York MP3 Audio Walking Tours

A view along the city walls towards York Minster

We have two MP3 audio walks around York, The Grand Tour, and Around the Walls. You can download them individually for £3 each, or both together for £5. All our walks include a map in PDF format, which you will find within the zip file that you download immediately after purchase. Audio files are standard MP3 format, suitable for use on iPods and other MP3-compatiable devices.

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The Grand Tour

A 60-minute walk through the ancient city, discovering its Roman roots, and passing by iconic sights, such as King’s Manor, the Multiangular Tower, the Yorkshire Museum, York Mansion House, Mulberry Hall, York Minster, the Treasurer’s House, St William’s College, Holy Trinity Church, and the city’s most famous street, Shambles.

Zip file (includes PDF map): 13.54Mb
Audio points: 13
Audio length: 31:38
Walking time: 60 mins

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Around the Walls

As the name suggests, this walk takes you along York’s famous city wall, which encircles the city, giving great views on either side. The route also passes by York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower.

Zip file (includes PDF map): 10.90 Mb
Audio points: 14
Audio length: 28:47
Walking time: 75 mins

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York highlights

On our York walks, you will hear about many of the city’s major historical highlights, including:

Roman history

York is a city most associated with its Roman heritage. Founded in AD71, the city was declared the capital of Britannica Inferior, and named Eboracum – the place of the yew tree. Its location was ideal, as it provided good river connections to the North Sea, and the underlying rocks, deposited during the last Ice Age, provided firm foundations. There’s even an original Roman column, discovered during renovations at York Minster, which has survived intact.

Viking History

The late 1970s brought about a huge archaelogical discovery during groundwork for a new shopping centre. Thousands of beautifully preserved Viking artefacts were unearthed, marking one of the most unexpected and largest historical projects of all time. As a result, the city created the Jorvik Viking Centre, which celebrates York’s Viking past in spectacular fashion.

Shambles

Recently voted Britain’s favourite street by users of Google StreetView, Shambles one of York’s tourist hotspots. This narrow lane, complete with cobbles and overhanging buildings, is one of the most photographed places in the country. It was once home to butchers, and also houses a shrine to Margaret Clitherow, a 16th Century butcher’s wife who was imprisoned numerous times due to her Catholic beliefs. She was later canonised in 1970.

York Minster

This Gothic cathedral, which was built over a period of more than 250 years, beginning in 1220 and finally consecrated in 1472. It features multiple examples of religious artwork, including sculptures and carvings, as well as the largest example of medieval stained glass in the world. The tour also features a much smaller, but just as atmospheric building in Holy Trinity Church.

The Walls

The city has been enclosed by walls since as early as the 3rd Century, with the present ones dating from the 13th and 14th Centuries. It features a series of gates around its perimeter, and the walls have survived largely intact. Walking the walls is fine way to experience centuries of York’s history.

York attractions and places to stay

Tourist Tracks recommends the following tourist attractions and places to stay during your time in York.