York Ghost Bus Tour: Haunted City & Double-Decker Routemaster

A Red Double-Decker Bus Pulls Up, and York's Ghosts Come Into View

You board a red Routemaster double-decker bus and spend an hour passing York's most haunted landmarks (Clifford's Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin's grave), while a professional guide tells you the stories behind the spirits. No walking, no entry fees to manage, no deciding which stops matter. You're back at the pickup point within 90 minutes of arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

York ghost bus tour highlights

• Board classic double-decker bus
• Pass by Clifford's Tower
• Learn about Clifford's Tower history
• Pass by York Minster
• Learn about York Minster history
• Pass by Dick Turpin's grave
• Learn about Dick Turpin's history
• Return to pick up and drop off point

The experience

The Routemaster is waiting, blood red and unmissable, and you're climbing aboard a bus that's been ferrying people through York's streets for decades. This isn't a walking tour where you're squinting at plaques in the rain. You're sitting high up in a classic double-decker, moving through the city while a guide who knows how to make the dark stuff funny tells you why York earned the title of England's most haunted city. One hour, and you'll pass Clifford's Tower, where executions left their mark and spirits apparently linger. York Minster looms next, all stone and history and the kind of place where something always feels like it's watching. Then there's Dick Turpin's grave, the highwayman whose name still carries weight in this city.

The guide does the heavy lifting. They're trained to balance the genuinely unsettling stories with humor that keeps the whole thing from feeling like a school trip to a cemetery. You're not walking in and out of buildings or waiting in queues. You're moving, watching the city roll past the windows, hearing about the restless spirits whose sightings have made York what it is. The bus itself is part of the charm. Those red seats, the height, the way you see the medieval streets from above. It changes how the city reads. You arrive 20 minutes early, the tour runs for an hour, and then you're back where you started, no logistics to manage.

This works because you don't have to arrange transport, find the attractions on your own, or decide which haunted spots are worth your time. The guide knows the stories, the bus knows the route, and you just show up. It's in English, it runs rain or shine, and if you've got an infant they can sit on your lap: service animals are welcome too. Just don't be late. The bus leaves on time and won't hold the departure.

What’s included

• Your tour includes a one-hour journey aboard a classic red Routemaster double-decker bus, a professional guide who shares the history and ghost stories of York's most haunted sites, and passes by Clifford's Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin's grave. The guide is included.
• entry to attractions is not, as you experience them from the bus itself.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 18:00, the last at 21:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (16 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 54

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Ghost Bus Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want York's haunted history without arranging your own transport or navigating between sites: the fixed route and professional guide mean you see the main stories in an hour and know exactly when you'll be back.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the ghost bus tour of York?

The tour runs for one hour aboard the Routemaster bus.

What attractions does the tour pass?

You'll pass Clifford's Tower, York Minster, and Dick Turpin's grave, with the guide providing information about each location's history and hauntings.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English only.

What time should I arrive?

Please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure time. The bus cannot wait for late passengers and they cannot be admitted once the tour has started.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

Is there parking or public transport near the pickup point?

Public transportation options are available nearby. Check locally for parking availability in York city center.

What's included in the ticket?

The ticket includes the one-hour bus tour and a professional guide. Entry fees to attractions are not included. You're viewing them from the bus.