Photo: King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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York city walls, the Shambles and the Minster
Your local guide
Hannah Pickering
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Highlights
- Mediaeval city walls facing the Minster
- A Roman column near York Minster
- The Shambles and its old butchers' hooks
- Viking Coppergate, with an archaeologist
- Clifford's Tower and the story of 1190
About this tour
This walk follows York from its walls to Clifford's Tower, taking in the Shambles and the Roman and Viking layers underneath the city along the way. You see a stretch of the mediaeval walls facing York Minster, the butchers' hooks still fixed above shopfronts in the Shambles, and the mound where Clifford's Tower stands above the city. It moves through Roman, Viking and mediaeval York in a single loop of the old centre.
The call opens with a sound check, then follows the walls and streets in from Roman to mediaeval York, with an archaeologist joining for the Viking section around Coppergate. Questions come along the way, and a short list of the sites and their dates follows by message afterwards.
This suits anyone interested in how many different cities sit on top of one another in York. It also suits those who have visited before and want the history explained properly rather than in passing.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of York before heading out.
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The city walls 21 min
From a stretch of the mediaeval city walls, the camera looks across to York Minster, the guide pointing out the Roman column that still stands near the Minster's south side.
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The Shambles 21 min
In the Shambles, the camera holds on the butchers' hooks still fixed above some of the shopfronts, the guide explaining what the street was used for before it became what it is now.
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Clifford's Tower 21 min
The walk ends at Clifford's Tower, standing on its mound above the city, where the guide tells the story of what happened here in 1190.
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Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about York: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Yorkshire pudding and Shambles Quarter, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through York, showing you York Minster and Jorvik Viking Centre live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk York live with my phone and you ask anything as we go.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Sun 25 Oct · 12 seats left From 19,00 €
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