Private Tour
The Silly History Walk of York: A Self Guided Audio Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
York’s streets have been witness to countless stories.
On this lighthearted walking tour, you’ll discover York’s fascinating past through humorous storytelling, historical anecdotes, and playful character encounters. From Roman legionaries to medieval monks and Victorian innovators, the city’s 2,000 years of history will vividly come to life.
The tour starts at Clifford’s Tower, a historic Norman fortification with a turbulent past. You’ll weave through York’s atmospheric streets and ginnels, encountering historical figures like William the Conqueror, Constantine the Great, and Guy Fawkes along the way. The Silly History Boys narrate stories of Viking invasions, Roman settlements, religious persecution, and medieval commerce through comedic sketches and entertaining dialogue.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Clifford's Tower
The tour begins in front of Clifford's Tower. Entry is not included.
The tour takes you along the famous Shambles.
What‘s Included
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
App for Android and iOS
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Smartphone and headphones
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Food and drink
Transportation
Options
The Silly History Walk of York: A Self Guided Audio Tour
Reviews
4 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brilliant family tour
johnmR2940BS,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent family friendly tour. We did the tour with our three children 6, 9 & 11. We all loved it! It brought the history of York to life with much hilarity. Would highly recommend!!
You will be tittering along and attracting glances, but thats all part of the fun!
robbC2662NS,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A big fan of their Podcast so this was a treat! I knew quite a lot of the history covered but it the comedy that makes it. You will be tittering along and attracting glances, but thats all part of the fun!
The perfect ‘welcome to york experience’
589elishah,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I’ve only recently moved to York so booked the Silly History Tour as a way to get my bearings and learn a bit about the city - and it turned out to be an absolutely brilliant decision. Instead of feeling like a traditional history lecture, the whole thing felt relaxed, funny and really approachable. Starting at Clifford’s Tower and wandering through the centre meant I covered loads of key spots in just over an hour, which was ideal for newcomers like me. By the end, I’d got a much clearer sense of how the city fits together as well as its long (and sometimes very strange) past. The guides were hilarious but also clearly knew their stuff. The way they talked about Romans, Vikings, religious upheaval, highwaymen and Victorian scandals made it all incredibly memorable. I’ve already caught myself retelling bits to friends who are coming to visit - especially the stories around The Shambles and the Multangular Tower. What I really appreciated was how inclusive and friendly it felt. I never felt lost or talked down to, and the humour made it easy to relax and enjoy myself even though I was still finding my feet in a new city. If you’ve just moved to York or are thinking of doing visiting, this is a fantastic way to get to know the place properly - with laughs included.
Fun and informative audio tour!
Guide20828143691,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a laugh we had on this audio walking tour. Such good fun whilst learning about the history of York. We thoroughly enjoyed this walk of York and would recommend it to anyone who has a sense of humour and is wanting to know more about what went on in this wonderful city.
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Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours