Descriptions
of Walks
Regular
Walks
Essential York
Roman York
Secret York
Snickelways of York
Special
Walks
Age of Elegance
Battle of Fulford Walk
Bloody Execution Tour
Choccy and Sweetie Tour
Christian Heritage Trail
Civil War York
Complete Walls Tour
Famous, Fabulous over 50's
Graveyard, Coffin & Crypt Tour
Guy Fawkes Trail
Henry VIII Trail
Historic Inns and Pubs of York
Historic Toilet Tour
How the Minster was Built
Inaccessible and Hidden York
In the steps of the Mystery
Plays
Jewish Heritage Trail
Literary Tour of York
Monastic York
Rail Trail
Richard III Trail
Riverside Walk
Royal York
Saints and Sinners
St. Nicholas Tour
Women in York History - Literary Women in
York
(Click here for dates and times)
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The essential introduction to York, with the best
of the historic streets and Snickelways plus the
City Walls with unrivalled views over the city. |
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Follow in the footsteps of the Legions as we
discover the origins of York.
Trace the Roman Fortress on the City Walls and in
the historic streets. |
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Discover another side of York as your guide takes
you to hidden ancient buildings off the beaten
track. |
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Explore hidden backwaters, which residents and
visitors alike miss, and hear about their colourful
histories. |
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(Click here for dates and times)
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Relive the Age of Elegance, when York was the
social capital of the North visiting some of its
most elegant 18th century buildings, but also taking
a brief look at some of its low life! |
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A gentle 3 miles walk to the battle site. On (or
near) the anniversary of the Battle of Fulford, the
forgotten battle of 1066. Option of a pub lunch.
Return to York by bus. Stout footwear recommended. |
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See turrets where heads were impaled on spikes;
hear of Dick Turpin's last hours, public hangings,
floggings, brandings and duckings. |
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York's Christian heritage and history from
Constantine the Great, proclaimed Emperor in York in
306 AD and the first Christian Roman Emperor. There
follow the stirring tales of early Christian saints
such as Edwin, Hilda and Cuthbert, to our very own
St William of York. More recent figures include
George Fox and the Quakers (with their huge impact
on social reform) to John & Charles Wesley and
more recently David Watson. |
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A tour of the Walls of York and other picturesque
locations which show the traces of siege works and
bloody battles when the Cavaliers held the city for
three months against Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads. |
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A guided tour of the 3 mile circuit of the Walls,
with unrivalled views over the city. Beautiful in
spring when the daffodils bloom.
(Please note: dogs are not allowed on the Walls) |
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A new walk as part of the York 50+ Festival. The
contribution of the over 50's to York's heritage and
history - some fabulous, some rogues, but all
famous. |
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Visit the hidden city of the dead; descend to a
secret crypt, sample Roman and Mediaeval coffins and
visit plague sites. |
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A walk exploring the (several!) birthplaces and
haunts of one of York's most infamous sons - Guy
Fawkes of Gunpowder Plot fame. |
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Follow in the footsteps of this obese, diseased
& constipated Monarch on his state visit to York
with his new Queen, Catherine Howard, and see the
havoc he wrought on the monasteries and hospitals.
Due to the adult content of this tour it is not
suitable for children. |
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Adults Only
What better way to relax than to visit some of
York's historic inns and alehouses. Many go back to
Mediaeval and Tudor times.
Relive the Golden Age of Coaching when the streets
rattled with coaches from all parts of the kingdom.
And of course the opportunity to sample a few beers
on the way! |
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A unique saga of convenience through the ages
from Roman sanitation to the 18th Century 'Sugar'
House and 19th Century attempts to prevent
'nuisance' and promote public decency. And, of
course, the opportunity to sample the dubious
comforts of mediaeval garderobes!
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A fascinating tour around this great church to
see how it was built by the mediaeval master masons,
with a glimpse of the modern stoneyard. |
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A series of several different walks to places not
open to the public.
Inaccessible and
Hidden York Walks shown BOLD in list of dates
Mansion, Cellar and
Priest Hole - Visit parts of York off the
beaten track going in a mediaeval house off
Micklegate and a chance to visit the hidden chapel
and priest hole at the Bar Convent.
We also visit a magnificent Georgian Town House, not
open to the public, and explore its cellars, attics
and state rooms.
Inaccessible York -
Kings Manor - A unique chance to visit this
former Royal palace, hear its turbulent history and
see parts not open to the public.
Guildhalls &
Secret Passages - Visit parts of York not
open to the public including some of York's fine
Guildhalls, the Roman East Angle Turret and a hidden
Crypt.
Mediaeval
Stained Glass - An expert guided tour of
the finest mediaeval stained glass of York's parish
churches, some in quiet backwaters of the City
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In the steps of the Mystery Plays
To coincide with the epic York Mystery Plays 2012
production by York Theatre Royal, Riding Lights and
York Museums Trust we start by visiting the 1400
seat auditorium set which uses St. Mary's Abbey as a
backdrop. We then turn to the mediaeval plays and
discover how they were produced on wagons in the
middle ages following their exact route through the
city streets and by looking at mediaeval art &
stained glass.
The 12th April walk coincides with a performance of
the Missing Mystery Plays and that on 26th April
with a performance of a modern interpretation of the
Plays.
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Visit
the York Mystery Plays 2012 Website
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A walk recalling the Jewish contribution to
York's history, visiting sites connected with
mediaeval and modern Jews.
The first tour is in connection with World Holocaust Memorial
Day and the March tour is near the anniversary
of the dreadful massacre of the Jews at Clifford's
tower, where the walk ends. The September Tour is in
association with the B'nai B'rith European Day of
Jewish Culture and Heritage
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A fascinating look at authors and books inspired
by York from Anglo-Saxon Alcuin to the Brontes,
Dickens and Robinson Crusoe; and, from more modern
times, WH Auden and Kate Atkinson.
The Literary tour includes a visit to the birthplace
of W H Auden.
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Step into the sandalled steps of the long
vanished monks and nuns of York and see the
evocative ruins of St. Mary's Abbey and more
tantalising remains of monasteries, nunneries and
hospitals; at the end enjoy the hospitality of nuns
at a still functioning Nunnery. |
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George Hudson is reputed to have said he 'would
make all railways come to York' and he certainly
succeeded! This walk explores York as a major
railway centre but also takes you to see some hidden
aspects such as the original station and workshops,
dating to the 1840's, and looks at the social effect
the coming of the railways had on ordinary people. |
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Follow in the footsteps of this much maligned
monarch, still revered in York. At the end visit the
Richard III museum and vote on whether or not he
really did murder the Princes in the Tower. |
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York used to be the second seaport of England and
its river is now one of its most beautiful assets.
A tranquil stroll along our beautiful riverside,
looking at its history from bustling Viking port to
Victorian chocolate centre, and taking in its
handsome bridges, one of which used to lift like a
miniature Tower Bridge.
Part of the York
Festival of the Rivers.
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A walk to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Six Roman emperors, countless Anglo-Saxon &
Viking kings and almost every mediaeval King from
William the Conqueror to Henry VIII have visited the
city-some welcomed, some coming in vengeance. The
Stuart Kings frequently came to York but Queen
Victoria 'was not amused' by her visit and never
came again. More recent Royal Visits have been much
more cordial and it was George VI who said 'The
History of York is the History of England'. |
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Visit the haunts of some of York's most colourful
characters- saints such as St Margaret Clitherow and
St William of York, and villains such as Guy Fawkes,
Dick Turpin and Erik Bloodaxe. |
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A fascinating Yuletide look at the life and
legends of St. Nicholas - the origin of Santa Claus.
The walk includes a tour of York Minster with its
many representations of St. Nicholas in mediaeval
stained glass and other works of art.
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As part of international Women's Week, a walk for
all highlighting the contribution of women to York's
heritage. Featured on BBC Radio 4's 'Women's Hour'.
Literary Women in York
(New)
A walk highlighting the contribution of women to
literature in and inspired by York.
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Key to Symbols:
$
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Clients on
Minster and St. Nicholas tours need to pay for
Minster admission in addition to the tour price.
(see prices)
Please check with Yorkwalk in case of
Minster closure.
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Yorkwalk
welcomes people with disabilities on all walks.
Walks marked * are not
fully wheelchair accessible, but every effort
will be made to adapt them to clients needs.
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Dogs welcome
EXCEPT on walks marked +
(Guide and assistance dogs welcome on all
walks).
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Registered
Disabled Escort goes free.
Please
feel free to get in touch by phone or email about
accessibility issues.
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