Private tour in York Christopher K

Glorious York half day walking tour

5.0

(56) reviews

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size

1

View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later

Christopher K.

5.0

Guide rating

74

Reviews

Tours delivered

11 hrs

Avg. response time

Hello, you all. I am Chris, an experienced Yorkshire tour guide happy to offer his services to you in exploring the lovely and historic city of York. I'm a, reasonably well preserved old goth and enthusiastic amateur historian who loves travel and exploring new places myself. I can talk for hours on such delights as medieval and ancient history, architecture, folklore, dinosaurs, religious history and the evolution of men's fashions. I enjoy medieval reenactment and hitting my friends with axes and still play Dungeons and Dragons because it's brilliant. My wife supports this all with astonishing grace. I started guiding when I was a precocious ten year old, guiding my parents' friends around our home village whether they liked it or not. When I moved to York in 2001, I started guiding for a well established local company and have been guiding ever since, expanding my repertoire of tours and tales over the years. I've had the pleasure of guiding visitors of all ages and nationalities and try to make a point of not sounding like a tape recording, but responding to visitor input and the changing environment. It's always good to be able to see a building or monument through fresh eyes and there's never such thing as a foolish question. York is rightly famed as a beautiful little city brimming with historic buildings and intriguing stories of kings and soldiers, saints and sinners, murderers and martyrs. These tales entwine around beautiful medieval churches, noble houses, graceful gardens, awesome gateways and the longest city walls left in England. The famous Shambles is one if the best preserved medieval streets in Britain and most visited, but there are many other spots away from the tourist hullabaloo I'd like to show you. Hidden graveyards, unexpected views and curious carvings abound if you know where to look. And when it's all over, York has some fantastic pubs to put our feet up in and share a jar or two. One of the best things about having a private guide is that we can customise tours to meet and exceed your expectations. To show you and share with you the very best our fine old city has to offer modern tourists and curious pilgrims alike. I have 20 years experience as a Tour Guide in the fair City of York and am pleased to offer tailored works on subjects as diverse as York's Jewish Heritage and King Richard the Third. I am a qualified guide inside York Minster and can incorporate tours inside the Minster into our itineries.

Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Christopher K.

Overview of your York tour

Is this your first visit to York? Or have you tasted a little of the city before and want to explore and learn more? Do you want to see not only highlights of our great walled cathedral city but also a few little details most locals don't even know? This should be the right tour for you. We shall walk through two thousand years of English history in the steps of emperors and kings, saints and traitors. The tour takes approximately 4 hours with a break for refreshments and tired feet, though York is mercifully flat and much of the city is pedestrianised. York has so much to see and I'd be delighted to show you the very best of it. Access to the walls is by stairs only. If visitors have mobility issues, then another route will be taken which still allows for fine views.

Recent Reviews

Kyla I.United States
June 2026

Christopher was a dynamic guide and his enthusiasm and excitement for the history and architecture of York shone through. He was extremely knowledgeable about York’s varied history and took us to places we may not otherwise have seen if on a traditional tour. We learned so much- thank you for a great day.

William B.United States
May 2026

We very much enjoyed our tour with Christopher. He was very knowledgeable about York history and made the tour fun for us. We got so much more out of our visit to York by having a tour.

Jared D.United States
March 2026

Christopher was passionate, tireless, considerate, patient, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable. I got the sense that, with York being so dense with historical artifacts, and with Christopher being so knowledgeable about the background of each one (and of the history of York and England as a whole) that we could’ve stood in any one spot in the city and gotten a fascinating 4-hour tour without moving an inch. As it was, we got our steps in, hiking through ruins, climbing onto the medieval wall, and ducking between winding streets and hidden alleyways. Christopher provided context and details to help us appreciate everything from grand views to hidden carvings, providing a window into York’s rich history while tailoring the discussion to our interests. If we find our way back to York, we’ll certainly be booking another tour with Christopher.

Micki H.United States
December 2025

Our group of eight had a wonderful day with Christopher in York. His knowledge and passion of history kept us fully engaged throughout the day. We plan to return to York in the spring of 2026 and book with Christopher again.

Kristin H.United States
September 2025

Chris was a wealth of information! He spent an extra long afternoon with us and saw most of lovely York. We really enjoyed our experience and would definitely take another tour with him again.

Ann D.United States
August 2025

We had a lovely afternoon wandering the historic streets, alleys, and hidden gardens with our informative and lively guide Chris Kelly. His knowledge of York’s Roman, medieval and modern history was engaging and extensive. We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon spent with him even though we were exhausted. It was an exhaustion due to being fully stimulated by sights, sounds and information all afternoon.

Your York tour itinerary

*Meet at Museum Garden gates. *Museum Gardens with Roman Tower, Abbey Ruins and squirrels . *The Kings Manor. *City gates and walls . *York Minster. *Heart of York and pretty alleyways. *The Shambles *York Castle. * Tour ends at York Castle.

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Transport details
Type: Walking

Walking tour.

What's included
Other: Donations to visit the church of Holy Trinity Goodramgate.
Private Guide
What's not included
Other: Personal expenses.
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location

York, England, United Kingdom

Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide:

  • You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
City Highlights
Tour reference number
813891
Languages
English
Activity level
Minimal

Traveller reviews

5.0

FAQs

Who is this private tour in York best suited for?

This private tour in York is perfect for first-time visitors who want a comprehensive introduction to the city, as well as those who have been to York before and wish to delve deeper into its history and hidden gems. It's also ideal for travellers looking to connect with a local guide like Christopher K. for deeper insights into the city's past.

What should I bring or wear?

How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?

Where does the tour start and end?

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?

What languages is this tour offered in?

What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?

Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?

AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide

-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
Hours icon 4 hours
Walking
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size

1

Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Any Reason Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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