Carly Make the most of your trip to York with this free York walking tour! Check out our York Guide (coming soon!) for more about how to make your stay memorable in the beautiful, historic city of York.
This tour can be broken into two days, allowing ample time to see attractions that need to be booked in advance. Please refer to the links ahead of your trip to ensure you are booked in to see these attractions.
Day 1
York City Walls
Open from 8am to dusk, go around the wall clockwise
York’s medieval City Walls are some of the longest surviving walls in England for their age as and condition. You are able to walk the tops of the walls around just about the entire city which makes for fantastic views and gives you a good overview of the city’s layout.
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
£6.50 (%50 off for English Heritage members) – booking in advance not required
Built between 1357 and 1361, this guildhall is one of the largest buildings of its kind and date in Britain. It was also quite unique in its purpose. To learn more about the hall, visit their website here.
Clifford’s Tower, York
£8.10 (English Heritage Site)
Clifford’s Tower, its present stone structure dating back to the 13th century, is the largest remaining part of York Castle. Its previous timber structure, from the 11th century, was the location of some very important histories of England’s Jewish population. Read more of Clifford’s Tower’s history and book your visit here.
Fairfax House
£7.50 annual ticket
A historic Georgian townhouse, estimated to have been built in the early 1740s for a local merchant, Fairfax House served as a familial residence, a gentleman’s club, and even as a cinema! Having been restored to its former grandeur in the 1980s, the house is now a museum and a Grade I listed building. To read more on its history, click here, and for booking information, click here.
York Castle Museum
£13 annual ticket
York Castle Museum tells the story of the city of York. From the Romans to the wars, the museum is a great place to get acquainted with what history York has to offer. Pre-book your visit here.
Shambles, York
This historic street is probably one of York’s most famous spots. The street, characterised by its 14 century timber-framed buildings hanging over the cobblestones below, gets super busy so, if you can, try to visit on a weekday (or move this stop on your guide to do early in the morning!).
*We put this stop at this spot in our guide in order to have afternoon tea at Parlormade Scone House. We highly recommend pre-booking a tea to enjoy whilst overlooking Shambles Market. This is a great alternative to Betty’s Cafe which was very busy and already booked up!
Shambles Market, York
Open 9am to 5pm
This historic market just through Little Shambles is a buzz with stalls selling everything from produce and flowers to local art and crafts! If you haven’t had lunch yet, we recommend something from one of the food stalls!
St Mary’s Abbey
In the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum amongst the gardens, are the St Mary’s Abbey ruins. The medieval ruins stand as a backdrop for the gardens and are an Instagram must! To read more about the abbey’s history, click here.
Day 2
York Minster
£12 for Minster only or £17 for Tower and Minster
Completed in 1472, York Minster is by far York’s most impressive structure. Towering over the city around it, visiting the cathedral is an absolute must. For more on the cathedral’s history, click here. To book your tickets in advance, click here.
The Belfrey
Sitting in the shadow of the mighty York Minster, the Belfrey may have the larger claim to fame as the baptismal place of the infamous Guy Fawkes. To read about the Belfrey’s history, click here.
Constantine the Great Statue
York was an important Roman stronghold and, in 306, Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, more commonly known as Constantine I or Constantine the Great, was here when he learned he succeeded his father, Constantius Chlorus, who died while campaigning against the Picts beyond Hadrian’s Wall. The statue of Constantine commemorates the historical significance of York in Constantine’s life. For a quick history of the statue and of Constantine, click here.
Roman Column
Positioned inconspicuously beneath the towering York Minster is a rather out of place column with a small plaque as the only explanation for its existence. The column, resurrected from unearthed ruins, would have supported the roof of one of England’s most important Roman basilicas. To read more on the column, click here.
JORVIK Viking Centre
£12.50
As if York didn’t have enough historical significance, it was also a Viking stronghold and the JORVIK Viking Centre does a great job of introducing Viking York in a way that is relatable and fun (even for kiddos!). We’d highly recommend you book ahead although there was a queue for walk up ticket sales if your trip is a bit more last minute. To book tickets, click here.
Enjoyed this free York walking tour? Check out our other walking tours and let me know which city we should cover next!
