York Castle Museum Tours
We have an exciting range of tours available to explore some of the most exciting aspects of our collection and building!
Tickets are now live! Book here. Tickets are currently released in weekly slots. The next batch of tickets will be released soon, please check our social media for updates!
Step back in time in our main tour and take a stroll through Victorian York this summer as York Castle Museum invites you to join us on a guided tour of its world famous recreated street, Kirkgate. Hear all about its fascinating history from one of our experts as you wander thought the cobbled streets, as part of one of the new socially distanced tours taking place at the museum.
A second tour offers you a glimpse into life in the cells of York Castle Prison, while longer, more in-depth tours explore the hidden history of York Debtors Prison and the museum’s outstanding fashion and textile collections.
Future tours including family family dedicated tours will be coming mid August!
The tours will take place from 1 August and then on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, throughout the day. Pre-booking via our website is essential. All fees listed below include Eventbrite fees. A child ticket is for children aged 5-16, those under 5 do not need a ticket.
To ensure social distancing the tours are limited to a small number of people. As these are specialist events rather than part of our standard opening, YMT Cardholders will need to pay to for these tours. We hope to be able to announce standard opening for York Castle Museum in the near future.
Kirkgate Victorian Street Guided Tour
£12 per person / £6 per child (1 hour)
Visit one of York’s most memorable experiences in this guided tour of our recreated Victorian street. The 45 minute tour will reveal the fascinating history of the street, the stories behind the authentic shops and the real Victorian York businesses which traded everything from chocolate to weird and wonderful medicines to treat every ailment. Your guide will be there to answer any questions and point out the hidden history around every corner.
York Castle Prison Guided Tour
£12 per person / £6 per child (1 hour)
Enter the authentic prison cells of York Castle Prison, where thousands were imprisoned while they awaited release, transportation or execution. Join our expert as they reveal the stories of the infamous, such as highwayman Dick Turpin, and those largely forgotten in this unique insight into prison life.
Fashion and Textile Curator led Tour
£18 per person / £9 per child (1 hour)
From caps to corsets, and from gowns to children’s clogs, every object has a story. Join Dr Faye Prior from York Castle Museum, as she introduces you to some of these fascinating stories while on a journey through 400 years of fashion.
Based in the Fashion gallery of Shaping the Body, the talk will reveal the hidden histories of some of the gorgeous garments on show. It will focus on star objects from the displays, plus several hand-picked treasures brought out specially from the museum store.
Although social distancing means we can’t handle the objects, you will be able to view some up close. There will be seating provided so you can choose whether to sit or stand.
Please note that this tour is stairs access only and is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
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