The ancient Romans founded the walled city of York which is famous for its 13th-century Gothic cathedral, York Minster. Your private guide on this unique tour is a local Yorkshireman and former York police officer. Learn what it's like to be 'on the beat' in York whilst visiting York Minster, Clifford's Tower and other must-see landmarks.
On your private tour, you will:
- Start the tour with an overview of York's chilling criminal history;
- See Clifford's Tower built by William the Conqueror;
- Hear tales of The Highway Man at Dick Turpin's grave;
- Wander down The Shambles, one of the oldest streets in York;
- Pass by one of England’s most famous tea rooms;
- Hear about the city’s dark history at St Georges Field, the site of executions in the 1800s.
Your private tour starts opposite Clifford's Tower outside Castle Museum, where the former officer-guide will give you insight into York’s lengthy criminal history, up until the present day. Hear tales of the serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper, the unusual dealings at the York Magistrates Court and the old police station where police officers first started working from in 1892.
Hear about the stories of dark dealings along the River Ouse, as you make your way to Dick Turpin’s grave site. Wander down The Shambles, one of the city’s 14th-century streets, which lent its likeness to several Harry Potter films, including where Harry and his friends hid from the Death eaters.
Your guide will tell you of the abounding mysteries in the city’s sites which have stood for more than 2000 years, one of the world’s oldest police forces and of the city’s oldest inhabited house. Your private tour finishes at Guy Fawkes Inn in High Petergate, a traditional Yorkshire pub which overlooks York Minster.
Tour duration2.5 hours 30 minutes
Type of tourWalking tour: no transportation is included
Attractions along this route:
Clifford's TowerThe original tower was built after the Norman conquest of York in 1068 - a tumultuous history continued for centuries after.
ShamblesA fourteenth century street with overhanging eaves, some have traced the history back to the 1068 Domesday Book.
York MinsterDedicated to Saint Peter, the cathedral of York dates back to the 15th century and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.
City Walls of YorkBuilt mainly in the 13th century and extended for 2 miles, York’s City Walls offer a splendid elevated walk around the city.
St Mary’s AbbeyIt was established in 1088 as a Benedictine monastery inside the city walls of York and became one of the largest and most powerful monasteries in the north of England.
River OuseThe Ouse flows for 60 miles through the city of York and the town of Selby to join the River Aire. The name Ouse is of Celtic origin and is formed from the word 'USA' which means water.
