England · YORK TOURS

The 15 Best York Tours & Ghost Walks

24 tours  ·  from $9

York packs a minster, two miles of city wall and more claimed hauntings than anywhere in England into a square mile. The 15 below sort the daytime history from the after-dark theatre, with prices, start points and how much walking each involves.

Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York -Best Tour Award Europe - Starting on College Street and meeting York Minster
Tour Reviews, Tours, York Tours

Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York -Best Tour Award Europe

1.Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York -Best Tour Award Europe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,749 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $20Our pick

Follow Mad Alice, Lady Peckett, or Margaret Pimm through York’s darker past on a 90-minute walk from College Street to Clifford’s Tower. Expect theatrical storytelling, Roman and Viking history, tales of murder and torture, and stops near York Minster, the Shambles, and the old castle site.

“Fantastic historical download in the funniest way. A must do whilst in York. Kids had an amazing time and heard so much more than just the books could say !”

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Ghost Bus Tour of York - The short walk is useful, but watch the road
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Ghost Bus Tour of York

2.Ghost Bus Tour of York

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,404 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Ride a theatrical Routemaster through York for about an hour, passing Clifford’s Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin’s grave. An English-speaking conductor such as Phil Graves or Frank Stein mixes ghost stories, local history, jokes, and jump scares, with a short walk along the way.

“Lot of fun Exciting It was raining hard couldn’t see much but it was worth it The conductor was good didn’t see much of the driver”

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Shadows of York: Ghost Walk and Horrible History. - Quieter corners and the value of going with a guide
Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours, York Tours

Shadows of York: Ghost Walk and Horrible History.

3.Shadows of York: Ghost Walk and Horrible History.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,403 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $18

Start at the Guy Fawkes Inn at 6:30 pm and follow an English-speaking guide such as Dan, Josh, or Mackenzie around York’s Minster area and quieter lanes. Expect gruesome tales, theatrical delivery, cobbles, and a finish near the Shambles. The walk suits curious adults and children aged eight and up.

“A very enjoyable ghost walk with a guide who had 10 years experience and a good sense of humour would highly recommend it!”

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Private Historical Walking Tour of York - Royal York and a building tied to Henry VIII
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Private Historical Walking Tour of York

4.Private Historical Walking Tour of York

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,324 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.)

Walk York’s historic center with a private English-speaking guide such as Alan, Chris, Sean, Karen, or David. In two to three hours, you’ll connect the Minster, royal history, St Mary’s Abbey, the Shambles, and Clifford’s Tower, with hotel pickup available from central properties.

“Our tour guide was terrible. Showed us next to nothing in York. We had a private tour and he allowed other people to join our group. At that point, we left. We never saw the walls of the city. Sq nothing. Very hard to understand and he told us more than once that he was tried and needed to rest. Crazy!! Want a refund”

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Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York - Beyond the historic center
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Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

5.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,256 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $20

Cruise York’s River Ouse for about 45 minutes or one hour, passing Clifford’s Tower, York Museum and Gardens, medieval walls, bridges, and riverside pubs. Choose a daytime sailing, listen to live commentary, and sit outside or inside. Boats have toilets, drinks, snacks, and dogs are welcome.

“The boat and crew were great but there really isn't much to see on this cruise . There is a short stretch wheebyo can see some of the historic parts of the city . The rest is out of town with not a lot to see”

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York Dungeon Entry Ticket - What happens inside the York Dungeon
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York Dungeon Entry Ticket

6.York Dungeon Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,108 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $26

Enter York Dungeon for a theatrical walk through Yorkshire’s darker past. Live actors tell stories of Guy Fawkes, Dick Turpin, Viking invasions, and York’s grim history through interactive shows, rides, special effects, and plenty of jump scares. Plan for about 70 minutes.

“Very good experience to learn a bit of History of York and enjoy great theatrics at the same time. Actors were very talented and the show was interactive. We enjoyed our time there.”

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Wizard Walk of York - WINNER Best Tour & Best of York Award - Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate sets the mood
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Wizard Walk of York – WINNER Best Tour & Best of York Award

7.Wizard Walk of York – WINNER Best Tour & Best of York Award

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 918 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $16Best value

Meet the Wizard of York at St Crux and follow a 75-minute walk through the Shambles, Minster lanes, and Bedern. Expect silly jokes, audience participation, magic tricks, and creatures including a Phoenix, rat, mouse, and owl. It is aimed at children aged 5 to 10, but adults join the fun.

“Hilarious and very clever. The kids in the audience lapped it up and were clearly having an amazing time. Great charecter”

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The Best of York on Foot in a Small Group - Finding York’s Roman beginning in Museum Gardens
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The Best of York on Foot in a Small Group

8.The Best of York on Foot in a Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 783 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $27

Walk York’s historic center with a local guide such as Alfred, Sarah, Charlotte, or Ferah. In 90 minutes, you’ll connect Roman York, St. Mary’s Abbey, York Minster, Stonegate, and the Shambles, with iPad images, a city map, and a group capped at eight.

“An extremely informative and heartfelt tour of the history of York, and how it’s many layers came to co-exist through good fortune and happenstance. Absolutely first rate.”

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North York Moors and Whitby Day Tour from York - Byland Abbey gives the day an ancient beginning
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North York Moors and Whitby Day Tour from York

9.North York Moors and Whitby Day Tour from York

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 624 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $77

Travel from York in a mini-coach limited to 16 people, stopping at Byland Abbey, Helmsley, Goathland, the North York Moors, and Whitby. Guides such as John, Steve, Trevor, Barry, and Ben A bring the area's stories to life. Expect scenic drives, free time, and possible steam-train or Abbey visits.

“An 8-hour day, full of stops and explorations. Ben A, our driver and guide, gave us an almost stream-of-consciousness ride, as we journeyed through the moors and up to Whitby. One of the highlights was a trip in a steam locomotive. Many insights to the land and culture of this area. Highly recommended.”

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City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour - Reaching South Bank and York Racecourse
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City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

10.City Sightseeing York Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 545 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $23

See York from an open-top double-decker bus with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass, audio commentary, and 20 advertised stops. The one-hour loop reaches Clifford’s Tower, Monk Bar, York Racecourse, the railway station, and more. Live guiding may operate on some departures, but recorded commentary is standard.

“The bus was clean and the commentator was very friendly. The recorded commentory was very good as well”

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J & M York City Walking Tours - Starting at Constantine and York Minster
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J & M York City Walking Tours

11.J & M York City Walking Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 480 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $18

Walk through 2,000 years of York with local guides such as Nick and James. This two-hour English tour covers the Minster, Shambles, city walls, Monk Bar, guilds, Roman remains, Viking York, and Dick Turpin’s story. It is a strong first look at the city, though entrance fees are extra.

“The tour gave us a great overview of York and the guide struck just the right balance between being entertaining and being informative. Would really recommend.”

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Shared Walking Tour in York - Museum Gardens brings ruins, gardens, and birds of prey
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Shared Walking Tour in York

12.Shared Walking Tour in York

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 480 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $20

Start at 10:30 a.m. with David, often called Dave, for a flexible walking tour through York’s old center. Hear stories at York Minster, Museum Gardens, the Shambles, All Saints’ Pavement, St Margaret Clitherow’s shrine, and Clifford’s Tower. The walk usually lasts 1 to 3 hours, with longer options sometimes offered.

“Dave was extremely knowledgeable and catered our experience to our interests. I especially liked seeing the Roman ruins under York Minster.”

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Original Harry Potter Locations Tour : Guided Tour of York - Beginning near York station
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Original Harry Potter Locations Tour : Guided Tour of York

13.Original Harry Potter Locations Tour : Guided Tour of York

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 479 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19

Explore central York through Harry Potter lore, York Minster, local stories, and team quizzes. Guides such as Ellie, Aliyah, and Leah keep the two-hour walk lively, but York has no Harry Potter filming sites, so expect inspiration and trivia rather than movie sets.

“Great time thank you for all the hard work you put in to make everyone feel comfortable in the group!”

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Golden Tours York Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide - Starting at Exhibition Square
Audio Tours, Guided, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, York Tours

Golden Tours York Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

14.Golden Tours York Hop-on Hop-off Open Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 468 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $22

Take a one-hour circuit around York on an open-top bus, using 20 stops to shape your own day. Board at Exhibition Square or elsewhere along the route, listen to English commentary, and ride again within your 24 or 48-hour ticket. On some journeys, guides such as Rich, Richard, or Keith add live humor and local detail.

“The volume on the guides microphone could have been a bit higher. We sat upstairs at the back and occasionally I couldn’t hear what was being said. Otherwise, a funny knowledgable guide and an interesting tour. It only took an hour so the price could be a bit lower.”

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York Forbidden Chronicles - Tales for the dark souls. - City walls, towers, prisons, and disease
Tour Reviews, York Tours

York Forbidden Chronicles – Tales for the dark souls.

15.York Forbidden Chronicles – Tales for the dark souls.

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 450 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $17

Follow a live English-speaking guide from Clifford’s Tower to The Perky Peacock on a 90-minute walk through York’s darker past. Expect castle horrors, plague stories, executions, folklore, Guy Fawkes, role play, and factual tales rather than a standard ghost walk. Guides may include Jack, Finn, Ethel, or Brother Mortimer.

“Lots of fun with tales none of the other walk tell you , tour guide was brill shame about the weather”

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New in York Tours

★ 4.5The Treasures of Bloodaxe – A Fun Viking Treasure Hunt in YorkFrom $821 reviews
★ 4.5Immersive Treasure Hunt Adventure in York – Outdoor Escape RoomFrom $206 reviews
★ 4.5Immersive Murder Mystery in York, A City Treasure Hunt ExperienceFrom $2054 reviews

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