History and Hauntings Self Guided Walking Tour in York with App

Most visitors choose between a highlights walk, a wall walk, or a ghost tour. This self-guided tour gives you the best of all three in a single route — from Roman ruins and Viking history to chilling tales told at the right moments, in the right places. With your phone as your guide, you'll walk atop the ancient city walls, squeeze through snickelways, and hear why the Golden Fleece pub claims over fifteen resident ghosts. This tour is ideal for those who are in York for a day and want to get a taste of everything that York has to offer while having the freedom to linger and dive deeper into the sites that capture their interest. Pause for a pint, duck into the Shambles for photos, or linger inside York Minster — then pick up right where you left off. No group to keep up with, no fixed start time. Available in 9 languages with offline access. Over 20,000 travellers have used our self-guided tours. If it's not for you, it comes with a full refund guarantee.

1. 1

   St. Mary's Abbey

   10 min

   Walk among ruins of a church, destroyed not by war but by a king's grudge

2. 2

   Multangular Tower

   5 min

   Spot the line in the stonework where Roman hands stopped and medieval builders picked up

3. 3

   King's Manor

   Pass by

   Trace how an abbot's luxury residence survived the very purge that destroyed the abbey next door

4. 4

   Bootham Bar

   5 min

   Discover the medieval gates of York, known as "bars," and pass beneath the gate that once faced Scotland

5. 5

   Robin Hood Tower

   5 min

   Hear why wealthy Georgians fought to keep York's crumbling walls private — and how the public won.

6. 6

   Monk Bar

   5 min

   Discover how this historic bar also served as a home and a site for public proclamations.

7. 7

   Treasurer's House

   Pass by

   Hear about the famous sightings of spectral Roman soldiers and other hauntings within this storied mansion.

8. 8

   Statue of Constantine the Great

   5 min

   Discover the modern sculpture of Constantine, commemorating his proclamation as Emperor in York in AD 306 and his legalization of Christianity.

9. 9

   York Minster

   Pass by

   Marvel at York Minster, a towering masterpiece of Gothic and medieval architecture, reflecting centuries of craftsmanship and spiritual significance. Discover its stunning exterior and pause the tour if you wish to enter.

10. 10

    Stonegate

    10 min

    Follow the ancient Roman road buried beneath this shopping street, once rutted by ox-carts hauling Minster stone.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    5 min

    Piece together the tale of Mad Alice on the snickelway that once bore her name

12. 12

    Stop 12

    10 min

    Explore Shambles, a beautifully preserved medieval street known for its narrow lanes, timber-framed buildings, and rich history as York's primary butcher area. Explore unique shops, enjoy the charming atmosphere, and discover historical sites like the shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow.

13. 13

    Stop 13

    Pass by

    Pause at York's most haunted pub, where over fifteen spirits reportedly refuse to leave — including a one-eyed regular.

14. 14

    Stop 14

    Pass by

    Pause at the headquarters of York's medieval investors

15. 15

    Stop 15

    Pass by

    See where archaeologists unearthed a Viking city preserved beneath modern streets, complete with silk from the Far East.

16. 16

    York Castle Museum

    Pass by

    Count the hangings that took place on this site before it traded justice for curiosities

17. 17

    Clifford's Tower

    Pass by

    End at the mound where a hundred and fifty people sought refuge — and never came back down.

18. 18

    St. Michael le Belfrey Church

    Pass by

    Pause at the church where Guy Fawkes was baptised — and find out why his old school still refuses to burn his effigy.

19. 19

    Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate

    5 min

    Stand on the world's shortest street with the longest name, and consider why no one can agree what it means

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The total tour duration includes the time spent at the stop and time required to walk through all the stops.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.