Are the York City Walls free to walk?

Yes, access to the York City Walls is completely free for all visitors. You can join or leave the walls at any of the major bars (gatehouses) or intermediate access points during daylight hours.

What is the best walking tour York offers for history lovers?

For those seeking deep history, a self-guided walk of the City Walls is ideal as it covers Roman, Viking, and Medieval eras. It allows you to see the city's defenses in chronological order without being rushed by a group.

Is a guided tour York better than a self-guided walk?

While a guided tour York provides a person to answer questions, a self-guided audio walk offers more flexibility. You can spend more time at photography spots like the Red Tower or Walmgate Bar without keeping up with a crowd.

Can I take a stroller or wheelchair on the York City Walls?

Unfortunately, no. The walls are historic structures with many steep, narrow steps and uneven stone paving, making them inaccessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

What are the opening hours for the York City Walls?

The walls open daily at 8:00 AM and close at dusk. Because dusk changes throughout the year, the closing time ranges from 3:30 PM in mid-winter to 9:00 PM in mid-summer.

Where is the best place to start the York City Walls walk?

Bootham Bar is the most popular starting point because it is close to York Minster. However, Micklegate Bar is also a great choice if you are arriving by train, as it is very close to the station.

Are the York City Walls open in the rain?

The walls usually remain open during light rain, but they are closed by the city council during snow, ice, or exceptionally high winds for safety reasons.

Can I walk the walls at night?

No, the walls are locked at dusk for safety and security. To see York at night, it is better to explore the well-lit street-level routes in the city center or the Shambles.

Zigway - The Guide Follows You

About This Tour

Step into a story spanning two millennia with this self-guided walk along the York City Walls, the longest and best-preserved medieval town walls in England. This circuit offers an unparalleled perspective on York’s evolution, from its origins as the Roman fortress of Eboracum to its status as a powerful medieval capital. As you traverse the elevated stone walkways, you will encounter the four major 'Bars' or gatehouses that once controlled access to the city, each serving as a monumental entrance that has welcomed kings and repelled invaders. This neighborhood stroll is more than just a history lesson; it is a premier photography experience. The elevated vantage point provides breathtaking views of the York Minster’s Gothic towers, the winding River Ouse, and the patchwork of timber-framed houses that define the city's skyline. Unlike a traditional walking tour York might offer in the crowded streets below, this route allows you to rise above the bustle and explore at your own pace. You will discover how the walls were adapted over centuries, moving from Roman stone to Viking earthworks and finally the limestone masonry seen today. Highlights include the rare survival of a defensive barbican at Walmgate Bar and the only brick-built tower on the circuit, known as the Red Tower. Whether you are a photography enthusiast looking for the perfect angle of the Minster or a history buff eager to stand where Roman sentries once kept watch, this walking route provides the most comprehensive way to see the city. This travel experience is entirely flexible, allowing you to pause for a coffee in a gatehouse or simply soak in the atmosphere of northern England’s most historic city. By following this circuit, you are tracing the very boundaries that shaped York’s identity for over 2,000 years.

Highlights

Traverse the longest medieval city walls in England

Photograph the iconic York Minster from elevated vantage points

Explore Walmgate Bar, the only gatehouse to retain its barbican

Discover the Roman foundations beneath the medieval Bootham Bar

See the Red Tower, the only brick-built defensive structure on the circuit

Stand at Micklegate Bar, the traditional entrance for reigning monarchs

Tour Stops (6)

Bootham Bar

Begin your journey at Bootham Bar, a gateway that stands on the site of one of the four main entrances to the Roman fortress of Eboracum. While much of what you see today dates from the 14th and 19th centuries, the lower masonry contains Roman stone nearly 2,000 years old. In the medieval era, this bar served a grim purpose: the heads of traitors were often displayed here on spikes as a warning to those entering the city from the north. Look up to see the stone figures, or 'wildmen,' guarding the battlements. This gate marks the transition between the city’s ancient defenses and the grand approach to the York Minster.

Goodramgate & Monk Bar Court

As you continue to Monk Bar, you are standing before the tallest and most formidable of York’s gatehouses. Completed in the 14th century, Monk Bar was designed as a self-contained fortress, capable of being defended even if the rest of the walls fell. It still houses a working portcullis, a heavy timber and iron gate that could be dropped to trap invaders. This section of the wall offers some of the most spectacular, unobstructed views of the York Minster’s East Window. Notice the narrowness of the walkway here, a reminder of the practical, defensive nature of these structures.

Red Tower

The Red Tower is a unique anomaly on the York circuit. Built in 1490, it is the only part of the wall constructed from red brick rather than the local magnesian limestone. Its construction was highly controversial; the city’s stonemasons were so angry about the use of bricklayers that they allegedly murdered one of the workers. The tower was built to protect the point where the walls met the 'King’s Fishpool,' a large medieval lake and marsh created by damming the River Foss. Today, it stands as a quiet, picturesque reminder of York’s medieval industrial disputes and hydraulic engineering.

Walmgate Bar

Walmgate Bar is arguably the most important architectural survival on the route. It is the only gatehouse in England to still possess its original barbican—the narrow, walled outwork designed to funnel attackers into a 'killing zone' before they could reach the main gate. The heavy wooden doors and the 12th-century stone archway have survived numerous sieges, including the Civil War Siege of York in 1644. Look closely at the inner side of the gate to see a 16th-century timber-framed house built directly onto the stone structure, illustrating how the city’s residents lived alongside their defenses.

Baile Hill

After crossing the River Ouse, you will reach Baile Hill. This grassy mound is all that remains of the Old Baile, one of two motte-and-bailey castles built by William the Conqueror in 1068 to subdue the rebellious north. While the wooden castle that once stood here is long gone, the hill remains a significant landmark in York’s military topography. From this height, you can look across the river to Clifford’s Tower, the keep of York’s second castle. This section of the wall highlights the strategic importance of the river in controlling trade and movement through medieval Yorkshire.

Micklegate Bar

Your walk concludes at Micklegate Bar, the most prestigious of the four main gates. Historically, this was the entrance used by reigning monarchs when visiting York; even today, the tradition continues with the Sovereign requesting permission from the Lord Mayor to enter. For centuries, this was also the site where the heads of high-ranking rebels and traitors were displayed, including those of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. The current structure is a beautiful example of 12th and 14th-century masonry, topped with stone statues of men-at-arms. It serves as a fittingly grand finale to your circuit of the city's ancient boundaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

A full circuit typically takes 2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace. The total distance is approximately 2 miles (3.4 kilometers), including the sections where the wall breaks and you must walk at street level.