THROUGHOUT its rich history, York has been besieged by a number of different forces, from bloodthirsty Vikings to the plague.

And late last year the city faced another disaster as large swathes of the centre were flooded after heavy rainfall led to rising river levels.

One of the many businesses that suffered from the floods was the iconic York Dungeon, which re-tells the city’s often gruesome history and is one of York’s biggest tourist attractions.

The flood damage forced the dungeons to close, but after a massive refurbishment they have now reopened with plenty of new exhibits.

It is yet another time in its history where York has overcome disaster to come back stronger than ever, and the dungeons tell the story of many of the city’s darkest moments.

The dungeons, on Clifford Street, are famous for their creepy actors, who mix humour with gory horror, to play characters like Minster monks and Witchfinders, and the reopened attraction has lost none of its macabre charm.

It also uses special effects and 360-degree sets to put visitors in the heart of the action.

The £1m-worth of improvements have restored the more famous aspects of the dungeons, such as the recreation of haunted pub The Golden Fleece and a courtroom where tough justice is dispensed by a maniacal judge. But they have also helped create new attractions.

With another city centre attraction, the Jorvik Viking Centre, still closed after the floods, tourists looking to get their fix of Norsemen will be satisfied with one of these new additions - two of the rooms on the tour deal with the Viking invasion of 866.

And in one instance the crowds are brought face to face with a Norse warrior, Snore Short Sword, who soon makes them his slaves, and tells them of their gods and leaders - Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless.

Other figures from York’s past that visitors encounter on their journey through the dungeons include Dick Turpin and an executioner. And in one room they even come face to face with the decapitated head of Guy Fawkes, who does not let his demise stop him from regaling them with stories of his failed attempts to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Throughout the 75-minute tour the crowds are asked to get involved with the show, act as a jury at a witch trial, and get closer than they may like to a autopsy by a plague doctor.

Visiting the exhibition it is hard to fathom that the dungeons, which re-create such varied landscapes as York Minster and The Shambles, were under water just a few months ago.

The experience goes from terrifying to laugh-out-loud funny in just a few minutes, and although it might be too scary, and gory for young children, it will likely once again become the big family tourist attraction it was before the floods.

Andrew Turner, operations manager at the York Dungeon, said: “It has been great to see such a positive public reaction to the reopening of The York Dungeon today and already the Vikings have made quite an impression on visitors.

“Following the flooding in December we have made in excess of £1m-worth of investment into revamping the whole of the York Dungeon – so even those who have been before will have plenty of surprises in store for them.

“Not only do we have a brand new Viking show, but we also have new scripts, sets and state-of-the-art special effects throughout.”

Tickets for the York Dungeon start at £10 per person.

Each tour lasts approximately 75 minutes.

The recommended age for visitors is 10 and above, although it is up to parent's discretion.

To book tickets and see opening times, visit thedungeons.com/york.