York City Cruise | City Cruises™

Our Daytime Cruises depart from two landing stages: Kings Staith and Lendal Bridge.

On all of our boats, you’ll find both a bar and restroom facilities available.

We accept both cash or a card as a form of payment.

Passengers with health conditions or impairments sail with us at the normal adult rate. However, each passenger may have one carer sail with them free of charge on our Sightseeing Cruises. Carers are required to display some form of ID or other relevant proof of entitlement such as a blue badge or a Personal Independence Payments letter (issued by the DWP benefit office).

To redeem a Carer’s ticket please make the booking for the whole party except the carer. Following the booking please email [email protected] with the booking number and request the carer’s ticket to be added.

While the York Pass is accepted for our Daytime Sightseeing Cruises, it is not accepted for the Early Evening Cruise. However, you can receive a discounted price for the Floodlit Cruise with the use of the York Pass.

The length of our York City Cruises is either 45 minutes or 1 hour, depending on the weather and demand. If you purchase your ticket online, it will be valid for the specific duration of the cruise that we are operating on the day of your visit.

We offer frequent sailings throughout the day, starting with the first cruise departing from Kings Staith at 10:30am and from Lendal Bridge at 10:40am. The final guaranteed sailing leaves at 3pm from Kings Staith and at 3:10pm from Lendal Bridge. However, between April 1st and September 24th, the last guaranteed sailing departs at 4pm from Kings Staith and 4:10pm from Lendal Bridge.

For bookings of less than 20 people, please make your reservation online. However, for groups of 20 or more, kindly send an email to [email protected].

Experience the York City Cruise, a unique 45-minute sightseeing tour that showcases the captivating history and culture of York as you journey along the scenic River Ouse.

During the tour, you will have the chance to witness some of York’s most renowned landmarks, including the York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the historic city walls. Additionally, you can observe the local wildlife, such as swans and ducks, along the way.

The York City Cruise provides live commentary on board, giving you fascinating insights into the history and culture of York.

To ensure your comfort during the cruise, we suggest wearing comfortable clothing and footwear. It is also advisable to bring along a light jacket or sweater in case of cooler temperatures.

We warmly welcome children on board and are pleased to offer complimentary admission for those under 5 years old.

We happily welcome well-behaved dogs on board our Daytime Sightseeing Cruises, River Bus Service, and Self Drive Boats, at no additional cost, as long as they are kept on a leash. Please note that only Guide/Hearing Dogs are permitted on our Dining Cruises and Santa Experience.

While visiting York, there are numerous attractions to discover in the vicinity, including the iconic York Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. Moreover, you can leisurely walk along the renowned city walls or explore the charming shops and cafes located in the Shambles.

Two of our boats are wheelchair accessible, namely the River Palace and River Duchess. Additionally, the River Duchess features a wheelchair-accessible restroom. However, kindly note that wheelchair access is only available at our King’s Staith Landing.

To obtain directions to our King’s Staith Landing, please click here. If you would like to verify the sailing times for the River Palace or River Duchess, please contact our office at 020 77 400 400, or consult with one of our Quayside Managers on the day of your visit.

Digital Gift Cards are the perfect way to give someone an experience that lets them schedule their adventure at their convenience! A City Experiences digital gift card can be purchased anytime and is valid on all City Experiences, City Cruises, Walks, and Devour Tours experiences that take place in the US and in the UK. Gift cards can be used to pre-purchase experiences and upgrades online or through our contact center but cannot be redeemed for on-board/in-experience purchases.

Digital Gift Cards are the perfect way to give someone an experience that lets them schedule their adventure at their convenience! A City Experiences digital gift card can be purchased anytime and is valid on all City Experiences, City Cruises, Walks, and Devour Tours experiences that take place in the US and in the UK. Gift cards can be used to pre-purchase experiences and upgrades online or through our contact center but cannot be redeemed for on-board/in-experience purchases.

In York, there may be occasional instances of elevated river levels, which could affect our regular sailings. Nonetheless, we will strive to continue our voyages as long as it is safe to proceed. However, our smallest boat may face limitations and be unable to pass beneath the bridges at a certain point.

In such cases, our Lendal Bridge Landing may have to be closed, and we may operate solely from our Kings Staith landing, depending on the river’s level. We will endeavor to keep our customers informed through our website and advertising boards located at our moorings.

Yes, however we are only able to accept the Digital E-Card – we are unable to accept a physical card.

To redeem your York Gift Card, please present the digital card at the Boarding Point or at the On-Board Bar.