York holds the title of the most haunted city in Europe, boasting around 500 reported ghostly encounters within its ancient walls. This self-guided audio tour vividly recounts the tales of the most dramatic apparitions, from Roman soldiers parading through medieval cellars to plague-ridden children forever confined to their homes. Your guide for this eerie exploration is James Easton, a local resident with a fervour for York's remarkable history.
Your journey begins at the crossroads of Stonegate and High Petergate. From there, you'll meander down one of England's oldest retail streets, past a 15th-century house said to be home to 14 distinct spirits, and into Ye Olde Starre Inn. Here, Civil War soldiers once received treatment in the cellars, and their agonised cries are reportedly still heard today. The route winds through narrow alleyways, skirting past the Theatre Royal and King's Manor, through the Shambles, and concludes at the Punch Bowl on Micklegate. It's rumoured that a former landlord continues his duties in the cellar even in death.
As you traverse this spectral city, you'll learn about an adolescent plumber who witnessed Roman soldiers marching through a wall, visible only from the knees up. You'll hear tales of the seven active phantoms of the Golden Fleece, including a thieving child and One-Eyed Jack. And you'll discover the tragic story of young Marmaduke, who etched his name into a beam in 1715 before tragically ending his life.
Audio-guided tour
