Self Guided Walking Tour of York with Audio Guide
Description
Explore York at your own pace with a self-guided walking tour on your phone. You get a clear map of all 9 stops, simple directions through Google Maps, and short audio stories you can play when you reach each location. The route covers the historic heart of York, from York Minster to Micklegate Bar, passing sites like The Shambles, Clifford's Tower, and Jorvik Viking Centre. Start anytime, pause whenever you like, and explore freely. No groups, no schedules. Audio and text available in 7 languages.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start at one of the best surviving traces of Roman York, where the stones still reveal layers of the city’s long history. It is a perfect place to imagine Eboracum, the Roman city that stood here almost 2,000 years ago.
These atmospheric ruins are all that remains of one of the richest Benedictine monasteries in medieval England. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, its stones were left to tell the story in silence.
Bootham Bar is one of York’s historic gateways, built on a route that goes back to Roman times. Standing here, you enter the city much like travelers, traders, and soldiers did for centuries.
This elegant historic house hides stories of wealth, power, and even ghostly Roman soldiers. From the outside, it offers a glimpse into the refined world that grew beside York Minster.
The south transept gives you a dramatic view of one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Look up at the stonework and imagine the ambition, faith, and craftsmanship needed to build it.
This column once belonged to the headquarters of the Roman fortress in York. Today it stands as a reminder that the city was once a major military and political center of Roman Britain.
Stonegate is one of York’s most charming medieval streets, full of old shopfronts, overhanging buildings, and hidden details. Its name may come from the stone road that once connected the Roman city to the river.
The Shambles is York’s most famous medieval street, with crooked timber buildings leaning toward each other above the narrow lane. Once home to butchers’ shops, it now feels like stepping into a storybook version of the city.
Coppergate takes its name from the Viking age, when craftsmen worked here making cups and other goods. The area is one of the best places to imagine Jorvik, the Norse city beneath modern York.
End at Clifford’s Tower, the dramatic stone keep of York Castle standing high above the city. It has witnessed royal power, conflict, tragedy, and centuries of change in York’s history.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(2)
Very informative and easy to use, definitely found the self-guided tour better so I could go at my own pace
Thank you, Thomas! We’re really happy to hear you found the York tour informative and easy to use, and that the self guided format let you explore at your own pace.
Very interesting and we went around the whole city. There was a slight problem with the audio in moving from one visula point to another in that we had to leave the app and go to another app to get a suitable route, and then having to return to the original app, alittle bit fiddly
Thank you for your review. We’re glad you found the tour interesting and enjoyed exploring so much of York. We also appreciate your note about the routing and audio experience. We understand that switching between apps can feel a bit fiddly, and your feedback is very helpful as we work to improve the experience.
