If you’ve been to London dungeon and liked it, you’ll love this. It’s set out the same, like a real dungeon, with the feeling that you’re under ground even though you’re not. Like London Dungeon there are, not only, moving models to act out stories and punishments used hundreds of years ago, but people walking around dressed up and acting out parts. This makes the whole experience seem even more real.
The stories you are told range from famous ones like Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin, that are known all round the world, to the story of the Roman soldiers known only by people that live in York, to completely unknown stories. And they’re all told in totally different ways to make it more interesting, sometimes the staff narrate them, sometimes you’re left in a dark room and then models appear in the darkness to tell you their story. But all of them are very realistic and a lot of the time, extremely scary.
And it’s not for the feint-hearted either. I went round in a school party a few years ago and the models that moved suddenly and gory punishments had all of us (girls, boys, teachers) screaming and running away down the dimly lit corridors. One girl (aged 14) cried. So, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for younger children. Or claustrophobics as you're closed in fairly tightly. But everyone else should relish in this educational, yet fun, day out for all.
Be warned though, it gets extremely busy at weekends and in holidays, so you might want to get there early or book through a hotel or coach company to avoid queues.