White Rose York Tour meeting place
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A free two-hour walking tour through York's historic streets and city walls, covering everything from Romans to Dick Turpin.
You turn up, no ticket needed, and walk York's old streets and city walls while a guide talks you through the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans, Tudors and the Wars of the Roses. It's a lot of history to pack in, but the site reckons the two hours fly by, and the Dick Turpin bit about the Moonlight Ride is the story people tend to remember afterwards.
It's free, which is rare for something this thorough, and there's no booking for small groups. Just get there 10 to 15 minutes before it starts. Tours go daily at 11am year round, with an extra 3pm slot from April to October, so summer visitors get a second chance if the morning doesn't fit.
The cobbled streets are worth knowing about if anyone in your group has mobility issues, since the walking surface isn't always kind. It's a leisurely pace with stops fairly close together, but two hours on foot is a proper ask for a very young child, so think about who's in your group before you commit. Groups bigger than eight need to book ahead, which is a fair rule but easy to forget if you're meeting up with another family.
There are no tours on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day, since Museum Gardens (where things kick off) are closed to the public then too.
Need to know
- Best for
- Open to all ages, though very young children may find two hours a lot
- Booking
- No advance booking needed for small groups
- How long to allow
- Around two hours
- Tours are in English only, though private guides in other languages can be arranged
- Museum Gardens closures on 25/26 December and 1 January mean no tours those days
- Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to make sure you don't miss the start
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's free. No ticket or payment needed.
Do we need to book?
Not for small groups, just turn up 10 to 15 minutes before the start time. Groups over eight people do need to book ahead.
How long does it last?
Around two hours of walking and talking, covering a lot of York's history in that time.
Is it OK for young children?
There's no age limit, but two hours on foot can be a lot for very young children to manage.
What times does it run?
11am daily all year, with an extra 3pm tour from April to October. There are no tours on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day.
Is it accessible if someone has mobility issues?
Part of the route is along cobbled streets, which can be tricky. The pace is leisurely and the stops aren't far apart though.
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