The Hangman’s Gate
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Micklegate Bar
Tickets from
£27.50
Inside the venue
Gallery
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
About this
Event Description
Explore Micklegate Bar’s rarely-opened upper chambers, then enjoy a full street festival with fire performers and food stalls. All ages, 4pm–midnight, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026 in the heart of York.
- Format: A self-guided exploration of Micklegate Bar’s rarely-opened upper chambers with live-action scares, opening into a full street festival with fire performers and food stalls.
- Ghost hunting is not the format here — this is a live-action horror walk, not a paranormal investigation.
- No contact: Performers will not make physical contact with guests; please don’t touch performers, fixtures or historic fabric.
- Supervision & age: All ages welcome; under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, given uneven ground and low lighting.
- Optional: Your ticket covers the whole evening — only the timed headline experience needs a booked slot, so you can enjoy the festival, market and food areas without it.
For centuries, Micklegate Bar was where the severed heads of traitors and rebels — including Richard, Duke of York — were displayed on spikes above the gate as a warning to travellers entering the city. This Halloween, York’s bloodiest gatehouse becomes the beating heart of a full street festival: the cobbled approach to Micklegate Bar fills with fire performers, an executioner’s court photo stage, and street food stalls, while upstairs, the gatehouse’s normally-closed upper chambers open for a live-action horror walk built entirely around real, documented York execution history.
Why you should book this
Micklegate Bar’s upper chambers are closed to the public for 358 days of the year — this is one of the only ways to ever see inside. Combine that with a full street festival, fire performers, and a pub-crawl discount voucher, and £27.50 covers what would otherwise be three separate nights out in York.
What you’ll experience
- The Hangman’s Gate horror walk — the timed headline experience through the gatehouse’s upper chambers with 6 costumed performers
- Executioner’s Court — a street-level stage with fire performers and a “traitor’s trial” comedy show running every hour from 5pm
- Traitor’s Photo Stage — dress in provided period props (masks, chains, a mock pillory) for a themed photo right beneath the gate
- Micklegate Street Food Market — stalls serving York-themed food and drink lining the street either side of the gate
- Partner Pub Trail — your ticket includes a 10% discount voucher at three historic pubs along Micklegate, encouraging a proper pub-crawl evening either side of your slot
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Street festival opens — food market and photo stage live |
| 5:00pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm Executioner’s Court fire and comedy show (hourly) | |
| 5:00pm–9:30pm | Gatehouse horror walk departs every 10 minutes |
| 9:00pm | Final Executioner’s Court show of the night |
| 9:30pm | Last entry to the gatehouse walk |
| 11:30pm | Street food market last orders |
| 12:00am | Festival street closes |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: Marygate multi-storey car park is roughly a 10-minute walk to Micklegate Bar. York Station’s own car park is a similar distance, about an 8-minute walk. By train: York Station is an 8-minute walk to Micklegate Bar. Other: Highly walkable from anywhere within the city walls, so this is one of the easiest events in the pack to reach on foot.
🕐 Entry & times
Daily 4:00pm–12:00am, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026. A valid ticket for your chosen date admits you to the whole evening; the timed headline experience needs its booked slot. Arrive a little before your slot — late arrivals are accommodated in a later slot subject to availability.
⚠ Code of conduct
Prohibited at all events: real or imitation weapons, full-face masks that prevent ID checks, and glass containers. Costumes are welcome within those limits. Security searches may be carried out on entry. Abusive or threatening behaviour, or failure to follow venue instructions, means removal without a refund.
Content note: Narrow spiral staircase, low headroom in places, one strobe-lit scare room inside the gatehouse. Street festival level is open and accessible to all. Not suitable for those with knee/mobility issues wanting the gatehouse walk specifically. Good for: History fans · First-timers · Groups wanting an easy city-centre night out · Stag/hen groups
Getting there
Where
Venue
Micklegate Bar
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Before you book
Good to know
Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
Genuine historic buildings. Expect uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes. Venues are cold and dark.
No physical contact takes place. All vigils are guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. Genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code per guest. Save it as PDF, add to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium for a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to.
Do I need experience?
None at all. Guides run every session and stay with your group the whole time.
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, QR per guest
- Secure card checkout — total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
£27.50
Early Bird — 20% off