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.

Are you looking for a way to see York without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Walk the Shambles, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world, and spot the story of Adam and Eve carved into York Minster’s Great West Door • Hear from producer James Easton, a local whose passion for York's history led him to create this bestselling VoiceMap tour • Do it all in 90 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before and after your booking date • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

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.

Our guide will take you to five our the best independents in York and at each one, you will have a taster which will delight your taste buds. We can take you to places you might not have found otherwise. The places we visit are all independents and passionate about providing excellent food and a great atmosphere. Our guide will help you on the culinary and cultural adventure and make sure you have a great afternoon.

Go on a tasting tour of York—and venture behind-the-scenes at the city’s top breweries—on this lively, small-group tour. Following pickup from a central meeting point, you’ll travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus to three local breweries. At each stop, meet the brewers, learn more about how beer is made, and enjoy a variety of brews at each stop. Snacks and bottled water are also provided.

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.

We are delighted to share with you the whole of our chocolate making process from cocoa beans to chocolate bar, truffles, cakes and more. Join us in this 45 min Chocolate class where you can sample our latest chocolates made straight from the Manufactory, learn how chocolate is made, indulge in our chocolate cafe or create your own chocolate treats for you to enjoy.

Join us on a relaxed and suitable for all 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, fun, history, sightseeing and exploration to offer a unique insight into York and creating great memories of your holiday. We are all stories in the end, write yours with British Routes.

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.

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.

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.

Wine and dine on this wonderful evening dinner cruise on the Ouse, enjoy an informative and entertaining commentary and even have a dance to the background music. Your evening begins the moment you step aboard as a friendly waiter serves a delicious starter accompanied by a glass of house wine. As you sail through the city your Captain will entertain you with a sightseeing commentary, interspersed with background music that accompanies your delicious three course dinner, followed by a choice of tea or coffee and chocolates. Your meal is cooked fresh on board by our experienced caterers. And enjoyed whilst taking in the sights of the river in York and beyond by night. We also sail past Bishopthorpe Palace, the official riverside residence of His Grace the Archbishop of York.

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.

Chocolate Bar Making York is home to some of the world's most famous chocolate bars. Join us in our academy and learn how to create your very own chocolate bar. You will discover our cocoa origins, we will show you how to temper chocolate, and you will experiment with different flavours to perfect your masterpiece! Once the bars have set, you will package your creations to be enjoyed at home. Who is it suitable for? Perfect for chocolate lovers of all ages and abilities who want to learn more of the secrets to create their own gorgeous chocolates at home. Please note that we recommend that children under 13 years accompanied by a full paying adult participant Please note: During this workshop participants are able to work with their own choice of chocolate and ingredients. This workshop is suitable for participants with special dietary requirements, but please do contact our team for any specific needs.

Have afternoon tea with a twist on our delightful Afternoon Tea bus as you tour the beautiful city of York! As its name indicates, this traditional double decker offers beautiful views of York including the York Minster, Micklegate Bar, Clifford’s Tower, the racecourse and much more - all while indulging in a delicious mix of sweet and savoury treats. Start your spot of afternoon tea with our selection of delightful homemade finger sandwiches – with many filling options on offer. Get ready to have your taste buds tingling with joy! The desserts will be the perfect finishing touch to your afternoon tea bus tour – prepare to spoil yourself with our scrumptious scones and delicious assortment of mini afternoon tea pastries and desserts. Together with the selections of teas and your alcoholic beverage of choice, these bites are guaranteed to be the perfect complement to your relaxing 60-minute trip through the heart of York.