York Dungeon Entry Ticket York
- Duration75 minutes
- Open onCheck availability for your date; entry times from 10:00 depending on the day
- Meeting pointThe York Dungeon entrance in the historic centre of York (details in your booking confirmation)
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
The York Dungeon is an indoor attraction in the city centre where actors bring York's darker history to life over about 75 minutes. Your ticket gives entry to ten live shows set in immersive 360-degree rooms with special effects, from the Viking invasion and the Gunpowder Plot to the highwayman Dick Turpin. It is an entry ticket only, with no hotel pickup, and the shows are in English. It suits teenagers, adults and groups of friends who enjoy theatre, humour and a good scare.
Highlights
- Entry to the York Dungeon with ten live shows performed by actors
- Immersive 360-degree sets with lighting, sound and special effects
- Stories from 2,000 years of York's history, from the Vikings onward
- Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and the highwayman Dick Turpin
- About 75 minutes of theatre, humour and gentle horror
- Central location, close to York Minster and the old streets
- Choose your date and entry time in the booking panel
Full Description
The York Dungeon in the heart of the city
The York Dungeon is a themed indoor attraction in the old centre of York, a short walk from the Minster and the medieval lanes. It is not a museum with display cases: you move through a series of specially built rooms, one after another, while costumed actors perform short live shows that tell true stories from the city's past. If you are comparing York Dungeon tickets with other things to do, the key point is that the visit is a performance as much as a tour.
The experience takes about 75 minutes with live actors leading the groups, and the atmosphere is dark, funny and loud rather than historically heavy. Entry times run through the day and are listed in the booking panel for your chosen date.
Vikings, Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
York began as a Roman fortress, but it was the Viking invasion that turned it into a trading city, and the Dungeon starts its story there. The Vikings arrive, fight and settle, and the show uses sound, smoke and surprise to make you feel the fear of the people who lived through it.
Later chapters turn to Guy Fawkes, who was born in York and became one of the figures behind the Gunpowder Plot against Parliament. The show explains what was planned, why it failed and what happened to the plotters afterwards. Visitors often ask whether the York Dungeon is worth it for history lovers, and these two chapters show why: the stories are real, only the delivery is theatrical.
Dick Turpin and the Knavesmire
Dick Turpin is the most famous outlaw connected with York. He was arrested, tried in the city and hanged in 1739 at the Knavesmire, the open ground on the edge of town that is still the site of the racecourse. In the Dungeon you step into a carriage-style set and meet the highwayman in a show that mixes his legend with the grim facts of justice in the eighteenth century.
This chapter is a favourite with teenagers because it is fast and funny, and it connects well with a walk to the Knavesmire or a visit to the city's castle museum afterwards. As with every show, the actors react to the group, so no two visits are exactly alike.
Planning your visit and the streets around the Dungeon
Plan about an hour and a quarter inside, plus a few minutes to arrive and collect your group. The York Dungeon is not recommended for children under 8 and does not admit children under 5, and children aged 5 to 15 must be with an adult at all times. Opening times and entry slots change by date, so choose yours in the booking panel and arrive a little early.
The Dungeon is easy to combine with other sights. York Minster, the narrow Shambles street, the city walls and the River Ouse are all within a short walk, so many visitors pair the shows with a morning of sightseeing, then find lunch nearby. If you ask how to get to the York Dungeon, it is a short walk from the railway station and close to the main shopping streets.
Itinerary
- Arrive at the entranceArrive a few minutes before your entry time, show your booking confirmation and join your group.
- The opening showA guide-actor welcomes the group and leads you into the first of the immersive 360-degree rooms.
- Vikings and the history of YorkLive scenes cover the Viking invasion and the early centuries of the city, with sound and special effects.
- Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder PlotLearn what really happened in the plot, who was behind it and how it ended.
- Dick Turpin and the KnavesmireMeet the famous highwayman in a carriage-style set and hear how justice was served in the eighteenth century.
- Exit through the final showThe visit ends after about 75 minutes and you leave in the city centre, close to the Minster and the Shambles.
What's included
- Entry to The York Dungeon
- 10 live shows with actors
- Immersive 360-degree sets and special effects
- Storytelling covering 2,000 years of York's history
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 3–15
- A short visit — about 1.5 hours
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Not suitable for
- Children under 5 years, who are not admitted
- Children under 8 years, as the visit is not recommended for them by the attraction
- People who dislike loud noises, darkness, sudden effects and horror themes
- Unaccompanied minors; children aged 5 to 15 must be with an adult aged 18 or over
- Guests who need full accessibility details; please check the attraction's information before booking
Meeting point
The visit starts at the York Dungeon entrance in the city centre, as shown in your booking confirmation. Hotel pickup is not included, so please make your own way and arrive a few minutes before the entry time you selected. Entry times for each date appear in the booking panel on this page.
Important information
- Arrive a few minutes before your entry time with your booking confirmation on your phone
- Children under 5 are not admitted and the visit is not recommended for children under 8
- Children aged 5 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over at all times
- Unaccompanied minors are not allowed
- The shows are in English and include horror themes, darkness and sudden effects
- The visit lasts about 75 minutes, so allow a little extra time on arrival
- Entry times change by date and season; check the booking panel
- Ask the attraction for accessibility information if you have mobility needs
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the York Dungeon ticket cost?
The price depends on the passenger type and the date and time you choose. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for adults and children, so you see the exact total before you book.
How long does the York Dungeon visit take?
The visit takes about 75 minutes, made up of ten live shows in a series of themed rooms. Arrive a few minutes before your entry time.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. This is an entry ticket for the attraction only. You make your own way to the York Dungeon entrance, which is in the city centre and easy to reach on foot from most central hotels and from the station.
Is the York Dungeon suitable for children?
The attraction does not admit children under 5 and does not recommend the visit for children under 8. Children aged 5 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The shows are scary and loud, so parents should decide whether their child is comfortable with horror themes.
Is the York Dungeon worth visiting?
If you enjoy theatre, humour and history told in a lively way, yes. It is entertaining, easy to fit into a day in York and based on real events. If you dislike scares or dark settings, a quieter attraction may suit you better.
Can I book the York Dungeon for today or tomorrow?
Often yes. Choose your date in the booking panel and it shows the entry times that are still available. Popular times in holidays and weekends can sell out, so booking ahead is wise.
What is the York Dungeon about?
It tells 2,000 years of York's dark history through ten live shows, covering subjects such as the Viking invasion, the Gunpowder Plot and the highwayman Dick Turpin, using actors, immersive sets and special effects.
Is the show in English only?
Yes, the live shows are performed in English. Visitors who speak other languages enjoy the atmosphere and effects, but a good level of English helps with the humour and the stories.
What is the difference between the options?
This page lists one option, the York Dungeon peak entry ticket, with the entry shows included. Choose your date and entry time in the booking panel.
What else is near the York Dungeon?
York Minster, the Shambles, the city walls, Clifford's Tower and the River Ouse are all within a short walk, so you can combine the Dungeon with a day of sightseeing.
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