york walking tour map

10 Best Places on A Charming York Walking Tour (with Map)

Once we visited York , it quickly became one of our favorite places to visit in the in UK. From the impressive York Cathedral to the beautiful medieval entry gates, York is packed with really cool things to see. In addition, our kids really enjoyed a couple of museums. So let’s explore my favorite York walking tour.

Come along with me as we take a walking tour of beautiful York UK. York is a very walkable city with a beautiful location. You can immerse youtself in the past as well as take leisurely strolls by the river. First time in York? Then let’s put on some comfortable walking shoes and go on my favorite self guided York walking tour.

In this article:

My Favorite Tourist Attractions in York UK

Let me start with a summary of my favorite things to visit on your York walking tour.

• York Minster is the center of town and impressive indeed.
• Walking on Stonegate street and the few narrow, cobbled streets coming from it.
• The impressive medieval entry gates and walking on the wall.
• York riverfront at River Ouse
• National Railway Museum is a great place to see, especially for kids.

With our comfortable walking shoes on and our map in hand, let’s start our York walking tour.

1. York Minster

The first sight on our York walking tour is the magnificent York Minster , a sprawling 13th Century masterpiece. York Minster is the second largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, and its stunning cross-shaped (or cruciform) floor plan is adorned by almost one hundred and thirty vibrant stained glass windows. York Minster, along with other large churches like Ely Cathedral form the rich British Gothic architecture heritage.

Near the Southern walls of the cathedral, you will observe a statue of Roman Emperor Constantine, who was coronated here when York was a Roman settlement.

2. Stonegate Street

I love walking on Stonegate Street and it should be part of any York walking tour! Charming old English buildings line up the street while a few old narrow and crooked alleyways that take you back into time.

3. Bettys Café & Tea Rooms

Tired of walking already? Not to worry, our next stop on our York walking tour is the famous Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St. Helen’s Square. We may pass by the Stonegate location of this cafe during our walk through the narrow cobblestone streets, but this location is much larger and more historic .

The café  opened in 1936 and features decorations inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner (which is now a museum in Long Beach, California).

While the tea rooms can be crowded, you won’t regret waiting in the queue when you take your first sip of soothing tea and bite of a buttery scone with clotted cream and jam.

4. Museum Gardens & St. Mary’s Abbey Ruins

Next on our York walking tour, we visit the lush Museum Gardens, situated on the bank of the River Ouse. Explore the greenery as well as the historic sites in the gardens, including the remains of a Roman fort and the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey.

The original Abbey was founded in 1055 and constructed on this site, with the gardens serving as its grounds. Now, only the North and West walls remain, but their charm extends throughout the garden. Take the opportunity to relax under the trees before we continue our walking tour of York, England.

5. Medieval City Walls and Entry Gates

After we exit the park, we continue our York walking tour, as we catch our first glimpses of York’s historic city walls. Various walls surrounding the center of York have been erected and destroyed since the city’s founding in 71 C.E., and the ones we see today date back to the 12th-14th centuries. While only portions of the city walls remain, all of the city’s original entry gates or “Bars” have been preserved. The entry gates served as traffic control, defense, and tax collection stations. Shortly, we will arrive at Bootham Bar , and then we will continue our walking tour of York atop the historic city walls until we reach Monk Bar. We will observe views of Dean’s Park along the way, which houses the York Minster Library . This charming walking path allows you to experience firsthand a piece of the city’s history that has been present for centuries.

6. Walk The Shambles

Walking down on Parliament Street towards York Castle, take a left turn on Newgate and then go right when you see the small sign for The Shambles. You will be instantly transported into old medieval times in York. This old cobbled street served as the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley as it still has old timber buildings dating from the 14th century. This is a must see York attraction and should be part of your York walking tour.

7. Jorvik Viking Center

On the way to our next stop, you may want to pause to take a photo of the historic Fairfax House , a Georgian-style mansion with a gorgeous façade. Shortly, we will reach the Jorvik Viking Center , where you will be treated to a taste of Viking life in York. This interactive experience is located on Coppergate Walk , a narrow pedestrian street with many shops and eateries to entice you – if you need a quick rest before or after the Viking Center, you will have plenty of delights to choose from. The Jorvik Viking Center recommends that you book your tickets online in advance for this exciting experience, as this allows you to have a guaranteed entry time. Don’t forget to arrive a few minutes early for a security screening.

8. York Castle & Clifford Tower

After brief walk, our York walking tour takes us to a peninsula at the intersection of the River Ouse and the River Foss – the geographic feature that made York an ideal location for an ancient Roman settlement. This location was also perfect for William the Conqueror, who first constructed a castle on the promontory in 1068. Not only does the intersection of the rivers provide natural protection from invasion, it also provides increased potential for trade routes and travel throughout the rest of England. Clifford Tower , the original castle bailey, sits atop a grassy hill overlooking the nearby streets. You will find stretches of the original castle walls surrounding the York Castle Museum , which is housed in two former prison buildings.

If you have extra time, you can also walk atop York’s medieval wall on the southern side . Walking behind York Castle, shortly, we will arrive at the smaller Fishergate Bar , and then we will continue our walking tour of York atop the historic city walls until we reach Walmgate Bar . Walmgate Bar remains the only town gate in England to have a barbican, a type of reinforced defense tower. This charming walking path allows you to experience firsthand a piece of the city’s history that has been present for centuries.

9. York Riverfront

From York Castle, we continue our York walking tour by simply crossing the street and coming to the beautiful Tower Gardens city park. Depending on how much time you have, you can take a stroll on the beautiful tree lined walking path or simply rest on a bench overlooking the River Ouse. Walking upriver and staying on the banks of River Ouse you can enjoy the hip riverfront area with lots of restaurants and beautiful views of the river. In addition, you can quickly walk up to the famous York Dungeon and visit this very popular attraction.

10. National Railway Museum

Finally, turn back to the River Ouse and take advantage of the city’s beautiful riverside walking paths to lead you to the final stop on our York walking tour. We arrive at the National Railway Museum , which is conveniently located by the train station if you are traveling out of the city after completing the walking tour. Entry is free, and it is recommended that you leave at least one hour to fully explore what the museum has to offer. Objects on display at the museum include paintings, historic railway station benches and signs, and more. There is also a collection of unique locomotives, and if you plan ahead, you can even book a ride on a steam engine for £4 in advance.

Plan Your Trip to York, UK

We spent an entire day in York and we loved it.  However, if you are in the planning stages of your trip to England, I suggest budgeting two days for visiting York. This way you can also enjoy the town a lot more, especially walking along the river.

Stay in York . You can stay very central by Monk Bar at Double Tree Hotel or in the charming Churchill Hotel conveniently located by Bootham Bar. You can also find other budget hotels in York .

Book a local tour . This local walking tour of York will take you to most of York attractions. This is a beautifully conducted tour. You can also book a gorgeous early evening river cruise .

Where to park in York? Parking inside old town York is somewhat difficult.  If you have a car, my suggestion is to park at the York Castle parking area . If this area is full you can also try the nearby Coppergate Car Park .

Getting to York by train is the most convenient way to visit the city.  This is especially true, if you are coming from London , as the car ride will take you a very long time compared with the high speed train. Picking up the train in King’s Cross London station will put you in York in about 2 hours. Once in York, the train station is within easy walking distance from most York attractions.

Is York Worth Visiting?

Absolutely yes! If you plan on visiting England, York should be one of your destinations to visit. We found York to be charming and very interesting for visitors.

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Find your way around

York maps and guides.

Crammed full of useful information and tips, our guides are enjoyed by millions of visitors to York every year. Visit York produces a number of maps and publishes several guides and brochures across the year.

Download our range of maps and guides to help plan your visit to the city, or use the interactive map provided by Google below. Hard copies of maps and guides for York are also available from our Visitor Information Centre at 21 Parliament Street in the city centre.

Browse more of our guides here or see some highlights below!

Browse Our Guides

Visit york guides.

Welcome to York, best known for its world-class attractions and a varied cultural offering to suit all tastes. Discover all the incredible things to do in York, including a packed calendar of events and make the most of your visit by extending your stay!

See key locations around the city including car parking and public transport routes.

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York’s Original & Most Popular

Free Walking Tour

The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II

As a mark of respect for the State Funeral of our late Queen all tours are suspended on Monday 19th September 2022

The Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York (AVG) offer daily free 2-hour walking tours to visitors from all over the world.

We have been offering complimentary guided tours around York since 1951.

Our team of 80+ local expert guides take great pleasure in showcasing our beautiful city, and we look forward to welcoming you on one of our regular twice-daily tours.

Tours begin at 10.30am & 1.15pm and run every day except Christmas Day.

Our tours are free; there is no need to offer a tip.

PRE-BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED

Joining Our Tours

Our daily tours begin at 10.30am & 1.15pm

For the enjoyment and safety of our visitors, tour numbers are limited to 30 visitors per tour and so pre-booking is recommended.

BOOK YOUR TOUR HERE

Our complimentary tours are intended for individuals, couples and small groups of family/friends, and tickets are limited to a maximum of 6 people per booking. Our tours are NOT available for commercial tour groups – other commercial tour guide services can be found via the VisitYork website.

Organised bonafide educational tour groups can book in advance using the Group Booking Form.

Wheelchair users are very welcome but please check with your guide on duty about the route as there are some areas especially on the City Walls where access may be difficult or impossible. Guides will be as flexible as possible about accommodating you.

There are two guides on duty for each of our twice-daily tours, and we typically split the full group into two smaller tours. Please try to arrive 5 minutes before the start of your tour, so our guides have time to greet you and arrange the tour groups.

Please note: We reserve the right to cancel the tour should circumstances, in the judgement of the guides on duty, be such that it is not safe to undertake it. We also reserve the right to refuse any individual who cannot or will not observe the safety precautions.

Tour Start Point

All our tours depart from outside York City Art Gallery in Exhibition Square and last approximately 2 hours.

Meet your guide between the William Etty statue, and Kings Manor Entrance Gates in front of the Art Gallery, look out for our Tour Times ‘A’ Board which is the starting point and located near the entrance to Kings Manor.

York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square

Tour End Point The final part of the tour takes us to York’s oldest street, the Shambles .

Our daily tours are absolutely FREE and, unlike some other advertised tours, there’s really no need for a tip at the end!

Our daily tours are intended for individuals, couples and small groups of family/friends only., organised tour groups should not just turn up to our daily tours. we offer tours designed for larger educational groups, (not commercial operators) so please book ahead using our group booking form on our contact us page or use the button below., are you interested in becoming a guide with the avg.

The Association of Voluntary Guides (AVG) has been offering free tours of the City of York for over 70 years and to ensure we can continue to offer this service well into the future, we are always interested in welcoming new members to join our team of Guides.

or use the QR code with your mobile device

A few of our Tour Highlights

Multangular Tower

Museum Gardens

St. Mary’s Abbey

The Kings Manor

Bootham Bar

The Bar Walls

Treasurer’s House

York Minster

St. William’s College

Holy Trinity Goodramgate

The Shambles

have experienced our tours

of touring the City of York

have participated in our tours

leading our tours 364 days a year

Some of our most Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book?

Tour numbers are limited per guide, so we recommend that tours be booked in advance at this link Book Online .  Once you have your ticket (there’s no need to print it out, a mobile version is fine), please arrive at the meeting point at Exhibition Square at least 5 minutes before the designated start time.

If you were not able to pre-book, you may turn at the meeting point up at the start of a tour and, subject to availability, we will try to accommodate you on a tour.

Where does the tour start?

All tours depart from outside York City Art Gallery in  Exhibition Square .

Simply meet your guide by our ‘tour times’ board next to the  William Etty statue and the fountains outside the Art Gallery.

Don’t forget your face mask.

Where does the tour end?

The final part of the tour takes us to York’s oldest street, the Shambles. (During Covid-19 restrictions the end point will vary depending on circumstances on the day, your guide will advise).

How much does a standard tour cost?

The tours are FREE and entirely without charge, the volunteer’s reward is showing the beauty of the City to as many people as possible.

Some of our most recent feedback

Just completed our tour with Sandie. She was informative, amusing and thoroughly personable. Packed with interesting information, we are so glad we found this tour and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it. —  Mason , 8th April 2024

Fantastic tour today at 10.30am until about 1.15pm with Nick(?). Very informative and I saw parts of the city that I would have missed. What a fantastic service given by this organisation. Best tour (including paid) that I have been on for a long time. —  D J Harwood , 6th April 2024

Today Richard was our Tour Guides. He drives the tour for up 2 hours around all York. He was deeply knowledgeable on the history of York during the centuries and make a great experience for all of us, explain every single corner of the city. I really enjoy all the walk tour with him. It is a very historical tour very different from some others tours in other Uk cities. Romans, Scandinavian, Edwardians era, English civil war are part of this tour. I truly recommend this tour on your first day of your travel to York, to make easy to understand the town and it’s history. —  Victor , 30th March 2024

The  TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence designation recognizes attractions that consistently earn great TripAdvisor reviews from travellers. The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period.

Our Tours Start Here

Tour start address

York City Art Gallery Exhibition Square York  YO1 7EW

Where to meet

Meet your tour guide outside City Art Gallery next to the William Etty statue.

York Walking Tours: The COMPLETE Guide

From free tours to ghost tours and everything in between, there are so many York walking tours to choose from. I’ve scoured the internet for all the York walking tours I could find and put them all together in this handy guide for you to browse.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see my  disclaimer  here.

I love to take a walking tour whenever I arrive in a new city. You can learn so much about a place in a few hours and they’re a great way to get your bearings when you arrive somewhere new. Walking tours are generally run by local people too so you can quiz your guide for the best local tips and recommendations to make the best of your stay.

There are so many different types of York walking tours that I’m certain you’ll find something to enjoy.

Looking for more things to do in York? Check out my ULTIMATE Guide to York!

• 1.1 Bespoke York -Private Walking Tour of the Walled City
• 1.2 York Walls Private Walking Tour
• 1.3 Private 2 Hour York Walking Tour
• 1.4 Private Viking Walk of York
• 1.5 Private Walking Tour of York
• 1.6 Private York Christmas Walking Tour
• 1.7 Private Walking Tour: York City Highlights & York Minster
• 1.8 Private Historical Walking Tour of York
• 2.1 York: A Harry Potter Themed Guided Tour of York
• 2.2 York: 1 Hour Evening Walking Tour
• 2.3 York Minster & City Walking Tour
• 2.4 Best of York on Foot
• 2.5 Instagrammable York History Experience
• 2.6 The Bloody Tour of York
• 2.7 The Bloody York Gin Tour with Mad Alice
• 3.1 Romans, Vikings and Medieval Marvels Walking Audio Tour by Voicemap
• 3.2 A Fatal Feud – An Immersive Treasure Hunt – Style Murder Mystery – The Secret City
• 4 FREE WALKING TOURS IN YORK
• 5 YORK GHOST WALKS
• 6 OTHER YORK TOURS
• 7 WHICH YORK WALKING TOUR WILL YOU CHOOSE?

PRIVATE YORK WALKING TOURS

Want to take things at your own pace and stop for all the photographs without feeling like you’re holding the rest of the group up?

Have a specific historical focus in mind that you want the tour to focus on?

Want to choose where to start and end the tour and even pick the sights you see along the way?

Then a private York walking tour is the one for you!

There are SO MANY private York walking tours to choose from. Here’s a roundup of all the exclusive tours that are available in York.

Bespoke York -Private Walking Tour of the Walled City

An exclusive two hour tour York walking tour.

Explore York with your private guide as you take in the complete history of York from the beginnings of Christianity right through to its days as The Chocolate City.

Learn about York’s dealings with the Vikings and the Romans and how these significant events in history have shaped the city we see today.

York Walls Private Walking Tour

A 2-3 hour bespoke tour tailored to your interests.

The walk focuses on the city walls with their spectacular city views and fascinating medieval history, but this walk is free for you to customise as you please.

See areas often missed by tourists, stop off for refreshments in some of York’s best coffee shops, visit the most famous medieval street in the world and take a peek inside York Minster. Whatever you want to do, you can be sure that this will be a fun filled and truly personalised experience of York.

Private 2 Hour York Walking Tour

A fully customisable, 2 hour York walking tour.

The walk is completely tailored to your interests so just let your guide know what you want to see.

If you’re not sure, or you just want an overall York experience, your guide can create a perfect itinerary for you.

See York’s hidden gems as well as its top attractions, all whilst soaking up the historical atmosphere and learning about the city’s rich history and best kept secrets.

Private Viking Walk of York

A two hour private tour with your guide, Sigwulf.

If you want an in depth account of York’s days as a Viking city, then look no further.

Sigwulf will take you on a fascinating York walking tour and teach you things you never knew about how the Vikings influenced the city of York.

Learn about the deeds of famous Vikings such as Ivar the Boneless and discover the origins of those strange street names.

Don’t miss out on the chance to visit an authentic themed Viking bar, built right on top of an original Viking feasting hall!

Private Walking Tour of York

An exclusive 1.5 – 2 hour York walking tour.

Fully tailored to your specific needs and interests, choose your starting point anywhere in the city to begin your adventure.

Gain a fantastic overview of this fascinating city, which will take you on a journey through Roman history, Viking rule and chocolate heaven.

Private York Christmas Walking Tour

This 2 hour fully customisable tour is the ultimate festive treat!

York can get extremely busy at Christmas time but it’s also arguably when it’s at its most magical.

Navigate the crowds with your own private tour guide at your side, learning all about York’s rich and fascinating history and visiting famous landmarks and hidden gems.

Private Walking Tour: York City Highlights & York Minster

The longest of the private tours, this York walking tour is around 4 hours long.

Starting at York Railway Station, this tour packs in the best of York’s top attractions such as the Museum Gardens, Jorvik Viking Centre, The Shambles, Clifford’s Tower, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and finishes at York Minster.

Your ticket for York Minster is included and you can skip the queues to enjoy a private tour of the impressive gothic cathedral.

Private Historical Walking Tour of York

This tour gets great reviews on TripAdvisor.

With hotel pick up at any central location, this historical walking tour covers York’s history, culture, architecture and people, with content tailored specifically to your own interests.

Guides are knowledgable and enthusiastic historians who pride themselves on being able to answer any (York related!) question that’s thrown at them!

GROUP YORK WALKING TOURS

Generally a much cheaper option than a private tour, you can still get so much value from a group walking tour of York.

Just because you can’t choose the itinerary on a group York walking tour doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find a York walking tour that suits your interests.

Just like the private York walking tours, there are a whole host of group walking tours to choose from.

Here is a complete roundup of all the available group walking tours of York.

York: A Harry Potter Themed Guided Tour of York

This two hour York walking tour is an absolute must for any Harry Potter fans.

A fun and interactive tour, your guide will entertain you with facts about Harry Potter as well as the history of York itself.

The tour promises quizzes and games with video clips of movie scenes, costume pieces and re-enactments. You’ll be taken to some Harry Potter themed sites as well as seeing and learning about some of York’s main historic attractions.

York: 1 Hour Evening Walking Tour

This one hour York walking tour allows you to soak up the history and charm of York after most of the other tourists have retreated back to their hotels for the night.

A great introduction to York’s colourful history, this tour will take you through the snickelways and backstreets to show you all of York’s main historical sites.

York Minster & City Walking Tour

This two hour walking tour offers a fantastic journey through York’s fascinating history with entrance to York Minster included.

Most of the tour guides are history students from York University, and their enthusiasm and knowledge about their subject will shine through.

Dig deep into York’s history and marvel at the stunning architecture whilst exploring all the major historic landmarks in the city.

Best of York on Foot

A fantastic introductory tour of the city, this 1.5 hour York walking tour is a great option for those wanting an overview of York and its history.

Visit St. Mary’s Abbey, Museum Gardens, York Minster (tickets not included), Stonegate and the Shambles whilst learning about York’s rich history along the way.

Instagrammable York History Experience

Definitely one for the photographers out there, this tour is the perfect mix of history, culture and Instagram worthy backdrops.

With a focus on capturing York at its best, your guide, John promises to take you off the beaten track and show you parts of York that you might otherwise have missed.

With a keen eye for photography, he limits the tours to 10 people so he can create an intimate experience and ensure you capture the perfect shot.

The Bloody Tour of York

See a different side to York on this enjoyable hour and a half walking tour of York’s gruesome past.

Mixing entertainment with education, your guide will teach about the bloody past of York’s top landmarks in this fun alternative city tour.  If you fancy a twist on the traditional historic walking tour, this one is for you!

The Bloody York Gin Tour with Mad Alice

This two hour York walking tour combines history and gin to create the perfect introduction to the city.

With three samples of gin thrown into the mix, you’ll explore the Shambles, see the imposing York Minster and learn some gruesome tales of York’s bloody past.

AUDIO & DIY WALKING TOURS OF YORK

If you prefer to explore independently but would still like a bit of guidance , then you might like to check out an audio walking tour of York.

Romans, Vikings and Medieval Marvels Walking Audio Tour by Voicemap

VoiceMap is a unique city guide which uses your smartphone’s GPS alongside the VoiceMap app to guide you around the city at your own pace entirely. If your data is restricted, the VoiceMap app will also work offline.

If you were to take the tour in one go, it would last around 1 hour 15 minutes, but you can stretch this one out for as long as you like. Stop for a coffee when you want, visit a museum if it takes your fancy, jump on a river cruise if you feel the need. The app, and the rest of your tour, will be waiting for you when you’re ready to pick it back up again.

A Fatal Feud – An Immersive Treasure Hunt – Style Murder Mystery – The Secret City

Based on a real murder trial that took place around 1491, this immersive treasure hunt style adventure offers you a different way to explore York and see the major sites.

Riddles are sent to you via a smartphone app for you to solve as you explore York and take in the incredible historic sites around you.

There are two optional pub breaks along the way, and help is at hand if you need some help or find yourself lost. Your progress is also timed so it’s a great way for groups of friends to challenge each other!

FREE WALKING TOURS IN YORK

As well as the options that require you to pay upfront, there are also a number of ‘free’ York walking tours available.

I’ve been on many a free walking tour in cities all over the world. I’ve had some great experiences and some experiences that have left me just wanting to run away at the first opportunity! It can be a bit of a gamble but thankfully, it’s usually worked out ok for me.

Although these York walking tours are technically free, there is the expectation that you will offer a donation to your guide at the end of the tour based on what you feel the tour was worth. I always have an idea of what a paid walking tour would have cost and base my donation around that. If you do it this way, you won’t necessarily end up paying much less for a free tour than you would for one of the paid options, but doing it this way seems fair to me.

Here is a list of the all the available free walking tours in York.

Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York – this tour really does appear to be free in the true sense of the word. The website states there is really no need to offer a tip at the end!

Footprints 2 Hour Free Walking Tour of York

White Rose York

YORK GHOST WALKS

Being a city with such a gruesome past, there is little wonder that there are many tales of ghosts and ghouls which haunt the streets of York.

Capitalising on this, there are several different ghost walks that take place around the city in the evening.

I really enjoyed the Original York Ghost Tour during my recent short break in York. It was just the right mixture of informative, entertaining and spooky.

I’ve put together a list of all the ghost tours available in York.

The Original Ghost Walk of York

Shadow of York Ghost Walk – voted best small attraction in York

Ghost Hunt of York

The Ghost Trail of York

Ghost Creeper

Ghost Keeper

OTHER YORK TOURS

There are other ways to see York that don’t involve so much walking. If you want to give your feet a rest, take a look at some of these other options for tours in York.

York & Yorkshire – Full Day Guided Walking and Minibus Tour

Guided Cycling Tour of York

York Hop On Hop Off Bus

WHICH YORK WALKING TOUR WILL YOU CHOOSE?

That just about concludes my complete guide to York walking tours!

As you can see, there are plenty to choose from and you’re almost guaranteed to find something that suits both your interests and your budget.

Which York walking tour will you choose? Drop me a message and let me know!

Hi! I’m Helen – proud Northerner and the founder of Venture Up North. Disclosing local secrets to inspire unique adventures, join me on my mission to make sure that Northern England is recognised for the truly wonderful place that it is.

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Best York City Walls walk route with map and great views of York Minister

A must-do activity for any tourist visitor to york, how long does it take to walk the york city walls, where does the york city walls walk start , york city walls walking route map:, photos of the york city walls walking route with so you know exactly what to expect:, other useful blog posts:, if you enjoyed this post you might like my article on my favourite section hadrian's wall to walk with the best views of hadrian's wall - click here to view the blog post with lots of photos, tips and map route, post by stuart hodgson  'the hiking photographer'.

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Thanks for taking an interest in my blog, all comments and questions are welcome! Best, Stuart

THE 10 BEST York Walking Tours

Walking tours in york.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out

• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York -Best Tour Award Europe 2024

2. Shadows of York: Award winning historical ghost walk

3. Original Harry Potter Locations Tour - York

4. York Dark Chronicles: Devilishly Gruesome Ghost Walk

5. York City walking tour - History Chronicles

6. York Witches and History Walking Tour

7. Romans, Vikings and Medieval Marvels in York: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

8. Shared Walking Tour in York

9. Wizard Walk of York - WINNER Best Tour & Best of York Award 2024

10. Small group Tasting Tour of York

11. Shared 3 Hours Hidden Gems Foodie Tour of York

12. Guided Historic Pub Tour (York)

13. Private York Self-Guided Tour

14. York’s Creepy Crawl

15. The Heart of York Walking City Tour

16. York Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK

17. Tour of York - Saints and Sinners

18. Private Viking Walk of York

19. York on a Fork Food Tour

20. Private York Minster Guided Walking Tour

21. Discover the Best of York with 3 Self-Guided Audio Tours

22. Private Historical Walking Tour of York

23. Dark Tales of York. Private ghost tours.

24. A Fatal Feud - An Immersive Treasure Hunt Murder Mystery - The Secret City

25. York 3-Hour Photography Walking Tour

26. 7 Day Winter Tour of England and Scotland starting from London

27. Europe’s Most Haunted City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of York

28. Exclusive York - Private Personally-Designed Walking Tour

29. York Small-Group Evening Walking Tour with Guide

30. York Walls Private Walking Tour

What travelers are saying.

• The Deathly Dark Ghost Tour of York: Experience of the Year 2024
• Mad Alice’s The Bloody Tour of York - Tourism Award Winner
• Original Harry Potter Locations Tour - York
• Dark Chronicles Ghostly Gruesome tour - York
• Shadows of York: Award winning historical ghost walk
• The Bloody Tour of York
• The Wizard Walk of York
• Walking Tours - Association of Voluntary Guides
• Dave Haw Tours York
• Descubre York Tours
• Shadows of York
• White Rose York Free Tours - Day Tours
• Tours in a Dish

YORK UNCOVERED WALKING TOUR

History walked differently.

Discover the stories beneath the stone on a guided walk through the historic streets of York. Our walking tour provides the perfect introduction to the long and diverse history of the beautiful and iconic city. We take you through the medieval city centre, highlighting unheard stories and voices from the past. Our guides are all post-graduate students researching history in York and are dedicated to sharing the deep and vibrant history of the city they love.

Tours run once a month - book your space now!

Private bookings available for small and large groups - book here !

11 Fascinating Walking Tours in York 2023

Walking Tours in York – Because York is such a compact city and much of the city streets are pedestrianised a walking tour is an absolutely perfect way to spend an afternoon or evening. 

You can really get up close and personal on York’s lesser known snickets and alleyways and learn so many interesting facts with a fun and entertaining guide.

1. The Wizard Walk of York

Click here to book tickets for The Wizard Walk of York.

The Magic Hatter is bringing his award-winning entertainment to the streets, with his Wizard Walk of York.

“Magic, mystery, comedy and excitement plus a dash of York’s history…the ingredients for a truly unforgettable experience for all the family!”

Public tours are running on selected evenings, starting from the bottom of The Shambles opposite The Golden Fleece. Pre-booking required.  Private tours are available for birthdays, school groups, brownies, cubs and more. A wonderfully whimsical tour that wizard fans will go Potty for!

Wizard Wand Kits are also available, subject to availability. A handcrafted wand and instructions for seven tricks that young witches and wizards can learn at home. Plus a FREE printable certificate!  To check days, times and book online visit the wizarding website at www.wizardwalkofyork.com.

** Note from Nikki: If you have younger kids with you, there is no better tour for you.  We have seen The Magic Hatter many, many times when the kids were little and wholeheartedly recommend him. ** 

2. Mad Alice and The Bloody Tour of York

Click here to book tickets for The Bloody Tour of York.

Join Mad Alice on The Bloody Tour of York as you wander “the streets and snickleways to historic landmarks.  With 2000 years of history, York has fascinating stories of the macabre and the extraordinary.  Uncover the tales of the Romans, the Viking invasion and the Plague amongst tales of torture and execution.

The history of the city is brought to life in this award-winning  90 minute tour which is suitable for gruesome little ones.  Learn about the city’s most famous son Guy Fawkes and what really drove him to want to blow up the houses of Parliament in 1605.  Dick Turpin, the famous Highwayman was hanged at York in 1739 but he was caught by sheer luck.  Margaret Clitherow, martyr and Saint lived amongst the entrailed and blood-soaked Shambles in the 1580’s.”

Accessibility: Suitable for all ages and fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The walk takes a steady pace around the city. If there are any mobility issues, please talk to Mad Alice at the beginning of the tour who will tailor the tour to be more comfortable.  Accompanying carers are invited onto the tour free of charge.

Tour Start Location

St. Williams College, College Street, YO1 7JF

When is the Tour?

January 18:00 (Saturdays only) February/March – 18:00 April to October – 18:00 & 20:00 November – 18:00 December – 18:00 (Saturdays only)

How long does the Tour last?

How much is the tour.

£12 adults and £6 children (under 5’s are free)

Click here to book tickets for The Bloody Tour of York .

3. Sceptred Isle Chronicles – History walking tour of York

Click here to book tickets for Sceptred Isle Chronicles

Join us on a relaxed journey through history, myths, legends and architecture. Discover how the medieval city thrived and developed to become the city we all love today. Our guides deliver a fun and unique take on York mixing history, sightseeing and exploration to offer a unique insight into York, passing the largest medieval gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe, old cobbled streets, Guild Halls, scenic views of our rivers, devils doors and so much more.

We cover all the important landmarks of York and go off the beaten track to places you may not think of going. We are all stories in the end, write yours with us!

Read more about Sceptred Isle Chronicles – History walking tour of York.

4. York Walls Private Walking Tour

Book tickets for York Walls Private Walking Tour

Uncover the medieval marvels of historic York on a bespoke walking tour with a private guide. Learn about York’s rich history as you walk around the centuries-old walls, pose for photos with a backdrop of the city or visit the wall museums (not included). Your private tour is yours to customize as you please, so you could also pay a visit to York Castle, stroll down the atmospheric The Shambles or take a peek inside the magnificent York Minster.

Bespoke walking tour of York’s city walls Walk the medieval walls of York and enjoy spectacular views of the city Customise your tour to include a visit to The Shambles, York Minster or York Castle Bespoke tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off This private tour can be customized to your interests and ensures you’ll receive personalized attention from your guide

Read more about York Walls Private Walking Tour.

5. York Small-Group Evening Walking Tour with Guide

Book tickets for Small Group Evening Walking Tour

Experience York at its most atmospheric around sundown, after the tourist hordes have departed but before the night begins. This evening stroll hits the highlights, including York Minster, the City Walls and Shambles, but also takes you deep into the “Snickelways”, a medieval warren of secret passages, shortcuts and hidden alleys.

Guides carry iPads with multimedia to bring the tour to life, while you’ll take home a map of York. Experience York’s medieval centre by twilight on an evening walking tour Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII and see 2,000 years of history Guide provides lively commentary, with multimedia input from an iPad Great start to a stay in York—includes a complimentary map to explore more

Read more about York Small-Group Evening Walking Tour with Guide.

6. York Witches and History Walking Tour with Cauldron Experience

Book tickets for York Witches and History Tour

See a different side of York with this spellbinding tour that features stories of witches, mysteries, and spooky events that don’t usually feature on traditional sightseeing tours. Walk past famous historical sites—such as the York Minster and the Shambles—and enjoy entertaining commentary from a character guide.

A highlight is a visit to the Potions Cauldron—a magical drinks emporium, where you can take part in a potion-making experience. Hear tales about the witches of Yorkshire on this guided walking tour Find out sinister and spooky tales as you walk past medieval Old Town sights Enjoy special perks—such as a potion-making experience and a surprise g

Read more about York Witches and History Walking Tour with Cauldron Experience.

7. Shared 3 Hours Hidden Gems Foodie Tour of York

Book tickets for 3 Hour Foodie Tour of York.

“Discover the places to eat around York, and learn about the city’s culinary scene during this half-day walking tour. You’ll learn where to go for food that’s local or from faraway, suss out the places away from the tourist trail, and try an eclectic mix of flavors as you go.

Nice touch: The tour is capped at just eight people per group for a more sociable and intimate experience. Book a popular York food tour online and get instant confirmation. Visit a carefully selected assortment of eateries around York.  Find locales that you’ll want to revisit later during your vacation.  Meet local food producers and learn about artisan food trades

Read more about Shared 3 Hours Hidden Gems Foodie Tour of York”. 

8. Guided Historic Pub Tour of York

Book tickets for Guided Historic Pub Tour of York.

“A guided pub crawl through York’s medieval snickelways, following in the footsteps of Roman soldiers and Papist plotters, Royalists and Roundheads, Whigs, Wool Traders, and Dick Turpin to boot.

Walking just three-quarters of a mile and stopping at up to 7 of York’s most historic pubs you will hear tales of execution and murder, local saints and Irish giants. And if you like spirits, there are plenty, and not just the bottled variety. Join us and drink in York’s fascinating history!”

Read more about Guided Historic Pub Tour in York.

9. Trust Trail: Literary York – Self Guided

• Distance: 0.63 miles / 1 km
• Steps: 1,312

“From the Brontë sisters, to Bram Stoker and Ted Hughes, Yorkshire has long been associated with celebrated authors who have drawn inspiration from the desolate beauty of its rugged moors and ruined abbeys. The city of York itself has a rich literary history, and has been known for producing books since the eight century when famous scholar Alcuin’s internationally renowned collection was destroyed by Viking invaders. Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens were regular visitors, with the latter referencing the Minster in Nicholas Nickleby.

And, of course, Harry Potter fans couldn’t visit York without a trip to ‘The Shop That Must Not Be Named’ on the Shambles.This whistle-stop tour of literary York lasts between 30-60 minutes and covers two-thirds of a mile. Starting on Stonegate, you’ll pass by the Minster, through Dean’s Park and finish on the grand terraced-lined streets of Bootham. On the way you’ll also go by some of York’s specialist bookshops, a grand library, and other literary landmarks.”

Learn more about this literary tour here.

10. The Original Ghost Walk of York

The Original Ghost Walk of York is “believed to be the first exclusive Ghost Walk in the World! Established in 1973, we have decades of practice when it comes to providing you with a legendary and disturbing experience. We offer a night of history and mystery in York, promising to capture your imagination and inspire the mind. The Original Ghost Walk of York is famous for being genuine, authentic, and magical, exploring the haunted spots of York. We take pride in our excellent reputation, allowing you to face your fears and encounter genuinely mysterious experiences, all from one of the most famous pubs in Britain. Find out why!”

Ghost Tour Start Location

The Kings Arms Pub, 3 King’s Staith, York YO1 9SN

When is the Ghost Tour?

6.30pm and 8pm every night except 24th, 25th and 26th December

How long does the Ghost Tour last?

75-90 minutes

How much is the Ghost Tour?

£7.50 adults and £5 children

11. White Rose York Tours

“What’s On The Free Tour?

On the White Rose free tour of York you will see and hear the history of one of the most fascinating cities in Britain or anywhere else in the world. The tour lasts three hours, and this includes a break for refreshments just after half way. If you do not feel like you can last the full tour, please feel free to come with us for the first half, and then see how you feel! Our free tour includes:

• York Minster and the Liberty of St Peter
• The City Walls* and Gatehouses
• St Mary’s Abbey and the Museum Gardens
• The Shambles
• York Castle
• Roman and Viking Invasions
• Catholic Saints and Martyrs
• English Kings and Queens
• Dick Turpin and the truth about the Moonlight Ride

The tour commences every morning (year round) at 11am and every afternoon from April to October at 3pm. Also, additional tours run Fridays and Saturdays at 1pm November to March. All our tours start outside the West Entrance of York Minster.”

Click here to see more ghost walks on this post.

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Free-City-Guides.com

Independent Advice for your city break

York City Walls

Looking for a discounted hotel?

York has more miles of intact city walls than anywhere else in England and they’re well worth walking. Going all the way around will take about 2 hours, but along the way you’ll feel part of the history of the place and you’ll get to see most of the major sights too. There are a few sections where the walls are missing, but maps on each set of stairs should show you where the next section begins.

There are benches to rest your legs every so often but if you don’t feel you can do the whole route, we think the best bit to walk starts at the river on Bishopgate Street and continues round to the river near the War Memorial Gardens. If you walk this way round, you’ll get a tremendous view of York Minster as you turn the corner near the railway station.

York’s city walls are 3.4 km long which is around 2 miles and there are lots of features to look out for on your walk. There are 5 main gatehouses, known as Bars and one small one known as a Postern gate. There is also a Victorian gateway and around 40 towers. If you don’t want to walk around the city on your own, you can get a feel for York and some sections of the walls on the York Walking Tour which we’d definitely recommend.

Perhaps the most notable tower is the attractive Red Tower, pictured above, which marks a gap in the walls where a large swamp originally existed. Inside some of the Bars, there are mini museums and tea rooms.  For example Micklegate Bar, which was the most important of the gateways to York, has a museum inside spread over 2 floors. It was also this bar that was used to display decapitated heads of traitors, but don’t worry, the last one was removed in 1754!

LOCATION & MAP

The city walls of York circle almost the entire city. They are looked after by a not-for-profit group, called the Friends of York Walls. You can contact them by email: [email protected]

There are lots of place to join and leave the walls, but the map below shows Micklegate Bar.  Switch to ‘Satellite View’ and move the map around to follow the walls:

MORE ON YORK’S CITY WALLS

YorkWalls.org.uk – Official Website York City Walls – Wikipedia VisitYork.org  – Official York Tourism Website York City Pass  – Free entry to York’s attractions York Hotels  – We recommend Hotels.com with their lowest price guarantee York Insight Guide  – Amazon.co.uk York Pocket Guide  – Amazon.co.uk Rough Guide To Yorkshire  – Amazon.co.uk Yorkshire Travel Guides  – Amazon.com (USA)

BACK TO…YORK CITY GUIDE

The most magical ticket in town

York’s only walking tour specifically aimed at families with children, and winner of many awards including Best of York (Visit York) ,  Best Tour 2023 and 2024 , and TripAdvisor’s 3rd Best Family Experience in the World!

“Magical memories to last a lifetime! ” – C. Gamble

“Highlight of our trip to York, my children loved this tour. An easy 5 stars!” – Nicola G

Join award-winning entertainer and magician The Wizard of York  for five-star family fun  with  s pellbinding magic, comedy and a dash of York’s history!

“Brilliant, fun and engaging! Our daughters said this was the highlight of their week!” – A. Tolen

Help find magical creatures on a walking tour wizard fans go  Potty for. Unlike a ghost walk, there are no spooky ghosts and no scary stories …just fun and laughter for all the family!

Ideal for children aged 5-10 in particular , or bigger kids with a silly sense of humour!

Add Wizard Wand Kits  so your children can practice their own spells, learn tricks at home and become a Trainee Witch or Wizard. 

Regular public tours, and private bookings  available for school groups, birthdays  and more.

BOOK NOW and experience the magic of York!

Looking for something even more magical?

BOOK ONLINE

 Book now  and  join a wizard wand-er round York! 

Early booking recommended   as many tours fill up fast, especially during the holidays. 

The Wizard Walk of York is run by Magic Hatter Entertainments LTD – purveyors of magical, memorable entertainment for all ages.

Grab your broomstick and fly on over…

The Wizard Walk of York starts at The Shambles on selected days. Visit the Booking page to see when tours are running and book your place

© Wizard Walk of York 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Web design by webhummel.

Exploring Downtown York: A Weekend Itinerary (Brought to You by Downtown Inc)

This article is brought to you by Downtown Inc .

York County, Pennsylvania, is known as the Factory Tour Capital of the World, and visitors can tour everything from a Harley-Davidson factory to several snack food factories and even a violin workshop . However, for those that dig a little deeper, there’s a lot to explore.

One of the biggest surprises for me in the area was how much there is to do in Downtown York. While it’s often overlooked, the city offers fascinating history, great shopping, delicious restaurants, and half-a-dozen tasty breweries.

To assist you in exploring this overlooked city, I’ve put together a two-day itinerary that’s perfect for those looking to explore the best things to do in Downtown York.

(Note: While this itinerary might not work on every day of the week or during the colder months, it’s been designed to work for the majority of the year with an eye towards being done on a Saturday and Sunday. Check operating hours for the places listed prior to visiting.)

Agricultural and Industrial Museum

Start your visit off at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum in Downtown York. As the name implies, the museum covers the working history of the region.

The museum’s two floors feature nearly two dozen different displays on York County’s agricultural, industrial, and transportation history. Visitors can step inside a historic trolley, check out a working grist mill, and take a turn milking a pretend cow.

The ticket to the Agricultural and Industrial Museum is also good for access to the Historical Complex Tour and the York Historical Center which you’ll do later in the day.

Lunch: Central Market

York’s Central Market dates back 125 years and is filled with fantastic places to eat, grab a cup of coffee, or browse the crops and wares available for sale.

The variety of food available in the market makes it a perfect spot for lunch as the whole family can try something different. Food options include barbecue, fried chicken, and pretzels to more exotic fare like Korean, Mexican, and Greek.

York Colonial Complex

After lunch, head over to the York Colonial Complex for a tour. This guided tour offers a fascinating look into York’s nine-month stint as the capital of the United States. In fact, some consider York to be the country’s first capital.

Tours start with a look inside the Golden Plough Tavern. One of the first buildings built in the city, the tavern offers a glimpse into what life was like in mid-18th century York.

Adjacent to the tavern is the General Horatio Gates House. Gates was one of the top commanders of the Continental Army and spent the winter of 1777-1778 in York. Visitors can tour the home that he lived in while in the area and learn more about his story. It is said that in this home, the Marquis de Lafayette saved George Washington’s role as the commander of the Continental Army during a party.

The tour also takes visitors into the recreated York County Courthouse that served as the meeting place for the Continental Congress from September 1777 to June 1778.

While the original courthouse, which sat in the middle of the town square, was torn down in the 1860s, it has been recreated for visitors to see and learn about the important events that happened in York.

York History Center

Next finish your historic tour of York with a visit to the Historical Society Museum . Operated by the York County History Center, the museum highlights the history of the city and county.

This is a great place to explore as it will give you a great appreciation for the region’s history. The museum’s two floors of exhibits cover the industries that thrived in York County, its Civil War history, and aspects of life in the region.

Also of interest is the recreated storefronts inside the museum. This is neat to see and contrast how things used to look like with what the streets of the city look like today.

Dinner: Tutoni’s

If you love Italian food, you won’t want to miss Tutoni’s . Tutoni’s prides themselves on making scratch Italian food, and they even make their own noodles and utilize many local farms in the creation of their delicious Italian dishes.

In addition to great pasta, Tutoni’s also features amazing cocktails inspired by Italian tastes. While not inexpensive, these cocktails are quite delicious and unique.

As for their deserts, Tutoni’s offers miniature desserts that are homemade daily and insanely delicious. While it’s the perfect size for an end-of-meal treat, you’ll definitely wish it was larger.

After Dinner

If you are looking for a little entertainment after dinner, there are some great options in Downtown York.

During the summer months, head over to PeoplesBank Park, which is home to the York Revolution . A professional baseball team in the independent Atlantic League, the Revolution’s season lasts from late April through early September. 

Another option is to catch a show at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts . This state-of-the-art venue hosts concerts, plays, and other performances from well-known artists and national touring acts.

Lastly, there are several great breweries in York, PA . While a few are on the itinerary for day two, other options worth checking out are Liquid Hero Brewery and Gift Horse Brewing .

Where to Stay in Downtown York

Currently, Downtown York’s historic hotel, The Yorktowne Hotel, is closed for renovations.

While that limits lodging options in Downtown York, one highly-recommended choice is Grace Manor Bed and Breakfast . While I haven’t personally had a chance to stay here yet, the reviews are quite complementary, and the rooms look very inviting.

The four rooms at the B&B are themed after a different culture and offer a unique lodging option within walking distance of the places listed in this itinerary.

Take a Ride on the Heritage Rail Trail

Start your day off with a bike ride or walk along the  York County Heritage Rail Trail . This 21-mile trail runs from downtown York to the Maryland border. Along the way, it passes through some of the area’s most beautiful spots.

If you have a bike, this is a great way to explore the city and a bit of the countryside. However, even if you don’t, the trail is perfect for a morning walk along the Codorus Creek.

Green Bean Roasting Company

After a little morning exercise, pop into Green Bean Roasting Company on South Beaver Street. Green Bean Roasting Company offers freshly roasted coffees in a great setting in the heart of downtown. If you don’t like coffee, they also offer a selection of teas, espresso drinks, and other specialties.

Lunch: Mudhook Brewing Company

For lunch, head over to Mudhook Brewing Company . Even if you aren’t in the mood for an early drink, Mudhook is known for its delicious food and is a great place to grab a bite to eat.

It’s the perfect way to fuel up before a fun afternoon in Downtown York

Sunrise Soap Company

Sunrise Soap Company is a shop along North Beaver Street that produces some of the finest soaps in Pennsylvania. All of their soaps are made in-house, and visitors can even get an impromptu tour of their factory and facilities. Or, if you’re planning ahead, you can even sign up for one of their classes and make your own soap.

Either way, take some time to learn how soap is made at Sunrise Soap and then browse for a few gifts for your family (or for yourself).

York City Pretzel Company

Next, head over to the York City Pretzel Company to try a delicious homemade soft pretzel. This makes a great afternoon snack or after-lunch dessert. Their pretzels are hand twisted and made in small batches with simple ingredients. *Note: Please confirm before going as they may be closed to the public due to high commercial production.

Don’t forget to get some house-made beer cheese or mustard to go with your pretzel.

Redeux is part vintage shop and part art store and located in the heart of York’s artistic Royal Square District. It features an incredible collection of vintage items that are perfect for almost any collection or for your vintage-inspired decor. There are also many pieces of art that have been designed with the same trends in mind and offer a great addition to almost any space.

Take a bit of time to browse this great shop, and you’re sure to find something great to take home with you.

While The Parliament and many of the other art galleries in the Royal Square District near Redeux are closed on Sundays, they are definitely worth a look if you are completing this itinerary on another day of the week.

Drinks at Collusion Tap Works

Walk across the Royal Square District for a late afternoon drink at Collusion Tap Works . Opened in September 2016, Collusion Tap Works offers a rotating list of inventive and delicious beers in their taproom.

Prior to opening Collusion, their head brewer won awards at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup for other beers he made, so you know the quality of the beers here are tasty.

Collusion’s large draft list changes regularly, but features a wide variety of beer styles. Their current line up can be found on their website.

Dinner: Taste Test

Taste Test is an audition kitchen that allows aspiring restauranteurs to try out their concepts before launching a full scale restaurant.

The space consists of a short term audition space and a full restaurant and bar. While both spaces are on rotation, the audition space turns over much more quickly, and what’s available on one trip likely won’t be there on the next.

During a recent visit, I had a chance to sample Paco’s Tacos, which was located in the restaurant and bar. For being a newer concept, I was impressed at the quality of the menu, and the taco that I tried was incredibly good. I also greatly enjoyed the cocktail that I had a chance to sample.

*Note: Taste Test kitchen is no longer at this location but the space has been replaced by other restaurants to try.

Timeline Arcade

End your time in downtown York at Timeline Arcade . A single hourly rate will give you access to dozens of their historic arcade games. No matter how far back your love of video games go, they will have something for you as Timeline has games dating back to the earliest days of arcades and even offer a few more modern games.

Whether you like strategy games, racing games, shooting games, or pinball, there are many great ways to spend a few hours in this great spot.

Even better, you can curl up on the couch and pop in a game on anything from an Atari to a Nintendo 64.

Looking for more to do in the region? Check out our favorite day trips from Philadelphia , how to spend a weekend in Gettysburg , our weekend guide to Lancaster , and our favorite weekend trips in Pennsylvania .

Great places to stay in York County

• Home2 Suites - The city's highest-rated hotel on TripAdvisor .
• Grace Manor B&B - A popular B&B near the center of town
• Candlewood Suites - A great value with excellent reviews
• Heritage Hills Resort - A relaxing property with great ammenities
• Find more great places to stay on Airbnb!

Click the map to see more nearby things to do

More nearby places to explore

Hiking at Boyd Big Tree Preserve Near Harrisburg

Exploring the Long-Shuttered Odd Fellows Hall in Carlisle, PA

Exploring Silver Mine Park in Lancaster County

Exploring Harrisburg’s History at the Harris-Cameron Mansion

Find more things to do in pennsylvania dutch country.

Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. Based in Carlisle near Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels around Pennsylvania and has visited, written about, and photographed all 67 counties in the state. He has also traveled to more than 30 different countries around the world.

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A Self-Guided Walking Tour Central Park by a Local (Map & Itinerary)

By: Author Charles

Posted on October 22, 2023

A visit to Central Park can be quite overwhelming for those who want to wander its pathways. There are 843 acres of nonstop nature to explore spanning 50 New York City blocks.

Since there is so much to see and do within the park, it can get confusing on how to put together the best self-guided walking tour of Central Park. As someone who has walked all corners of the park over the course of 10+ years, I have a pretty solid understanding of how to put together the best possible Central Park itinerary for first time visitors.

This overview will give you step by step directions on what a one day self-guided tour of Central Park will look like and what to expect during your walk. Hope you enjoy it out there!

*  Affiliate Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

1) Ways to Tour the Park

Before getting into this self-guided walking tour of Central Park, I did want to mention some of the other main ways to go about a visit.

1) Join a Guided Tour

While I am one for the self-guided options, many people want to have a tour guide join them for their day in the park. This way you will not need to worry about getting lost or heading in the wrong direction. A tour guide will walk you around the park, give you some history lessons, and answer your questions along the way.

These walking tours usually do not head to all parts of the park, but rather just some of the main areas. Feel free to check out this two hour Central Park walking tour if interested in having a guide along with you.

2) Take a Pedicab

At the entrance of the park, you will find many pedicab drivers asking to take you around. This is a fast and convenient way to see a lot of the park in a shorter period of time.

However, it also takes away the chance to go to the inner pathways of the park, which in my opinion are some of the best spots. The pedicabs need to stick to the main streets of the park but can drop you off in different areas along the way for you to explore a bit more.

You can also choose to join a private Central Park Pedicab tour ahead of time .

3) Bike the Park

If you are not into walking and want to see the park on your own, you could rent a bicycle from some of the bike rental spots located right outside some of the main entrances. Riding a bike gives you the chance to see more of the park in a shorter period of time.

However, you will not be able to take a bicycle into certain areas of the inner park or alongside some of the main highlights. While you can get off the main outer loop, and onto some of the inner walking paths, you will be a bit more limited.

If you don’t want to explore the park by bike alone, you can also join a Central Park Bicycle tour .

4) Self Guided Walk

At the end of the day though, a self-guided walking tour of Central Park will give you the most flexibility compared to all the options above. You can see everything you want to see at your own pace, and best of all it’s all completely free!

The rest of this article will dive into one of the most wholistic routes of Central Park and what I would recommend for those wanting to see the highlights.

Central Park Tours : Check out some of the other top Central Park tours that are offered in throughout park

2) Self-Guided Walking Tour Map

We will first start out with a map of this self guided walking tour. You will find each of the highlights pinned on the map below, along with the actual walking route to follow along the way.

Feel free to reference this map as you go through this guide to understand the various directions and turns you will need to make along the way.

Visit Central Park as part of a longer 4 days in NYC itinerary that takes you throughout the city .

Note : there will be instances where you will be able to walk along parallel paths to those shown on the map. You do not need to follow the route to the tee.

3) Where to Stay in NYC

There are so many different neighborhoods to choose from when visiting NYC. Below are some of my top choices for a few of my recommended locations in the city:

Looking for the top hotels & neighborhoods in NYC? Check out some helpful accommodation resources when it comes to picking the best spot for you! Neighborhood Overview : Best Places to Stay in NYC Best Skyline Views : NYC Hotels with a View Times Square : Top Times Square Hotels with a View Theater District : Hotels in Broadway Theater District Central Park : Best Hotels with Central Park Views Tribeca : Best Tribeca Hotels SoHo: Where to Stay in SoHo Greenwich Village : Top Greenwich Village Hotels Brooklyn Bridge : Hotels with Brooklyn Bridge Views Best Panoramas : Hotels in NYC with Floor to Ceiling Windows

4) Self-Guided Walking Tour Central Park

Now that you have a visual view of the self-guided walking tour, let’s get into a step by step guide of the walk itself.

Below I will give a detailed overview of how to go about your walk. Remember to reference the map above to give you a better idea of where you will be going directionally.

Be sure to also check out some of the other top things to do in New York City during a visit!

Walking Tour Starting Point

There are so many different entrances on all sides of Central Park. For the sake of this walking tour though, I will be starting it off at the southeast corner of the park on 59 th Street and 5 th Avenue. On Google Maps you will see this named Grand Army Plaza .

Here is where the beginning of East Drive is, which then runs up the entire East side of the park. You may see some pedicabs and horse & carriages waiting around the starting point as well since it is one of the more popular park entrances.

Stop 1: The Pond Viewpoint

From the entrance of East Drive, continue on the street for just a minute or so. Be on the lookout to your left, where you should see a pathway up a large rock face. On Google Maps it is called “Patinaje Central Park”.

Note: on the map above, Google Maps did not allow me show a route that goes onto the rock itself (rather around it). But trust me, there is a pathway to get up to the top and back down to the Pond.

Head up the rock to the top of it. From the top of this rock you will find one of the best elevated views of Central Park .

Right out in front of you will be the Pond and Gapstow Bridge, to your left will be the “Billionaire’s Row” skyline, and you will have the rest of the park’s greenery surrounding you in other directions.

From the top of the rock you can now head down to the pathway closer to the Pond. This will give you a chance to walk the pathway immediately surrounding this body of water. Head down left to the southern end of the Pond, where you will find a great view of the water and bridge out in the distance (pinned on the map).

Stop 2: Hallett Nature Sanctuary

After taking in the viewpoints, continue on the pathway looping the Pond. The path will head northbound, and you will soon reach an intersection. Turn right here, where you will immediately see the entrance to the Hallett Nature Sanctuary on the right hand side.

Take your time to explore one of the three woodland areas of the park -> nature, viewpoints, and wildlife will be all around you as you take a walk around.

Once all done, head back to the entrance (there is only one way in and out), and head back onto the pathway.

Learn more in the Hallett Nature Sanctuary guide up on the site .

Stop 3: Wollman Rink

After exiting the Sanctuary, head straight along the pathway as you walk parallel to the Wollman Rink (the rink should be on your right hand side here).

Head to the top of the Wollman Rink, where you will get some great views of the rink down below with the skyline sitting right behind it. The rink will only really be active in the winter time but it is still a nice view nonetheless.

Stop 4: The Dairy Visitor Center

Continue the path north of the Wollman Rink, where you should see the Dairy Visitor Center out in front of you.

Take a few minutes to head inside the visitor center, where you can buy some souvenirs or ask the employees any questions you may have.

Stop 5: The Manhattan Survey Bolt

After exiting the Dairy head back onto the pathway you were just on and continue northbound. You will very soon come across Center Drive, which makes up a section of the main loop of the park.

Around this area you will find one of the original Manhattan survey bolts that was put down over 200 years ago.

It’s exact location is a bit of a secret but if you do enough research, you should be able to find it. These bolts were installed to help create the Manhattan grid that you see today. It is the only known one left in the city.

If you can’t find it, no worries, just head across Center Drive, where you will see the Mall and Literary Walk out in front of you.

Stop 6: The Mall & Literary Walk

One of the most magnificent parts of Central Park is the tree lined Mall that heads from Center Drive all the way to Bethesda Terrace.

On either side you will find these beautiful American Elm trees as well as several statues of historical figures. During Central Park peak foliage , these trees turn a bright yellow color.

Take your time to walk the pathway until you arrive at the steps that will take you down to the terrace.

Learn more in The Mall & Literary Walk guide up on the site .

Stop 7: Bethesda Terrace and Fountain

You can choose to head under the arch here to Bethesda Terrace or you can head across the street, take the view in from above, and then walk down the stairs on either side of the arch.

At the Bethesda Terrace you will find the famous fountain right in the middle with fantastic views of the Lake and Loeb Boathouse.

Stop 8: Bow Bridge

As you wrap up your time at the terrace, head to the pathway to the left that is hugging the Lake. A couple minutes down the pathway and you will soon be welcomed to the famous Bow Bridge.

You can decide to head across the bridge and into The Ramble if you would like and explore the southern end of this woodland area (you will be heading into the Ramble a bit later on too).

If you do head across the bridge into the Ramble, you can enjoy some nice benches and viewpoints area of the Lake .

Be careful not to venture off too far as it can get confusing in there. Try and stay to the immediate right and towards the Loeb Boathouse, which you may be able to see through the trees.

If you don’t want to go into the Ramble now, head back across the Bow Bridge and retrace your steps towards the Bethesda Terrace, where you can then follow the pathway towards the Loeb Boathouse.

Learn more in the Bow Bridge Central Park guide up on the site .

Stop 9: Conservatory Water

Across the main pathway from the Loeb Boathouse you will find the Conservatory Water and the Alice in Wonderland Statue.

Here you may find model boats racing their way around this water feature with the Manhattan skyline out in the distance.

At the northern part of the water you will see the famous Alice in Wonderland statue, an iconic statue of the park.

Stop 10: The Obelisk

Get back onto the main loop of the park (East Drive here), and continue northbound. To your left will the Ramble, which you may have just visited (and can visit later on) and just past that you will come across the Obelisk.

This is one of the more unique features of the park. It was created over 3,500 years ago in Egypt and eventually made its way right into Central Park.

Directly across from the Obelisk you will also find the Metropolitan Museum of Art, another great place to visit during your time in the city.

Stop 11: The Reservoir

Just past the Met and Obelisk, you will come across the Reservoir. Head towards the water here and follow the path counter clockwise northbound alongside this massive water feature.

Here you should get some of the best views of NYC with hopefully some nice water reflections along the way .

The tree lined pathway is beautiful to walk along as you get to enjoy this famous stroll, especially during NYC cherry blossom season .

Learn more in the Central Park Reservoir guide up on the site .

Stop 12: Conservatory Garden

Once you reach the northern end of the Reservoir, you will need to be a bit cautious here as you want to get back on East Drive. Be on the lookout for a pathway on your right that you can follow back to the main path (don’t forget to check out the map above!).

Continue northbound on East Drive as you then will come across the Conservatory Garden on your right. You will need to get off the main pathway here and into the garden area.

This is probably the most ornate garden in all of Central Park and is also one of the more unknown features as not too many people get up here.

Definitely have a walk around and enjoy the garden before making your way just north of it to the Harlem Meer.

Stop 13: Harlem Meer

As you exit through the north side of the Conservatory Garden you will get to see the Lasker Rink and the Harlem Meer right out in front of you.

There is currently a pretty big renovation going on here but if any of the paths near the Meer are open, you should take a quick walk around as it is one of the more underrated water features of the park.

Stop 14: The Loch & Ravine

Once wrapped up at the Meer, get back on East Drive, where you will want to be on the lookout for the Huddlestone Arch (right across from the rink).

At the beginning of the pathway near the arch, you will be welcomed to a great feature of the park as you arrive at the Central Park waterfall .

You will then continue to follow the pathway alongside the Loch, a serene stream that makes its way across the Ravine .

During the walk you will come across various turnoff areas to get closer to the Loch. Be sure to take these short detours so you can enjoy some great up-close views.

Learn more in the Central Park Trail guide up on the site .

Stop 15: The Pool

Towards the end of the trail alongside the Loch, you will climb some stairs and be welcomed to the Pool.

The Pool is another great water feature of the park and you should get to enjoy some beautiful reflections of the surrounding trees. It is also one of my favorite spots to enjoy the colors during NYC foliage time.

Feel free to walk around it for a bit as you take in the Pool from some different angles. Once finished up there, head back to the east side of the Pool, where you will get onto the main loop (now West Drive).

Stop 16: The Bridle Path

This is more up to you, but you can continue southbound on the main West Drive, or you can head on what is called the Bridle Path. This is a softer dirt pathway that gets you off of the busy West Drive.

You should see the Bridle Path directly on the left hand side of West Drive as you walk southbound.

For now, you can continue walking along the Bridle Path southbound, which will still be parallel to West Drive. The path heads by the baseball fields of the North Meadow, the tennis courts, the Reservoir (feel free to get back on the Reservoir path for a bit here too), and Great Lawn.

Continue southbound as you walk the path, head under some arches, and soon approach the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre on your left hand side.

Be on the lookout here as you don’t want to miss the turnoff up towards the Shakespeare Garden.

Learn more in the Central Park Bridle Path guide up on the site .

Stop 17: Shakespeare Garden

Just behind the Swedish Cottage you will find another great garden to enjoy on your self guided walking tour of Central Park.

From the cottage, follow the signs up to the Shakespeare Garden. Here you will an immaculate garden area that is made up of several levels.

Stop 18: Belvedere Castle

As you exit the Shakespeare Garden up top, you will be welcomed to the highest structure in Central Park – Belvedere Castle. The castle overlooks Turtle Pond, the Delacorte Theater, and the Great Lawn.

There is a great viewing are to enjoy outside of the castle but you can also head up into the castle too, and enjoy the views from a bit higher up.

Stop 19: The Ramble

Once all done at the castle, you will find a path that heads southbound into the Ramble.

As mentioned earlier, this is a confusing part of the park (I always still get lost in there) but feel free to walk around the paths for a bit and explore.

However, you will then want to get yourself back to the north end of the Ramble, where one of the pathways heads through the Ramble Arch and across the Oak Bridge.

From the bridge, you will get some additional great views of the Lake and NYC skyline.

Learn more in The Ramble Central Park guide up on the site.

Stop 20: Hernshead Rocks

Just south of the Oak Bridge you will see some pathways on the left hand side. Follow this pathway that will take you closer to the Lake to the Hernshead Rocks (one of the top Central Park rocks spots).

As you walk along this secondary pathway you will soon be welcomed to the Hernshead Rocks. There is a pathway that circles the rocks and gets you safely to the other side. Here you will find one of the best skyline views of Manhattan.

The reflection of the Lake is something to enjoy as you can sit back and enjoy what Central Park has to offer.

Stop 21: Walk Along the Lake

It is now time to walk all along the western side of the Lake as you get some great views all around. Retrace your steps off of the rocks and get yourself back towards West Drive.

You will want to stay on the pathway closest to the Lake so you can get some nice views all the way through .

Along the way you will get views of the Bow Bridge from a distance, pass by the Western Shore Boat Landing, and get to see some row boaters out in the water (during season).

During spring bloom, you may see some of the best Central Park cherry blossoms on nearby Cherry Hill as you walk the Lake.

Learn more in the Central Park Lake guide up on the site .

Stop 22: Sheep Meadow

Once all done walking along the Lake, you will soon approach one of the most happening parts of the park – Sheep Meadow. Here you will find the main congregation area of the park with hundreds laying out their towels to enjoy the park in a relaxing fashion.

This is a great way to end your time in the park as you can find a spot to sit down and relax at to finish up your day.

Feel free to then exit the park, and head back to your hotel after a long and exciting day exploring Central Park on your self guided walking tour.

5) How Long Does it Take to Walk Around the Park

For this self guided walking tour of Central Park, you should expect it to take 4-5 hours. This of course all depends on how fast you walk, how much time you spend taking photos, and if you happen to get lost along the way at any point.

The walking tour will take you along 6+ miles of pathways that wind their way in all directions. For the most part, this route does cover the majority of the main park highlights. There is certainly more to see and do throughout the park, which can add time onto your day.

If you do find additional attractions to visit, you should have no trouble adding them onto the route at one point or another.

6) Can You See All of Central Park in One Day

The short answer is yes, you can see Central Park in one day. But be prepared for this to be the one and only highlight of this day in New York.

This is not something you want to rush through during a visit. Plan to spend the majority of a day following this walking route, taking time to relax, and just enjoying your time in the park.

As mentioned earlier, the route should take 4-5 hours to complete, but I imagine you will want to take breaks and find some relaxing spots to sit down at along the tour.

And while you can see a good amount of Central Park in one day, there is little chance that you can see ALL of Central Park. There are so many various pathways that wind their way around the park. It would be impossible to say how long seeing every last corner of the park will take.

I will say though, that the above self guided walking tour of Central Park does take you to many of the top highlights. I have a hard time believing you will leave the park unsatisfied after going through a day like this.

That about does it for a self guided walking tour of New York’s Central Park. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to add them in below.

Also don’t forget to check out the remaining New York itineraries and guides up on the site like a Central Park in Winter guide.

• Little Island
• Hudson River
• Statue of Liberty
• Brooklyn Bridge

Have fun out there and safe travels!

Related posts:

Sharing is caring!

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

This looks awesome. We are heading to NYC for our first time in September and this will be a great help!

Friday 23rd of June 2023

You will have a great time! If you have any other NYC questions, feel free to reach out

Friday 14th of April 2023

Thanks so much for this map! Sorry if i missed it... how long approximately does it take to walk, and approx how many miles?

Saturday 15th of April 2023

Hi Ally - no worries! Check out section 5 in the article. The walk is about 6 miles and I would estimate 4-5 hours based on walking + stops. This can be done much quicker if you were simply walking all the way through without stopping much. Have fun!

Thursday 30th of March 2023

Thanks for putting this together. I look forward to doing this before it's 1000 degrees.

Mary McCauley

Friday 7th of October 2022

Sorry to bother you again but that actually looks like a different place. I’m trying to find out the name of the place in the picture that comes right after:

“Check out this helpful guide that talks all about the best places to stay in New York during a visit”

*Pic w Empire State

4) Self-Guided Walking Tour Central Park”

Please let me know if you can. Thanks again!

Saturday 8th of October 2022

@Charles, yes, thank you so much! I was looking at the one in Times Square. I really appreciate your help. Enjoy your weekend.

Hi Mary - that is the Moxy NYC Chelsea. It is a hotel with a restaurant. Hope that helps

Thursday 6th of October 2022

Hello. Thanks for this informative article! It’s very helpful.

I was wondering if you could tell me the name of the restaurant in the picture of the Empire State. I’d love to check that out as well.

It’s right above #4…

@Mary McCauley, awesome. Thanks so much!

@Mary McCauley, It’s right above “4) Self-Guided Walking Tour Central Park”

I’d really appreciate it. Thanks again

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Greenwich Village Map and Self-Guided Tour

As a graduate of New York University, I spent my college years frolicking in Greenwich Village. I loved it then and I still love it now.

The neighborhood has always had an 'anything goes' vibe about it. You can be whoever you want to be -- especially in the freewheelin' Washington Square Park.

As a broke student, I loved the cheap food, the used clothing stores, and the free music one could hear on the sidewalks and in the park.

As an adult, I came to appreciate its centuries-old history and its peaceful charming streets. And the food is still amazing!

Many of our local tour guides hang out here during their free time. Their enthusiasm about the Village is apparent when they lead guests on our pay-what-you-wish Greenwich Village guided walking tour .

Writing this self-guided tour for you to use was easy. There is no shortage of places we love, including the many historic buildings, famous cultural sites, and absolutely lovely streets.

This self-guided tour by no means covers everything there is to do in the Village. But it's a start!

For a more in-depth exploration of the area, we recommend taking either GPS audio tour .

• How to Get Here
• Self-Guided Map + Tour
• Guided Tours
• Things to Do
• Other Self-Guided Tours
• Free Tours By Foot

HOW TO GET HERE

Greenwich Village is located within the greater Lower Manhattan District. It is easily reached by public transportation.

You can use this Google Maps link for directions, but how you get here depends on where you are going, as there are several subway stations throughout Greenwich Village.

Multiple subway lines take you to different parts of Greenwich Village. 

• A,B,C,D,E, and F trains to West 4th Street Station
• 6 train to Bleecker Street Station or Astor Place Station
• N or R trains to 8th Street - NYU Station

We have 2 posts on the NYC subway that are very handy:

• Navigating the Subway System
• Which MetroCard to Buy

M3, M8, M20, M55

TIP: Most hop-on-hop-off buses will have a stop near Washington Square Park. To see if a bus tour is right for you, read our post,  Which New York Bus Tour is Best?

Let Us Take You Here

We run our Greenwich Village Tour several times a week. We also offer a  Greenwich Village Food Tour

See our full schedule to see when they run. Also, both tours can be taken anytime you wish as a GPS -led audio tour .

Searching Availability...

SELF-GUIDED TOUR 

This tour begins at Waverly Place and continues throughout the Village ending near Washington Square Park.

The duration is between 90-120 minutes to complete. The distance covered is approximately 1.5 miles (2.2 km). 

Should you have more time to wander - we've included some optional stops.

Check out our GPS-led audio tour for a professional tour guide's take on the neighborhood.

Click the map to enlarge.

1. The Stonewall Inn    

53 Christopher St.

In the 1960s, at a time when it was still dangerous to be openly gay, the Stonewall Inn was one of the very few bars that were ‘safe’ for gay patrons.

On June 28, 1969, tensions between the police and the gay community resulted in a riot that went on for three nights.

This was a breakthrough moment in the Gay Civil Rights Movement and one year later, on June 28, 1970, the first Gay Pride Parade in New York was held.

Learn more in our post on  The Stonewall Inn Riots .

2. Marie’s Crisis Cafe

59 Grove St. bet. 7th Ave. and Bleecker St.

For a fun evening out, check out Marie’s Crisis Cafe, named for The Crisis Papers written by American Founding Father Thomas Paine who died at that location in 1809.

Across the Street is Arthur’s Tavern, where you can see rhythm & blues, Dixieland jazz & more inside a circa-1937 tavern.

For other music venues in the Village, see our post on nightlife in Greenwich Village .

3. Grove   Court 

The gated entry between #10 and #12 Grove Street bet. Bedford and Hudson Sts.

Peek in the gates at this narrow entryway to one of the Village’s best-kept secrets.

The brick row houses at the back of the courtyard were originally built in 1854 to house workers at a nearby factory.

They weren’t so pretty back then. Now, houses in this quiet enclave cost over $2 million.

4. The  Friends   Apartment 

90 Bedford St at the corner of Grove St.

You won’t find Central Perk on the ground level of this six-story apartment building.

Here, you’ll find The Little Owl restaurant instead. Read our full post on the Friends apartment building .

It’s impossible to believe that an oft-unemployed actor, a barista, a masseuse, and a graduate student all lived in this impossibly expensive part of town, but that’s Hollywood for you.  

Find out some interesting nuggets of information on our  free Greenwich Village Walking Tour .

5. Chumley’s  

86 Bedford St. (58 Barrow St.)

This now-closed restaurant and bar has never had a sign at its address on Bedford Street indicating the entrance.

Instead, you'd have to go around the corner to Barrow Street and look for the arched gated entryway that leads into a courtyard.

Why the mystery? Well, while drinking here was perfectly legal in modern times, back in the 1920s, it was an illegal speakeasy.

Who wants to advertise that?!

Back in the day, a slew of famous authors drank here, like William Faulkner, Eugene O’Neill, and John Steinbeck to name a few.

Chumley's is allegedly the birthplace of the professional kitchen term “86” (which means to cancel an order).

Find out the whacky story behind this on our tour.

6.  Edna St. Vincent Millay House  

75 1/2 Bedford St.

This sliver of a building is just 10 feet (9m) wide. It was built on what used to be a carriageway of the home next door.

Many notable people have lived there over the years including Pulitzer Prize winner Edna St. Vincent Millay. (See the plaque on the house).

If you aren’t already shocked that people would live in such a small home, you will be surprised when you learn how much it cost: its most recent owner in July 2023 paid $3.4 million.

7. Former site of C.I.A. covert LSD experiments  

81 Bedford St.

In the Cold War era, the CIA attempted to create a “truth serum” to use on captured spies. C.I.A. scientists began experimenting in CIA labs with the hallucinogenic LSD.

As the program, called MK-Ultra, grew and so an apartment at this building was leased and used to observe experiment participants under the influence of LSD.

This program and any similar programs were stopped in 1966. A Netflix docu-drama series  Wormwood  chronicles the MK-ULTRA experiments.

8. Cherry Lane Theatre  

38 Commerce St.

This 180-seat Off-Broadway theater was started in 1924 by Edna St. Vincent Millay and gained its fame for putting on ‘ahead-of-its-time’ plays.

It is the city’s oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater.  Not sure what off-Broadway is?

See  our post  explaining the difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

9.  The Cosby Show  House

10 Leroy St./10 St. Luke’s Place

This house was used for the exterior shots of the Huxtables’ brownstone which was, on the show, located at 10 Stigwood Place in Brooklyn Heights.

No such street exists in Brooklyn Heights!

So you won’t see it on our  Brooklyn Heights Tour  but you will see many other homes of famous real people!

10. Rocco’s Pastry Shop

243 Bleecker St.

Several generations of Italian families have created delightful pastries and are well known for their  cannoli , tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy ricotta cheese filling.

Rocco's is a site on our  pay-what-you-wish  Food Tour of Greenwich Village .

11. Our Lady of Pompeii  

25 Carmine St. corner of Bleecker St.

Offering mass in both Italian and English, this beautifully appointed church was built in the early 1900s to serve the large Italian immigrant community that lived in the southern part of Greenwich Village.

The other area in NYC where Italian immigrants settled is, of course, the famous Little Italy .

12. Cafe Wha ?

115 Macdougal St. bet. Bleecker & West 3rd Sts.

Having fueled the careers of many individuals in the Beat, Folk, and Rock ‘n‘ Roll generations, Café Wha? is a “must-see” for anyone interested in the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s, and ’60s.

Read more about  Cafe Wha? here. 

For Bob Dylan fans, you can take our  Bob Dylan’s Greenwich Village Walking Tour .

13. New York University Campus

Most of the buildings surrounding Washington Square Park belong to the university.

In 1831, NYU was founded as the first public university in New York City.

It is now a private university with one of the highest tuitions of any university in the country at $41,000 per year!

The School of Law building on the corner of MacDougal Street and Washington Square South is especially lovely. Look for the NYU purple flags everywhere.

14. Washington Square Park and Washington Square Arch 

Between 10,000 and 20,000 bodies were unearthed to create this park, which became one of the City’s archetypical monuments, and the site of many TV and movie scenes over the years.

From the character who designed the arch, Stanford White, to the characters who frequent the park, like  the Pigeon Man , Washington Square Park is not to be missed.

This park is the ultimate place to people-watch. For more details on the Park and what to see there, check out our post, Washington Square Park .

15. The site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (Brown Building)

23-29 Washington Pl. bet. Washington Square East & Greene St.

In 1911, in the sweatshop factory on the top floors of this building, a fire broke out.

It rapidly spread and within the hour 146 low-paid workers, mostly young immigrant women, were dead.

Some leaped to their deaths from the windows to escape the blaze.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a turning point in workers’ rights. Laws were enacted and unions were formed to protect workers’ safety.

16. Washington Mews 

Small lane just north of Washington Square North, between 5th Ave. and University Place.

These quaint row houses on a cobblestoned lane were built as horse stables in the rear of the exclusive row houses that face Washington Square North.

They are now used by New York University. The Mews are public so walk through and enjoy the historic charm.

17. Electric Lady Studios 

52 W. 8th St. bet. 5th & 6th Aves. 

This world-class recording studio was commissioned by Jimi Hendrix and his desire to have a studio with both a mellow atmosphere and state-of-the-art equipment.

Tragically, Hendrix spent only two and a half months recording at the Electric Lady Studios in the summer of 1970.

On September 18, 1970, Jimi Hendrix died from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.

Among the musicians who have recorded here are the Rolling Stones, The Clash, and David Bowie, whose final album before his death,  Black Star , was made here.

OPTIONAL STOPS

If you have time to spare and would like to wander the Village, we recommend these sites, marked in purple on the map.

1. Mark Twain House   

14 West 10th St bet. 5th and 6th Aves.

This circa-1850s brownstone house is one of the spookiest houses in New York City.

It may look pretty on the outside but legend has it that some of the spirits of the 22 deaths that have occurred here have not left the premises.

The most famous resident was author Mark Twain, who lived there for a year in 1900 (see the plaque on the building).

Even though he died in Connecticut, one resident reported seeing a specter resembling Twain.

Find out where more New York ghosts live on one of our  pay-what-you-like  Ghost Tours .

2. Jefferson Market Library  

Corner of 6th Ave. and West 10th St.

The garden was once the site of a bustling outdoor market and the Victorian Gothic style building was constructed in 1877 as a courthouse.

By 1927, the court heard only women’s cases.

The women prisoners were held in the basement, and for one night, it housed actress Mae West when her stage act became too bawdy and she was arrested.

By 1945 the building was out of use, but it was brought back to life in 1967 and reopened as a New York Public Library branch.

3. Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment

64 Perry St.

This is where Carrie lived in the TV series  Sex and the City .

Well, fans of  SATC  know that Carrie lived on the Upper West Side! So what exactly is going on here?

Read more in our post  Where Did Carrie Bradshaw Live?  

Also, be sure to grab a cupcake from  Magnolia Bakery  while you are nearby.

4. White Horse Tavern

567 Hudson St.

You won’t want to drink 18 straight whiskeys as poet Dylan Thomas did, but stop in for an afternoon repast and visit the tavern’s historical past dating back to the 1880s. 

If you like the White Horse Tavern, then you will definitely enjoy the bars on our self-guided  Historic New York City Bar Tour . 

RELATED POSTS:

• Greenwich Village Tours
• Things to Do in Greenwich Village
• Free Greenwich Village Food Tour

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About The Author

Courtney Shapiro

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.