Disclosure: this York Ghost Bus Tour experience was gifted for the purposes of this review. ALL opinions shared in this post are my own.
The pretty medieval city of York has a dark and deadly side. Hop on board the old vintage Routemaster for your York Ghost Bus Tour. Keep reading to discover my take on this comedy horror tour of York.
In this York Ghost Bus Tour review, I share my experience of the tour, what to expect and whether it is really worth visiting when you are in York. I have included other essential information to know before you go and frequently asked questions.
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About York Ghost Bus Tour
Before we delve into the York Ghost Bus Tour review, here is a quick introduction to the tour and all the valuable information you need to know.
What is York Ghost Bus Tour?
York Ghost Bus Tour is a sightseeing tour aboard a vintage Routemaster bus. It takes you around the city centre, sharing ghastly stories and haunted sights along the route.
The tour discusses dark tales of misery, misfortune and death but delivers them with a touch of comedy that will leave you laughing. It is a unique combination of dark tourism and comedy show unlike anything else.
How long is the ghost bus tour in York?
The tour lasts 75 minutes, which is primarily delivered while you’re on the bus. However, mid-way through the tour there is a short walk off the bus to explore the Shambles.
Is York Ghost Bus Tour worth visiting?
For anyone who loves to explore the darker side of the city, York Ghost Bus Tour is a must!
I’ve always had a fascination for haunted locations and ghost stories. Which makes ghost walks one of my favourite activities to do!
However, this was the first time I’ve been on a ghost bus!
The real advantage of the Ghost Bus tour over a ghost walk is that you can visit haunted locations a little further out from the city centre. Even though I’ve done several ghost walks in York, I visited lots of new locations on the bus tour, which I haven’t seen before.
The other advantage of the bus over a ghost walk is the ability to integrate additional theatrical elements. Thanks to screens on the bus, additional media and film footage is used to create a backstory to the ghost bus, which can’t be achieved on a traditional ghost walk.
Overall, if you enjoy ghost walks and are looking for a new experience, or you are looking for an experience that enables you to rest your feet after a long day of sight-seeing, York Ghost Bus Tour is definitely worth visiting!
Book your York Ghost Bus Tour tickets here.
How to book your York Ghost Bus Tour experience
You can book your York Ghost Bus Tour tickets here.
Our tour was gifted by Get Your Guide, which is my preferred experience booking platform.
I love how easy it is to find and book tours using Get Your Guide. The app contains all the information you need about your tour, including your tickets, important things to know before your tour, plus the option to navigate to your start point when you are ready to start the tour.
The app also uses push notifications to remind you when your tour is due to take place. Plus, it includes direct contact information with the tour provider should you encounter any last-minute problems.
As someone who typically relies on printed tickets and booking information, it was refreshing know that everything I needed was available and easy to find in one place.
York Ghost Bus Tour Review
Here is my detailed York Ghost Bus Tour review. It includes a thorough overview of the various elements of the tour and my thoughts on the experience.
First Impressions
Seeing the classic Routemaster bus roll up to the bus stop is an incredible sight! The suitably black-painted bus has an air of intrigue and mystery to it, which certainly set the tone for our trip!
Once on board, the decor continues the eerie atmosphere. Black leather seats and red velvet curtains adorn the inside of the bus. Vintage lamps are positioned on small red ledges throughout, which creates a ‘haunted house’ aesthetic. It does a fantastic job of setting the scene!
The care and attention that has gone in to choosing appropriate decor for the bus, both inside and out is clear. Plus, it really emphasises the eerie feel that sets the tone for the experience.
The Sights
One of the main benefits of a ghost bus tour over a regular ghost walk is that you can visit more haunted sights. Plus, you can visit sights that are not located directly in York’s city centre.
As you kick back and relax, you’ll hear ghost stories of famous sights such as The Shambles and York Minster. However, the bus also takes you to sights slightly further away such as Dick Turpin’s grave and Knavesmire.
It was great to discover some new haunted sights on the tour, rather than just visiting the regular haunts that most ghost tours visit.
However, the only slights downside I noticed to the bus tour was that many of the stories about each site had to be told quickly as you were driving past, so you didn’t get a lot of time to admire each spot. However, this did enable us to see a lot of sights on the tour, so it was a reasonable trade off!
At one point you also hop off the bus briefly to explore The Shambles. Given this is a pedestrian street, I like the fact they have still found a way to include it in the tour. Plus, it is a wonderful way to stretch your legs part way through the ride.
The Tour Guide
I would be remiss to not call out the tour guide on the York Ghost Bus Tour. Your conductor acts as your guide to ghostly York, and what a fantastic job he did!
The guide was not only knowledgeable about the sights and their hauntings but was an integral part of the overall experience.
Your guide is key in setting the tone throughout the journey and does so with their theatrical act. On the extremely warm night when we visited, he was running up and down stairs, screaming hysterically, cracking jokes, and telling the haunting tales with sufficient melodrama to have us crying with laughter.
With so much of the experience riding on the tour guide, it was fantastic to see that York Ghost Bus Tours has such a fun and enthusiastic one who went beyond to deliver a memorable tour.
The Comedy
The comedy of the ghost bus tour really surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to laugh so much!
Many of the ghost walks I have experienced in the past use comedy as they deliver the tragic tales to make the experience more family friendly. I knew that York Ghost Bus Tour advertises itself as a ‘comedy-horror tour’, but I wasn’t expecting to laugh as much as I did!
Much of the humour on the tour is designed for a family audience and is designed to make the show less frightening. However, there was a healthy dose of adult humour thrown in too, which had us laughing so much we were crying!
The comedy is inserted so well, it doesn’t take away from the horror of the stories. Instead, it provides some light relief and is a great transition from one location to the next.
The Horror
Despite the comedic delivery of the script, there are some truly horrifying moments on the bus too!
Each of the ghost stories told touches on some element of horror, from execution to suicide and murder. Even though the stories are told with an air of comedy, they do touch on some dark topics.
In addition to the ghost stories, there is an underlying backstory about the bus itself which unfolds throughout the journey. This is delivered through the screens on the bus.
The backstory is a terrific way to tie the overall journey together, plus, it makes the tour much more interactive. Parts of the narrative are likely to make you jump and could be quite frightening for young children.
However, the horror is quickly followed by further comedy elements to keep you on your toes and to help you instantly recover from those frightening moments!
I was relieved to find that the York Ghost Bus Tour does not use live actors throughout the tour. You are simply guided by your conductor and your driver. The use of live actors always terrifies me, so I was pleased to discover that no one unexpectedly jumps out of nowhere!
If you are like me and don’t like experiences that include live actors, you will enjoy York Ghost Bus Tour as you have nothing to fear! Don’t let the thought of it put you off as you will miss out!
Final Thoughts
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed York Ghost Bus Tour! This surprising experience was equally scary and hilarious and had me laughing much more than I expected!
The idea of a Ghost Bus tour is a novel and unique way to discover hidden parts of York and the horrific tales that go with them.
I was a little hesitant going into the experience, as I was concerned the tour might be too scary. I’m a fan of ghost stories and their history but not so much a fan of horror and frightening experiences! However, the ghost bus tour really struck the perfect balance between creepy and comedy.
If you’re looking for unique things to do in York on your next visit. the York Ghost Bus Tour is the perfect evening activity. Especially since it gives you the opportunity to rest your feet, plus, you can enjoy the tour no matter the weather!
York Ghost Bus Tour FAQ
Before you book your York Ghost Bus Tour experience, here is some handy information you need to know.
Where is York Ghost Bus Tour?
The bus stop for the York Ghost Bus Tour is directly outside York Station. It is located on the south side of The Principal York. You’re looking for bus stop RE.
Our York Ghost Bus Tour experience was booked through Get Your Guide. Within the Get Your Guide app we could navigate directly to the start point at the click of a button. This was helpful and made it easy to find exactly which bus stop we needed.
What time is York Ghost Bus Tour?
The bus departs at 7.30pm every evening between March – December. However, the timetable excludes Mondays and major holidays such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
During school holidays additional services also run. These are usually at 6pm and 9pm but you can check available tours at your time of booking.
Is York Ghost Bus Tour suitable for children?
York Ghost Bus Tour advise that the content of the tour is not suitable for children under the ages of five. However, children of this age group can board the bus at the parents’ own discretion.
Please bear in mind there is no storage space for prams or pushchairs on the bus.
Based on my experience of the tour, I would advise parents with children under the age of ten book with caution. Some of the content may be frightening for children so keep this in mind when booking.
Is York Ghost Bus Tour accessible?
The York Ghost Bus Tour is a great alternative to a walking tour for those with mobility issues.
However, due to the design of the classic Routemaster bus, unfortunately it isn’t possible to access the bus on a wheelchair. There is also no storage space on the bus for wheelchairs, even when folded.
Other things to do when visiting York
If you’re looking for more things to do in York, here’s some ideas of other attractions to visit on your trip:
- If you love the York Ghost Bus Tour, be sure to visit York Dungeon. This thrilling experience introduces you to some of the darkest characters in York’s history using live actors and detailed sets.
- Discover even more of York’s dark history on a Witches and History Old Town Walking Tour.
- Grab a York City Pass to see 20 of the top attractions in York for one bargain price.
- See the best of all the Yok sights with a hop on, hop off bus sightseeing tour.
- Track down the 22 cats on York cat trail.
- Discover the most romantic things to do in York for couples for the ultimate date night.
Before you go
So, here is your guide to the York Ghost Bus Tour. Would you dare to hop on board? If you’re feeling brave, get your tickets here and let me know about your experience in the comments below!
And if you want more York inspiration ahead of your visit, download your free York Quick Start Planning Guide for a list of the top 10 attractions in York, plus a guide to where to stay, when to visit and more!
Plus, you’ll get four bonus travel planning printables you can use when it comes to planning and packing for any trip!
Until our next adventure,
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Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.
How wonderful! Gosh, this is right up my (back) alley!
York Ghost Bus tour is such a fantastic experience, I hope you get an opportunity to try it out!
I have never done a bus tour like this, although have some a number of ghost walks including in York. But I do like that you are able to go a little further than you can on foot. Sounds like a great tour and a fun experience, perfect for this time of year
I agree! I love a ghost walk and have done several before, including a handful in York, but the bus tour was such a different experience! I got to visit many new spots since we’re able to cover a longer distance. It was a fantastic evening!
Gosh, this sounds like something I’d love! I know you mentioned they don’t recommend for young children, but what do you think about taking a young 7 year old? Is it violent? Or just spooky?
York Ghost Bus tour is so much fun! Personally, I think it depends on the child. There are a few bits shown on the TV screens that are quite creepy and relate to possession, but they are quickly followed up by some comedy from the conductor. Some of the stories are also a bit gruesome but they are delivered in a ‘horrible histories’ style way so some kids might be ok with it. I’m not sure me and my brother would have enjoyed the experience when we were as young as seven, but to be honest I expected to find it frightening as an adult before I went so I’m a bit of a wimp by comparison! Most seven-year-olds are probably braver than I am!
Great tips. I must admit I’m not much for the scary side of things, but your description of the comedy portion might convince me to change my mind for this one.
York Ghost Bus tour is very very funny! It’s a great, family-friendly tour with a touch of spooky but lots of comedy and entertainment! I was expecting it to be too scary for me but I had a fantastic time and laughed so much!
This sounds like so much fun. I am definitely adding this to my itinerary for my trip to York.
It is a brilliant tour – I didn’t expect to laugh so much! I hope you have an opportunity to visit soon!
This looks like SUCH a fun activity! I love learning about a destination’s darker side and this bus tour seems like the perfect way to do it by mixing the horror with comedy. Thanks for sharing your experience!
We had such a fantastic time on the York Ghost Bus tour! It was so much fun and provided a great insight into the darker side of York! Thanks for reading!
This ghost bus tour looks like SO much fun!!! I really loved the decor on the inside of the bus. I wish I was visiting York soon so I could do this with my teenage son.
The bus is fantastic, isn’t it? It really sets the mood as soon as you step on board! I hope you and your son have an opportunity to visit York and try it out soon!
This sounds amazing! I visit England often so this is a great thing to know!
We had so much fun on York Ghost Bus tour! I hope you get the opportunity to visit when you’re next in the UK!
Loved reading this! I was debating going on this tour the next time I’m in York, so it’s good to know that it isn’t too scary.
The balance between spooky and funny is really well done! I was worried it was going to be super scary but I laughed so much! It’s a fabulous tour, I hope you have a opportunity to visit York and try it out soon!
I’ve never been on a ghost bus tour before, but it sounds like such a fun experience! Good thing that they don’t use live actors along the tour, it’s always weird interacting with one!
Haha I agree! I visited a scary attraction with live actors before and it was terrifying! I’m so glad York Ghost Bus tour doesn’t incorporate any! It is a brilliant tour, we had so much fun!
This sounds really fun! I’ve never done anything like this before.
The York Ghost Bus tour was such a unique experience, I’d love to do it again – we had so much fun!
This looks like it would be so much fun to do.
I really enjoyed York Ghost Bus tour – it was so fun and such a unique way to see York!
This is definitely a unique way to see the city! Not only do you learn about some of the spookier parts of York, but it’s also a fun way to explore.
It was so much fun! The spooky ghost stories were so interesting and the Routemaster was such a fun way to travel! Everyone’s heads were turning as we drove past!
This sounds like a great tour! I love that there is a mix of funny and scary stuff!
I was really surprised by how funny the tour way! The got the balance between spooky and entertaining just right!
oh how fun – though I’m glad there’s some humour to even out the scares!! I like ghost stories but wouldn’t want to be TOO scared so this sounds like a great mix!
I agree! I love a ghost story, but I don’t love frightening experiences. It was definitely entertaining and very funny though – I’d definitely recommend it!
I’m always drawn to ghostly, crime content, so this tour sounds super interesting! I’ll save this for when I visit York. Thanks for this review!
Ah me too! You’ll absolutely love this tour! I hope you get an opportunity to try it out soon – thanks for reading!