York River Cruise: Scenic Daytime Sightseeing

Discover York’s history and beauty on a tranquil River Ouse cruise. Enjoy breathtaking sights and intriguing tales on this unforgettable journey.

Duration: 45 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • York - Historic Landmarks: Travelers will marvel at the rich history of York with the chance to see iconic landmarks such as York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the medieval city walls from a unique perspective.
    Stunning Architecture: Panoramic views of York’s stunning architecture. Travelers can capture postcard-perfect snapshots of the city’s…
What's Included
  • Toilet Facilities
  • Live Captain’s Commentary
  • Scenic River Ouse Views
What's Not Included
  • Drinks & Snacks (Ranges from £1 to £6)
Additional Information

Welcome aboard our daytime sightseeing trip in York, where travellers embark on an unforgettable journey through history, culture, and natural beauty. Our daytime sightseeing trip in York promises a memorable experience filled with breath-taking sights, intriguing tales, and moments of tranquillity along the historic River Ouse. It’s the perfect way to…

Location
City Cruises York - Kings Staith Landing
King's Staith
This cruise departs from Kings Staith 1. If you are unsure, please feel free to ask for directions from a member of the City Cruises Team on the quayside! Please note that not all boats are wheelchair accessible.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(1236 Ratings)
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1 star
Destination736633
Sep 22, 2025
We will be back. - York was truly Fantastic! The city is full of history, charm and character. From the cobbled streets of the Shambles, to exploring York Minster and walking the city walls, every corner had something special to see. There's a great mix of museums, cosy cafes, and welcoming pubs, the atmosphere felt both lively and relaxed. An absolutely beautiful place that I highly recommend visiting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniellv172xl
Sep 7, 2025
A day sailing - If visiting York we would definitely recommend having a shot on the river cruise. It is included in the York pass if you have purchased that. It was a nice cruise along the river although would recommend sitting upstairs if you can to see. On our cruise the crew were lovely. The narrator clearly loved her job and her passion and enthusiasm shone through. Very knowledgeable and really funny. The cruise was nice and smooth and allowed us to see some parts of the city we hadn’t seen. Great experience and good price (I think it’s about £15 pp without the York pass).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ameliapotter92
Sep 25, 2025
A fun, different way to sight see around York - An enjoyable experience on the water, learning about different architecture that can be viewed aboard the boat. Our tour guide was charismatic and made quirky comments throughout the tour, making the experience more enjoyable Seating both above and below available but best view is obviously above deck. Would recommend warmer layers as can be quite chilly on the water. Gives the option of 2 stops to depart and return and you can choose depending where you wish to go next. Would recommend for some light hearted entertainment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dominic
Sep 22, 2025
Great trip and it was good to learn more about York - Easy to book and the meeting point and boarding all went smoothly. The trip was all good, very smooth journey although the running commentary was a little bit limited in duration. What we did hear though were some great facts and features about the beautiful city of York and I am sure that there was a lot more that could have been related. Comfortable facilities on board and the crew were all polite and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
459raem
Sep 15, 2025
Lovely way to view from from the River - It was a lovely day - so perfect time for a sail down the River. Interesting talk and boat clean. It can be very busy so if you want to be outside arrive early Staff helpful. There is a Bar / Shop
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pamster83
Sep 11, 2025
Hottest day boat trip 32° - Fab little boat cruise on the hottest day of the year..... Wish we could have heard the commentary a bit clearer, but it was a lovely trip anyway. On boat snack and drink overpriced - but when they have you stranded on a boat, then thats expected.... We wasn't expecting the random naked fella on the riverside as we passed, 😳 I'd be upset if we had the kids with us....
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrislr975ub
Sep 22, 2025
Nothing to write home about! - A bit boring to be honest and don't see many sites other than the person steering the boat telling you about stuff that you really can't see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide41396647096
Sep 17, 2025
Walk the walls instead. - Friendly service and efficient but there really isn’t anything extra to be seen from the river or any sight seeing benefit. A lot of it is out of sight behind trees etc.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigate824142
Sep 24, 2025
Pretty much a waste of time and money. - We covered a very short distance on the river. Other than some interesting bridges there is little to see along the banks of the Ouse. The historic buildings are far off with only brief glimpses. Overall this trip was slow and boring. The best part was the intentionally overly dramatic narration by the captain.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anne
Sep 19, 2025
Communication re the Cruise - We had booked for 11am on Tuesday 16th September and arrived in plenty of time. Gradually other people joined us, some of whom had also booked. There was no boat and after waiting about 20 mins beyond the time it was due, I rang City Cruises. They were of no help whatsoever and said the next boat was due at 12.00. We were about to leave when the boat turned up. The boat crew said I should have got an email re the 11am booking but I didn't. The actual cruise was fine, The communication beforehand, however, was terrible .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $20
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).