Private York Self-Guided Tour

Overview

Forget about crowds, schedules or lines! With this self-guided experience, your smartphone is your new private guide. Discover history hiding in plain sight in the beautiful city of York! This is an entertaining and informative experience for everyone to enjoy - whether you’re a local or a newcomer to the city. Here you will learn about religion, roman conquerors, revolutions, the true history of Vikings, Saints, infamous Massacres, Harry Potter and much more. You will also get an overview of the characters who played an important role, such as Roman Emperors from thousands of years ago, King Charles I, Guy Fawkes, the most terrifying Viking Kings ever documented like Ragnar Lothbrock or Harald Hadrada (who happen to have lived here in Jorvik) and much more. Plus, you'll get insider recommendations so you get the most out of your visit. PS: You will get an email with step-by-step instructions on how to download our app and unlock the tour.

Itinerary

1. York Minster

   Our tour starts at The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster. This cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe and the minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the third-highest office of the Church of England. Here you will learn the story of this beautiful building, its surroundings and more.

   · 10 min· Admission not included

2. The Roman Column

   Did you know that York was once a Roman Fort? Founded in 71 AD, by Roman General Quintus Petillius Cerialis of the Ninth Legion, Eboracum was a fort built on flat ground above the River Ouse near its junction with the River Foss. In this tour, we will tell you everything you need to know about the Roman Heritage of the city and the remains you can still find today.

   · 10 min

3. Dean's Park

   This stop is all about the medieval past of the city, specifically, you will learn about the "boundaries" of St Peter's Church and its inhabitants. This city within a city didn't come within the Mayor’s authority thus the area inside was known as the 'Liberty of St Peter'. Come with us to learn what happened inside and what were the social repercussions of St Peter's monks all over the city.

   · Non-stop passage

4. St. Michael le Belfrey Church

   The church of St Michael le Belfrey is the only remaining sixteenth-century church in York and is the largest pre-Reformation parish church in the city. The church is famous for being the place where Guy Fawkes was baptised on 16 April 1570. Here you will learn everything about the guy who made the 5th of November so remarkable all over the world.

   · 10 min

5. High Petergate

   Petergate Street, now part of the Minster Quarter, stands on the site of the Roman Via Principalis, the first-century main east-west route through the Roman fortress. The street is named due to its proximity to York Minster, which is dedicated to St Peter. High Petergate was the medieval route into York from the North, it runs from Bootham Bar to Stonegate. Some of the medieval buildings still stand here, forming an eclectic mix with those dating from the Georgian era other period styles of architecture. We will stroll with you through this street and tell you all about it.

   · 15 min

6. Petergate House

   Strolling through High Peter street towards the north entrance you will find Petergate House, a Grade II listed building that was once the home of Sir Thomas Herbert, a historian and groom of the bedchamber to Charles I. You will learn all about these characters and their story. We will also tell you a story about a haunted house in this area.

   · Non-stop passage

7. Bootham Bar

   At the end of Petergate street, you will see the Bootham Bar, which once was one of the four main entrances to the Roman fortress some 2000 years ago. You will dive into its history and understand why it still preserved.

   · Non-stop passage

8. Mur d’enceinte

   Since Roman times, York has been defended by walls of one form or another. York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. They are known variously as York City Walls, the Bar Walls and the Roman walls. In this stop, we will tell you everything about the walls, recommendations on where to hop on, and give you the liberty to walk through it as long as you like.

   · 15 min

9. Multangular Tower

   The Multangular Tower is located in the western corner tower of the Roman fortress, standing 9 metres high, it contains stonework from both the Roman and medieval periods.

   · 5 min

10. Museum Gardens

    The beautiful ten-acre botanical Museum Gardens, which surround the Yorkshire Museum, cover the grounds of the former medieval St Mary's Abbey. Established in the early nineteenth century by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and designed by landscape architect Sir John Murray Naysmith, the gardens are famous for their stunning collections of trees, shrubs, perennial plants and bulbs. Several noteworthy historic buildings stand within the gardens, these include the remains of the west corner of the Roman fort of Eboracum and St. Mary’s Abby.

    · 20 min

11. St. Mary's Abbey

    St Mary’s Abbey occupied an extensive precinct site immediately outside the city walls, which is now the Museum Gardens. It was a Benedictine foundation with origins dating back to 1086 when magnate Alan Rufus, a distant cousin of William The Conqueror and Count of Brittany, granted it to the monk Stephen of Whitby. At this stop, you will also learn about the remains of the Roman Anglian Tower.

    · 15 min

12. The Shambles

    The Shambles is an old street in York, with overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century. It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles used to display meat shelves from butcheries. We will walk you through this Harry-Potterish street while we discuss its past, what's a myth and what's real about both the novel and real-life events.

    · 15 min

13. Shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow

    Among the structures of the Shambles is a shrine to Saint Margaret Clitherow, who is an English saint and martyr of the Roman Catholic Church. She was married to a butcher who owned and lived in a shop in this street, her home is thought to have been No. 10 Shambles. Here, we will let you discover her former house, and tell you all about her past and why she became a Saint.

    · 10 min· Admission not included

14. Jórvík or Danish York is a term used by historians for the south of Northumbria (modern-day Yorkshire) during the period of the late 9th century and first half of the 10th century when the city was dominated by Vikings. At this stop, you will learn the rich history of the Vikings, who happened to establish themselves here more than a thousand years ago. You will also get a bonus of the stories of the most famous Vikings who visited the city (three in total, and yes, Ragnar is among them).

    · Non-stop passage

15. Clifford’s Tower is one of the best-loved landmarks in York. It is the largest remaining part of York Castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. At this stop, you will get all about York Castle history and its relation with the people of York. We will also give you a list of recommendations of places to go, where to eat and what to do on your visit to this beautiful city.

    · 15 min

How to use your ticket

Your Exploro Tour is Ready! Thanks for booking your self-guided tour with Exploro, we’re excited to help you discover the city at your own pace! To avoid issues, OPEN THE TOUR A DAY EARLY and check everything loads correctly Here’s everything you need to get started: If you DON’T HAVE the Exploro app yet: 1. Download the Exploro app from our website: https://exploro.app 2. Open the app and sign up for a free account. 3. Follow the onboarding steps. When asked, select the platform where you bought your tour (e.g. Viator, TripAdvisor), choose your tour from the list, and enter your booking reference number to unlock it. 4. If you have any trouble unlocking the tour during onboarding, copy and paste the link below in Chrome or Safari (tap Allow if prompted) then enter your booking reference number to unlock it. Already HAVE the app installed? 1. Make sure you're signed in to your account in the Exploro app 2. Copy and paste this link in Chrome or Safari to open your tour in the app (if asked click on allow): https://exploro.app/tours/york-self-guided-walking-tour?source=viator 3. Insert your booking reference number. Helpful tips: - Make sure your phone is charged - We highly recommend bringing a portable charger - Bring earphones to avoid disturbing others - Wear comfortable shoes - The tour is completely flexible — explore anytime Want to revisit the tour later? You’ll find it saved under the “Saved” tab in the Exploro app anytime. It is suggested opening the app a little earlier to familiarize yourself with the interface and to make sure you've given it access to your location. This will ensure you can fully utilize the map function for a seamless experience. If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to contact us at support@exploro.app or drop a message via WhatsApp at +39 389 644 9134, we're happy to help! Don't forget to rate the tour when you're done. Thanks! Enjoy your journey, The Exploro Team

Meeting and end point

What to know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Travelers

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 329930P4

Activity offered by Exploro Limited via Viator.