Top York Culture in 2026

Keeping children engaged on a history tour can be a challenge. Explore York with a wizard-dressed guide who brings the city’s history, legends, and mysteries to life with jokes and close-up magic. Along the way, search for mythical creatures at places like York Minster and the Shambles, keeping young travelers engaged from start to finish.

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 stop at key sites for a closer look at the city’s most haunted buildings.

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.

Explore York after dark on a spine-chilling guided ghost tour. Wander through Minster's Yard, Pavement, and Precentor's Court as your guide shares chilling tales and eerie historical facts you'd miss exploring alone. Hear stories from England's most haunted inn, the Golden Fleece, and come face to face with one of York's local ghosts. Short and atmospheric, this tour is the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the North York Moors National Park, a landscape of rolling heather-clad hills, quiet woodland, farms, and winding streams. Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife, from grouse and pheasants to grazing sheep. These dramatic moorlands have inspired poets and authors for centuries — today, you can see for yourself why the scenery is so captivating.

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.

See the historic city of York from a different perspective during an Ouse River cruise. Setting off in the early evening when the light softens, sail past ancient landmarks and quaint riverside villages, all the while learning about the area’s Roman and Viking heritage. Keep warm in the heated saloon, where you can buy alcoholic drinks, warm beverages, and snacks.

York Beyond the Walls packs the character of Yorkshire into one unforgettable half-day. This is not a coach tour or a rushed whistle-stop — it is completely private for your group of up to four guests, with York pick-up and return included. In just four hours you’ll experience a Georgian market town, a hilltop village and historic church, the haunting ruins of Byland Abbey and the spectacular Kilburn White Horse, all with a local driver-guide and the freedom to enjoy the journey your way.

Enjoy all the perks of a ghost tour without having to rush to keep up with a group or spend a lot on a private guide with this self-guided tour. Download the app and enjoy three experiences along one single route—from Roman ruins and Viking history to chilling tales. Get a taste for what York has to offer without getting lost and at your own pace, with the freedom to linger at places that capture your interest.

During the festive season, the historic city of York is undoubtedly at its most magical. Enhance your expereince of York at Christmas time on a private 2-hour walking tour, ideal for families and first-time visitors. Alongside your personal guide, you’ll visit top York attractions such as York Minster and The Shambles, and learn about the city’s 2,000-year-old history. Being a private tour, the itinerary and start time can be customized according to your interests.

Discover an alternative history of York by taking this unique guided walk through the city centre. York has a reputation for having a pub for everyday of the year. Find out about some of the oldest as well as the people and events associated with them. Inquests, riots, politics, plagues, religious influence, bizarre entertainments and strange auctions, York's pub history provides a strong picture of the social life of the city. Fiona Laing: i weekend "They say there is a bar for each day of the year in York. They come in all shapes and sizes and there is even a walking tour, which traces their history, some dating back to the 16th century. Keith Martin will share his passion for York's oldest pubs in return for a donation to Keep Your Pet a charity which helps people keep their animals at difficult times" Private tours can be arranged for groups of 6 or more at mutually convenient times and days and starting points. All money raised through the tours supports a local York charity.

Explore York at your own pace with a self-guided walking tour on your phone. You get a clear map of all 9 stops, simple directions through Google Maps, and short audio stories you can play when you reach each location. The route covers the historic heart of York, from York Minster to Micklegate Bar, passing sites like The Shambles, Clifford's Tower, and Jorvik Viking Centre. Start anytime, pause whenever you like, and explore freely. No groups, no schedules. Audio and text available in 7 languages.

Unlock centuries of secrets, sieges, and hidden history on a walk along England’s most complete medieval city walls! Led by a local expert, this tour bypasses standard textbook timelines to reveal the gritty, chaotic, and bizarre reality of life on York’s defensive perimeter. From imperial Roman foundations to the brutal battlegrounds of the Civil War, you’ll discover the physical scars left by centuries of conflict. What you’ll discover: The Gates of Power: Explore famous "Bars" and hidden posterns where guards dropped heavy portcullises in a race against time. The Scarred Battlements: See where furious rebels burned gates to ash and enemy soldiers dug explosive wartime mines. Gritty Micro-Histories: Hear the laugh-out-loud true stories of watchmen chasing rogue pigs off the ramparts and a 15th-century trade-war murder. Myth-Busting: Debunk the famous "Scotsman and the longbow" urban legend. Secure your spot today and walk the walls like a true medieval watchman!

Step off the grand thoroughfares and slip into the hidden arteries of medieval York. On this immersive redthread tour, you will navigate the city's ancient 'Snickelways'—narrow, shadowy passages where history isn't found in royal decrees, but in bizarre street names, ghostly folklore, and the gritty reality of everyday life. Join sociologist Lukas and local expert Lena as they decode the secrets of York's forgotten alleys, revealing a world of medieval red-light districts, phantom women, and the overwhelming sensory landscape of the past. - A 0.7 km self-guided tour with 6 stops over 64 min - Ideal for travelers interested in Social Fabric & Everyday Life and History & Memory - Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals - Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app

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.

On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll hear the grisly tales that shaped this ancient city through the theatrical persona of a Victorian physician who “lived“ in York from 1841 to 1877. Dr Reginald Smalls will bring centuries-old stories of murder, plague, and rebellion to life as you walk the historic streets where these dark events unfolded. The All Saints Church on High Ousegate sets the stage for several of the shocking events you’ll hear about. From the banks of the River Ouse to the “Shambles,“ where rows of hooks once displayed fresh meat, each cobblestone and ancient building holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. You’ll continue past iconic landmarks like York Minster with its imposing Gothic architecture, the city’s ancient defensive bars (fortified gateways), and St. Helen’s Square with its grand Georgian buildings. You’ll veer into lesser-known areas to discover spots like Bedern Hall and narrow snickelways steeped in dark history.

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.

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.

Set sail on a romantic evening cruise along the Ouse River and see York’s historic landmarks away from the land-based crowds. Glide past the illuminated city skyline, and admire the riverside parks and buildings when they look most dramatic. Choose from two options: a tranquil Ouse River cruise with an included drink, or the upgraded cruise with the quintessentially English combo of strawberries and cream, plus a drink.

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.

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.

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.

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.