Top York Food & Drink

Journey back in time on a hop-on hop-off bus tour of York, England’s quintessential medieval town. Your flexible 24-hour ticket enables you build a custom itinerary of York’s main attractions such as The Stonebow, Clifford’s Tower, Museum Gardens and more. With unobstructed views from the open-top viewing deck and 20 possible stops around town, you have the best of the city at your fingertips.

Combine two activities in one—a leisurely river cruise, plus traditional afternoon tea—on this sightseeing tour. Board the Captain James Cook in central York, and wend your way down the River Ouse. As you go, admire the city’s scenic riverbanks while also indulging in finger sandwiches, scones and pastries, plus tea and coffee (upgrade to add a prosecco accompaniment to your afternoon tea). You’ll also see the opulent Bishopthorpe Palace, home to the Archbishop of York.

Delve into the dark recesses of York’s history on this evening ghost bus tour. With your spooky local guide, visit notorious local haunts of restless spirits, and pass eerie sites such as York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the grave of Dick Turpin, infamous highwayman and murderer. Throughout the tour, hear anecdotes and fascinating facts about York’s grisly past, and make key stops for a closer look at the city’s most haunted buildings. 

See the historic city of York from a different perspective during a 45-minute or 1-hour cruise on the Ouse River. Relax during a leisurely sail, accompanied by commentary that details the history and culture of York, and enjoy unobstructed views of landmarks such as Clifford’s Tower and the York Museum and Gardens. Choose from several departure times to suit your schedule.

See a spookier side to York without the worry of getting lost during this guided ghost walk around the streets and snickelways (alleys) of the medieval city. Listen to your guide tell tales of York’s tragic past that you wouldn’t otherwise hear, ask questions along the way to learn more, and enjoy an atypical introduction to the city.

You don’t have to join a tour group to discover York. This audio walking tour lets you set the pace and pick up and drop the route when it suits you. Hit all the signatures—York Minster, Stonegate, Mansion House, the Shambles, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world—and more. The app works online or offline, including geodata, so you won’t need to waste money on roaming charges.

Skip the standard group tours and enjoy an alternative history of York during this award-winning, immersive guided tour of the city. Pass by top attractions—such as the Shambles and Jorvik Viking Centre—as you listen to your guide tell tales of witches, queens, and murderers that you wouldn’t hear on most other tours.

Don’t worry about getting lost in the winding streets of medieval York during this introductory tour of the city, ideal for first-time visitors and those with limited time in the region. See several York highlights—including St Mary’s Abbey, York Minster, and The Shambles—without worrying about directions, while benefiting from the insight of your guide throughout.

Venture into the wild and windswept lands of the North York Moors on this full-day tour from York. Drive through the countryside to reach North York Moors National Park and enjoy a walk amongst nature. Learn the legacy of Dracula and Captain James Cook in the seaside resort of Whitby. Next, spot filming locations from British TV series 'Heartbeat' and the Harry Potter movies in Goathland, where you board the famous North Yorkshire Moors steam railway for a spectacular ride home.

This is a great pick for travelers interested in discovering some of the best independent eateries in York. Save time scrolling through restaurant reviews, and learn about the local food scene from a guide instead. The tour visits five independent food venues for tastings and passes by famous landmarks such as the York Minster along the way.

Uncover the medieval marvels of historic York on a bespoke walking tour with a private guide. Learn about York’s rich history as you walk around the centuries-old walls, pose for photos with a backdrop of the city or visit the wall museums (not included). Your private tour is yours to customize as you please, so you could also pay a visit to York Castle, stroll down the atmospheric The Shambles or take a peek inside the magnificent York Minster.

Combine your sightseeing with a delicious meal when you explore York via lunchtime river cruise. Board the Captain James Cook—one of the largest vessels on the River Ouse—and set sail from King’s Staith Landing. You’ll enjoy a 2-course buffet lunch, plus tea or coffee. As you go, admire the sights from the water, learn more about York's highlights from the skipper’s commentary, and even glimpse Bishopthorpe Palace: home to the Archbishop of York.

Learn the art of making (and tasting!) chocolate from an expert during this fun tasting experience. You’ll hear about York’s 170-plus year history with chocolate, watch chocolate being made, and sample chocolates of different strengths and flavor notes made with cocoa beans from around the world. Once you’re done, enjoy great discounts in the shop and café.

Join us on a relaxed journey through history, myths, legends and architecture. Discover how the medieval city thrived and developed to become the city we all love today. Our guides deliver a fun and unique take on York mixing history, sightseeing and exploration to offer a unique insight into York, passing the largest medieval gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe, old cobbled streets, Guild Halls, scenic views of our rivers, devils doors and so much more. We cover all the important landmarks of York and go off the beaten track to places you may not think of going. We are all stories in the end, write yours with us!

90 minute Daily Festive Walking Tours, exploring the History, Tales and Traditions of Christmases Past. The streets of York have been witness to celebrations for nearly 2000 years. Explore the medieval streets beneath the twinkling lights and discover the traditions and history of this Wonderful Winter City. Put your Christmas Jumper on and join Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Sarah Cowling, for a socially distanced experience to capture the Spirit of Christmas. Discover if York really England's most Christmassy City? Where did Rudolph get his Red Nose from? Which Grinch tried to cancel Christmas? and Which famous author read his stories in York and made us a present of Boxing Day? We will hear tales of Christmas Past, from the bacchanalian celebrations of Roman Britain to the Midwinter Feasts of the Vikings. They have all left their mark on our festivities today Come and get into the spirit of things in Britain's original Christmas City - we might even find some takeaway mulled wine!

Reconnect with your favourite York landmarks with this hop-on, hop-off open-top bus tour around the towns best loved sites, with a live guide. Sit back and relax as our audio guide regales you with fascinating information about York Minster, Micklegate Bar, Clifford’s Tower and much more. You can hop-on and hop-off at any of the 20 stops. A great break from online learning for the kids, with a chance to have a more interactive experience. It’s been a very long time since we’ve been able to see the iconic monuments of this great city, so join us and revisit the best of York! We will be providing single-use masks and gloves on this tour, although customers are welcome to provide their own. The first tour of the day starts at 09:23am from Exhibition Square.

Delve into England’s colorful history and admire architecture dating back to the Middle Ages on this morning or afternoon York walking tour. Follow a guide through the streets of York and discover landmarks including Bedern Hall, Clifford’s Tower, Fairfax House, King’s Manor, the Multangular Tower, St. Mary’s Abbey, Stonegate, and St. William’s College. Hear how Emperor Constantine, Guy Fawkes, and Richard III shaped modern York, and learn of the English Reformation as you explore York Minster.

York has an abundance of restaurants to choose from, but this dinner cruise experience helps you maximize your time in the city by combining dinner and sightseeing at the same time. After boarding the boat, sail down the River Ouse with commentary about the sights you pass, background music, and a delicious three-course dinner.

See York the way you want on a private, fully customizable walking tour of the history-steeped city. With your private guide, tailor your itinerary from start to finish according to your interests. Admire York Minster, the City Gates, and Clifford’s Tower; stroll around ruined St. Mary’s Abbey; or delve into the cobbled lanes to absorb the landmarks on route and learn their stories and secrets.

The tour is back for 2021! It is especially aimed at those who are looking to have an enjoyable, entertaining walking tour combined with a focus on capturing the magic of the beautiful city of York for your memories & social media posts. The tour lasts 3 hours and takes you off the beaten track into areas that visitors often miss. You will learn some history and experience some wonderful sights and you will make a connection with the city that will stay with you. I believe in creating intimate experiences & moments that stay with you. The maximum group size I normally work with is limited to 10. However, in line with Government guidelines this is reduced to 5 for now. Small groups mean everyone stays involved & engaged & you can ask as many questions as you like. It also means there is always someone to help you to create your images with tips on how to capture the perfect shot or to take shots of you against some stunning backdrops that will get plenty of reaction on social media.

Experience York at its most festive when you visit in December, but don’t worry about crowds: this Christmas-themed river cruise makes for a relaxing way to see the sights. Depart from the city center and chart your way down the River Ouse. Your boat’s indoor saloon area makes for a cozy place to retreat, particularly with a hot beverage and an apple or mince pie in hand. Listen to festive tunes, learn more about the city, and catch glimpses of the lovely Bishopthorpe Palace, located just beyond city limits.

York Photo walks are about learning and developing your photography knowledge, whilst exploring York’s wonderful history, people and architecture. The aim is to inspire you to stretch your creative legs when you are out and about with your camera. Whether you want to just learn the basics or improve your photography skills the walk will have top tips for all abilities. Whether you have a DSLR, Point and shoot, mobile or tablet camera. We will explore how to improve your technique and photographic composition. Over the course of our walk you will learn how to see the world with an artistic eye. We want this to be a fun learning experience, we walk at a leisurely pace and you are free to ask questions as we go round.

Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With this self-guided experience, your smartphone is your new private guide. Stroll through the top attractions and history hiding in plain sight in the beautiful city of York! This is an entertaining and informative experience for everyone to enjoy - whether you’re a local or a newcomer to the city. During this amazing experience, you will learn about religion, roman conquerors, revolutions, the true (and known) history of Vikings, Saints, infamous Massacres, Harry Potter and much more. You will also get an overview of the characters who have played an important role in the colourful history of York, such as Emperors who visited the Roman Fort thousands of years ago, King Charles I, Guy Fawkes, the most terrifying Viking Kings ever documented like Ragnar Lothbrock or Harald Hadrada (who happen to have lived here in Jorvik) and more. Plus, we will give you a unique list of insider recommendations so you get the most of your visit.

Led by expert guides, Dr. Simon Rogerson and Dr. Liam Herringshaw, our Ice- and Fire-powered Family Tours of York blaze a trail/glide serenely through York's hidden history, illuminating highlights that other tours miss. In February and March, we get our skates on for An Ice Tour of York, revealing how ice has shaped every corner of the city. The only walk that puts the 'ace' in glaciation, An Ice Tour of York starts at the Monk Bar ice house, glides round to Peasholme Green to meet the Blue Coat Ice Man, and skates past Romans and Vikings before ascending the Ice Age hill of Micklegate. In November, every Bonfire Night weekend, we jump into the flames of York's explosive past with our Fire-powered Family Tour of York! In the shadow of York Minster, we’ll light the fuse with the tale of Guy Fawkes, set the Minster ablaze, and chase volcanoes down Stonegate, before saluting the French World War 2 hero who saved York from burning to the ground.