York Dungeon Tours and Activities

Aided by spooky special effects and eerie sets, the costumed actors at York Dungeon recount terrifying tales of torture, terror, and murder. Expect laughs, scares, and shrieks as you learn about Viking invasions, witch hunts, and lawbreakers from centuries past.

York Dungeon is an immersive and fun way to discover the dark side of York’s history. You’re steered through various rooms and sets by actors in period dress, whose tales are enhanced by atmospheric lights and jump-inducing sound and special effects. Some sightseeing passes include free entry to the York Dungeon. To save time waiting on the day, book your admission ticket in advance; this especially recommended when crowds peak during the July-August British school holidays. 

York Dungeon is in the historic center, and is best reached on foot; it’s just a short stroll from Clifford’s Tower. Look for signposts pointing toward the dungeon or the Grand Opera House, which is just across the road. Several bus services, including the 7, 37, 66, and 59, stop outside the dungeon too. 

The attraction is open Monday-Sunday year-round, except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. York Dungeon gets busy during the school holidays and on summer weekends; early morning and late afternoon are quietest. 

In history-steeped York, stories of ghosts abound. To experience the spookier side of the city, follow up a trip to the York Dungeon with a visit to the grave of notorious highwayman Dick Turpin and the shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow on the Shambles—a woman who was brutally executed in 1586 as punishment for sheltering Catholic priests in her York home during the Elizabethan-era anti-Catholic persecution.