York: Private Guided Walking Tour

11 Reviews

Tours Culture & history Activities Walking tours Wheelchair accessible Nature & adventure

An exclusive, private walking tour from the dawn of Christianity to the birth of the Kit Kat. Discover why York is a city with Viking mud on its boots and a taste of cocoa in the air.

Highlights

Explore the labyrinth of medieval streets and snickelways
Discover a Roman fortress and ruined abbey within a Victorian botanic garden
Locate the point where it is possible to see two thousand years of history - while turning on the spot
Walk along the most picturesque section of the ancient city wall
Wander through the Shambles - the original Diagon Alley

Description

The story of York is the story of England in wood, stone and chocolate. Constantine the Great became emperor here. Viking raiders left their chaotic street plan. Quaker confectioners invented the KitKat. No wonder it can be hard to know where to begin. How about the spot where it is possible to take in 2000 years of history simply by turning in a circle? And you don't have to walk much further to see how York was shaped by Romans, Normans and Tudors; as it is all laid out within the grounds of a Victorian botanic garden. Only in York can you be transported from a legionary fortress to a ruined abbey and a medieval hospital by crossing a lawn. Who needs a Tardis? Ever wondered why the Minster is known as a Minster rather than a cathedral? Puzzled why all the streets in York are called Gates (and all the gates are called Bars)? This entertaining and informative walk provides the answers while taking in all the key sights including the Minster, the medieval walls and the Shambles - the precariously crooked street that provided the inspiration for Diagon Alley. A true highlight, in every sense, is the elevated walkway running around the city wall (don't worry, there are safety railings, but this part is not obligatory if you suffer from vertigo). The route will also veer off the beaten path and into the maze of ancient cut-throughs and back-passages known locally as ’Snickelways’. These tiny, winding streets are the life-blood of the city and the side of York you would never be able to experience from an open-topped bus.