JOIN Mad Alice on a unique walking tour of one of York’s less known streets Bootham.

Once the “street of the toll booths”, Bootham was once home to several asylums.

Beginning at Bootham bar, one of the oldest gateways of the city where the great Roman entrance of the city once stood, you’ll wander down the plush green avenue past the infamous lunatic asylum known as Bootham Hospital where many tragedies took place. The hospital was once used as an example in Parliament on how NOT to treat the mentally insane. The conditions were that horrific.

The grand houses of the street have been home to the likes of W. H. Auden, poet, social reformer Seebohm Rowntree who investigated poverty in the city and even supposedly Nell Gwyn, once mistress to King Charles II.

Pass by St. Peter’s school where several conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot once attended including a rather famous “Guy” and learn about their roles in history.

See the damage Parliamentary forces inflicted during the Seige of York of 1644 on St. Mary’s Tower.

At the end of Bootham lies Clifton Green, the plot of land that belonged to the Monks of nearby St. Mary’s Abbey and was specifically used as a hanging ground.

On the way back to the city centre, we will drop into No.1 Guesthouse. A fantastic newly renovated Grade II Regency building for a coffee and pastry before finishing the tour in the Museum Gardens, 10 acres of botanical gardens which shows 2000 years of York’s amazing history.

All this in just 2 hours as you visit this wonderful part of the city.

Due to the nature of the content this tour may not be suitable for younger children. It is recommended for aged 13 and over.