York tours, things to do and tickets

The Deathly Dark Tour of York is a grim and theatrical, dark comedy walking tour, perfect for those who have a bit of a wicked streak and are looking to explore the dark history of the city with one of our guides, famous for their wonderfully dark sense of humour.

Please note, this is not a scare attraction. The tour is family friendly, but children must remain with their parent/guardian at all times.

Tour group size is 30-50 people, although this will change depending on the season. Private and small group tours are available on request.

The Bloody Tour of York is the multi award winning* tour of the City.
Join Mad Alice as you wander down the medieval streets hearing the gruesome history the city has to offer. Ghosts, Witches, murderers, Kings and Queens have all left their bloody footprints.
An entertaining, educational and a fascinating look at Britain's best loved city, Mad Alice promises a night to "Remember, remember..."
Suitable for all ages.
*Yorkshire Choice Awards 2023
*Yorkshire Post Awards 2023
*Visit York Tourism Awards 2022
White Rose Awards 2020
*Visit York Tourism Awards 2020
* Visit York Tourism Awards - Experience of the Year 2019
*Visit York Tourism Awards - Guided Tour of the Year 2019
*Visit England Tourism Awards - Tourism Superstar, Bronze Award 2018
*Visit York Tourism Awards - Visitor Experience of the Year 2018, Highly Commended
*Winner York Culture Award - Performing Artist 2016

Discover York’s sinister side on this 1-hour ghost bus tour, led by a hellishly hilarious guide. Visit some of city’s spookiest sights and learn about the restless spirits whose sightings have earned York the accolade of the most haunted city in the world. From your blood red seat aboard a Routemaster — a classic double-decker bus — pass by top historical attractions such as York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and the grave of the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin.

We offer a guided historical tour of the fabulous city of York, the Capital of the North. Step into history with one of our knowledgeable guides and see the amazing sights of the city and hear all the history behind them. Our tours are guided by experienced historians and can be up to 3 hours in length, with breaks for refreshments if you wish, depending on your requirements.

Dare you take a trip into the past and uncover some of York’s turbulent and tragic history? A past that manifests itself in the unexplained sightings of shadows haunting our streets and buildings.

Let us take you on a journey through the streets and snickleways and tell you about the shadows of York.

Note: The tour is rated PG and not recommended for under 8's.
The stories change from time to time. But they do contain in depth historic details, some of which can be dark, sad or gory.
These may include executions, plague, suicide or any other grim facts.
Some young children may find it disturbing. Please check FAQ for more information.

The shadows are waiting for you...

Spend a relaxing hour on the River Ouse and see the sights of York from a different perspective. With the flexibility of an anytime ticket, you'll enjoy the entertaining and informative commentary of a live guide at the time of day of your choice.

Enjoy 75 spooky minutes of sightseeing in York on board the Ghost Bus! Your creepy conductor will show you the city’s top sights and give you bone-chilling and humorous insights into some of the more gruesome events in York’s past.

Why follow the crowds? At Yorktour we believe a great tour should be a great conversation, which is why we ensure there will be no more than eight participants so everyone can ask questions and no-one needs to worry about hearing at the back. This family-friendly walking tour includes all the key sights - including the exterior of the Minster and the celebrated Shambles - though we will also lead you deep into the medieval maze, or Snickelways. and back in time to the impression the Romans and Vikings made on York. No gimmicks - we feel the truth is far more entertaining and we guarantee you’ll be fully involved. If we can’t remember everyone’s names there must be too many people on the tour!

Guided bike tour of York, inside and outside the city walls.  Starting at a central location in the city.  A 2 to 2.5 hour tour with multiple stops to hear the stories of the saints and sinners, the good and the evil, from Romans and Vikings to the sweetness of chocolate makers.  Although factual, your guide will tell the grisly tales in a lighthearted way.  The route is planned for safety and the best stopping view points and is mainly on quiet roads or designated cycle paths.

Step back in time and discover the darkest moments in Yorkshire’s history with a visit to York Dungeon! The ticket to the spooky walk-around attraction includes access to live shows, a gripping ride and state-of-the-art special effects and staging. Learn of famous foes such as Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes, and laugh at details of their exploits before they were caught. The top York attraction makes for a fun family visit; just prepare to be spooked!

The Dark Chronicles York, is a a very different kind of walking tour to be attempted only by the bravest and most intrepid of explorers. Let us take you on a journey through Yorks darkest secrets, 2000 years of terrifying history.

Be sure before you come with us...Once you have seen Yorks true face, you will never forget it! This is not a Ghost Walk

Tours attended at visitors own risk. we take no responsibility for accidents or lost belongings on the tours. Children should be supervised by parent/carer at all times.

- WINNER Best Tour of York 2023, Little Vikings Awards
- Highly Commended Experience of the Year 2023, Visit York Awards
- 3rd place winner Best Family Experience in the World, TripAdvisor Best of the Best Awards 2023

Join The Wizard of York for five-star family fun with spellbinding magic, comedy and a dash of York's history! Ideal for ages 5-10 in particular, or big kids with a silly sense of humour and an interest in the wizarding world...

A great alternative to a ghost walk, this tour focuses on FUN over frights. A truly magical and memorable experience that Harry Potter fans will go Potty for!

Explore the ancient city of York on a 24 hour unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour. This sightseeing extravaganza will take you to all of the best places of interest, including Clifford's Tower, Monk Bar, Exhibition Square, The Stonebow, Museum Gardens and much more! The beauty of a hop-on hop-off service is that you can create your own schedule and discover this fabulous destination at your own pace. The double-decker bus provides you with an audio tour commentary in 10 languages, teaching you all about York's fascinating past as you cruise around. There's so much to learn about this northern city, which was originally founded by the Romans. You'll also get to experience panoramic views of these historic landmarks, thanks to the open-top deck.

Join us on a relaxed journey through history, myths, legends and architecture. Discover how the medieval city thrived and developed to become the city we all love today.

Our guides deliver a fun and unique take on York, mixing history, sightseeing and exploration to offer a unique insight into York, passing the largest medieval gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe, old cobbled streets, Guild Halls, scenic views of our rivers, devils doors and so much more.

We cover all the important landmarks of York and go off the beaten track to places you may not think of going.

We are all stories in the end, write yours with us!

Take a walking tour that is a must for any and all Harry Potter fans. Explore the exquisitely magical world that Harry and his friends found themselves in, on this guided tour in York.

Head into the North York Moors National Park where you will explore the beautiful landscapes and historical sites.

The first stop of the tour is Pickering, a ancient market-town on the border of the North York Moors national park. From Pickering we travel into the national park itself, famed for the stunning views of heather moorland which, on a clear day, can extend for 50 miles in every direction. We stop next in Goathland, famous for its role in the TV series Heartbeat. You will have a brief stop where you can see Goathland Station, featured in the world renowned Harry Potter movies as Hogsmead.

Next we arrive in Whitby for lunch, a traditional seaside town, where there is a wide choice of places to eat with fish and chips being the local favourite. After our lunch stop it is time to travel through the heart of the moors, following roads through the stunning expanse of heather moorland.

We will then make our way back towards York whilst enjoying the views over the Vale of York.

Explore the city of York, learn all about its history and related movie trivia!

Get sorted into teams, play quizzes and games. Your guide will offer top trivia and you can learn about the film universe and history of York.
Set off on your journey around town, enjoying trivia quizzes from your guide along the way to earn points for your team. With an animated scoreboard, video clips of movie scenes, costume pieces, and reenactments, this is an interactive experience.

A 90-minute small group walking tour from the dawn of Christianity to the birth of the Kit Kat. Find out why York is still a city with Viking mud on its boots and a taste of cocoa in the air.

Spenda relaxing hour on the River Ouse and see the sights of York from a different perspective. On the Early Evening Cruise you’ll enjoy the entertaining and informative commentary of a live guide as you sail leisurely up and down stream.

Try your hand at skippering your own boat by hiring one of these nippy little self-steer boats. They are fantastic fun, safe, and easy to pilot. Suitable for up to 8 passengers.