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