What better way to see York than to take a tour in an open top bus? We show you around the City, pointing out major tourist attractions, and our commentary gives you an introduction to the history of York. As an added bonus, your ticket is valid for 24 hours, so that you can use the tour buses to travel from one attraction to another, or back to your hotel, the Railway Station, or your coach or car park. Tour tickets are now also valid on Transdev York local buses in York.
ACCESSIBLE BUSES We now have three wheelchair accessible open top tour buses are now in service. Launched by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Janet Greenwood, on 16th May 2006, this is the first of three Dennis Trident buses used on the City Sightseeing route. There will now be a wheelchair accessible bus at least every 30 minutes on most days.
We now offer tours in other languages, as well as a Kids' Commentary (in English) , specially written (and recorded with some sound effects) for younger passengers. See "Which Tour" for details. Photo shows Sue Dew, one of the founders of York City Sightseeing, and her granddaughter Jamsine O'Donnell (who helped to give a young person's view on the commentary) with one of the multilingual buses.
Open top bus tours of York: enjoy a different view of the City!
There are two routes, both of which include the historic core and the City Walls. Most journeys are on Route A, which takes about 45-55 minutes. Some journeys at the start and end of the day use Route B, which also goes via the Racecourse and takes about one hour.
City Sightseeing tours run all year round (except December 24th-26th and January 1st), taking you around the historic City of York. We provide a full commentary, pointing out the City's various attractions and giving a thorough introduction to our historic City.
City Sightseeing tour bus leaving Clifford's Tower on a bright day in November 2005
Some tours (the Guide Friday York Tour) usually carry a live guide. These run between Easter and October. Please note that we are not using green buses this year - all buses are in the red City Sightseeing livery.
Some tours have commentary in 9 languages, plus a Kids' Commentary in English. MULTILINGUAL TOURS COMMENCED ON 26th APRIL 2008
Your ticket is valid for 24 hours from the time of purchase on ALL York City Sightseeing tour buses. This doesn't mean that tour buses run at night (last tours are at 1530 (3.30pm) in winter, 1700 (5.00pm) in summer), but that you can get a full day's use from your ticket and use it for part of the next day as well.
PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKET FROM YOUR TOUR BUS DRIVER
Adult £9.00
Child £4.00 (aged 5 to 15 inclusive)
SPECIAL FARE 1 Adult + 1 child £10.00
Senior (over 60) or Student £7.00
(Please note that Free Travel passes issued to Senior Citizens are only valid for local bus travel and are NOT valid for bus tours).
Family (2 Adults + 3 children aged 5-15) £20.00
Special rates for groups or for the hire of a bus: please ask for details.
We cannot accept credit or debit cards but we do take Euros. Rates are: Adult 14 euros; Family 30 euros; Senior or Student 10 euros; Adult + Child 15 euros, Child 6 euros.
Open top bus hire
Open top buses are available for hire within the York area. Prices vary according to season and time of day. Summer Saturdays are popular, so if you want to book an open top bus for your wedding, allow plenty of time!
Open Top bus no. 147 (complete with white ribbon) in front of York Minster, where it has just set down a party of wedding guests. Buses and coaches are not normally allowed into the City Centre, but special permission can be given in some circumstances, such as when conveying people with disabilities.
FOR FULL TIMETABLE INFORMATION, PLEASE PHONE 01904 65 55 85
The Yorkshire Wheel is situated at the National Railway Museum in Leeman Road. This is a view of York from one of the cabins. Our nearest bus stop is at the Memorial Gardens, in the centre of the picture.
ACCESSIBLE BUSES We now have three wheelchair accessible open top tour buses are now in service. Launched by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Janet Greenwood, on 16th May 2006, this is the first of three Dennis Trident buses used on the City Sightseeing route. There will now be a wheelchair accessible bus at least every 30 minutes on most days. 
We now offer tours in other languages, as well as a Kids' Commentary (in English) , specially written (and recorded with some sound effects) for younger passengers. See "Which Tour" for details. Photo shows Sue Dew, one of the founders of York City Sightseeing, and her granddaughter Jamsine O'Donnell (who helped to give a young person's view on the commentary) with one of the multilingual buses.
City Sightseeing tour bus leaving Clifford's Tower on a bright day in November 2005
Open Top bus no. 147 (complete with white ribbon) in front of York Minster, where it has just set down a party of wedding guests. Buses and coaches are not normally allowed into the City Centre, but special permission can be given in some circumstances, such as when conveying people with disabilities. 
The Yorkshire Wheel is situated at the National Railway Museum in Leeman Road. This is a view of York from one of the cabins. Our nearest bus stop is at the Memorial Gardens, in the centre of the picture.