York: Deathly Dark Walking Tour & Dark Comedy Stories

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 50

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

York’s snickleways echo with grim tales and laughter after dark

You’ll follow twisting alleys with a local guide who knows all the city’s wicked secrets (and jokes). Expect laughter mixed with chills as you hear dark tales near Clifford’s Tower, wander Stonegate after dusk, and maybe pick up some Yorkshire slang along the way.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Dark history walking tour of York

Hear tales in the Snickleways
Explore spooky buildings on Stonegate
Visit York Minster and ghost stories
Walk dark back streets of Bedern
Discover ghost stories on Coppergate
See the warped old street
End at Clifford's Tower steps

The Experience

I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to laugh so much at stories about plague pits and vengeful ghosts, but that’s how our Deathly Dark Tour of York started — right in the middle of Stonegate, with our guide grinning like he knew something we didn’t. The group was a funny mix: families with kids peeking from behind scarves, a couple who kept whispering “is this real?” every time someone jumped at a shadow. The air smelled like wet stone (classic Yorkshire drizzle), and the Minster bells chimed somewhere behind us as we shuffled into the first snickleway. That word alone made me smile — snickleway. Our guide said it about ten times in his best “spooky” voice. I tried to copy him; failed miserably.

We wound through alleys I’d never have found on my own, past windows flickering with TV light and old shop signs that looked like they hadn’t changed since the Vikings were stomping around Coppergate. At Bedern, he paused under a crooked lamp and whispered a story about an angry spirit who hates latecomers (I checked my watch). The humor was always there, even when things got properly eerie — like when he pointed at Clifford’s Tower and just let the silence hang for a second before launching into some grisly history. I caught myself glancing over my shoulder more than once, half-expecting to see… well, something.

The best bit? It never felt like a scare attraction or one of those over-the-top ghost tours. It was more like hanging out with someone who loves York’s weirdness as much as its beauty. He called out to locals by name now and then (“Oi, Dave! You still owe me a pint!”) which made it feel less staged, somehow warmer even when talking about cold-blooded deeds. By the end, standing by Clifford’s Tower as the wind picked up, I realized I’d learned more about York’s history in two hours than any museum visit — and yeah, I still think about that awkward silence before the last story.

What’s included

Your evening includes a guided walking tour through York’s historic streets and alleys led by a local storyteller. Dogs are welcome, routes are wheelchair accessible, and you can bring prams or strollers if needed — just show up ready for laughs mixed with chills.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Deathly Dark Tours