Hallowe’en chiller Alice launches sightseeing tour bus firm’s winter specials

Spine-tingling family fun as famed folklore figure Mad Alice leads thrilling journeys of discovery into York’s darkest past

Step on board … if you dare! It’s the ultimate spine-tingling, time travelling tour of York’s darkest moments – led by a famous figure from the city’s chilling past.

Mad Alice, who is said to have died 195 years ago in 1825, is to guide the first of a season of winter special tours for York’s leading open-top tour bus operator, City Sightseeing York.

Mad Alice’s Bloody Bus Tour is the first of a season of four unique guided tours of the city, which begin on Monday, 26 October 2020 … and as darkness falls over York’s streets and snickelways, the legendary figure herself will entertain those brave enough to step aboard her bus with gruesome tales from the city’s darkest moments.

Tales of torture and executions, highwaymen and witches will all be told by Mad Alice as she recounts frightening, yet fascinating stories of York in times past.

The chilling theme continues for three nights from Thursday, 29 October as a super-spooky Hallowe’en Show sees tour guides using a stolen time travel device to summon York’s famous historic villains back to life.

November will see York’s famous role as the birthplace of the world’s most famous conspirator celebrated on Bonfire Night with another very special tour, as Guy Fawkes attempts to hijack the tour bus as a more effective way to blow up the Houses of Parliament!

York City Sightseeing General Manager Ben Mansfield said: “This is the first time we’ve run special themed tours across Hallowe’en and the run-up to Christmas. After a very successful summer – our 20^th year of touring York – we think this is the ideal time for something different to scare and delight in equal measure.

“Our special tours are a fun and safe way for visitors and locals to discover more about York’s amazing past while being entertained by our guides – starting with Mad Alice, who’ll share stories of plagues, executions and more from the city’s chilling history.

“We’re very much looking forward to our season of special tours, and we expect demand for tickets to be high. Our advice is to book early to make sure of a place on these unique journeys into York’s past and present.”

Festive magic will be in the air across eight days from Tuesday, 15 December, as for the first time ever, York’s own Christmas Story provides the theme for daytime sightseeing bus tours celebrating the city’s important role in many of our most cherished Christmas traditions.

Historical figures including Oliver Cromwell and Queen Victoria will make an appearance, and there’ll be plenty of family fun – including for those who’ve been good all year, a visit from Santa Claus.

Details of all City Sightseeing York’s Specials this winter are available online at: https://www.yorkcitysightseeing.com/specials – tickets start from £16 adult and £35 for a family. All the tours begin from Exhibition Square in the city centre, close to York Minster and Bootham Bar.

The special tours season follows a successful summer for City Sightseeing York’s red buses, which in August were named among the top 10 per cent of tourism attractions on Earth as travel review and booking website TripAdvisor awarded the operator its coveted 2020 Travellers’ Choice Award.

Meanwhile tourism agency Visit England has awarded City Sightseeing York its “We’re Good to Go” ‘tourism tick’ confidence mark. To qualify, the bus tour operator demonstrated that all social distancing and cleanliness measures are in place on each of its buses – giving visitors added reassurance that they’re in good hands.