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England  »  Yorkshire  »  York

Top Things to Do in York

We compared all 40 experiences in York so you can choose in minutes — real prices, verified reviews and our editorial picks.

4.8 40 experiences from £ 12 Free cancellation on most experiences

The unmissables

Recommended (7)

Top rated (10)

York: Villainous History & Rum Tasting Indoor Experience
York: Villainous History & Rum Tasting Indoor Experience★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (168)30mYou step into a single room off Stonegate, stay dry and warm, and listen to a live guide reveal the true dark history of York's villains while you taste six rums or gins linked to each story. No walking, no weather delays, and the whole thing takes place indoors — book ahead if you need seating or have accessibility needs.Is it for me?Book this if you want York's dark history without the walking, weather delays, or logistics of arranging transport between outdoor sites — the single-room format and fixed storytelling pace mean you get the full tale in one sitting, rain or shine.Free cancellationfrom£ 25View ›
York Walking Tour: Time Traveller’s Stories & Historic Sights
York Walking Tour: Time Traveller’s Stories & Historic Sights★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (166)1h 15mYou’ll walk through York’s tangled history with a lively local guide, hear wild tales from Roman times to plagues and highwaymen, and touch real textures of the city — stone walls, herbal scents, laughter echoing down medieval lanes. It’s not just facts: you’ll feel part of York for a morning.Free cancellationKids −50%from£ 16View ›
York: Viking Walk & Medieval Streets with Expert Guide
York: Viking Walk & Medieval Streets with Expert Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (127)2hYou walk the streets where Viking traders and kings operated for two centuries, guided by someone who separates the real history from the myth. The tour includes Clifford's Tower, the medieval Shambles, optional access to the city walls, and a close look at York Minster's unexpected Viking connection. You leave knowing exactly what happened in York between 866 and 1066, and why it mattered.Is it for me?Book this if you want the real Viking history of York — not the myths — told by someone who knows the sources and the streets. The private format means the guide can adjust the pace and answer questions as they come up, which is what makes the research feel alive instead of like a lecture.Free cancellationKids −67%from£ 75View ›
York: Christmas Walking Tour with Festive Stories & History
York: Christmas Walking Tour with Festive Stories & History★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (108)1h 30mYou’ll walk through York’s medieval lanes beneath glowing lights, hear quirky stories from your local guide about Roman feasts and Victorian traditions, pause by landmarks like York Minster and Mansion House, and maybe even warm your hands around mulled wine as you laugh at old legends together. If you want to feel what Christmas means here—not just see it—you’ll find yourself thinking back to these moments long after.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −100%from£ 15View ›
Yorkshire Dales Day Trip: Herriot Country, Grassington & Bolton Abbey
Yorkshire Dales Day Trip: Herriot Country, Grassington & Bolton Abbey★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (229)8hYou’ll wind through moors and stone villages on this Yorkshire Dales day trip from York—sharing tea in Masham, wandering Grassington’s TV-famous streets, pausing at Linton Falls’ whitewater rush, then exploring ancient Bolton Abbey ruins with your small group guide. It’s not just scenery; you’ll feel part of something quietly timeless.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −16%from£ 78View ›
Yorkshire Dales: All Creatures Great & Small Day Tour
Yorkshire Dales: All Creatures Great & Small Day Tour★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (133)8h 30mYou’ll step straight into James Herriot’s Yorkshire Dales—wander village greens in Grassington, explore Thirsk’s Herriot museum with your guide, taste fresh Wensleydale cheese, and pause for quiet moments beneath ancient cathedral arches. Expect laughter over muddy boots and real countryside air—this isn’t just a tour; it’s living inside a story you already half-know.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickfrom£ 120View ›
York: Hooting Owl Distillery Tour & Guided Gin Tasting
York: Hooting Owl Distillery Tour & Guided Gin Tasting★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (156)1h 15mYou’ll sip your way through Yorkshire gins at Hooting Owl Distillery in York, hear quirky stories from your guide, and sample spirits straight from the source. Expect laughter, hands-on tastings, and a relaxed vibe where you can stay as long as you like after your tour wraps up.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom£ 36View ›
York: Self-Guided Treasure Hunt Game & Cryptic Clues Walk
York: Self-Guided Treasure Hunt Game & Cryptic Clues Walk★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (260)2hYou’ll wander through York’s winding streets solving cryptic clues sent straight to your phone—at your own pace and with whoever you like. Pause for coffee or take detours as you wish; there’s no set schedule or guide hovering over you. Expect quirky facts, hidden details even locals miss, and plenty of laughs as your group unravels each riddle together.Free cancellationfrom£ 15View ›
York: North York Moors Steam Train & Whitby with Pickup
York: North York Moors Steam Train & Whitby with Pickup★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (332)9hYou start with hotel pickup and spend the day moving through three landscapes: the market town of Helmsley, the villages and moorland scenery of the North York Moors, and the seaside town of Whitby. The centerpiece is a heritage steam train ride from Goathland across the Moors. Everything is included—train ticket, guide, transport, and the small group size means you're not lost in a crowd.Is it for me?Book this if you want the North York Moors, a steam train ride, and Whitby in one day without arranging separate tickets or timing yourself—the small group size and included transport are what make a full itinerary possible in a single morning and afternoon.Instant confirmationfrom£ 99View ›
Yorkshire Dales: Bolton Castle, Hawes & Sweet Shop Day Trip
Yorkshire Dales: Bolton Castle, Hawes & Sweet Shop Day Trip★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (224)8h 15mYou’ll wind through Yorkshire Dales on a small-group day trip from York—exploring medieval Bolton Castle, sampling cheese at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, wandering storybook villages like Kettlewell, and finishing with sweets from Pateley Bridge’s famous shop. Expect friendly guides, local flavors, and views you’ll remember long after you’re home.Free cancellationKids −16%from£ 78View ›

Lowest price (10)

York Walking Tour: City Walls, Minster & Shambles Stories
York Walking Tour: City Walls, Minster & Shambles Stories★★★★★★★★★★ 4.73 (526)2hYou’ll trace York’s winding streets with a local guide who brings stories alive — from climbing parts of the city walls to hearing secrets behind Clifford’s Tower and wandering through The Shambles. Expect real history under your feet (sometimes literally), small surprises around corners, and plenty of chances to ask questions or just soak up what makes York so layered.Instant confirmationTravelers' pickKids −48%from£ 11.50View ›
York Ghost Tour: Shambles, Minster & Haunted Pubs
York Ghost Tour: Shambles, Minster & Haunted Pubs★★★★★★★★★★ 4.77 (108)2hYou walk 1.75 miles through York's haunted streets with an expert guide who covers Clifford's Tower, The Shambles, Bedern Passage, and The Golden Fleece pub. The tour is wheelchair accessible, family-friendly, and ends at a historic pub. Book with comfortable shoes and expect to spend roughly two hours learning the real history behind York's ghost stories.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn York's actual haunted history—the documented tragedies and mysteries—without the theatrical filler, and you're willing to walk 1.75 miles on old cobbles to do it. The expert guide and fixed route mean you don't have to research the stories yourself or worry about missing the key stops.Free cancellationfrom£ 12View ›
York: Harry Potter Locations Tour & Film Trivia Games
York: Harry Potter Locations Tour & Film Trivia Games★★★★★★★★★★ 4.66 (524)2hYou'll be sorted into a team, answer trivia questions about the films and York's history as you walk past York Minster and other locations, watch video clips and costume pieces that connect the movies to the real city, and compete on an animated scoreboard. The guide handles all the stopping points and keeps the pace moving, so you're not navigating or timing anything yourself — you just show up and play.Is it for me?Pick this if you love the films and want to see the real places behind them without planning a route or researching locations yourself — the guide and the game structure do that work, leaving you free to compete and absorb the city.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −29%from£ 15.50View ›
York: Open-Top Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide
York: Open-Top Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.70 (513)1hYou’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.Free cancellationKids −43%from£ 16View ›
York: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 24 & 48-Hour Pass
York: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 24 & 48-Hour Pass★★★★★★★★★★ 4.57 (616)1hYou board at Exhibition Square and choose your own stops across 21 locations, from Clifford's Tower to the National Railway Museum, over 24 or 48 hours. Audio commentary in nine languages and free headphones guide you through York's Roman and medieval history. The discount booklet saves money on meals and attractions, and your voucher stays valid for a full year.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to explore York's main landmarks — from the Roman walls to York Minster — without booking separate transport or timing yourself to a guide's schedule. The flexibility to hop off and back on means you control how long you spend at each stop.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −40%from£ 17View ›
York: Witches & History Walking Tour with Character Guide
York: Witches & History Walking Tour with Character Guide★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (470)1h 10m–1h 15mYou’ll walk York’s winding streets with a character guide who brings witch trials and local legends alive. Expect laughter over tricky street names, quiet chills near Barley Hall, stories at York Minster’s steps, and time to pause or ask questions as you go. You might leave seeing these cobbles differently—maybe even feeling them under your skin.Free cancellationTravelers' pickfrom£ 17View ›
York Walking Tour: Guy Fawkes, Shambles & Clifford’s Tower
York Walking Tour: Guy Fawkes, Shambles & Clifford’s Tower★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (590)1h–3hYou’ll follow winding streets from Guy Fawkes Inn through York Minster yard and Museum Gardens, hearing stories from a local guide who knows everyone by name. Expect laughter with falconers in the gardens, quiet moments at The Shambles, and honest tales at Clifford’s Tower—plus time for your own questions along the way.Free cancellationTravelers' pickKids −100%from£ 18View ›
York Walking Tour: Minster & City Walls, 2 Hours
York Walking Tour: Minster & City Walls, 2 Hours★★★★★★★★★★ 4.89 (19)2hYou walk through York's medieval core with a professional guide for two hours, moving through the Snickelways, past Clifford's Tower and Fairfax House, along the City Walls, and finishing at York Minster. The guide covers Roman and medieval history at each stop; you can choose whether to add cathedral entry or view it from outside. All taxes and guide fees are included in the price.Is it for me?Book this if you want York's main medieval and Roman sites explained in one walk without arranging a separate guide—the 2-hour structure fits the core sights and the Minster into a single morning or afternoon, and you choose whether to add cathedral entry based on how much time you want inside.Free cancellationKids −20%from£ 25View ›
York: Chocolate Bar Making Workshop at Cocoa Works
York: Chocolate Bar Making Workshop at Cocoa Works★★★★★★★★★★ 4.68 (212)1h 15mYou’ll smell real cocoa as soon as you walk in, then learn to temper chocolate with help from a local guide at York Cocoa Works. Create your own unique chocolate bar using single origin chocolate and mix-ins you actually pick yourself. Wrap it up to take home — or eat on the way back, no judgment.Free cancellationTravelers' pickInfants freefrom£ 25View ›
York Minster: Private Guided Walking Tour & Stone Masons
York Minster: Private Guided Walking Tour & Stone Masons★★★★★★★★★★ 4.85 (53)1h–3hYou walk through York Minster's Yard and learn the medieval carvings and building history from a dedicated guide; you spend time inside the cathedral exploring the stained glass windows and the stories of the people who built and used the space; you may meet the stone masons or Minster staff who maintain the building; you leave with a guidebook and all entry fees included, with no surprises at the end.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand York Minster's medieval history and architecture without navigating a crowded group tour—the private format and the guide's connections to the building's craftspeople and staff make the difference between a standard visit and one where the building's past and present come alive.Free cancellationLikely to sell outKids −100%from£ 55View ›
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