York Tours & Ghost Walks: 15 Inside the Walls

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

Walk through York with a theatrical guide performing as Mad Alice, Lady Peckett, or Margaret Pimm. Over 90 minutes, hear dark tales linked to York Minster, the Shambles, Roman and Viking York, and Clifford’s Tower. Expect comedy, ghosts, murder, and history on an easy city walk for most ages.

“Fun experience, our guide was considerate and enthusiastic throughout despite the wind and rain. Really great!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Live Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,618 reviews · 45 min · from $20

See York from the River Ouse on a 45-minute sightseeing cruise, with the chance of a one-hour route depending on weather and demand. An English-speaking captain or guide, including familiar names such as Andy, Sophie, and Dave, provides live stories about York’s Roman, Viking, port, and flood history. Boats have a heated saloon, upper deck, restroom, and bar.

“The boat ride was very smooth and the person doing the commentary of the buildings etc around us was very knowledgeable, very articulate and easy to understand”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Comedy Horror Show: York Ghost Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,496 reviews · from $26

Ride York’s eerie Necrobus for 75 minutes of theatrical sightseeing, dark stories, and comedy. Your conductor may be John Doe or Edgar Crank, with driver Bob often joining the fun. See Clifford’s Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin’s grave from a decorated 1960s Routemaster. English only, departing near York Station.

“It was so much fun, Edgar Crank was so funny, and there wasn't a dull moment. Booked this last minute and I must say I'm glad I did, a fantastic way to spend the evening and would recommend to anybody visiting York”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Ghost Bus Tour of York

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

Ride through York after dark on a classic Routemaster with a theatrical conductor and masked driver. Hear ghost stories, crimes, and local history while passing Clifford’s Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin’s grave. The English-language tour lasts about an hour and may include a short walk from the bus.

“It was a great tour. The tour guide was funny and entertaining. Definitely will be coming back again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Walk York after dark with Shadows of York, starting near the Guy Fawkes Inn and finishing around the Shambles. Guides such as Dan, Josh, and Mackenzie combine local history, gruesome tales, humor, and theatrical storytelling. Expect cobbled streets, outdoor stops near York Minster, hidden corners, and a 90-minute route in English.

“Josh did apologise at the beginning of the tour saying that he has painful wisdom teeth and it may be harder to understand him. I felt maybe due to factors such as above, cold and wet weather, the tour felt on auto-pilot. Kind of forced performance. Guide was friendly. I just felt that the stories lacked enthusiasm and passion. It was hard to understand what was being said at times. Some of the stories were interesting, just the way it was told lacked finer details and energy. I wouldn’t go again or recommend. It was something to do. I’d say the last few tours I have done, the guides have…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Historical Walking Tour of York

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

Walk York with a private guide for two to three hours, starting near York Minster and ending by Clifford’s Tower. Expect stories of Romans, Vikings, kings, Henry VIII, Guy Fawkes, and local life. Guides including Alan, Chris, Sean, Karen, and David tailor the route to your interests.

“Alan gave us a wonderful tour of York and Alan was extremely accommodating setting up a last minute tour at an off hour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise in York

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

Board at King’s Staith for a relaxed 45-minute York river cruise, with some sailings lasting about an hour. Your captain covers York’s Viking past and city landmarks while you view Clifford’s Tower, York Minster, medieval walls, bridges, and riverside buildings. Sit on the open deck or inside, and buy drinks and snacks on board.

“Good view of the city not possible by foot. Very relaxing and informative. Interesting information given by the crew about York”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,231 reviews · 2 hours · from $18

Join a live guide such as Ellie, Aaliyah, Molly, or Libby for a two-hour Harry Potter tour through York. You’ll earn house points through quizzes and spell games, see locations linked with Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express, pass York Minster and St Mary’s Abbey, and finish near the Shambles.

“Ellie was amazing! So welcoming, fun little quiz throughout and full of knowledge!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.The York Dungeon Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,108 reviews · 1h 15m · from $25

Spend 75 minutes moving through York’s dark past with ten live shows, including Viking conquest, Guy Fawkes, witch trials, Victorian crime, and Dick Turpin. Actors involve the audience, so expect jokes, sudden scares, strong smells, and the occasional moment in the spotlight. English is the only language offered.

“The witch, the victorian palour, the resurrectionist. But in fairness it was all so good. Each made their part come alive. No phones perfection too coz it makes you interact and listen”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.York Dungeon Entry Ticket

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

Step into York’s dark past through live shows, theatrical sets, rides, smells, sound effects, and audience participation. You’ll meet stories linked to Guy Fawkes, Dick Turpin, Viking invasions, prisons, and executions. The experience lasts about 70 minutes to two hours and suits families with older children, couples, and groups who enjoy spooky comedy.

“Brilliant Great value for money Actors were excellent. Carriage ride was fun. Loved the prison scene”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 954 reviews · 1 day · from $22

Use City Sightseeing York to circle the city in about an hour, then hop off at more than 20 stops for York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, Walmgate Bar, the Richard III Experience, museums, and shopping. Expect an English audio guide, headphones, open-top views, and occasional live guides such as Nigel, Dom, or Charlotte.

“Excellent, bus clean tidy, driving good. Guide very informative with good sense of humour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Witches and History Old Town Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 928 reviews · 1h 15m · from $22

Follow a costumed guide such as Cornelius Piper, Merlot, Willow, or Nutmeg through York’s lanes and snickelways. Hear true stories about Mad Alice, Mary Bateman, and other suspected witches while seeing the Shambles, York Minster, Stonegate, Barley Hall, and more. Expect theatrical storytelling, outdoor walking, and plenty of cobbles.

“Our guide was great! She had to deal with some awful people on the streets of York heckling her and did so with ease! Great stories and lots of fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.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 route through the Shambles, Minster area, and Bedern. Expect silly jokes, crowd participation, magic tricks, and a hunt for a phoenix, rat, mouse, and owl. It is aimed at children aged 5 to 10, though adults get plenty of laughs too.

“This is a kid focused activity- our 7yr old loved it! It was a nice break from the more adult focused tourism. Definitely bring a wand if you have one. We went to a later in the day tour, but I would recommend going earlier since this takes you through a lot of interesting streets and near shops you’ll want to return to, but most close at 5. If any critique, I would like a few historical facts sprinkled in about the places we stopped at- the church, the alley, etc. Ultimately, its walking standup for kids but the adults genuinely loved it too.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.City Highlights Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 867 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $26

Walk York with a guide such as Alfred, Sarah, Ferah, or Charlotte on a 90-minute tour limited to eight people. Visit Museum Gardens, Roman and Saxon remains, St Mary’s Abbey, York Minster’s exterior, the Snickelways, and the Shambles. Expect plenty of history, questions, and cobbled streets.

“Incredibly informative! Alfred knows his stuff and is clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about York. Thank you for making a cold February morning more appealing”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.60-Minute ‘Happy Hour’ Cruise For All Ages

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 852 reviews · 1 hour · from $17

Cruise the River Ouse from King’s Staith for one hour, passing York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, York Guildhall, and nearby countryside. An English-speaking captain provides live facts and jokes, while you can sit in the heated saloon or head upstairs for open-air views. The onboard bar offers discounted drinks, snacks, and soft drinks.

“Very informative and interesting. The guide had a lot of knowledge of York. Great value for the money.”

Check availability →Read our full review