York Gruesome Walk on the City Walls

The City of York walls are the most unique and complete in the country. They have also seen their fair share of blood with heads spiked on Micklegate bar, a medieval Jewish massacre and cannon fire from the Civil War in 1644.
Join award winning Mad Alice on a gruesome walk on the walls as she highlights some of the tragedies that have taken place on and around the ancient stones.
This 2 hour tour will visit 3 of the 4 gateways as visitors have the option to complete the 2.5 mile circuit with the guidebook given by Mad Alice at the end or wander back to city centre if the truth has become too much to bear.

Meeting Point

Micklegate Bar

Micklegate, York YO1 6JX, UK

Meet By the pedestrian archway of Micklegate Bar, the grand entrance to the city.

What's included:

• York City walls map with additional information

Not included:

• Entrance into Micklegate Bar Experience
• Entrance into Yorkshire Museum
• Entrance into York Art Gallery

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Micklegate Bar

27 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JH

The ""Great Gate" inside the ancient city of York. This is the gateway where Kings and Queens have passed through and where many have lost their heads.... this is where we climb the steps to walk the walls in a clockwise direction.

10 minutes

Museum Gardens

Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR

These 10 acres of beautiful botanical gardens hide the history of nearly 2000 years. See parts of the Roman fortress wall, the medieval hospital, the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey and learn about the treasures of the Yorkshire Museum.

15 minutes

Exhibition Square

, , York

Soak in the history of King's Manor where Henry VIII stayed with his 5th Wife and learn about who saved the city walls from total destruction during the 19th Century.

5 minutes

Bootham Bar

De Grey House Exhibition Square, St. Leonards Pl., York, YO1 7EW

The oldest of the 4 gateways that stands on Roman entrance into Eboracum. It still contains it portcullis. Again we ascend the walls to take in the views and history of York Minster. Hear about the fires that nearly destroyed the Minster and catch a glimpse of the most haunted building in the city.

10 minutes

Monk Bar

Off Lord Mayors Walk, York, YO1 2LH

The tallest of the four structures, it certainly has its quirks, can you spot the "murder holes"?
We continue on this stretch of walls towards our final destination and learn about the Roman fortress and the thriving Jewish community that once lived here until a great tragedy struck.
At the end of the tour visitors will be given a map of the city walls, complete with highlighted info and what to look out for. From here they can continue and complete the walls circuit, or find solace in the nearby haunted pub called The Black Swan, or venture back to the city centre toward civilisation.

15 minutes