York’s Original & Most Popular

Free Walking Tour

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 daily tours.

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

Today’s Free Tours

Monday 20th January

10.15am & 1.15pm

Tomorrow’s Free Tours

Tuesday 21st January

10.15am & 1.15pm

Tour Start Point

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

No need to book!

Just meet your guide by the William Etty statue, look out for our Tour Times board.

View Map

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

A few of our Tour Highlights

600,000+ Visitors

have experienced our tours

68 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

Do I need to book?

No, for our standard tours just turn up at the meeting point at Exhibition Square at least 5 minutes before the designated start time.

Where does the tour start?

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. Remember, there’s no need to book for our standard tours.

Where does the tour end?

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

How much does a standard tour cost?

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.

Some of our most recent feedback

“The walk this morning with guide Richard was fantastic.”

— Friday 10th January 2020 – two guests called into the Visitor Information Centre

Thoroughly enjoyed our tour last week. Despite the less-than-ideal weather we learned lots, saw some of the most historic sites in York and were both well looked after and entertained by Fraser who did a great job. Only afterwards did we learn it was his first tour but you would never have known. An asset to your cohort of guides!

— Rachel & Stephen Butt 6th December 2019

Our tour this afternoon with Ian was marvelous! He was very knowledgeable, interesting and articulate. He clearly loves history and his adopted hometown. And thanks to you, AVG, for organizing these brilliant tours! Our group was a large, multinational, broad age-range group and clearly everyone was very engaged in Ian’s stories!

— Mary Osterberg November 2019