Top York How to Get Around

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.

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.

Venture into the wild and windswept lands of the North York Moors on this full-day tour from York. Drive through the countryside to reach North York Moors National Park and enjoy a walk amongst nature. Learn the legacy of Dracula and Captain James Cook in the seaside resort of Whitby. Next, spot filming locations from British TV series 'Heartbeat' and the Harry Potter movies in Goathland, where you board the famous North Yorkshire Moors steam railway for a spectacular ride home.

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.

A beautiful and historic city, York is perfect for discovering on foot. Enjoy the services of a local guide on this private tour, which can be tailored to start and finish at the city-center locations of your choice. You'll see sights like medieval York Minster, the spectacular York City Walls, the Shambles, with its overhanging medieval houses, and the Clifford's Tower fortress.

Swap York for a small-group day trip to Whitby and the North York Moors National Park. Visit dispersed outdoor sights that would be hard to get to without your own car, and enjoy free time to explore Whitby independently and see its famous abbey, Captain Cook-themed attractions, and fish and chip shops. The trip also shows you great photo opportunities at the North York Moors, Helmsley, and other picturesque English villages.

Delve into the Dales and discover the scenic heart of Yorkshire on this full-day tour from York. Discover the life of James Herriot with a visit to the World of James Herriot and then explore the scenery made famous by “All Creatures Great and Small”. Set out on an epic circuit of the Yorkshire Dales, stopping to admire the heather-covered moors and peek into traditional Dales villages like Grassington, Hubberholme, and Yockenthwaite. Along the way, pass photo-worthy landscapes like Nidderdale, Kilnsey Crag, and Aysgarth Falls; and discover the Dales’ most famous cheese at the Wensleydale Creamery.

Explore the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales on a day trip from Leeds, and see some of the filming locations of the hit TV series All Creatures Great and Small. Travel to the moors and the quaint villages that make the Dales so unique, and learn about local landmarks, the mountains and valleys, and the characteristic dry stone walls that criss-cross the whole area.

The North York Moors National Park and Whitby make ideal day trips from York. On this private tour with hotel pickup, visit top attractions including 7th-century Whitby Abbey and enjoy England’s northern countryside with just your party.

The Tours are the only way to see Yorkshire and its beauty in a single day with complete privacy, security and comfort onboard the magnificent Mercedes Benz V Class accompanied by one of the expert guides. The guides always place your enjoyment of the day before everything else. No other Tour in the glorious north of England focuses so much on the overall quality of each and every guests experience. We believe that your vacation is the most valuable part of your year. We respect every minute of your vacation time, the philosophy is to make every moment of your time on vacation worthwhile. Before founding our company Andrew Ward led a tour in another part of the UK that was ranked by TripAdvisor Travellers choice as the best tour in England and tenth best tour in the world. Lastly and most importantly every tour guarantees the sighting of at least a couple of very woolly Sheep!

Skip the busy ghost tours, and see the spooky side of York on a self-guided ghost tour. You’ll download a cellphone App, then listen to an audio tour to track down the ghouls and spirits that haunt the city of York. Linger where and when you want, or complete the tour within an hour; the experience is independent so you have the freedom to enjoy it on your own terms.

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 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.

The tour begins inside The Guy Fawkes Inn (on High Petergate, opposite Michael Le Belfrey's church). From there you'll learn about the famous conspirators and the gun powder plot, in the very birthplace of Guy Fawkes himself! We'll then proceed to York Minster yard, where you'll learn all about the Minsters rich history. We'll also visit several other famous spots in York, including The Shambles, Museum Gardens, and many more! The important thing to remember when booking, is that no 2 tours are the same! Depending on how much time you have and what your interests are I'll make each tour as personalised as I'm able. The tour stops listed are just a few of many other places I can take you in York, so if you decide to come back for another tour, you can guarantee it will be very different from the previous excursion!

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.

This Private Tour provides the opportunity for you to get out into the countryside to enjoy the fresh air and scenic beauty of the North York Moors National Park. We will pick you up from your hotel (or other location of your choice) at 10.00am and head out of the city for a circular tour of the National Park, with stops at Byland Abbey, Helmsley and the beautiful moorland village of Rosedale Abbey. There will also be 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 and we can make adjustments to suit your personal preferences. Departs 10.00am and drops off 2.30pm.

Many people know York for its Viking heritage. But the city was an important settlement during Roman times too. Uncover its Roman remains and get a fresh perspective on the city center with this self-guided treasure hunt that’s good for teams of up to eight. Solve riddles, puzzles, and clues, uncovering details that many tours omit and building your knowledge of Roman life and history too.

Home to over 2,000 years of history, York is full of ghouls and ghosts. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned explorer, get a fresh perspective during this phone-based interactive adventure. Engage with 13 spectral stories that guide you through historic streets and hidden corners, learning about York’s dark past as you solve riddles, puzzles, and clues. Complete the final challenge to enjoy a delicious prize.

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.

York’s streets have been witness to countless stories. On this lighthearted walking tour, you’ll discover York’s fascinating past through humorous storytelling, historical anecdotes, and playful character encounters. From Roman legionaries to medieval monks and Victorian innovators, the city’s 2,000 years of history will vividly come to life. The tour starts at Clifford’s Tower, a historic Norman fortification with a turbulent past. You’ll weave through York’s atmospheric streets and ginnels, encountering historical figures like William the Conqueror, Constantine the Great, and Guy Fawkes along the way. The Silly History Boys narrate stories of Viking invasions, Roman settlements, religious persecution, and medieval commerce through comedic sketches and entertaining dialogue.

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.

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?

Gunpowder, Plot and Treason A Walking Tour Through York’s Darkest Legends Step into the shadows of York’s bloodstained past. From the birthplace of Guy Fawkes to the final cries at Clifford’s Tower, Gunpowder, Plot and Treason unearths the city’s most chilling tales of rebellion, betrayal, and forgotten heroes. Follow in the footsteps of criminals, martyrs, and monarchs — and discover the dark heartbeat that still echoes through York’s ancient streets. History is written by the victors — but on this tour, you’ll hear the whispers of those who dared to defy them.

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!