York: Open-Top Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide

Summary

York’s history, laughter, missed stops and open-top views all day

You’ll ride an open-top bus through York with a local guide sharing stories and plenty of chances to hop off at places like Clifford’s Tower or York Minster. Expect small surprises — maybe a missed stop or two — plus time for pastries and people-watching along the way. It’s history that feels lived-in rather than read-about.

What’s the experience like?

I actually missed my first stop because I got distracted by the smell of fresh bread wafting from a bakery near Exhibition Square. It was one of those mornings where nothing goes quite as planned — I dropped my ticket twice, and the wind kept flipping my hair into my face as I climbed up to the open top deck. But honestly, that made it feel more like real travel than any perfect itinerary ever could.

The guide — Mark, I think? — had this dry Yorkshire humor that made even the old city walls sound interesting. He pointed out Clifford’s Tower just as a couple of kids started arguing over who could see the Minster first. The audio guide kicked in between stops, but I liked listening to Mark better. At Micklegate Bar, he told us about ancient kings entering York through those gates; I tried picturing it but mostly noticed how the stone felt cool under my hand when we finally hopped off for a bit. There’s something about touching old stones that makes history stick, you know?

We got back on after grabbing coffee (and yes, another pastry — priorities). The bus wound past the Jorvik Viking Centre and Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, and for a moment everything went quiet except for the distant chime from York Minster’s bells. That silence stuck with me more than any fact from the audio guide. It was easy to hop off whenever we wanted — twenty stops in total — though sometimes I’d forget where we were and just enjoy watching locals waving at us from below.

I still think about that view over the city rooftops as we crossed Lendal Bridge near sunset, light catching on the old brickwork. Not everything went smoothly (I never did figure out which stop was best for the Railway Museum), but maybe that’s what made it stick in my memory.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore York by hop-on hop-off bus

• Start tour at Exhibition Square
• Ride open-top bus around York
• Listen to live guide commentary
• Hop off at York Minster
• Visit Clifford's Tower
• Stop at Yorkshire Museum
• Explore National Railway Museum
• See York Army Museum
• Visit Jorvik Viking Centre
• Stop at Merchant Adventurers' Hall
• Hop on and off at other stops
• Complete circuit back to Exhibition Square

Top questions

How many stops are on the York hop-on hop-off bus tour?

There are 20 stops along the route where you can get on or off.

Is there a live guide on board?

Yes, there is a live guide as well as an English audio guide included.

How long does one circuit of the tour take?

One full loop takes about 1 hour if you stay on without hopping off.

Are tickets valid for 24 or 48 hours?

You can choose either a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket option when booking.

Where does the first tour start?

The first bus departs from Exhibition Square at 10:00am.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible throughout the route.

Can infants ride on this tour?

Infants can join; they need to sit on an adult’s lap or in a pram/stroller.

Do I have to start at Exhibition Square?

No, you can board at any of the 20 stops along the route.

What’s included

Your ticket covers unlimited rides for either 24 or 48 hours on an open-top hop-on hop-off bus around York, complete with an English audio guide and live commentary from your local guide whenever you board—just pick any of the twenty stops to start your day exploring.