WELCOME BACK!

AVG Tours recommenced on 17th May.
To ensure the safety of our guests and our guides, tours will be limited to 10 guests per guide.

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.

BOOK HERE

Tour Update

COVID-19:
Please note that in line with Government guidelines a maximum of 10 guests will be allowed with each tour guide.

Your guide will request that you conduct safe-distancing during the tour and face coverings will be required in certain locations.

We reserve the right to cancel the tour should circumstances, in the judgement of the guide on duty, be such that it is not safe to undertake it. We also reserve the right to refuse any individual who cannot or will not observe the safety precautions.

Download a full copy of our Guidelines and Policy for dealing with Covid-19 Safety

Advance Bookings Only

Tour Start Point

Tours are operating within Government Guidelines.

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

ALL TOURS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED

BOOK HERE

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

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

Do I need to book?

During Covid-19 restrictions tours must be booked in advance at this link Book Online. Once you have your ticket please turn up at the meeting point at Exhibition Square at least 5 minutes before the designated start time.

Book Here

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.

Don’t forget your face mask.

Where does the tour end?

The final part of the tour takes us to York’s oldest street, the Shambles. (During Covid-19 restrictions the end point will vary depending on circumstances on the day, your guide will advise).

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

We must have just had the wettest York City Tour on record! The forecast said it might rain, but it was torrential, with distant thunder and lightning. Our excellent guide Graham carried on regardless while doing his best to protect us from the elements and keep us safe. He still managed to deliver an excellent tour with a multitude of facts and details (we learned a lot) and delivered with more than a little humour. We had jackets and umbrellas, and remained relatively dry. Poor Graham was well and truly soaked. His performance went well beyond the call of duty. 20/10……
Looking forward to next tour with Graham when it is not quite so wet….. Highly recommended.

— Merv & Maureen, 28th July 2021

This tour was the absolute highlight of our stay in York. Our guide, Helen, was so wonderful and gave us an excellent overview of York’s history and monuments. We loved the tour and can’t thank Helen enough!

— Lauren Mcemily, 27th July 2021

We would like to thank Judy for being the most outstanding tour guide today in York. For six Londoners who had never visited York before she made the tour totally enthralling (and that’s saying something considering we had 4 teenagers with us). It was fascinating and the 2 hours flew by. We all learnt so much and her passion and love of York shone through. It really made our trip! Thank you so much Best wishes Shoshannah Fenner and family

— Shoshannah Fenner, 27th July 2021