The Original Ghost Walk of York

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
ghost walk

Until 30 June 2024 Tickets from £5.00 — Book now

York’s history is rich in tragedy, violence and gothic tales of grim lives. It was once proclaimed as the capital of Britannia Inferior by the Romans before becoming a Viking stronghold in the 9th Century. Since then, the city has been home to many a spooky character, who you can get to know a little better on the Original Ghost Walk of York.

Let yourself be guided through the dark streets by an expert guide, but be warned, this is no ordinary tourist fuelled gimmick of a ghostly encounter. The guides are keen for visitors to have a genuinely mysterious experience. Ghost sightings aren’t an uncommon occurrence in York, so when you’re with the experts who know exactly where to look, you may just end up leaving the tour unable to explain some of the things you’ve witnessed.

You can be sure you’re in knowledgeable hands as the guides for the original ghost walks are passionate about local history. Many of them have Blue Badge guide status and one even has a degree in Yorkshire History. Having run for decades, the Original Ghost Walks have gained significant media attention and previously featured on TV shows. They’ve also had some big names in attendance including Morgan Freeman and Noel Fielding.

From pub cellars to grand cathedrals and the colossal yet silent city walls, there are plenty of mysterious locations in York whose stones, bricks and beams hold horrors from the city’s past. There’s something distinctly Yorkshire about the types of ghosts you can find in this city, each tale has a degree of poetic grit to it which will have you empathising with the souls who may not have left our earthly realm.

The Original Ghost Walk start at 8pm every evening, from outside one of York’s oldest drinking establishments The Kings Arms. There are a couple of exceptions to the every evening rule where the guides take a few days off around Christmas and new year (rightly so). You can find out exactly which dates these are via their website. Aside from these you can turn up any day and join the walk without booking.

Where to go near The Original Ghost Walk of York

Manchester
Restaurant
House of Fu Manchester

First Leeds, now Manchester. Expect picture perfect ramen, gyoza and cocktails at the upcoming restaurant and cocktail bar.

City Centre
Restaurant
Allpress
at NOMA

Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

Manchester
Hotel
Forty-Seven

Forty-Seven is a luxury boutique hotel on Peter Street in Manchester city centre, above the high-end Indian restaurant Asha’s.

Leeds
Event venue
The Bookish Type

An independent bookshop specialising in literature across the LGBTIQA+ spectrum
From novels to children’s books, YA to memoirs, non-fiction to graphic novels… there’s a whole range of specialist queer literature to be found at The Bookish Type.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Henry C

Henry C is an intimate neighbourhood bar in Chorlton, serving up superb quality drinks.

What's on: Activity

Until
ActivityManchester
Eat The City – Scranchester Tours

Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.

from £60
Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
life drawing
Until
ActivityManchester
Life Drawing Manchester

Whether you have never put pencil to paper or have been honing your artistic skills for years, Bee Creative studio runs life drawing sessions for people of all abilities.

from £10
vegan super club
Until
ActivityAltrincham
Supper Club at the Vegetarian Society Cookery School

For those eager to expand their Vegan culinary repertoire the Vegetarian Society Cookery School’s new Vegan Supper Club is a must. With easy to follow instructions from expert tutors you can create sumptuous vegan meals which are then enjoyed as a group.

from £50
Until
ActivityManchester
Sí Manchester Daily Tour

Sí Manchester’s daily tour is a brilliant way to get an overview of the city with tours running in both English and Spanish.

free entry
Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
Until
ActivityCity Centre
Derbyshire Bird Tours

Join Stewart and Derbyshire Bird Tours for a calm, friendly and relaxing experience getting close to nature.

from £20.00

Culture Guides

Music in Manchester and the North

The end of summer means the start of gig season. From indie legends to the UK’s most exciting young acts, here's who we'll be watching this autumn.