The Deathly Dark Tours
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A guided walk through York's darker history, cobbles, old ghost stories and a guide who won't promise you a sighting.
You walk the old streets of York with a guide telling you the ghost stories attached to particular corners and buildings, the ghost tour running after dark and lasting 90 minutes, or a daytime version at 60 to 70 minutes if you'd rather do it with the sun up. Nobody's promising you'll actually see anything. The guide just tells you the best places to look, which feels about the right amount of honesty for a ghost walk.
It starts from the booking office on Grape Lane and the group sizes are kept limited, which is nice for actually hearing the guide but does mean tours sell out. Booking direct through the site is cheaper than going through anyone else, and you can also ring or call into the office to dodge a booking fee altogether.
This is proper outdoor walking, cobbles and all, so sensible shoes matter more than they would somewhere paved. There's no shelter built in either, so a dry evening is a lot more pleasant than a wet one, and there's nowhere to nip to the loo along the route. Prams can come but the uneven surfaces will slow you down, and anyone using a manual wheelchair will likely want someone with them for the full 90 minutes.
The site says children of all ages have joined and had a good time, though if you know your child has particular fears or triggers around this kind of thing, it's worth having a word with them directly before you book.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Open to children of all ages, though nervy ones might want a heads up first
- Booking
- Book via website to reserve place
- Parking
- Castle Car Park and St George's Field nearby
- How long to allow
- Ghost tours last 90 minutes, daytime tours 60-70 minutes
- Pushchairs
- Prams and pushchairs allowed but may find uneven surfaces difficult
- Wheelchairs
- Manual wheelchair users likely need personal assistant
- Dogs
- Site asks about dog-friendly policy but does not state whether dogs are allowed
- Sensible footwear matters, the cobbled streets are uneven underfoot
- No shelter en route, so a dry night makes for a much comfier walk
- There's no toilet on the tour itself
- Calling the booking office direct can save you a booking fee
Plan your visit
How long does the tour take?
The night ghost tour runs for 90 minutes, and the daytime version is shorter at 60 to 70 minutes.
Do we need to book ahead?
Yes, and it's sensible to do it early since group sizes are limited and tours do sell out. Booking direct through the site works out cheaper than booking elsewhere.
Is it suitable for young children?
They say children of all ages have joined and enjoyed it, but if your child has particular worries about ghost stories it's best to have a chat with the team first.
Where does the tour start and finish?
It starts at the booking office on Grape Lane in York. The finishing point can vary by tour, so check your booking confirmation for details.
Where can we park?
Castle Car Park and St George's Field are both nearby and usually have space, and the Park and Ride is another option depending on your tour time.
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