Gunpowder, Treason & Plot - A city walking tour of York

5.0 (4 reviews) 1 h 30 min Free cancellation

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5.0

Gunpowder, Treason & Plot - A city walking tour of York — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Gunpowder, Treason & Plot - A city walking tour of York, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Gunpowder, Plot and Treason

A Walking Tour Through York’s Darkest Legends

Step into the shadows of York’s bloodstained past.

From the birthplace of Guy Fawkes to the final cries at Clifford’s Tower, Gunpowder, Plot and Treason unearths the city’s most chilling tales of rebellion, betrayal, and forgotten heroes. Follow in the footsteps of criminals, martyrs, and monarchs — and discover the dark heartbeat that still echoes through York’s ancient streets.

History is written by the victors — but on this tour, you’ll hear the whispers of those who dared to defy them.

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 30 people
People per booking: 1–30
Guide: English
Operated by: Dave Haw Tours York

Ages: Children (0–15 years) · Adults (16–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Not included

Not included: Dinner
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Stop 1

15 min

Guy Fawkes Inn — Birthplace of Treason

Our story of treachery begins at the Guy Fawkes Inn, birthplace of York’s most infamous figure.

Beneath ancient beams and flickering candlelight, you’ll step into the world of secret plots and deadly conspiracies.

Here, we trace Guy Fawkes’ path from a boy of York to the architect of one of England’s most daring acts of rebellion — the Gunpowder Plot.

Dark secrets and whispered betrayals await, as we delve into the heart of a scheme that could have changed the course of history forever.
King's Manor

15 min

King’s Manor — Power, Politics, and Betrayal

At King’s Manor, the story of York darkens further. Once the seat of royal power under Henry VIII, these walls bore witness to the brutal realities of rebellion and control.

Discover how the King's iron grip on the North was forged — and how York’s citizens navigated a world where loyalty was a matter of life or death.
The Last Drop Inn

15 min

The Last Drop Inn — A Final Toast to the Damned

The night grows darker as we arrive at the chilling Last Drop Inn, a place forever linked to York’s bloodstained past.

At the Last Drop Inn, the condemned of York took their final drink before facing execution. Their crimes, their desperate bargains, their final moments — all haunt these ancient walls.

We remember their forgotten stories, and a time when death was just a heartbeat away.
Shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow

15 min

The Shrine of Margaret Clitherow — A Silent Sacrifice

At the Shrine of Margaret Clitherow, we find the story of a woman who defied the crown and paid with her life.

Her death — brutal and unjust — echoes through York’s dark past, a reminder of the courage it takes to stand against tyranny.
Stop 5

15 min

The Blue Boar — York’s Highwayman Haunt

Our path twists into legend and infamy as we reach The Blue Boar, a place where the ghost of York’s most notorious highwayman, Dick Turpin, still seems to linger.

Beneath the legend lies a darker truth of violence, betrayal, and death.
Clifford's Tower

15 min

Clifford’s Tower — Where Rebellion Fell

At Clifford’s Tower, York’s brutal past is written in stone and blood. From Robert Aske’s doomed uprising to Roger Clifford’s tragic fall, this is a place where rebels died and kings tightened their grip on power.

Their ghosts linger still.

(This part of the tour will take place outside of Clifford's Tower, so no admission fee is necessary).

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Come on into The Guy Fawkes Inn on High Petergate at 7pm. If you're early tell a member of staff that you're there for the tour, and they will take care of you until the tour begins. I'll be in the bar area, hopefully recognisable from my yellow coat and my pictures from this listing.

End point

Come on into The Guy Fawkes Inn on High Petergate at 7pm. If you're early tell a member of staff that you're there for the tour, and they will take care of you until the tour begins. I'll be in the bar area, hopefully recognisable from my yellow coat and my pictures from this listing.