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.

Explore several York landmarks during this introductory walking tour
Visit places such as Stonegate, the Museum Gardens, and more
See more of York in less time than you likely could alone
Learn more about York than you could alone from your guide

What's Included

Complementary map of York
Multimedia illustrations accompany the tour - all guides carry iPads
Personalised greeting sign at the meeting point

Entrance fees: the tour is outdoors and does not include museums or the interior of the cathedral.

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

YO1 7DS
York YO1 7DS, UK
We will be in the square in front of the central library - York Explore Library and Archive, Museum Street YO1 7DS The guide will have a sign with your name so you should be able to find us (please don't join any tour that does not have your name displayed as it won't be ours)!

End point

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate
Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate, York YO1 7NT, UK
The tour ends in the heart of town at Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, at the end of the Shambles.

What To Expect

St. Mary's Abbey

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Museum Gardens

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

York Minster

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Stonegate

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Shambles

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Highly recommend this walking tour with Alfred as a must when visiting York.

Definitely value for money and a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Reviews

5.0

485 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 485 reviews

Just a great tour really...

Andrew_C, Jun 2023

Just a great tour really nice trip round york held together by the story and information about the different ages in the walled city … from Roman to current day … I would recommend the tour …. Thanks

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Really appreciate the response and recommendation Andrew - delighted you enjoyed it

Very good tour

Anonymous, May 2023

There were six people on the tour and Alfred our guide was great! He was very knowledgeable and told us the history of the city and explained what we were seeing as we walked. I would recommend this tour

Response from Host, May 2023

Many thanks for that - happy to have just six though the maximum we book is eight so everyone should have a similar experience. Best Alfred

Very informative

Jacqui_W, May 2023

I've been to York many times and found out lots of interesting things that I didn't know about York Sarah was a lovely guide, really knowledgeable and made the tour informative bringing the history of York to life and also drew attention to other points of interest that you may have ordinarily missed while strolling around. The tour was nicely paced and with a relaxed atmosphere.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks so much Jacqui - it’s especially pleasing to find that there’s something to take from the tour whether it’s your first and only visit or relatively familiar ground. Very best Sarah

Highly recomended !

V_Y, May 2023

Thank you Sarah. An exceptionally enjoyable tour. I got more pleasure from the tour than I even expected. A small group of eight people created a friendly, not purely touristic atmosphere. Very professional and at the same time informal story about the history of the city.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks so much - if we can manage to be both professional and informal we’re very pleased with that - appreciate your designation of un-touristic too! Very best Sarah

Alfred is great

Ed_C, May 2023

Our guide, Alfred, is superb! He is very knowledgeable and friendly. We had a wonderful time! In fact, this is my second time on the tour with him, and I still love it!

Response from Host, May 2023

Hi Ed - well, it was great that you wanted to come round a second time - and I was delighted that you found it to be a slightly different tour. Hopefully that is what keeps everything fresh and interesting, as we're never just repeating ourselves. Wouldn't expect you to want a third go but would of course be great to see you again. Very best Alfred

Nice informative walk

Denise_T, May 2023

Sarah, wonderful knowledge of history and a great personality which made for an informative walk, thank you so much!

Response from Host, May 2023

It was my pleasure Denise many thanks! Sarah

Very experienced and...

Lynne_A, May 2023

Very experienced and knowledgeable guide that provided lots of interesting historical information .Really brought the history of York to life.

Response from Host, May 2023

Many thanks Lynne - much appreciated Alfred

YORK the real STORY

Ashleigh_N, May 2023

Alfred was a fantastic guide humorous and entertaining. Still thinking about some of his stories. Made the rest if our stay as we wondered the old town very reflective.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks Ashleigh - I think the talking points were pretty much shared by the group so I'd say thanks for your contribution as well!

Wonderful small group walking tour

Julie_W, May 2023

Alfred was our guide and we was great. Very informative about the history of York and it’s people and buildings. It was the Sunday after coronation and was very busy so sometimes it was a little hard to hear him while we were walking but that couldn’t have been helped. So glad we went with the smaller group there were only 8 of us.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks Julie - it was an uncommonly busy weekend in York; but we keep the group sizes small in order not to get lost in the crowds... very best Alfred

Book this tour!

Catherine_S, May 2023

Alfred was fabulous! This is the one and only tour you need to take to learn about beautiful York. Book now!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks Catherine - a pleasure. Alfred

Fun and informative walk with great guide through York England

Janice_I, Apr 2023

Fara was an amazing guide, so knowledgeable and friendly. We saw beautiful gardens, ruins, gates and walls of medieval, Roman and Norman York. Thank you again

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hey Janice - delighted you enjoyed it. Very best Ferah

We absolutely loved York!...

Anna_A, Apr 2023

We absolutely loved York! Our guide, Alfred, was brilliant, competent and charismatic. He made us see the city throughout the centuries and filled every step of the tour with marvel and amusing insights. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thanks Anna - really appreciate your comments Alfred

Fantastic & educational

Kellie_P, Apr 2023

Alfred our guide was brilliant, he was extremely passionate and knowledgeable. He delivered the experience with great wit & humour. Was happy to answer questions. I would highly recommend this walking tour.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Questions always welcome - even the ones we can't answer! Very best Alfred

This tour is great!

Angela_M, Apr 2023

Alfred was such a great guide - very knowledgeable and inclusive of everyone in the group. One of the best walking tours I’ve ever been on!

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thanks so much - we keep the group sizes to 8 or less precisely so everyone can feel included - if there's too many for that to happen there's something wrong... V best Alfred

Enjoyable and relaxed tour of Leeds

Tony_G, Apr 2023

Annabella was knowledgable and friendly. Very enjoyable. Leeds was more modern and bustling than I imagined it would be.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Hi there - I think this review might have been posted here in error… we only provide tours in York & don’t have a guide called Annabella - though evidently she’s doing a great job!

Loved this tour. Really...

Clare_W, Mar 2023

Loved this tour. Really well organised, very informative, friendly and engaging. Learned a lot about York in context of wider historical events, Sarah was absolutely brilliant.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

I do appreciate the lovely comments - it was a pleasure. Sarah

A tour not to be missed.

Catriona_L, Mar 2023

Sarah made the tour very interesting, we learnt a lot about the history of York. She clearly knew her subject. Fascinating tour not to be missed.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Delighted you enjoyed it and thanks so much for the response - Sarah

Great tour in York

Lesley_T, Mar 2023

Sarah was amazing - such brilliant knowledge and all delivered in a friendly interesting and compelling way. We were in a small group - 3 other couples making 8 in all. We were thoroughly engaged and learned loads. Would definitely recommend doing this tour. Thanks Sarah

Response from Host, Mar 2023

You're so welcome! Absolutely, the tours are advertised as small groups and that's what we will always ensure to deliver. We'd som much rather get to know people and have a conversation, that's why we do it! Best Sarah

The tour we wish we’d have done on the first day

Helen_W, Feb 2023

The tour I wish we’d have done on our first day in York. Informative, friendly and approachable guide with great information and tips on where to explore further.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thanks for that! Of course people book the tours either at the beginning or end of their stay or somewhere in the middle… so we try to make sure the content works whether it’s your introduction to York or your concluding summing up!

Best tour guide…

Shelley_k, Feb 2023

From the get go our guide Alfred, was a charm, very knowledgable and entertaining. Always attentive to our questions and needs. Couldn’t ask for a nicer guide.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Couldn’t ask for a nicer review! Very much appreciated thanks Alfred

Our tour guide was great....

Ed_C, Feb 2023

Our tour guide was great. He articulated very well, and told a story instead of bits and pieces of information. He kept eye contact with everyone, so people didn't feel left out. I really enjoyed the tour. A great experience I'd recommend to anyone!

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thanks so much for that - what I’d say is, if it isn’t possible to maintain eye contact, there’s too many people on the tour! Alfred

Historic walking tour

Angela_S, Feb 2023

The guide was very engaging and provided s fabulous tour of York. I would highly recommend rather than walking around aimlessly. We saw parts of York we would’ve missed on our own.

Outstanding tour and tour guide.

Sian_S, Jan 2023

As a solo traveller I was able to visit the main tourist spots on my own, but I wanted to know more about the history of York itself and see something different. This tour didn't disappoint it was informative from start to finish with a friendly atmosphere which meant I was happy to ask questions.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Hi Sian Really delighted that you found the tour well-suited to solo travellers. We always welcome people travelling on their own and make sure that the group size (maximum 8) will mean that you can ask as many questions as we want. And we NEVER cancel if just one person books, that's really important to us as well. Very best Alfred

A fantastic tour!

Katerina_M, Jan 2023

We had a great time, it was an excellent tour. Alfred was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot about York's history, art, culture and much more. Highly recommended.

Response from Host, Jan 2023

So glad you enjoyed it and many thanks for commenting - very best Alfred

Well Done and very Enjoyable.

Russ_J, Jan 2023

Alfred provided a very informative dialogue which was timely, clear and comprehensive. We enjoyed how he related the travels of the group to the history he was providing. It was quite well done. Bravo!

Response from Host, Jan 2023

Thanks for that - we always like to find out where else people are going/have been as there are so many correspondences to look out for. And it means the conversation is always tailored to the particular group. Thanks again Alfred

It’s like a live BBC documentary

Jairus_L, Dec 2022

I joined the tour with Alfred and it turned out to be one of the best, if not the best, walking tour I’ve been in my years of travel! It was very informative almost like a tour designed by the BBC. Alfred does not rely on “fun” anecdotal references, gimmicks, and gossips but provides stories based on facts all while making the whole tour entertaining. Thanks again Alfred! Jai

Response from Host, Dec 2022

Hey Jai - well, thanks for the fantastic review. Yes, we absolutely take as a model the idea of the kind of accessible but factual presentation your get on BBC history programmes because... people love BBC history programmes, ourselves included! Really appreciate your comments, Alfred

Fun and informative

Samantha_S, Oct 2022

Our tour with Alfred was informative but light hearted, we got to learn soon history as we pottered around some areas of interest in York (our which there are many), myself and my 12 year old would definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Hi well that's terrific if we can keep 12 year olds engaged. Light hearted but informative is the highest compliment really. There are plenty of novelty tours around at the moment; and they're all fun - but not sure how deep the information goes. Thanks again Alfred

Great introduction to York

LeighAnne_M, Oct 2022

The tour was entertaining and informative. It was a great introduction to York. Would definitely recommend.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Many thanks and delighted you enjoyed it! Best Alfred

Awesome Tour

LYNN_K, Oct 2022

What a wonderful tour this was. Alfred was brilliant. The history about how Yorks architecture had changed was incredible. Pointed out incredible facts.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Thanks Lynn - was really a pleasure meeting you. Alfred

Enjoyed our experience!...

Lynn_D, Sep 2022

Enjoyed our experience! Sarah was vey knowledgeable and even answered questions unrelated to the tour!

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Hi Lynn Lovely to meet you, we keep the groups sizes small so that we can try to answer any questions however on or off topic! Can't guarantee we'd have the answer of course.... Sarah

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