Things to Do in York

Explore York's 2,000-year history with the Visit York Pass. Access over 30 attractions and enjoy 15 exclusive discounts on dining, stays and tours.

Join one of our award-winning guides for theatrical ghost story-telling, dark comedy and spooky ambience. The perfect way to get your bearings in York whilst having a good time!

Step into the shadows of York’s past on this immersive indoor experience at Villains Rum of York, just off Stonegate. Led by a live villain guide, this small-group tour explores the true dark history behind the infamous characters who inspired our rums - from plotters and poisoners to kings and cutthroats. Learn about York’s most notorious villains through entertaining storytelling, brought to life with humour and historical detail. Along the way, sample a selection of our handcrafted, locally inspired rums - each linked to the tale you're hearing. Also available with gin if preffered or alcohol free options. Perfect for history lovers, rum enthusiasts, and curious minds, this experience takes place entirely inside our immersive rum shop and villainous hideaway. Whether it’s raining or shining outside, the shadows await within.

Learn how local manufacturers turned the cocoa bean into an icon

Fancy a boat ride around York? On this river cruise, you'll admire some of the most iconic landmarks in this British city as we sail the River Ouse.

Immerse yourself in history at York Dungeon with its amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects, stages, and scenes.

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.

You will travel by Hot Air Balloon over the Historical City Of York and it's surrounding countryside. We offer Champagne Balloon Flights over the beautiful city of York from April – October each year. Our balloons are all multi coloured and look amazing both form the ground, from the air and in your pictures! Pilot Ollie says - "There’s nothing more peaceful and serene than watching the world go by as you fly over the countryside in a Hot Air Balloon. The most rewarding part of piloting balloons is being able to share the experience and excitement with others" Your ballooning experience will include: - 3 - 4 hour Experience - Detailed Passenger Safety Briefing - Opportunity To Help Set Up The Balloon - 45 minutes to 1 Hour Flight From York - Opportunity To Help Pack The Balloon Away - Champagne Toast - Flight Certificates - Optional In-Flight Photographs & Video (£20) - Minibus Ride Back To Launch Site

Discover York's ghoulish history on a vintage London bus

Discover York's most terrifying history by visiting The York Dungeon. You'll meet its perverse characters as you explore the bowels of the city.

Embark on a thrilling self-drive boat tour in York, the Viking way. Navigate the river, explore history, and soak in the city's charm with our expert guide.

Explore York on an unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour valid for 24 hours. Discover the city's key sights, such as York Castle and Monk Bar, and enjoy panoramic views from the open-top deck.

Don't get lost in the crowds. Explore York at your own pace and in private with one of our expert, fully qualified, personable guides. Delve deep into the medieval maze and discover secret corners few other visitors get to see. This is an entirely personal service - once you have made your booking we will get in touch to arrange where to come and meet you (such as any city centre landmark or hotel). We will ensure you don't miss any of the highlights - including the world-famous Minster (exterior only) medieval city walls and Shambles - but if you have any particular areas of interest, please get in touch. It's your tour and we want you to experience York your way!

Ten live shows, scary surprises, and 2,000 years of Britain's dark history

If you'd like to visit one of York's most iconic landmarks and admire breathtaking views of this ancient city, our Clifford's Tower Ticket is perfect for you!

Experience the best of British culture with a scenic river cruise in York, complete with award-winning fish and chips. Enjoy majestic views and local insights.

Create your own chocolate bar in a hands-on chocolate-making workshop in York. Experiment with different flavors, learn about the origins of cocoa, and work with white, milk, or dark chocolate.

Dorian Deathly has been leading ghost tours in York at night for 10 years and has a lot of interesting tales to share, but sometimes he likes to come out during the daylight hours and enjoy a tour with a difference! York can be a noisy old place in the daytime, particularly at peak times so it can be difficult to be fully immersed in the terrible tales! We use a tour guide system with high quality over the ear headphones and a professional microphone system to ensure incredible clarity. You will be absolutely captivated by the stories, yet free to move around and explore the spaces as you like. The tour will cover a collection of some of the fouler fiends from York's darker past, blood spilled on these old stones that we tread upon. The tale of Death By Pancake! Questionable Victorian medical practices... History has never been so disgraceful.

Make magic in York by hopping on (and off!) this handy bus!

Travel with the peace and comfort of knowing that, should you need assistance on your trip, Civitatis has your back - don't let anything spoil your trip!

Join your eccentric character guide and get an up-close walking tour of the city and its hidden gems.

Discover the best of North Yorkshire's villages, market towns and moorlands on a full-day tour to Whitby, Helmsley, North Yorkshire Moors National Park and more.

Explore York on a guided e-bike city & surrounding area tour. Tours run daily and last around 2.5 hours Riders must be 16 and over and be competent riding a bicycle on UK roads. Bikes and helmets included

See historic landmarks while cruising along the River Ouse

Join us on this tour of the Witches of York, to discover the darker side of this beautiful walled city. Scary stories and ancient legends await!

Once downloaded, you'll start listening from Exhibition Square. Get stories about the Shambles, JORVIK Viking Centre, York Castle Museum, Clifford's Tower, and more.

Enjoy a relaxing and festive sightseeing cruise along the River Ouse in York. Sip on a warm drink and enjoy a mince pie as you take in the views and landmarks of York.

Explore Roman York, at your own pace with your own personal tour guide! This is a new private bespoke tour run by York Walls Tours - with over 100 5 star reviews for our other tours on Trip Advisor! Your private guide will take you on a informative and entertaining trip around York, discovering its fascinating Roman past, where for over 300 years the most dangerous province in the entire Roman Empire was governed from. Learn about the emperors who visited (and died here!), discover lost sites missed by tourists and explore the extraordinary history of this most iconic of Roman Cities, from Dark age battles to lost legions, crazed emperors to gladiator cemetaries, the private Roman tour of York has it all!

Enjoy the finest and freshest fish and chips as you sail through York

The York Pass gives you free access to more than 40 fantastic attractions in York. Visit ancient castle ruins, the aquarium, the iconic York Minster, and more!

Explore York during this interactive and fun discovery walk and see popular sights like Clifford's Tower from a different angle and discover hidden local spots.

See, hear, smell, and feel York's dark history come to life with an entry ticket to the York Dungeon. Step into the past as frighteningly funny and engaging characters transport you back in time.

Our Tours are the only way to see Yorkshire and its beauty in a single day with complete privacy, security and comfort onboard the magnificent Mercedes Benz V Class accompanied by Andrew the guide. Andrew always places your enjoyment of the day before everything else. No other Tour in the glorious north of England focuses so much on the overall quality of each and every guests experience. We believe that your vacation is the most valuable part of your year. We respect every minute of your vacation time, our philosophy is to make every moment of your time on vacation worthwhile. Before founding our company Andrew led a tour in another part of the UK that was ranked by TripAdvisor Travellers choice as the best tour in England and tenth best tour in the world. Lastly and most importantly every tour guarantees the sighting of at least a couple of very woolly Sheep!

Learn the history of the cathedral and see the Gothic architecture

This ticket to Whitby Abbey will take you on a journey to England in the Middle Ages during which you'll discover its history in full! 

Forget about crowds, schedules or lines. Enjoy a self-guided tour of York and discover this vibrant city at your own pace with a private guide on your smartphone.

Dare you take a trip into the past? Let your guide take you on a journey through the streets and snickleways of York and learn of it horrible history and ghostly tales. Rated PG.

For group sizes of up to 4, 8 or 15 passengers, this Private Day Trip from York, just for your party, provides the opportunity to explore the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, visiting Bolton Castle, Askrigg, Kettlewell, Pateley Bridge and the traditional Dales Market Town of Hawes, where you will have the opportunity to visit the award winning Wensleydale Creamery, the home of Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese!

Historic sights and scenery on a day trip through the North York Moors

On this tour aboard the York Ghost Bus, we'll take you on a scary night out in the city. A very special crew will tell you creepy-crawly stories from the city.

See locations from the latest TV adaptation as well as sites from the original BBC series from the 1970s. Plus, be immersed in the culture of the Yorkshire Dales.

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.

Our Tours are the only way to see Yorkshire and its beauty in a single day with complete privacy, security and comfort onboard the magnificent Mercedes Benz V Class accompanied by your expert driver guide. Our guides always place your enjoyment of the day before everything else. No other tour in the glorious North of England focuses so much on the overall quality of each and every guest's experience. We believe that your vacation is the most valuable part of your year. We respect every minute of your vacation time, our philosophy is to make every moment of your time in the uK worthwhile. Sheep sightings guaranteed!

Visit a Viking museum and take a river cruise

Experience an unforgettable evening on this sunset cruise through York. From the boat, you'll enjoy the city's scenery on a beautiful journey!

Join a guided walking tour to explore the witches and history of York

Experience Yorkshire’s wicked history on this spellbindingly unique walking tour, led by a bewitching guide! See the famous sites of Shambles, York Minster, Stonegate and much more...

After fear, after terror… there is York City FRIGHTseeing! Discover the eerie history of York with our guided ghost tour as we walk through the most haunted locations of the city’s spookscape, where every spine-tingling story is a nightmare shuddersome of fun. Whether you're a rock ‘n’ roll horror fiend, thrill-seeker, or just looking for a frightfully good time, York City FRIGHTseeing is the tour for you! Our small group, shared tours are suitable for guillotine-agers and splatter brats over 10 years of age, but younger children are permitted at parent’s own discretion. Gore hounds more than welcome, if friendly and well behaved. No jump scares. No gimmicks - Just a comprehensive DEADucation in the most haunted city in Europe. Grab your tickets now and prepare for a hauntingly unforgettable experience of York’s only walking tour that will leave you running scared!

The York sightseeing bus is the perfect way to travel back to the medieval ages and discover why this is the second most visited city in England.

Enjoy an exclusive 2-hour private bespoke tour and discover the city of York however you like with your tour guide!