Haunted York: autumn ghost walks and dark history

York’s medieval streets feel different once the evenings draw in. With Halloween on Saturday 31 October 2026 and the school half-term running from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, autumn brings extra ghost hunts, storytelling and family activities alongside the city’s regular walks. The choice is broad: some tours lean into comedy, others focus on executions, plague and witchcraft, while attractions such as the York Dungeon build a full theatrical experience around York’s darker past.

For a traditional evening walk, The Ghost Hunt of York starts at the bottom of the Shambles every night at 7:30pm. It lasts 66 minutes and 6 seconds, costs £12.50 for adults and £6.66 for accompanied under-18s, and mixes ghost stories with props, illusions, practical jokes and comic re-enactments. It is mainly aimed at adults, although families do attend. The Deathly Dark Ghost Tour takes a more theatrical route through stories linked to the plague house on College Street and the ghostly children of Bedern. It lasts 90 minutes, costs £15 and has a horror rating of 3/5. For something more visual, the York Ghost Bus Tour uses a vintage double-decker, with stops connected to places including York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and Dick Turpin’s grave. The 75-minute comedy-horror experience costs £20 and is rated 4/5 for horror.

There are quieter and more specialised options too. Shadows of York: Ghost Walk and Horrible History begins at the Guy Fawkes Inn and covers executions, epidemics and notorious figures without relying on jump scares; it costs £13 and lasts 90 minutes. Mad Alice’s Bloody Tour of York visits the Shambles, York Minster and Clifford’s Tower, with stories of witches, queens, murderers and apparitions. Since 2025, the guide may be Mad Alice or Lady Peckett, with the identity not revealed beforehand. The tour costs £15 and lasts 90 minutes, while the Bloody Execution Tour runs on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. For a smaller group, Dark Tales of York visits locations such as the Roman Bath pub and museum and the Golden Fleece. It costs £48 per group and takes around 90 minutes. A self-guided murder mystery set in 1491 offers a less frightening alternative, with a mobile-led route through historic locations, pubs and alleys for £15 and about two hours.

Families have several autumn choices. The free Little York Ghost Hunt places 100 small ghosts around the streets beside York Minster from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 October, between 6pm and 8pm. At Barley Hall, Haunted Hall runs from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October for children aged six and over. It lasts about 45 minutes and costs £15 per child plus £5.50 for each accompanying adult. The adults-only Haunted Hall: Dark Tales takes place on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, costing £20 and running from 7pm. The York Dungeon also has seasonal programming, including its Little Peasants Walking Tour at 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm and 4:30pm from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October. Standard Dungeon tickets start at £19 per adult, and the attraction includes live actors, special effects, loud noises, flashing lights and jump scares, so it is worth checking the accessibility information before booking.

For a different kind of evening, York Museum Gardens hosts Ghosts After Dark from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 November, with 70 ghosts, lighting, fog, storytelling and interactive elements. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £2 for children. The gardens are wheelchair accessible, although there are no public toilets inside. Whichever walk or attraction you choose, allow for uneven cobbles, check the age guidance and dress for changing autumn weather. Most walks last between 75 and 90 minutes, and start times vary, so booking details are worth checking before setting off.