York’s Original & Most Popular

Free Walking Tour

Join a TourGuided Tour Route

York’s Original & Most Popular

Free Walking Tour

Join a TourGuided Tour Route

Please note that the tour is delivered in the English language only.

Welcome

The Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York (AVG) offer daily free 2-hour walking tours to visitors from all over the world.

We have been offering complimentary guided tours around York since 1951.

Our team of 80+ local expert guides take great pleasure in showcasing our beautiful city, and we look forward to welcoming you on one of our regular twice-daily tours.

Tours begin at 10.30am & 1.15pm and run every day except Christmas Day.

Our tours are free; there is no need to offer a tip.

PRE-BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

Joining Our Tours

Our daily tours begin at 10.30am & 1.15pm

For the enjoyment and safety of our visitors, tour numbers are limited to 25 visitors per tour and so pre-booking is recommended.

BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE

Our complimentary tours are intended for individuals, couples and small groups of family/friends, and tickets are limited to a maximum of 6 people per booking. Our tours are NOT available for commercial tour groups – other commercial tour guide services can be found via the VisitYork website.

Organised bonafide educational tour groups can book in advance using the Group Booking Form.

Wheelchair users are very welcome but please check with your guide on duty about the route as there are some areas especially on the City Walls where access may be difficult or impossible. Guides will be as flexible as possible about accommodating you. Please also note, dogs are not allowed on the City Walls.

On some days there is just one guide who can take up to a maximum of 25 people. On busier days there are two guides on duty for each of our twice-daily tours, and we typically split the full group into two smaller tours. Please try to arrive 5 minutes before the start of your tour, so our guides have time to greet you and arrange the tour groups.

Please note: We reserve the right to cancel the tour should circumstances, in the judgement of the guides on duty, be such that it is not safe to undertake it, for example in severe weather conditions. We also reserve the right to refuse any individual who cannot or will not observe the safety precautions.

Tour Start Point

All our tours depart from outside York City Art Gallery in Exhibition Square and last approximately 2 hours.

PRE-BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

Meet your guide between the William Etty statue, and Kings Manor Entrance Gates in front of the Art Gallery, look out for our Tour Times ‘A’ Board which is the starting point and located near the entrance to Kings Manor.

View Map

Tour End Point
The final part of the tour takes us to York’s oldest street, the Shambles.

Please note that the tour is delivered in the English language.

Our daily tours are absolutely FREE and, unlike some other advertised tours, there’s really no need for a tip at the end!

Our daily tours are intended for individuals, couples and small groups of family/friends only.

Organised tour groups should not just turn up to our daily tours. We offer tours for larger educational groups (not commercial operators).
Please book ahead using our Group Booking Form (link below).

600,000+ Visitors

have experienced our tours

70 Years

of touring the City of York

100+ Nationalities

have participated in our tours

80+ Trained Guides

leading our tours 364 days a year

Some of our most Frequently Asked Questions

Tour numbers are limited per guide, so we recommend that tours be booked in advance at this link Book Online.  Once you have your ticket (there’s no need to print it out, a mobile version is fine), please arrive at the meeting point at Exhibition Square at least 5 minutes before the designated start time.

If you were not able to pre-book, you may turn at the meeting point up at the start of a tour and, subject to availability, we will try to accommodate you on a tour.

Book Here

All tours depart from outside York City Art Gallery in Exhibition Square.

Simply meet your guide by our ‘tour times’ board next to the William Etty statue and the fountains outside the Art Gallery.

The final part of the tour takes us to York’s oldest street, the Shambles.

All tours last around 2 hours, though if the questions and stories are flowing, don’t be surprised if it runs a little longer — our guides follow the group’s pace, and there’s never any rush to finish.

If you need to leave the tour early, that’s not a problem; all we ask is that you let the guide know, so they don’t think they’ve lost you.

The tours are FREE and entirely without charge, the volunteer’s reward is showing the beauty of the City to as many people as possible.

Part of the tour includes a section of the Bar Walls; dogs are not allowed on the walls. There is an alternative route where those unable to enjoy the walls can rejoin the tour at a pre-arranged point.

Some of our most recent feedback

Alison was a knowledgeable, thoughtful, witty guide and her love for York and its history is contagious. Thanks to her and AVG for this wonderful experience.

Catherine

23-09-2026

I know nothing about history and knew nothing about York before our visit. To try and address this I decided a walking tour was a perfect introduction to both. Our tour guide Richard was just superb – so knowledgeable, friendly and funny . He encouraged questions and made it clear no question is a silly one meaning that anyone like me who knew nothing felt comfortable to ask as many questions as we wanted . No one asked anything he couldn’t answer . The tour piqued my interest in both history and York and have found myself seeking out more history since the tour , who’d have thought – no one that knows me ! Anyway I’d highly recommend this tour and a big thank you to Richard for making it so interesting and engaging

Nicky Day

18/09/2026

We where visiting York for the first time today and stumbled over this lovely tour, right before it started
Our guide, Katy, told us so many amazing stories about this beautiful city that alone made us want to visit again. The best part is seeing some of the more hidden historical spots around the city, especially the small church and Gerald the cat right in front of it.

Klaus

17-09-2026

The tour guide today was superb (katey), good historical knowledge and spoke clearly and concise

Gareth Pendry

17-9-2026

Just had a really informative tour of York it was great well worth looking at a tour if you have time

Gregory

13-09-26

We had a very interesting and informative afternoon tour led by Richard of York. The 2 hours passed very quickly.
Would recommend anyone interested in the history of York from its earliest beginnings to its more recent past to sign up

Helen

08-09-2026

The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence designation recognizes attractions that consistently earn great TripAdvisor reviews from travellers. The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period.

Our Tours Start Here

Tour start address

York City Art Gallery
Exhibition Square
York  YO1 7EW

Where to meet

Meet your tour guide outside City Art Gallery next to the William Etty statue.

The Association of Voluntary Guides (AVG) has been offering free tours of the City of York for over 75 years and to ensure we can continue to offer this service well into the future, we are always interested in welcoming new members to join our team of Guides. Please apply, but note that our next training course will be in early 2028 which takes place over six days of classroom study, includes a tour training session with existing guides and a practical test. Dates to be advised.

or use the QR code with your mobile device