York Minster Tours and Activities

Designed for travelers with a historical interest in the supernatural, this private 2-hour ghost tour of York — one of the most haunted cities in the world — allows you to customize your itinerary to suit you. Choose to visit sites with countless reports of ghost sightings, including York Minster, The Shambles, and The York Dungeon, and listen to frightening tales rooted in York’s 2,000-year-old history. The start time and location of your tour is up to you.

Delve into the dark recesses of York’s history on this evening ghost bus tour. With your spooky local guide, visit notorious local haunts of restless spirits, and pass eerie sites such as York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the grave of Dick Turpin, 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. 

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.

Don’t worry about getting lost in the winding streets of medieval York during this introductory 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.

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.

Skip the standard group tours and enjoy an alternative history of York during this award-winning, immersive guided tour of the city. Pass by top attractions—such as the Shambles and Jorvik Viking Centre—as you listen to your guide tell tales of witches, queens, and murderers that you wouldn’t hear on most other tours.

Ideal for travelers looking for the flexibility to determine their own itinerary, the York Pass provides access to a number of the region’s top attractions, including The Deep, Beningbrough Hall, and more. Don’t worry about buying individual admission tickets; instead, use the convenient and hassle-free York Pass to save time on the day, allowing you more time to enjoy the sights.

See York in a different way—via an environmentally-friendly pedicab. With a local guide, explore the highlights of the city including Minster Yard, King's Manor, Exhibition Square, Bootham Bar, and more. Choose from two lengths of tours, depending on how much time you have and how much you’d like to see.

Escape the city for the wild landscapes of the Yorkshire moors on this full-day tour from York. Set out on a scenic drive through the North York Moors National Park; visit sites from the 'Harry Potter' movies in Goathland like the location used for Hogsmeade station in the first film. Enjoy free time to explore the seaside town of Whitby, where you can learn the legacy of Dracula and try the town’s famous fish and chips (own expense), before visiting the market town of Helmsley.

The Ghost Hunt of York offers an evening, walking ghost tour of York`s haunted locations. Whatever the weather and always on time, the Victorian guide with his frock coat, top hat and Gladstone bag manifests at the strike of half past seven at the bottom of Shambles, England's most famous mediaeval street. Ringing his death bell he gathers the awaiting ghost hunters and leads on to York`s darker side. The Ghost Hunt presents classic York ghost stories in a captivating style, no tardy tales of tedium but intelligent, energetic accounts from a guide with a predilection for fun and entertainment, illustrating the narrative with props and illusion. It is a journey that takes your emotions from horror to hilarity. The ghostly guide puts the crowd up to practical jokes and comic re-enactment in hysterical moments of audience participation.

The Deathly Dark Tour is a family friendly experience, perfect for those who have a bit of a wicked streak and are looking to explore the darker side of the city with tour guide famous for his wonderfully dark sense of humour.

York is at its most magical around sundown. The tourist crowds have departed, the streets are empty. Enjoy a one-hour evening stroll which includes all the major sights of York - including the Minster, walls and world-famous Shambles - but will also take you deep into the medieval labyrinth of secret passages and short-cuts known as 'Snickelways'. There are plenty of ghost tour options in York - but why listen to stories when the truth is far more surprising? The early evening start time is perfect for working up an appetite. Informal, entertaining and 100% phantom-free. PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR VISITORS' SAFETY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE - WE PLEDGE TO FOLLOW ALL CURRENT GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING AND TO ENSURE THIS THE TOURS ARE LIMITED TO A CAPACITY OF SIX PEOPLE PER GUIDE.

Explore an extraordinary 2,000 years of history on this walk through the City of York. You'll experience Roman, Viking and medieval York, see all the sights of the City, including some of the great buildings of the world - and some less expected ones. As you walk you'll learn the history of this great City, and the central role it played in the history of England. From its humble beginnings as a riverside Roman settlement, to its turbulent takeover by the Vikings, and on to its thriving medieval period. You’ll hear about kings and queens, and the lives of ordinary people and hear stories of invasions, executions, personal sacrifice, floods and even ghosts. So, if you’re visiting York, uncover some of the great figures and lesser known characters that have shaped this beautiful city by the River Ouse. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

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.

See York the way you want on a private, fully customizable walking tour of the history-steeped city. With your private guide, tailor your itinerary from start to finish according to your interests. Admire York Minster, the City Gates, and Clifford’s Tower; stroll around ruined St. Mary’s Abbey; or delve into the cobbled lanes to absorb the landmarks on route and learn their stories and secrets.

The tour is back for 2021! It is especially aimed at those who are looking to have an enjoyable, entertaining walking tour combined with a focus on capturing the magic of the beautiful city of York for your memories & social media posts. The tour lasts 3 hours and takes you off the beaten track into areas that visitors often miss. You will learn some history and experience some wonderful sights and you will make a connection with the city that will stay with you. I believe in creating intimate experiences & moments that stay with you. The maximum group size I normally work with is limited to 10. However, in line with Government guidelines this is reduced to 5 for now. Small groups mean everyone stays involved & engaged & you can ask as many questions as you like. It also means there is always someone to help you to create your images with tips on how to capture the perfect shot or to take shots of you against some stunning backdrops that will get plenty of reaction on social media.

Learn about York's history and legends on a 2-hour Viking walking tour with a private guide, Sigwulf. You'll walk through town to see historical landmarks and listen to stories from the Viking days. Departure time is flexible to suit your preferences.

Centuries-old buildings, traditions everywhere, and a lively atmosphere; York is a magical place! Join the local host of your choice on a tour that has it all. From a sight of the best highlights the city has to offer to the discovery of unique spots only the locals know about - this experience brings together the best of both worlds! Enjoy the city to the max and hear more about the origin of York as you see the city’s main landmarks.This private tour will show you the city through the eyes of your local host.Each one of them has carefully created a unique itinerary based on their interests and passions.And while the landmarks might be the same, the stories, points of view and hidden gems will vary according to the host of your choice. Follow your host to one of their favorite spots and enjoy a tasting selected by them, for you.This is the perfect time to ask your host more about their life in their city and to get recommendations about the top things the locals like to do in York.

With rich Roman and Viking history, and beautiful architecture, York is widely considered among England’s must-see cities—but exploring independently means you may miss its hidden secrets. On this tour, follow your private 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 sweeping views along the River Ouse.

Journey to the heart of the Lake District on this full-day tour from York and uncover the charms of England’s oldest national park. Follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter as you visit her home at Hill Top, see William Wordsworth’s former school in Hawkshead and cruise across Windermere, England’s largest lake. Along the way, admire beauty spots like Tarn Hows and explore traditional villages like Skipton and Bowness-on-Windermere.

Delve into Yorkshire’s industrial and literary history with this day-long tour from York. You’ll step into a world that existed at the time of the Bronte sisters on a visit to Bolton Abbey and the village of Haworth where the sisters penned their novels. Visit the Salts Mill of UNESCO-listed Saltaire and a model village, which is believed to be the world’s first, then discover the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Door-to-door minibus transport and onboard commentary from a guide complete the experience.

This is a brand new experience for all the family in 2020. A guided kitty hunt through the city of York on the prowl for cats! York is home to many mysterious cats but they hide from view. Its your job to hunt these kitties You won't need to follow a map. Clues will appear on your phone for you family to solve pointing you to the location of each cat . Find out who has the sharpest cats eyes in the family There will be a total of 13 cats to find - each with their own clue to crack ensuring your family stay engaged and interested throughout. Along the way you will be entertained by the fascinating history of working cats, hero cats and even celebrity cats as you experience the city on paw Your kids will receive a certificate at the end when they have found all the cats I am a natural storyteller, cat lover & tour guide living in York. I have run successful tours of the city since 2019 and I have a track record of developing experiences focused on younger visitors to the city

York and its surrounding countryside are home to natural attractions and ancient treasures dating back centuries, but organizing transportation to explore independently cuts into valuable sightseeing time. On this tour, follow your guide on a walking tour of York and delve into the Yorkshire countryside by air-conditioned vehicle. Discover sites of interest like Rievaulx Abbey and the North York Moors, and explore both city and countryside in a day.

Join for a discovery walking tour of York, which gives you a fantastic overview of this beautiful city. Understand the history of this great walled city (and walk on the walls), from Roman history, through the Vikings all the way to chocolate.