York Unlocked 2026: The Uncomfortable York Tour

Join us on an insightful walking tour of York, highlighting untold histories and diverse narratives during York Unlocked 2026!

On this unique tour created by Uncomfortable York, you will go beyond the conventional stories of the city, hearing about the impact of women, people of colour, and LGBTQIA+ individuals from York's past. This tour invites attendees to see beyond the stone facades and uncover the lesser known narratives of York, while learning about the long history of the medieval city.

Walking through the beautiful city centre, you will discuss its early settlement, medieval expansion and deep industrial heritage. This tour was written and researched by academic historians from the University of Oxford and is delivered by trained researchers from the University of York. It asks questions that provoke new ways of seeing the city landscape and its history, encouraging attendees to see York as more than an charming English city, and instead as a vibrant international urban centre.

This tour is part of York Unlocked 2026, running on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October. Learn more: https://york-unlocked.org.uk 

Accessibility Information:

The tour features several stops around the centre of York over the course of 1.5 hours. The tour contains no stairs or curbs, but please note sometimes uneven pavement in the city centre and crowding on busy days.

About Uncomfortable York:  

Uncomfortable York is a non-profit organisation dedicated to exploring diverse histories in the city. Led by university students and scholars, our tours offer expert, research-driven insights and enjoyable story-telling. Launched in May 2023 with support from the University of York’s Institute for Public Understanding of the Past, we are the latest extension of Uncomfortable Tours, a social enterprise also active in Oxford and Cambridge. Our tours challenge perspectives on how history is presented, fostering open and engaged learning.