Beneath the charming streets of York, a history steeped in violence, disease, and tragedy awaits your discovery. This 90-minute self-guided audio tour reveals the city's most sinister secrets through the dramatic narration of Dr Reginald Smalls, a Victorian physician who recounts tales of murder, rebellion, and suffering right where they unfolded. Your guide is History Meets Mystery, an immersive theatre company specialising in dark history and paranormal storytelling.
Your journey begins at All Saints Church on High Ousegate, meandering through cobbled lanes and renowned landmarks. From the banks of the River Ouse to the Shambles, York Minster, and the remnants of St Mary's Abbey, you'll traverse the city's historic heart. You'll pause at Clifford's Tower, the site of a mass suicide by 150 Jewish residents fleeing from a violent mob in 1190, and learn about Margaret Clitherow, who met her end on Ouse Bridge in 1586 for sheltered Catholic priests. The tour also guides you into lesser-known parts of the city, such as Mad Alice Lane and Bedern Hall, each harbour their own macabre pasts.
Additional narratives cover the Viking invasion led by Ivar the Bone-less, the bloodiest single day in English history at the Battle of Towton, and the WWII Baedeker Blitz that targeted York's historic structures using a German tourist guidebook.
Audio-guided tour
