The Silly History Walk of York
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About the Tour
About the Tour
York’s streets have been witness to countless stories.
On this lighthearted walking tour, you’ll discover York’s fascinating past through humorous storytelling, historical anecdotes, and playful character encounters. From Roman legionaries to medieval monks and Victorian innovators, the city’s 2,000 years of history will vividly come to life.
The tour starts at Clifford’s Tower, a historic Norman fortification with a turbulent past. You’ll weave through York’s atmospheric streets and ginnels, encountering historical figures like William the Conqueror, Constantine the Great, and Guy Fawkes along the way. The Silly History Boys narrate stories of Viking invasions, Roman settlements, religious persecution, and medieval commerce through comedic sketches and entertaining dialogue.
You’ll marvel at the majesty of York Minster, discover the grim tale of Margaret Clitherow on The Shambles, and explore the Roman origins of the Multangular Tower in Museum Gardens. The tour ends at the elegant Fairfax House on Castlegate, once home to diarist Anne Lister, whose life inspired the TV show Gentleman Jack.
On this 60-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Discover how Constantine the Great was proclaimed Roman Emperor in York, forever changing the course of Western civilisation
- Explore the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey, dissolved by Henry VIII during his break with the Catholic Church
- Walk down The Shambles, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in England, once lined with butcher shops
- Learn the surprising origins of York’s distinctive street names like Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate and Coppergate
- Visit the spot where infamous highwayman Dick Turpin’s body was displayed after his execution
- See the Multangular Tower, where you can still spot cannonball damage from the English Civil War
- Cross Lendal Bridge, which replaced the ferry service and sparked local controversy when it opened in 1863
- Discover the surprising connection between Victorian physician John Snow and London’s deadly cholera epidemic
Join The Silly History Boys for this entertaining journey through York’s past, where historical fact meets comedic fiction for an unforgettable tour experience.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Silly History Tours
Silly History Tours tells the stories of the past the way they were never meant to be told - with humour, characters and a healthy disregard for boring history lessons.
Created in collaboration with The Silly History Boys, our audio walking tours combine genuine historical research with playful, story-led comedy, allowing people to explore cities independently using their phone and headphones.
Our first experience, The Silly History Walk of York, takes listeners on a light-hearted journey through 2,000 years of the city’s history, from Roman emperors and Viking invaders to medieval martyrs, outlaws and Victorian innovators.
Starting in York, Silly History Tours is building a growing collection of audio walking tours across major UK and international cities, making history accessible, memorable - and properly silly.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 32
Shambles
BILBO: You're a wizard, Harry.
PEAR BEAR: There will be no mention... Read More
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Clifford's Tower
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Tower Gardens
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The Kings Arms Pub
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John Snow Memorial
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Yorkshire Museum
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St Mary's Abbey
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York City Walls
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York Minster
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Shambles
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Merchant Adventurers' Hall
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationTower St, York YO1 9SA, UK
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Total distance4km
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Final locationFairFax House, Castlegate, York YO1 9RN, UK
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Distance back to start location126m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins at Clifford’s Tower, one of York’s most famous (and hard-to-miss) landmarks. Tap the Directions button in the app to open Apple Maps or Google Maps and head straight there.
Clifford’s Tower sits beside the Castle Museum, just south of the city centre. It’s about a 10–12 minute walk from The Shambles and 15–20 minutes from York railway station.
If you’re driving, the nearest car parks are Castle Car Park and Piccadilly Car Park - both just a short walk away.
You’re in the right place if you’re standing at the bottom of a grassy mound with a stone tower on top, wondering how many sieges it’s survived. That’s your cue - the tour starts here!
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
This tour passes through some of the busiest (and best) parts of York, so there are plenty of good places to stop along the way.
You’ll be passing York Minster, which is an obvious pause point if you want to stop for photos, a wander, or just to stare up at it and quietly say “wow”.
There are also lots of great cafés, pubs, bars and independent shops along the route. Feel free to pause the tour at any point - it will pick up again exactly where you left off, whether that’s after a coffee, a pint, or a spot of accidental shopping.
Best time of day
The best time to do this tour is between 9am and 6pm, mainly because parts of the route pass through Yorkshire Museum Gardens and Dean’s Park behind York Minster, which have set opening hours.
The tour can be enjoyed all year round, but it’s most pleasant in daylight - and significantly easier when you can actually see where you’re going!!
Precautions
York is very good at history, and occasionally very enthusiastic about rivers. After heavy rain, parts of the route near Tower Gardens and The King’s Arms may be temporarily inaccessible due to flooding.
If that happens, don’t worry - you’ll still be able to follow along and enjoy the story from nearby higher ground, and the tour will guide you on regardless.
Comfortable shoes are recommended, and depending on the season, a waterproof jacket or umbrella may also come in handy. This is Yorkshire, after all.
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Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
