Water activity

York: River Ouse City Cruise

Activity provider: City Cruises York
Water activity

York: River Ouse City Cruise

Activity provider: City Cruises York

From US$ 17.09 per person

Spend a relaxing hour on the River Ouse and see the sights of York from a different perspective. With the flexibility of an anytime ticket, you'll enjoy the entertaining and informative commentary of a live guide at the time of day of your choice.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 45 minutes
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Admire York’s historic sites from a different perspective with an anytime ticket
  • Enjoy the informative and entertaining live commentary
  • Sip your favorite drink, available at the fully stocked bar on board
Full description
The York City Cruise provides an entertaining and informative tour of the historic city as seen from the River Ouse. Enjoy the sights from a different perspective as a friendly and knowledgeable team guides you leisurely up and downstream. Your cruise departs from the King's Staith landing. Admire the scenery from the comfort of the enclosed saloon or the upper deck and treat yourself to a refreshing drink from the bar. The duration of the cruise is either 45 minutes or 1 hour and is determined by the weather on the day and by demand. Your ticket will be valid for whatever duration is offered on the day of your visit. Typically the 1-hour cruise follows a route that heads upstream to Clifton Bridge on the northern outskirts of York city and then downstream as far as the Millennium Bridge on the city’s southern outskirts, before returning back upstream to the original landing stage. The 45-minute cruise operates in the same area without going quite as far in either direction, passing through the center of the walled city. During the cruise, the captain will keep you entertained with live commentary about the sites you pass. Learn about York’s history of flooding and its prosperity as an inland port, as you sail along the river that brought the Romans and the Vikings to this site. You’ll sail on a vessel that features an enclosed and heated saloon, restrooms, and a fully stocked bar serving beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks, hot drinks, and snacks.
Includes
  • River cruise
  • Live commentary
  • Access to on-board facilities (bar, restroom)
  • Food and drinks

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Join the boarding queue and present your ticket at City Cruises York King's Staith Landing (across from the Queen's Hotel and outside the King's Arms and Lowther public houses). Nearest car parks: • St. George's Field car park (YO10 4AB) • Castle car park (YO1 9SR) From the train station: Turn left out of the station and follow the road under the city walls. Walk straight ahead onto Rougier Street, and turn left at the T-junction onto Bridge Street. Walk across the Ouse Bridge. The landing is down the steps on the right-hand side of the bridge, near the King's Arms pub.

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Important information

Know before you go

  • Please note that the River Ouse in York can occasionally rise to levels that can have an impact on this cruise's daily operations after periods of heavy rainfall in the catchment area upstream
  • The local operators will always attempt to sail, so long as it is safe to do so. There can come a point where the smallest boat can no longer fit underneath the bridges
  • Depending on the height of the waters, they may not be able to sail at all. In this instance, you will either be eligible for a full refund or your ticket(s) will happily be accepted on another date during your stay if sailing is possible
  •  Otherwise, your ticket is valid on one York Sightseeing Cruise departing on the named date sailing between 10:30 AM and 3:00 PM
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 1119 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.6/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Value for money
    4.4/5
  • Safety
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

The boat tour was amazing. It was not too long and not too short, just the ideal amount of time. The boat driver/guide shared a lot of information about the various spots that we saw from the boat, and it was interesting to know about the history of York, as well as the present. Would truly recommend this to anyone who has an hour to spare in York.

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March 8, 2023

What a fabulous tour! We loved Andy our tour guide. He was hilarious, and also very kind to wish our friend a happy 60th birthday. Introducing her as a Queenager!!! The tour was very informative and we were made to feel very comfortable on board. Andy’s team were also friendly and accommodating. A thoroughly enjoyable tour, which we would all highly recommend.

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October 29, 2022

Very easy to find with the guide map, all the staff from first greet are very polite and helpful, best to pre book but you can pay as you turn up, very good cruise with commentary all the way through, we enjoyed it, and would highly recommend to anyone as you see york in a different way, there are drinks and toilets on the boat.

September 11, 2022

Product ID: 103859