York prides itself on being the most haunted city in England.Over 500 sightings are claimed.

Roman soldiers, highwaymen on horseback, crying babies, medieval nuns, Mad Alice, a Lady in Green, an old-fashioned cyclist and large, black hounds all have their believers. Apparitions are claimed for buildings old and new, pubs and snickelways.

So it's perhaps unsurprising that there are numerous ghost tours to tempt visitors. These should be regarded as entertainment with melodramatic play-acting, rather than historical tours. If you expect this, and up for some fun, you will enjoy yourself more.

Some tours tend to emphasise spookiness, others (such as the Ghost Hunt of York) involve a good deal of audience participation and tomfoolery.

If you want more serious information about the subject, you're probably better of with a book and a self-guided tour. (See below.)