CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
ALL TOURS HAVE NOW BEEN SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

We regret having to take this action, but it is for the safety of our guests & voluntary guides and in line with government advice.

Thank you for your understanding.

York’s Original & Most Popular Free Walking Tour will be back – see you on the other side of this crisis!

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.

Tour Update

All tours cancelled until further notice.

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

Multangular Tower

Museum Gardens

St. Mary’s Abbey

The Kings Manor

Bootham Bar

The Bar Walls

Monk Bar

Treasurer’s House

York Minster

St. William’s College

Holy Trinity Goodramgate

The Shambles

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.

Read more FAQs

Some of our most recent feedback

I was on the 1:15 pm tour with Richard and it totally exceeded my expectations. He was knowledgeable and shared a lot of interesting information about the sights and the fascinating history of York. The walk was easy as well and doable by children and seniors alike. Thanks for offering this!

— Connie, 4th March 2020

Our tour was fantastic! The two and a half hours flew by as we learned about York’s rich history. Our tour guide was personable, funny, enthralling, and knowledgeable about all things York. I can’t recommend this amazing tour enough!

— Emily Schlorf, 7th March 2020

Richard A was a very well informed and engaging guide today. Clearly very enthusiastic about sharing his deep knowledge about his city. He managed to keep all included and interacted with all of us along the walk showing genuine interest in his ‘guests’. Very enjoyable.

— Paul and Ann, 29th February 2020

Read more reviews

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

Maps were disabled by the visitor on this site.

All tours cancelled until further notice.

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.

Guides Section

© The Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York