Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join us on an insightful walking tour of York, highlighting untold histories and diverse stories.
On the Uncomfortable York™ tour, you will go beyond the conventional stories of the city, hearing about the impact of women, people of colour, and LGBTQIA+ individuals from York's past.
This tour invites attendees to see beyond the stonework and uncover the lesser known narratives of York, while learning about the long and rich history of the medieval city. Walking through the beautiful city centre, you will discuss its early settlement, medieval expansion and vibrant industrial heritage.
This tour was written and researched by academic historians from the University of Oxford and is delivered by trained guides from York.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot always accommodate last-minute bookings for private or group tours. Please contact us directly if you want to book a tour within the next 24 hours.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
York Minster
Tour begins outside the dazzling York Minster Cathedral, where we introduce the tour and discuss the staging of heritage sapces.
Barley Hall
Learn about Medieval York and the holes in our modern understandings of it.
Options
Private Tour
Private Tour: Book a private tour for your group.
Public Tour
What‘s Included
Uncomfortable York Guide
Tour does not go into any buildings or attractions.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
15 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Everyone should take this tour!
jameskR8785ZJ,Jul 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I took this tour and we absolutely loved it. We both work in history fields in the United States and this tour was absolutely refreshing with all the lesser known stories of York! We also really appreciated that the tour opened up a dialogue between the guide and tour participants, pushing us all to engage with the stories we were hearing about and to question our assumptions.
An amazing and interesting tour
oc anel113,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing tour to discover the untold part of York and get to discuss and reflect as a group on why certain parts of history are not discussed!
Perfect introduction to York and it's history
166shubhamj,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful tour! One of the best ever city tours me and my partner have ever attended. It was great value for money and perfectly designed. Captured the essence of the city and its history. Rob was really amazing! One of the best guides really! He is a performer, absolute pleasure to go on the tour with him.
Highly recommended tour of York’s hidden history
emiliesZ1390QW,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Highly recommend this tour on the hidden histories of York. We learnt so much from our guide Rob, a nuanced journey through some of York’s past, highlighting the personal stories of some overlooked figures. Perfect for both locals and tourists!
Enganging and thought-provoking experience.
RandiScandi,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a really good experience as a family of 4 (parents and 2 teenagers) on the Uncomfortable Tour York. a very engaging guide who taylored to the younger participants too. It was a very comfortable tour in terms of pace and distance but with a lot of uncomfortable truths about York, which really should be part of the history told on any tour.
Excellent alternative tour of York.
KerryssYork,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is an excellent tour to learn more about the less well known history of York. Amy was an excellent guide, informative, while engaging with the group and seeking our thoughts and opinions. Hearing about women, ethnic minority groups and LGBT people in the past was fascinating. Well worth seeking this tour out.
Positively challenging
kathykagora,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A really great look at York's history that challenges the "Disneyfied" York that tourists know and love, with lots about Romans, Medieval life, Irish immigrants, chocolate history, LGBT (Ann Lister), antisemitism and fakery . Not preachy - just challenging us to look beyond the "chocolate box" history of beautiful York. Amy was a great guide - and got some good conversations going
Excellent tour covering uncomfortable truths about York’s history.
pinkvoid,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A truly excellent tour covering the parts of history often missed out in the heritage sector. Covers everything from Romans to the Jewish massacre at Clifford’s Tower. The tour guide was wonderful and all participants are well included in the conversation. I highly recommend!
Field School Review: The Uncomfortable York Tour
stellabP8042JH,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was engaging, thought-provoking, and highly valuable for students. It encouraged critical reflection on hidden and contested histories in York while challenging dominant heritage narratives. Students appreciated the interactive approach and the opportunity to connect classroom discussions on inclusion and representation with real examples from within the city.
Fantastic guided tour of York from the ‘hidden’ perspective
GeorginaM75,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really enjoyable and informative tour about aspects and perspectives of York’s history that are the ‘hidden stories’. Covering narratives from Roman, to medieval, to the city’s chocolate making history, and lots in between.. Rob was a superb guide - a great balance of engaging his guests, friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend and I will look to do different tours with Uncomfortable York. Thanks for a great morning.
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Operated by Uncomfortable York Tours