York Private Walking Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Micklegate Bar is the most significant of York’s four main medieval gateway bars, historically serving as the principal entrance for monarchs arriving from the south. Dating from the 12th–14th centuries, this historic landmark features a 4-storey structure that formerly held a barbican, acted as a prison, and displayed severed heads of traitors.

   5 min

2. Holy Trinity Micklegate is a Grade I listed Parish Church. It is the home of the Monks of Micklegate exhibition and uniquely in York it is the only monastic church still in use following the Dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 before which it was part of a much larger complex.

   10 minAdmission included

3. The home of the Lord Mayor of the City of York.

   5 min

4. Regarded by the Victorians as one of the most beautiful churches in the city, St Martin's was burnt out in World War II, in bombing known as the 'Baedeker raids' for targeting historic cities. Only the tower and the south aisle survived. After extensive rebuilding, the church was rehallowed as a chapel of peace and reconciliation, and a walled garden was created from the remaining shell.

   5 minAdmission included

5. Ruins of a medieval hospital founded after the Norman conquest, and largely destroyed under the orders of Henry VIII.

   5 minAdmission included

6. A beautiful building housing five galleries which showcase archaeological treasures plus displays of rare animals, birds and fossils.

   Passes by

7. These beautiful riverside gardens are where an old Abbey once stood and before that a Roman fort.

   10 min

8. The remains of a Roman Legionary fortress established by the Ninth Legion, "Hispana", in AD71-74.

   5 minAdmission included

9. The Multangular Tower in the Museum Gardens is the most significant and intact structure remaining from the Roman walls. It was constructed as part of a series of eight similar defensive towers and is almost 30 feet high and has 10 sides... hence its name!

   Passes by

10. Originally built in 1088, St. Mary’s Abbey is a beautiful historic ruin set in the peaceful Museum Gardens. The remains of the medieval abbey are impressive and give a glimpse of York’s rich past.

    5 min

11. The Edible Wood is located in the York Museum Gardens and was planted in July 2015. The design of the Edible Wood is based on the principles of permaculture and forest gardening, exploring our relationship with food and the future of crop production. It features plants that have an edible component and are both attractive and useful – valuable qualities as home gardens become smaller and people search for multi-functional plants.

    5 min

12. York Art Gallery’s collection of paintings spans more than 600 years and works range from 14th century Italian panels and 17th century Dutch masterpieces to Victorian narrative paintings and 20th century works by LS Lowry and David Hockney.

    Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in York

• Its from-price is 400% above the median of the 10 city tours we list in York.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 8 of 10.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About York

York is a walled cathedral city in northern England, a place of Roman and Viking history, medieval lanes and a vast Gothic minster.

York Minster, among the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, towers over the city, and its stained glass includes the Great East Window, one of the biggest areas of medieval glass in the country. Medieval walls, the longest in England, encircle the old centre and can be walked along the top. The Shambles, a narrow lane of leaning timber-framed buildings, was once the street of butchers.

Top-ranked sights in York: York Minster, Clifford's Tower, The Shambles.

See all 186 experiences in York