The York Ghost Bus Review – We recently took the kids on the York Ghost Bus. I’ve been meaning to do it for ages, so was really pleased we managed it! There are two services a day (at the moment anyway, there might be more at different times of the year).
If you haven’t heard of the Ghost Bus, it’s a bit of a cross between a Ghost Walk and a Sightseeing bus, with a bit of comedy panto thrown in! You have a tour guide who is with you for the whole tour, telling stories about each place you pass on the tour. He was very funny, and had jokes aimed for the kids as well as a few adult jokes that will go over younger ones’ heads.
The Ghost Bus tour started (and ended) outside the Principal Hotel, just near the York Station. (Incidentally we parked in the Station long stay car park which cost us £6 as it was a Saturday. I have a post all about Parking in York if you are looking to park elsewhere.)
You are advised to get to the bus stop 15 minutes before to get the best seats. We managed to bag the front of the top deck which gave us a great view. As you can see it’s a vintage bus which really adds to the spooky feel.
There are also four sets of seats with little lamps, which looked very cosy (not sure if they might stop you seeing out though!)
The tour took us over Lendal Bridge and around by the Theatre Royal and Bootham Bar, telling spooky stories about York’s haunted past as we went.
From there we drove down Bootham to Lord Mayor’s Walk. I was quite pleased with this photo of Monk Bar, still adorned with it’s winter lights.
We circled around the city and came back in at Peasholme Green before ‘breaking down’ on the Stonebow.
We were then invited on an (optional) mini-walking tour across to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate before going through a snicket (not ‘snickleway’ pfft) and into the Shambles.
We then re-boarded the bus and were off again. In total the tour lasted around an hour and a quarter. It’s a great alternative (or addition) to a hop on hop off bus tour or ghost walk.
You can book the Ghost Bus here.
If you are interested in this, you might also be interested in our posts on the most haunted pubs in York (two of which you will see on this tour – The Black Swan and The Golden Fleece). We also have a post on popular ghost walks in York. Also check out our huge post on the Best Things to do in York.
