The Bloody Tour of York
ENTRY
from £7.50
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A 90-minute guided walk through York's snickleways, told through tales of torture, execution and ghostly goings-on.
This is a walking tour, not an attraction with a queue or a gift shop at the end. Your guide leads you through York's streets and snickleways for about 90 minutes, telling the darker side of the city's history, torture, executions, hauntings, the lot. The site calls it family-friendly for "gruesome little ones", though there's no age guidance given, so you'll know best whether your own crew can handle grisly stories told with a wink.
It's a proper stroll rather than a route with stops and starts, which is part of the appeal, but it does mean there's a real catch: if you turn up late, there's no fixed route to catch up on and you'll likely miss the start entirely. Worth being on time for that reason alone.
There's no toilet stop built into the walk and the guide admits York is short on public loos along the way, so get everyone to go before you set off. On the plus side, the city's flat and the tour avoids stairs and buildings altogether.
At £15 for an adult and £7.50 for a child aged 14 and under, an evening out for a family adds up, though carers accompanying a child ticket holder go free if you ask for it when booking. Tours run at 6pm most of the year, with an 8pm slot added April to October, and January only runs on Saturdays, so check which month you're going before you plan the evening around it.
Need to know
- How long to allow
- Approximately 90 minutes
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair friendly with no stairs
- Dogs
- Guide dogs welcome. Assistance dogs accommodated throughout the experience
- Arrive on time, there's no fixed route so latecomers can't easily catch up
- Assistance and guide dogs are welcome throughout
- Cancel with 48 hours notice for a refund, less than that and it's exchanged for a later date
- Old cobbles crop up along the way even though the route itself is flat and step-free
Plan your visit
How long does the tour take?
About 90 minutes of walking through the city streets while the guide tells the stories.
How much does it cost?
£15 for an adult, £7.50 for a child aged 14 and under. If a child needs a carer with them, that ticket is free but you need to select it when booking.
What times does it run?
Most months it's a 6pm start. April to October there's also an 8pm tour, and in January it only runs on Saturdays.
Is it suitable for a wheelchair user?
The route avoids stairs and buildings entirely and York is fairly flat, though there are some old cobbles here and there. The guide will pick the smoothest path and make sure to stay visible and audible.
Are there toilets on the way round?
None on the route itself. Best to go before you start, and if you're caught short mid-tour the guide can point you towards a nearby pub or hotel.
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