york city walls crawl
aim
Complete a lap of the City Walls, visiting a pub for a drink at (almost) every getting off point. Depending on the day and time of year some pubs may not always be open, but usually there will be a number of options.
Choose which one you want to go to, or allocate the pubs numbers and roll a dice to determine which one to visit. Walking the walls on their own takes a couple
of hours, and the walls are only open when it's light, so time is of the essence. Completing a full lap in winter having a pint in every pub will be almost impossible.
Drinking halves in every pub on a long summer's day should make it easy at a nice leisurely pace, but do factor in that you might want to stop for food along the way which will also add to the time.
We did this once, on August Bank Holiday 2012, but rain and Bank Holiday opening hours scuppered our chances at a full loop. Starting at Maltings, we did Brigantes next, failed to find an open pub at Victoria Bar, did both Slip Inn and Swan, had lunch in Posterngate (along with some quality drawing). Phoenix was shut so we missed out Fishergate Bar and carried on to Walmgate Bar and the Rook and Gaskill, before meeting a black cat in Black Swan and giving up around three quearters of the way around the walls.
aim
Complete a lap of the City Walls, visiting a pub for a drink at (almost) every getting off point. Depending on the day and time of year some pubs may not always be open, but usually there will be a number of options.
Choose which one you want to go to, or allocate the pubs numbers and roll a dice to determine which one to visit. Walking the walls on their own takes a couple
of hours, and the walls are only open when it's light, so time is of the essence. Completing a full lap in winter having a pint in every pub will be almost impossible.
Drinking halves in every pub on a long summer's day should make it easy at a nice leisurely pace, but do factor in that you might want to stop for food along the way which will also add to the time.
We did this once, on August Bank Holiday 2012, but rain and Bank Holiday opening hours scuppered our chances at a full loop. Starting at Maltings, we did Brigantes next, failed to find an open pub at Victoria Bar, did both Slip Inn and Swan, had lunch in Posterngate (along with some quality drawing). Phoenix was shut so we missed out Fishergate Bar and carried on to Walmgate Bar and the Rook and Gaskill, before meeting a black cat in Black Swan and giving up around three quearters of the way around the walls.
starting point/direction
Where to start and which direction to go in is entirely optional, but you may as well meet up in a pub to begin with before getting onto the walls. Due to the large gaps in the walls caused by the river, starting at Lendal Bridge, Skeldergate Bridge, Postern Gate, or Bootham Bar makes most sense, depending on where you're meeting up and which way around you are going. The example below starts at Lendal Bridge and goes in an anti-clockwise direction, but you can join at any point or do it the other way around.
example starting at lendal bridge
If you're going on a pub crawl, it's only right to start in a pub to get the ball (and dice) rolling. Lendal Bridge was built in 1863 to replace an old ferry service that used to carry people across the Ouse to the station. Thomas Page designed both this and Skeldergate Bridge and despite both being Gothic-style iron bridge, Lendal Bridge is the one that gets on all the postcards.
lendal bridge pub options: Maltings and Corner Pin are the most obvious, things like Judges (and most city centre pubs) are options over the other side of the bridge.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Corner Pin - 3 or 4: Judges Lodgings - 5 or 6: Maltings
barker tower to micklegate bar
Follow the path from the end of Lendal Bridge around the corner and onto the walls, it's the only way on that doesn't involve any steps (unless you're at river level, in which case you need to climb the steps beside Barker Tower). This bit of the walls wouldn't really prevent an invasion as there are so many arches added becase of transport needs. Just before the second road arch is a set of steps down and off the walls, there isn't much point in leaving the walls here, but if you really must, it's the only realistic place to get off to go to the York Tap at the station. As you continue over the second arch the Royal York Hotel is outside of the walls with
the big wheel in the grounds and the National Railway Museum is around the back. There isn't really time to take in all the tourist sights along with the crawl, but if you turn around at the viewpoint, you get a classic York view looking towards the Minster over Lendal Bridge. Inside the walls at this point is the council offices which was once where the old railway station was, which is the reason for the next set of arches you cross. As you carry on along the walls, the current station is just outside the walls. Around the corner you're now heading towards Micklegate Bar, the Micklegate Bar Museum is above the arch here, while either side of it are steps down to the street and the next pub.
micklegate bar pub options: Gibson's is right beside the walls on the inside, while the Punch Bowl Wetherspoons is just outside the walls and is a food option. The Windmill is also just outside the walls, while if you head in a little down Micklegate itself you quickly come to Brigantes and The Priory, with more options soon after if you want to.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Brigantes - 2: Gibson's - 3: Priory - 4: Punch Bowl - 5: Windmill - 6: Roll Again
micklegate bar to victoria bar
Re-mount the walls and walk on. There's not much to see along this section, but watch where you're going as the walls do get narrower, can be slippy and there's quite a big drop. To the outside of the walls is Nunnery Lane Car Park, apparently a dogging hotspot, but not likely to be at the time of day you'll be doing this. Across the car park you should be able to see the Trafalgar Bay, which is one of the next pub options. The Moat Hotel is just befoe you reach Victoria Bar, and is one of the clearest places to see an actual moat around the walls. Victoria Bar itself is nothing special, it was added in the 19th century to provide a gate for that part of the city. It does add a stopping of place for the next drink.
victoria bar pub options: Victoria Vaults is just outside the bar, or you can go back up Nunnery Lane a little to Trafalgar Bay. Inside the walls the Golden Ball is just a short walk away.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Golden Ball - 3 or 4: Trafalgar Bay - 5 or 6: Victoria Vaults
victoria bar to baile hill
Rejoin the walls and continue along Nunnery Lane, the next sharp turn is at Bitchdaugter Tower, from here you can see The Swan pub across the road, there's no way down here, but follow the walls around, descend the steps beside Baile Hill and it's soon time for the next pub.
baile hill pub options: Golden Ball could be an option here too. Cock and Bottle is just a short way inside the walls. The Swan and Slip in provide good alternatives outside.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Cock and Bottle - 3 or 4: Slip Inn - 5 or 6: The Swan
baile hill to piccadilly
The two rivers and former marshland in this area mean that there was never a lot of wall, there's a little tower and small bit of wall just beyond Skeldergate Bridge, and Clifford's Tower and the rest of the York Castle site once had many walls surrounding them, now there's not a lot to see, so cross the Foss and before rejoining the walls at the end of Piccadilly, you may as well enjoy another drink.
piccadilly pub options: The Postern Gate pub is a Wetherspoons so a food option, as is the Mason's Arms across the road if you fancy some rabbit pie.
dice rolling numbers: 1, 2 or 3: Mason's Arms - 4, 5 or 6: The Postern Gate
piccadilly to fishergate bar
This is a very short section of wall with not a lot to see apart from the Fishergate Postern Tower at the start, climb the steps, walk around the corner, and you're already almost to Fishergate Bar. This was blocked up in the 15th century and reopened in the 19th century, but lacks the fancy features of the others. Just outside the walls is the Barbican Centre, while the steps down to the street provide swift access to another pub.
fishergate bar pub options: If it's open, The Phoenix is an easy choice as it's right beside you. Outside of the walls, the Seahorse Hotel, Woolpack and Edinburgh Arms are almost beside one another.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Edinburgh Arms - 2: The Phoenix - 3: Seahorse Hotel - 4: The Woolpack - 5 or 6: Roll Again
fishergate bar to walmgate bar
There's not much to see on this section as you're about as far out of the city as the walls go, this is one of the better sections to walk though as it's a little wider and lower. The walls bend around a corner and take you to Walmgate Bar, which is the only one that still has its barbican intact. There's also a tearoom in it, although if you'd rather have a beer, head down the steps and it's time for another.
walmgate bar pub options: Inside the walls is the Spread Eagle, which is visible from the Bar, Brown Cow is just around the corner too. Outside the walls, Lawrence Street gives the options of the Rose and Crown, Waggon and Horses, Rook and Gaskill and Tam O'Shanter. If you want some food, there's Jenny's fish and chips and a pizza shop on the corner too.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Brown Cow - 2: Rook and Gaskill - 3: Rose and Crown - 4: Spread Eagle - 5: Tam O'Shanter - 6: Waggon and Horses
walmgate bar to layerthorpe
Ascend the steps for a short segment of wall, it gets lower and lower as you head along Foss Islands Road towards the Red Tower. No pubs at this stop off place, Waitrose and Morrisons provide the only food and drink options here. Continue along the side of the Foss past the section known as King's Fishpool where there was never any need for a wall. The bridge halfway along this stretch of river is for cables, not people, so you need to carry on to the junction at the end of the street.
layerthorpe pub options: The next section of wall starts just across the road, but after completing the longest walk without a break, you may as well take a very short walk towards town to enjoy a well-earned drink in the Black Swan.
dice rolling numbers: no need to roll, Black Swan is the only option here
layerthorpe to monk bar
Another short segment of wall that joins up with where the old Roman wall ran, it starts to get higher again from here, so watch out for steps. There's a good view of the Mister from Harlot Hill. Monk Bar is home to the Richard III museum and still has a working portcullis.
monk bar pub options: Keystones is just outside the walls, Tap and Spile is just a little further down Monkgate. Heading into town, Royal Oak and Golden Slipper are less than a minute away.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Cross Keys - 2: Golden Slipper - 3: Keystones - 4: Royal Oak - 5: Snickleway - 6: Tap and Spile
monk bar to bootham bar
The section of walls closest to the Minster, there's a good view across the Minster Gardens to the inside of the walls along this leg, on the outside St John's College is across the street on Lord Mayor's walk. After turning the corner at Robin Hood tower, the walls run parallel to Gillygate as you head towards Bootham Bar, just before you reach the end there's the beer garden of the Lamb and Lion beside you, while after leaving the walls, the Art Gallery is across the street, the Theatre Royal is just around the corner ahead of you and York Minster is down the street to the left.
bootham bar pub options: Lamb and Lion is right beside the Bar, Hole in the Wall, Three Legged Mare and Guy Fawkes are on High Petergate as you head in towards the Minster, while White Horse, Exhibition and the Bootham Tavern are outside the walls on Bootham.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Exhibition - 2: Guy Fawkes - 3: Lamb and Lion - 4: Hole in the Wall - 5: Three Legged Mare - 6: White Horse
bootham bar to marygate
There is no more wall to walk on, but there are more wall segments in and around the Museum Gardens. You can either follow the path of the old Roman wall past the theatre and into the gardens themselves, or down Bootham beside walls of St Mary's Abbey then left down Marygate. That wall carries on down here all the way down to the river, although there's also a back way in (or out) of the gardens. In the gardens themselves are the remains of the old Roman wall and Multangular Tower, as well as the Yorkshire Museum or the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, that's a lot of history to take in though, so while you are on Marygate, you may as well have another drink.
marygate pub options: Coach House Hotel and the Minster Inn near the back entrance to the Museum Gardens, or the Bay Horse down by the river.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Bay Horse - 3 or 4: Coach House Hotel - 5 or 6: Minster Inn
marygate to lendal bridge
Head out of the bottom of Marygate and turn left onto the riverside path known as Dame Judi Dench Walk as you head towards Lendal Bridge (the railway bridge to Scarborough is in the other direction) once you get to Lendal Bridge, the slope will take you up to the entrance of the Museum Gardens, or there are some steep steps from the bottom of the hill beside Lendal Tower that take you up to the bridge (you can cut through the Museum Gardens if you want to avoid the climb). If this is the end of your lap, have one final drink to complete your loop.
the end
If you have a drink at the start, a drink at the end and one at each of the stop off points, you have 12 drinks in total. Size, alcoholic content and duration spent drinking them is up to you, but it's unlikely that you'll want to start on another lap of the walls once you're done.
Where to start and which direction to go in is entirely optional, but you may as well meet up in a pub to begin with before getting onto the walls. Due to the large gaps in the walls caused by the river, starting at Lendal Bridge, Skeldergate Bridge, Postern Gate, or Bootham Bar makes most sense, depending on where you're meeting up and which way around you are going. The example below starts at Lendal Bridge and goes in an anti-clockwise direction, but you can join at any point or do it the other way around.
example starting at lendal bridge
If you're going on a pub crawl, it's only right to start in a pub to get the ball (and dice) rolling. Lendal Bridge was built in 1863 to replace an old ferry service that used to carry people across the Ouse to the station. Thomas Page designed both this and Skeldergate Bridge and despite both being Gothic-style iron bridge, Lendal Bridge is the one that gets on all the postcards.
lendal bridge pub options: Maltings and Corner Pin are the most obvious, things like Judges (and most city centre pubs) are options over the other side of the bridge.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Corner Pin - 3 or 4: Judges Lodgings - 5 or 6: Maltings
barker tower to micklegate bar
Follow the path from the end of Lendal Bridge around the corner and onto the walls, it's the only way on that doesn't involve any steps (unless you're at river level, in which case you need to climb the steps beside Barker Tower). This bit of the walls wouldn't really prevent an invasion as there are so many arches added becase of transport needs. Just before the second road arch is a set of steps down and off the walls, there isn't much point in leaving the walls here, but if you really must, it's the only realistic place to get off to go to the York Tap at the station. As you continue over the second arch the Royal York Hotel is outside of the walls with
the big wheel in the grounds and the National Railway Museum is around the back. There isn't really time to take in all the tourist sights along with the crawl, but if you turn around at the viewpoint, you get a classic York view looking towards the Minster over Lendal Bridge. Inside the walls at this point is the council offices which was once where the old railway station was, which is the reason for the next set of arches you cross. As you carry on along the walls, the current station is just outside the walls. Around the corner you're now heading towards Micklegate Bar, the Micklegate Bar Museum is above the arch here, while either side of it are steps down to the street and the next pub.
micklegate bar pub options: Gibson's is right beside the walls on the inside, while the Punch Bowl Wetherspoons is just outside the walls and is a food option. The Windmill is also just outside the walls, while if you head in a little down Micklegate itself you quickly come to Brigantes and The Priory, with more options soon after if you want to.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Brigantes - 2: Gibson's - 3: Priory - 4: Punch Bowl - 5: Windmill - 6: Roll Again
micklegate bar to victoria bar
Re-mount the walls and walk on. There's not much to see along this section, but watch where you're going as the walls do get narrower, can be slippy and there's quite a big drop. To the outside of the walls is Nunnery Lane Car Park, apparently a dogging hotspot, but not likely to be at the time of day you'll be doing this. Across the car park you should be able to see the Trafalgar Bay, which is one of the next pub options. The Moat Hotel is just befoe you reach Victoria Bar, and is one of the clearest places to see an actual moat around the walls. Victoria Bar itself is nothing special, it was added in the 19th century to provide a gate for that part of the city. It does add a stopping of place for the next drink.
victoria bar pub options: Victoria Vaults is just outside the bar, or you can go back up Nunnery Lane a little to Trafalgar Bay. Inside the walls the Golden Ball is just a short walk away.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Golden Ball - 3 or 4: Trafalgar Bay - 5 or 6: Victoria Vaults
victoria bar to baile hill
Rejoin the walls and continue along Nunnery Lane, the next sharp turn is at Bitchdaugter Tower, from here you can see The Swan pub across the road, there's no way down here, but follow the walls around, descend the steps beside Baile Hill and it's soon time for the next pub.
baile hill pub options: Golden Ball could be an option here too. Cock and Bottle is just a short way inside the walls. The Swan and Slip in provide good alternatives outside.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Cock and Bottle - 3 or 4: Slip Inn - 5 or 6: The Swan
baile hill to piccadilly
The two rivers and former marshland in this area mean that there was never a lot of wall, there's a little tower and small bit of wall just beyond Skeldergate Bridge, and Clifford's Tower and the rest of the York Castle site once had many walls surrounding them, now there's not a lot to see, so cross the Foss and before rejoining the walls at the end of Piccadilly, you may as well enjoy another drink.
piccadilly pub options: The Postern Gate pub is a Wetherspoons so a food option, as is the Mason's Arms across the road if you fancy some rabbit pie.
dice rolling numbers: 1, 2 or 3: Mason's Arms - 4, 5 or 6: The Postern Gate
piccadilly to fishergate bar
This is a very short section of wall with not a lot to see apart from the Fishergate Postern Tower at the start, climb the steps, walk around the corner, and you're already almost to Fishergate Bar. This was blocked up in the 15th century and reopened in the 19th century, but lacks the fancy features of the others. Just outside the walls is the Barbican Centre, while the steps down to the street provide swift access to another pub.
fishergate bar pub options: If it's open, The Phoenix is an easy choice as it's right beside you. Outside of the walls, the Seahorse Hotel, Woolpack and Edinburgh Arms are almost beside one another.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Edinburgh Arms - 2: The Phoenix - 3: Seahorse Hotel - 4: The Woolpack - 5 or 6: Roll Again
fishergate bar to walmgate bar
There's not much to see on this section as you're about as far out of the city as the walls go, this is one of the better sections to walk though as it's a little wider and lower. The walls bend around a corner and take you to Walmgate Bar, which is the only one that still has its barbican intact. There's also a tearoom in it, although if you'd rather have a beer, head down the steps and it's time for another.
walmgate bar pub options: Inside the walls is the Spread Eagle, which is visible from the Bar, Brown Cow is just around the corner too. Outside the walls, Lawrence Street gives the options of the Rose and Crown, Waggon and Horses, Rook and Gaskill and Tam O'Shanter. If you want some food, there's Jenny's fish and chips and a pizza shop on the corner too.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Brown Cow - 2: Rook and Gaskill - 3: Rose and Crown - 4: Spread Eagle - 5: Tam O'Shanter - 6: Waggon and Horses
walmgate bar to layerthorpe
Ascend the steps for a short segment of wall, it gets lower and lower as you head along Foss Islands Road towards the Red Tower. No pubs at this stop off place, Waitrose and Morrisons provide the only food and drink options here. Continue along the side of the Foss past the section known as King's Fishpool where there was never any need for a wall. The bridge halfway along this stretch of river is for cables, not people, so you need to carry on to the junction at the end of the street.
layerthorpe pub options: The next section of wall starts just across the road, but after completing the longest walk without a break, you may as well take a very short walk towards town to enjoy a well-earned drink in the Black Swan.
dice rolling numbers: no need to roll, Black Swan is the only option here
layerthorpe to monk bar
Another short segment of wall that joins up with where the old Roman wall ran, it starts to get higher again from here, so watch out for steps. There's a good view of the Mister from Harlot Hill. Monk Bar is home to the Richard III museum and still has a working portcullis.
monk bar pub options: Keystones is just outside the walls, Tap and Spile is just a little further down Monkgate. Heading into town, Royal Oak and Golden Slipper are less than a minute away.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Cross Keys - 2: Golden Slipper - 3: Keystones - 4: Royal Oak - 5: Snickleway - 6: Tap and Spile
monk bar to bootham bar
The section of walls closest to the Minster, there's a good view across the Minster Gardens to the inside of the walls along this leg, on the outside St John's College is across the street on Lord Mayor's walk. After turning the corner at Robin Hood tower, the walls run parallel to Gillygate as you head towards Bootham Bar, just before you reach the end there's the beer garden of the Lamb and Lion beside you, while after leaving the walls, the Art Gallery is across the street, the Theatre Royal is just around the corner ahead of you and York Minster is down the street to the left.
bootham bar pub options: Lamb and Lion is right beside the Bar, Hole in the Wall, Three Legged Mare and Guy Fawkes are on High Petergate as you head in towards the Minster, while White Horse, Exhibition and the Bootham Tavern are outside the walls on Bootham.
dice rolling numbers: 1: Exhibition - 2: Guy Fawkes - 3: Lamb and Lion - 4: Hole in the Wall - 5: Three Legged Mare - 6: White Horse
bootham bar to marygate
There is no more wall to walk on, but there are more wall segments in and around the Museum Gardens. You can either follow the path of the old Roman wall past the theatre and into the gardens themselves, or down Bootham beside walls of St Mary's Abbey then left down Marygate. That wall carries on down here all the way down to the river, although there's also a back way in (or out) of the gardens. In the gardens themselves are the remains of the old Roman wall and Multangular Tower, as well as the Yorkshire Museum or the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, that's a lot of history to take in though, so while you are on Marygate, you may as well have another drink.
marygate pub options: Coach House Hotel and the Minster Inn near the back entrance to the Museum Gardens, or the Bay Horse down by the river.
dice rolling numbers: 1 or 2: Bay Horse - 3 or 4: Coach House Hotel - 5 or 6: Minster Inn
marygate to lendal bridge
Head out of the bottom of Marygate and turn left onto the riverside path known as Dame Judi Dench Walk as you head towards Lendal Bridge (the railway bridge to Scarborough is in the other direction) once you get to Lendal Bridge, the slope will take you up to the entrance of the Museum Gardens, or there are some steep steps from the bottom of the hill beside Lendal Tower that take you up to the bridge (you can cut through the Museum Gardens if you want to avoid the climb). If this is the end of your lap, have one final drink to complete your loop.
the end
If you have a drink at the start, a drink at the end and one at each of the stop off points, you have 12 drinks in total. Size, alcoholic content and duration spent drinking them is up to you, but it's unlikely that you'll want to start on another lap of the walls once you're done.