Hop-On Hop-Off Bus York

Book a York hop-on hop-off bus ticket and see the medieval city from the top deck of an open-top bus. Your ticket gives you 24 hours of unlimited travel on a route with 14 stops, starting at Exhibition Square beside Bootham Bar. Hop off for York Minster, Clifford's Tower, the city walls and the River Ouse, then catch the next bus when you are ready. Audio commentary in 9 languages, a commentary for children and discounts at selected attractions are included.

What can you see on the York bus route?

York was once home to Viking settlers and later the scene of some of Britain's bloodiest battles, and the route takes you through that long history in a single loop. Hop off near York Minster, one of the largest medieval churches in England, and walk the narrow streets around it. Stop at Clifford's Tower, first built in wood by the Normans in 1068, and pass Fishergate Bar, one of the gateways in the city walls, dating from the early 14th century. The bus also runs close to the River Ouse, the lively South Bank and the Museum Gardens, a green space by the river that is perfect for a break between sights. York's centre is small, but the hills, cobbles and crowds can make it tiring on foot, and the bus links the main areas with very little effort.

Where are the 14 stops?

The route starts at Exhibition Square and calls at Gillygate, Monk Bar, Foss Bank, Peasholme Green, The Stonebow, Clifford's Tower, Margaret Street, Walmgate Bar, the Barbican Centre, Fishergate, the Railway Station, Memorial Gardens and Museum Gardens. The Railway Station stop is handy if you arrive by train, so you can start the tour as soon as you reach the city. Monk Bar and Walmgate Bar are good places to climb onto the medieval walls, and The Stonebow puts you close to the Shambles and the shops of the old town. Buses run from 9:00 to 16:30 every day, so plan your last stop of the day with that in mind.

What is included with your ticket?

Your ticket includes 24 hours of hop-on hop-off travel on the York sightseeing buses, starting from the moment you first use it. The recorded audio guide is available in English, Yorkshire English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin, and there is a dedicated commentary for children. You also get discounts at selected York attractions. Entry fees for attractions are not included, so budget for any museums, towers or tours you want to visit along the way.

How do you board the bus?

Your ticket is sent to your phone. Show the smartphone ticket to the driver at any hop-on hop-off stop to board, so you do not have to start at Exhibition Square if another stop is closer to your hotel. The ticket is activated the first time you use it and stays valid for 24 hours from then. That means you can start in the afternoon and carry on the next morning, which is a good way to split the route over two days. If you only have one day, ride the whole loop first to get your bearings, then go back to the sights you liked most.

Make more of your York visit

Hop off in the centre for a York Minster guided tour, or treat yourself at York's Chocolate Story with a live guide. To see the city from the water, add a York city cruise on the River Ouse, and after dark the Ghost Bus Tour York tells the city's spookier stories.