Welcome to York - The River Route

From the Roman Empire to the Industrial Revolution, via Vikings, the Norman Conquest and the Wars of the Roses, the history of York is the history of England. This city has been at the heart of the action for nearly 2000 years. With York’s Hidden History, you’ll be at the heart of the action too, in the expert company of our local guides. Using knowledge and humour they'll tell the city's secrets whilst showing you the famous sights.

We offer two Welcome to York walks, aimed at people new to the city. On our River Route we’ll take a waterside walk through 2000 years of amazing history. Starting outside the Yorkshire Museum, in the shadow of the city’s ancient walls, we’ll explain how a Roman military outpost turned into imperial Eboracum. Making our way across the city via St Mary’s Abbey, the River Ouse, and King’s Staith, we’ll tell tales of fights and floods, monks and merchants, before finishing our walk beneath Clifford’s Tower, in the heart - or maybe the moat - of York Castle.