The Original Viking Walk: Private Guided Tour Of York

Superbly detailed and deeply passionate walking commentary/lecture; surreal to listen and chat about the various adventures and deeds of the famed individuals of the tumultuous, fascinating and violent Anglo-Scandinavian era England at the exact locations where it happened. Highly recommended for Anglo-Scandinavian history nerds and fans of the TV show - Vikings! Skald, Neil!

Our guide, Neil, was incredible. First, he was very easy to find, due to his manner of dress. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about all things Vikings in Jorvik (and history in general). His storytelling is impeccable. Anyone with any interest in Viking history should absolutely book this tour.

Very knowledgeable and personable, highly recommend whether you know a little of the history or a lot of it.

Neil is hands down the best tour guide you could ever dream of. He is incredibly knowledgeable on the history and geography of York and surrounding areas. We will definitely be coming back to grab a pint with him!!

Neil is worth every penny and more. He is a scholar in every sense of the word. From a easily-missed door knocker that fuses Norse mythology with Christian iconography, to even a reference to Shakespeare's Macbeth, Neil's academic rigour and storytelling is next to none (besides, any human with the guts to don Viking attire on public transport instantly has my five stars). Beyond that, Neil is genuinely kind, earnestly hilarious, and has a heart of gold to match. An absolute highlight of our travels so far, and one that no words of mine will do justice.

I thoroughly enjoyed Neil's walking guide through York, viewing ancient sites while hearing stories of the city from the Viking Age. I'm a fan of this period of history and still learned new stories, sagas, and historical details from Neil's deep well of knowledge. His clear passion for the city and experience as an entertainer made it a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to the city of York, both in ancient times and today.

Excellent experience. The guides were fantastic.

It's been an amazing experience. The guide was very kind and shared tons of fun facts.

Very good. The best guide ever

What an interesting tour! Neil brought Viking and Roman history to life, and with such passion! His knowledge of this history and the way he connected various people and events really allowed me to understand it more deeply. He was patient and so eager to answer questions. I like the way he went out of his way to tailor the tour to my interests. Overall, probably the most enriching tour I’ve ever taken.

Neil’s Viking walking tour in York and really enjoyed it. It ended up being just the two of us, and Neil adapted the tour into a more relaxed, personalised experience, which made it feel special. He’s very knowledgeable, engaging, and easy to follow, with a great sense of humour. We learned not just about the Vikings, but also the wider history of York, with some fascinating hidden spots we would never have found ourselves. Overall, a brilliant and memorable tour — we’d definitely recommend it and would happily book again.

Such a splendid walk. Not only is Neil knowledgable but he makes the history accessible and enjoyable. Open and willing to take questions, even from someone as annoying and questioning as me! I cannot express enough how good this is, if you’re looking for a walk around York choose this one.

I went to York with not much plans and this was one of the best things i did there! I did this tour last year and I promised to make this review. (Sorry!!) This is the first time I write a review and I am doing becaouse I guarantee you this tour it was worth it. Neil was a great storyteller and he makes you feel really into history. It was an honestly interesting and good time. Great viking tour! :) I recommended 100%. Fue estupendo y muy divertido. Una actividad realmente bonita y divertida. Si te gusta la historia esto es algo que deberías probar!

I went to York with not much plans and this was one of the best things i did there! I did this tour last year and I promised to make this review. (Sorry!!) This is the first time I write a review and I am doing becaouse I guarantee you this tour it was worth it. Nail was a great storyteller and he makes you feel really into history. It was an honestly interesting and good time. Great viking tour! :) I recommended 100%. Fue estupendo y muy divertido. Una actividad realmente bonita y divertida. Si te gusta la historia esto es algo que deberías probar!

Having an interest in viking history this tour really appealed to me. The guide, Sigwulf, showed us around various interesting sites in York and linked them to the city's viking past with entertaining stories injected with humour. I learned far more than I was expecting. If you're interested in history, especially the viking age, and you're looking for a guided walk around York, then you should look into the original viking walk.

I've been living in York for some years now and it really has layers and layers of stories. Neil really knows how to get into character and transport his audience to the times of Jorvik. He's a great storyteller and a great guy.

Neil was brilliant. His knowledge of the city is second to none and the experience of walking through the city with this striding Viking is highly recommended! Thanks, Neil, for making our trip to York so memorable. And for retaining the beard for your final tour of the year! Emma

Great tour, highly recommended! Our tour guide, Neil, was totally fabulous and welcomed our questions along the tour. Having watched 'The Vikings' TV series we were eager to learn more about the history. We couldn't have chosen a better tour. Neil was super knowledgeable, enthusiastic, passionate and funny too, which was so welcome on a cold November evening in York. Join the tour, you won't be disappointed!

I did the viking tour with Neil and I enjoyed it so much. Even though I am a huge fan of all things Viking, he told me about so many stories I didn’t know and he was quite funny too! Learning about York’s viking past with him was one of my favourite experiences in this lovely city. I can’t recommend him enough! :)

A really excellent walk. Sigwulf is very entertaining, funny, knowledgable and clearly enjoys what he does! Would highly recommend this walk. Thanks Sigwulf!

Thank you for a memorable tour. It was only the two of us on a cold night and despite this you still went ahead with the tour. We were very fortunate, a fascinating time travelling experience unfolded before us. To meet a person with this passion for history is rare and it was an honour to attend. Thank you Sir for your time. We will recommend and return one day.

Our charismatic and knowledgeable host took us on a journey back through time to an age of turmoil, violence and bloodshed. We met fascinating historical figures, learned of their motives and plans, and heard tales of their mighty clashes. We visited sites of historical significance that our host wove into the saga. He pointed out pieces of history in the roads and streets that we walked that, but for him, would have gone unnoticed. This was a fascinating and personal tour, where the past was brought to life by a passionate and well-versed young man who has spent his adult life immersed in the viking world. If you have the slightest interest in the history of either York or the Vikings, then book this tour. You will not be disappointed.

We did a private walking tour with Neil, or Siggy. We all enjoyed it immensely, and my ten-year-old says 'Siggy is awesome'. Neil was kitted out as a Viking, which the kids loved straight away, but we adults found Neil's telling of the fascinating history of York engaging and funny, covering Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Norman and, of course, Viking history. We said the kids could handle a bit of gore, and so Neil described the 'blood eagle' to our fascinated boys! They have been talking about the Viking walk all day. Thanks to Neil for going ahead with the walk even with the impending arrival of his baby!

Had a great walk around the old town learning about the history of York. Whist vikings were the main topic other pieces of history were also discussed in a humorous and entertaining way. Thoroughly recommend.

We booked a private tour for our family over August Bank Holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Neil was very friendly and engaging and kept us interested and entertained for the whole walk - quite a feat with an 8 year old, a 10 year old and a 15 year old! I certainly learned a lot about the Vikings and found the info about the melding of Christian and Norse theology / mythology absolutely fascinating.

An outstanding tour of Roman, Viking & Medieval York U.K. Neil is very a knowledgeable & informative guide. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone interested in the Viking history of York.

I went to York last summer with my family (four of us in total). We paid for a private tour -it was surprisingly cheap. And even though there were only four of us, and Neil wasn't making that much money, he treated us like old friends and we wandered around York just chatting about the history. Neil is very knowledgeable, very friendly, and was an excellent guide. His tour isn't based on made up "ghost stories" and the like - its history and even more fascinating. We tipped him as much as we could, but I wish we had more on us. Our kids absolutely loved it. They adored Neil (even if they were too quiet to admit it at the time). I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants an authentic tour of York through the eyes of a "Viking". Thanks Neil!

We were looking for something different to the ghost walks in York for a very special big birthday and we couldn’t have chosen better. Neil very kindly agreed to an affordable private group tour and we weren’t disappointed. Neil gave us a fabulous, interesting and sometimes funny view of the Vikings in York and we loved it. Can’t recommend this tour highly enough, it was a pleasure.

What a splendid evening in the company of an extremely knowledgeable Viking. Sigwulf’s knowledge was vast and he was able to answer every question and query we threw at him, including those from an inquisitive six year old! He even spoke the language!!! The teenagers loved the humour, the adults liked the prices and we all had an excellent laugh. Can’t recommend this walking tour enough, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks Sigwulf. Classy Turnip moment too.

One of the many joys of York is that you can do a walking tour every night of your visit. I did, and while they were all excellent, this Viking Tour was the best. Neil's knowledge is surpassed only by his enthusiasm, and he is a total delight! He brings the streets and sagas to life in a truly extraordinary way, answers any and all questions and you will be leave wiser, happier, and suitably awed by our incredible ancestors.

We had to pre book this walking tour which lasted for nearly 2 hours and although overall it was interesting, there was more information on Roman York, it was only near the end did we get meaningful info on the Vikings. Slightly disappointing but informative

I went on this Viking walk as party of a work gathering. Our Viking guide Neil was very enthusiastic and informative but also kept it fun. I found it very interesting, it was nice to walk around York and learn about the history. Definitely something to do when in York :-)

It was a lot of fun! We were a rather large group of friends who all have very different interests, and we all agreed on liking this tour. There are so many fun and interesting facts and the ride inside the tour that takes you through a created viking experience just rounded it up completely! Can definitely recommend!!

We had a private walking tour with Neil (Sigwulf) today and can honestly say it was one of the best and most engaging tours we have been on anywhere - and we have done a few. Neil clearly enjoys his work as he provided us with a wealth of historical facts and legends of the Vikings and York. Highly recommended.

Went on a evening tour of York with Neil our Viking tour guide. Neil has an impressive knowledge of not only York’s Viking history but also the Romans and Norman’s and pulls this all together in an informative and fun relaxed manner. Highly recommend this tour for all! Thanks Neil for a great Viking experience of York!

It was a very cold evening but Neil (our Viking guide) kept us warm with his amazingly planned tour of Viking history in York. Not only does he explain and teach the group vikig history in york but also globally too. It was a brilliant evening and would recommend to anyone whether you have an interest in vikings or not.

My husband and I had friends visiting from Ireland and wanted to do something a little different during our day trip to York. Neil held a private tour for us, taking us around the city and sharing his vast knowledge of not only the Vikings, but also Roman and Medieval history. He is engaging, entertaining and passionate about his subject matter. Including folklore, facts and archaeological information within his tour. We learnt a great deal, laughed lots and saw the city from a totally different perspective. Would recommend in a heartbeat.

Neil was an amazing guide with incredible viking-specific knowledge and allure. Not to mention his brilliant viking outfit! The 1.5hrs went by so quickly! Can only recommend this tour to everyone interested visiting York.

What a friendly, funny, knowledgeable and genuinely interesting guide! The tour was fantastic, Neil is so personable and fantastic with my two children (5 and 2). The stories were entertaining and informative, I learned so much in an hour! Thank you...would recommend this to anyone who wants to know about the fascinating history of Viking York.

I was with my two sons and turned up without booking and was lucky to go on this excellent tour taking you through the 200 hundred years of vikings in York, Neil was very knowledgeable and was very enthusiastic about not only Viking history but history in general, Neil was even dressed in Viking clothing unfortunately without the axe, but perhaps with health and safety a good thing.

A thoroughly enjoyable and informative walk that brings York’s history to the fore. Neil was delightful and his obvious passion for the topic is infectious. This is what brings history alive and now we better understand our surroundings and how they were shaped and named. The walk itself is easy - but have decent shoes as York has many cobbled streets. Our visit was on a dreary, damp Saturday evening but frankly, we didn’t notice as the walk/talk was so engaging. Side note: what made me giggle was as we walked into Kings Square, was our Viking guide (in full regalia) high fiving a passing Highwayman. Lovely - history through the ages indeed.

Went on this tour on a Friday evening and was absolutely blown away! Neil is funny, enthusiastic and of course incredibly knowledgable on the history of York I, myself am a Viking enthusiast; my partner is a history buff but not so much with the Viking age. Despite this we both learnt a lot and were entertained from start to finish Thank you Neil for making this trip to York truly one to remember (not to mention the Blood Eagle!) Josh and Jade

Mum "a wonderfully informative tour of Viking york done with humour and passion" Dad: "engrossing - a highly entertaining and amusing historical discussion about Viking York" Thanks Neil - mum dad and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and absolutely agree with your unblemished stella 5 star average. Keep on doing you and the tourists of York will always leave with a smile on their face.

Thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour from start to finish. From the introduction at the meeting point the viking history of York just comes to life from your guide Neil/Sigwulf. Ambling along at an easy pace he relates names and historic dates that you probably last heard in school but now they actually mean something along with the everyday words we see and use, he tells you the meanings behind them. If you've been to York and not done this tour I suggest next time you're there check him out at 6pm All Saints, Pavement. PS Neil, your recommendation for where to eat was perfect after such a lovely evening stroll. Thank you xx

Neil's tour took in several interesting places around York centre, and he explained York's Viking history very well, with details, stories, and a big dollop of humour thrown in. I absolutely recommend taking this tour, as it's very informative, and great value for money.

When we found out that York was once a Viking settlement, we wanted to find out more about its Viking history. Neil's tour around the city kept us captivated with fascinating stories, through his style of delivery that was simply first class. We arrived in York on the afternoon of 1st August, ready to meet up with Neil at 6pm since his tours run on Wednesdays during the month of August. At about the same time, we noticed a man dressed in Viking costume talking to a ground of people, and so we walked up to him to ask if he was doing the Viking Walk. As it turned out, Neil had forgotten that it was already August, and was doing a privately arranged tour that started an hour before. We were extremely lucky that he was just passing by the meeting point at around the same time, and we managed to catch him. Neil was extremely apologetic for forgetting that it was already August, and offered to take us through the sites that he had already brought the others to, after he was done with the remaining tour. It was great to have a "private" tour with Neil since we could ask all the questions we had and Neil was always ready to answer. We later visited the Jorvik Viking Centre to find out more about Viking history, but I dare say that Neil's Viking Walk was a lot more informative and engaging. Neil's tour is definitely not to be missed on a visit to York, something more unique than the other ghost tours on offer.

Our family of 7, 5 adults and 2 children, thoroughly enjoyed our time with Neil on a private tour. Of course, most of the tour was focused on the immense amount of Viking history associated with York. But Neil took the time to discuss other aspects of York history as well and took us to many places across the city. He was very engaging, answering our questions, and involving the kids in the tour. I would highly recommend the Original Viking Tour to anybody visiting York.

Excellent walking tour of about 90 minutes. Neil, dressed as a Viking, brought the history of not only the Vikings but the Normans, Romans .and the Saxons to life. He showed us very interesting sights around York. Neil is extremely knowledgeable about the history of York and this is a must do tour when here.

Neil aka Segwulf The Viking, brings York history alive with humour, passion and so much knowledge. This tour is not to be missed while in York. Never has history been so alive. With stories on every corner ( some a little gruesome!) we came away with The Vikings, The Romans , The Anglo Saxons playing out history forever in our memories. Do not miss!