service ensures your belongings are secure, allowing you to enjoy the wonders of your destination with peace of mind. Whether you're waiting for a late flight, have arrived early for your stay, or simply want to explore without the burden of your bags, our service is the perfect solution. Store your bags at prime locations near major attractions, transport hubs, and popular areas, making your travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.

️This is not a ghost tour It isn't a traditional sightseeing tour It isn't a collection of gruesome stories designed to shock you

Learn the full magic of creating chocolate from the raw cocoa bean to your own finished chocolate bar. We’ll share with you the secrets of the chocolate making process, to create your own chocolate recipe. During the workshop you will: Learn how to develop flavours and qualities from each stage of the cocoa bean processing. Learn how to combine ingredients to create desired chocolate recipes. Make a personalised signature chocolate blend to your own recipe. Beautifully package up your creations so you can enjoy them or re-use them at home in your own recipes. Go home with recipes and your newly found chocolate knowledge. Each participant will receive approximately 500g of your own chocolate as well as the recipes and technical worksheets to be able to develop your chocolate making skills further.

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?

Enjoy a private, exclusive tour with your own local guide. Dare to embark on “Whispers of York Ghostly Adventure” and become the hero of your chilling tale in one of England’s most haunted cities. This journey isn’t just a tour; it’s a passage through time, where the thin veil between the past and present reveals York’s hidden spirits. Under the cloak of twilight, navigate the shadowy lanes of the Shambles, stand beneath the towering spires of York Minster, and tread softly through ancient halls where history’s echoes fill the air. With every step, uncover the secrets and spectral stories that linger in York’s historic heart. Gather your courage, step into the night, and let the ghostly whispers of York transform you into the storyteller of your eerie adventure. Please note: The program and attractions may vary based on booking date/time and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.

Zombie Scavengers tests your ability to survive after a Zombie Apocalypse. The game leads you through the city, where you will have 60 minutes to collect survival items for your colony. The Setting: Small colonies of the living are doing all they can to survive. You and your team have been tasked with scavenging for survival supplies for your colony. You’ll only have 60 minutes to figure out which items you'll need and find as many items on the list as you can. Your Mission: With 1 hour and your team of up to 10 people, you will use your smartphone to search the area for much needed food, supplies, and shelter. Along the way, you will be asked to do some challenges or answer some trivia questions. The goal is to score at least 4000 points in 1 hour in order to survive the zombie apocalypse! PS. Our game is family friendly, no actual zombies are involved in the scavenger hunt.

Includes an exclusive FREE book written by your guide! Step into the world of Westeros on our Winterfell: A Game of Thrones Fan Tour of York, our latest tour following over 15 years of award winning history tours of York. Explore York’s dramatic history through the lens of Game of Thrones, from the freezing edge of the Roman Empire — the real “Winterfell” — to the Wars of the Roses, the true inspiration for the clash of rival houses. Discover the echoes of Britain’s bloodiest battle in the “Battle of the Bastards,” and see how York’s towers, walls, and snickelways shaped the world of Jon Snow, Cersei, and Tyrion. Along the way, your guide brings York’s history to life with vivid parallels between fact and fantasy. Please note young children under 5 are free, just let us know at time of booking

The North Yorkshire Road Trip Online Guidebook is a structured multi-day journey linking York, the Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors into one route. Covering approx 134 miles (215 km), with flexibility for 3–10+ days. Distances are manageable, but the contrasts are striking: medieval city streets, fishing villages above the North Sea and wide heather moorland across the national park. The route unfolds in three stages. York & the Howardian Hills – Begin in York exploring York Minster, the Shambles and the city walls before countryside around Castle Howard and Malton. The North Yorkshire Coast – Whitby Abbey rises above the harbour while Robin Hood’s Bay and Staithes cling to the cliffs along this dramatic coastlines. The North York Moors – Inland roads cross open moorland linking Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley, Pickering and Goathland. With 12 months of online access included, choose a booking date that allows time to plan before travelling.

In The Case of Colombia's Finest Jim needs your help and has asked you to sniff out evidence of crime amongst the caffeine. Can you find enough information to solve the mystery before time runs out? Extra info - We recommend team sizes of up to 4 but if there are more of you, divide into competing teams to add an extra dimension to your Hunt - You select from 1 hour start times throughout the day and the tickets are fully flexible if your plans change - Each player receives a unique link to access the game ahead of your booking date. We recommend each player experiences the Hunt on their own device while working together in your team - You can break anytime and we provide recommendations within the game area - This Hunt is brilliant for friends, colleagues, dates and families (13+ children given the adult nature of the content)

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.

Explore the lanes and stories of one of England’s most atmospheric cities on this Private York Historical Pub Tour — an unforgettable journey through centuries of rebellion, intrigue, ghosts and good cheer. York is a city layered with history: Roman foundations, Viking streets, medieval walls and Georgian elegance. But some of its most vivid stories are told not in museums — they’re told in its pubs. On this private walking tour, we visit a hand-picked selection of York’s most historic and characterful taverns. We begin at the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, the Guy Fawkes Inn, before descending to Roman remains beneath the Roman Bath. Hear ghostly tales inside the famously haunted Golden Fleece, soak up centuries of atmosphere at the Blue Boar, finishing by the river at the flood-prone yet beloved King's Arms. A complimentary drink is included in every pub. Relaxed, private and entertaining, this is York’s story told as it should be: in historic pubs, one glass at a time.