York Book of Ideas

Take a look at the city of York & its

surroundings through new eyes with ideas and

inspiration for journalists and travel writers

Introduction

Welcome to the York Book of Ideas, a press pack with a difference.

This pack has been put together to provide inspiration for journalists and travel writers who are

looking for fresh ideas and reasons to write about York. You may already know that York o ffers over

30 visitor attractions from the world famous JORVIK Viking Centre to the National Railway Museum

(the largest railway museum in the UK), as well as a vibrant year-round festival programme and

superb shopping.

And of course, York is a historical gem, but it is much more than that – it is a vibrant, changing city

which appeals to culture vultures and thrill seekers, to couples looking for a relaxed escape as well as

those looking for fantastic nightlife within walking distance of their hotel. It is a small city with so

much packed in, much of which has already been written about, but with a huge amount more

remaining to be discovered. We hope this pack will help you inspire your readers and viewers to

choose York for their next adventure.

2018 will be an exciting year for York with new events coming to the city, such as Bloom! and the

new biennial international arts festival - the York Mediale. York Mansion House will open its doors to

the public again after the biggest restoration since it was built. And a not-so-lovable car park will be

transformed into Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre – Europe’s first ever Pop-Up Shakespearean theatre.

We hope you enjoy your stay in York – the Original City Adventure - and we’d be delighted to assist

you with your accommodation arrangements and York Passes so that you can get a feel for the city

and the full York experience.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Kay, Katie and Ana in the communications team…..

We try to keep our information up to date but sometimes things change. Please check all details on the provided websites.

York – The Original City Adventure – Start

planning your adventure today!

From sniffing out the Vikings at JORVIK, listening to evensong at York Minster, taking a step back in

time to the age of steam at the National Railway Museum, bagging top brand names at York

Designer Outlet, making chocolate at York’s Chocolate Story to mountain biking in nearby Dalby

Forest to exploring the city’s rich heritage, there’s an adventure for everyone in York and North

Yorkshire…

New themes in York for 2018:

York – The Original City Adventure Imagine a city full of culture, art, history and heritage...York has it all. There has never been a

better or more exciting year to visit a city filled with world-class attractions. Whether you’re

a thrill-seeker or a history lover, there’s an adventure for everyone in York.

#onlyinyork – new marketing campaign In 2018 Visit York will launch a new campaign theme, #onlyinyork, to complement our

headline campaign – ‘York- the original city adventure’. We’re keen to hear from travel writers

and travel bloggers who are interested in writing about experiences you can have or places

you can visit that are #onlyinyork. We’ve highlighted some of them in this press kit with the hashtag #onlyinyork

Bloom! Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Ancient Society

of York Florists – the oldest florists’ society in the world The Ancient Society of York Florists (ASYF) is reputedly the oldest horticultural society in the

world – with its records dating back to 1768. It is also only society retaining the word 'florists'

in its title, which refers back to the time when only florists' flowers were accepted as exhibits,

a florist being a person who grew flowers for their beauty and not a seller of cut flowers as it

is today. This year it is celebrating its 250th anniversary for which the NEW horticultural festival

Bloom! will be held in York from 5 to 8 July 2018 to celebrate plants, flowers and all things green.

Organisations already supporting the festival include: Askham Bryan College, Castle Howard,

English Heritage, York Minster, York’s hotels, restaurants and bars, Shambles Market, York

Minster, city of York council, York Museum’s Trust, York Civic Trust, universities and colleges,

The Fifth Quarter (Bootham and Gillygate Traders Association), Indie York, the Harrogate

Flower Festival, the North of England Horticultural Society, York City Centre Churches, the Great Yorkshire Fringe and the York Mediale.

Year of Grandeur at York Mansion House 2018 will be a Year of Grandeur for York’s Mansion House, after undergoing the biggest

restoration since it was built in 1732. Standing in the heart of our vibrant city, the Mansion

House is the earliest purpose built house for a Lord Mayor still in existence. Past the grandeur

of the prominent green doors and beautiful facade lies an inspiring, i nteractive environment

where visitors can experience the story of York’s past and present and see how every Lord

Mayor from the middle ages to the present day has danced, dined and entertained.

York Castle Museum’s 80th Anniversary This year York Castle Museum celebrates its 80th anniversary. The opening will be marked

with special events and a display of the museum’s founder Dr Kirk’s earliest, most unusual and

fascinating objects. York Castle Museum was founded in 1938 and is famous for its collections

of both military and social history, and costumes with over 100,000 items to display. Castle

Museum features a series of period rooms that reveal domestic interiors from various times, Jacobean, Georgian and Victorian.

Beyond York – 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s legendary first

voyage This year will commemorate Captain James Cook’s legendary first voyage of discovery on HMS

Bark Endeavour to the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Cook’s expedition set off from

Plymouth in August 1768, but Cook spent his early life and career at Great Ayton, Staithes and

Whitby in Yorkshire, where the Endeavour was built. Whitby’s Captain Cook Memorial

Museum will host some events celebrating the anniversary, while the HM Bark Endeavour,

one of only two full-scale replicas of Captain Cook’s ship, will berth in Whitby and re -open as a tourist attraction in time for the anniversary.

New attractions, exhibitions & galleries to see in 2018

For a small city, it can be surprising how many new things there are to see and do in York. Below is a

list of some of the most significant new attractions, exhibitions and shows opening this year.

Mansion House re-opening York Mansion House has recently (Dec 17) undergone its biggest restoration since it was built in 1732.

Visitors are invited to experience the story of York’s past and present and see how every Lord Mayor

from the middle ages to the present day has danced, dined and entertained. Visitors will be able to

uncover civic secrets hidden within its impressive walls, marvel at the extensive gold and silver collections and discover what life was like downstairs in the fully restored Georgian kitchen.

Marinella Senatore: York Symphony – York Art Gallery 23 September 2017 – 7 May 2018

Through a series of workshops and conversations collecting individual stories in York, Italian artist

Marinella Senatore has created a new Symphony which celebrates the city. Well-known in Europe and

the US for her collaborative process of making new artworks through public participation, Senatore

uses a range of media including video, collage and text to allow her projects to speak within a range of contexts.

Sara Radstone: More than Words – York Art Gallery 17 November 2017 – 10 June 2018

The Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) presents a moving retrospective exhibition of work by British artist

Sara Radstone. Through her work with ceramics, Sara explores a range of ideas concerned with memory, history, landscape, humanity, loss and absence.

Designed by Martin Smith, the exhibition follows the quiet progression of Sara’s life in ceramics

beginning with early works created as she sought to reinterpret the vessel form. Following her

struggles and successes with the material, the exhibition tracks the evolution of Sara’s ideas as she

moved from vessels to freestanding sculptures, wall-based multiples and installations. Her journey has

often been circuitous as she has revisited earlier ideas and sought to resolve or re -imagine earlier

thoughts. Her work seeks to illustrate how thoughts, process and diverse sources give rise to ‘things’

and how they inhabit space. Sara has also created new work in response to the gallery space which is shown for the first time.

#onlyinyork Tim Peake’s spacecraft – National Railway Museum 17 January – 8 March 2018

The National Railway Museum is ready to host the historic Soyuz capsule used by Major Tim Peake on

his record-breaking space voyage as part of a new exhibition. Museum visitors are invited to see the

Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft – complete with scorch marks - and experience Tim Peake’s descent to

Earth in a state-of-the art virtual reality experience (13+), brought to York by Samsung and the Science

Museum Group. Part of a national tour, this is the last chance to see Soyuz in the region and an adventure not to be missed.

1914: When the World Changed Forever – York Castle Museum Until the end of 2018

The terror of total war and its revolutionary impact on life around the world is explored in this major

exhibition marking the centenary of the First World War. From the pre-war golden age of peace and

prosperity visitors are sent to the recruitment office and travel via train to the horrors of the frontline

– from rats to foot rot, shell shock to gas warfare. Back home, daily life in Britain was changing beyond

recognition while around the world millions would die as Europe’s empires clashed in the first truly

global conflict.

The exhibition is the central part of a £1.7 million project at the museum, with the majority of the

funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The exhibition opened June 28, 2017 – 100 years to the

day that Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, which then sparked a chain of events which led

to the outbreak of war.

Times of Change: Women and Confectionery – York’s Chocolate Story 8 March 2018 – Early 2019

Since the confectionery industry began in the 17th Century, women have played a major part in

shaping it. From Mary Tuke – who created a successful cocoa business against all adversity and paved

the way for companies such as Rowntree’s – to Mary Ann Craven’s humbugs and French almonds. The

products they made and the businesses they created became world-wide phenomena. Throughout

the centuries, many women played their part in making the industry what it is today. Often overlooked

in the history of chocolate, these people created some iconic innovations that can still be seen across the planet.

This new exhibition will be made up of unique historical artefacts and fascinating testimony from those

tenacious women who worked in the industry. Guests will discover how workplace dynamics changed

forever when the men were called to fight in both world wars, and how it wasn’t that long ago that

marriage could act as a serious career-hindrance. For centuries, women have been the unsung heroes

of York’s sweet heritage. Times of Change: Women and Confectionery launches on International

Women’s Day (8th March) and will coincide with the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

Yorkshire’s Jurassic World – Yorkshire Museum Opens March 24 2018

Museum’s visitors are invited to take an epic journey through 150 million years of Yorkshire to discover

lost giants and the changing worlds they inhabited in this brand new major exhibition. From the depths

of the deepest seas to the ancient coasts and tropical shallows; curious visitors will see the dinosaurs

and sea monsters that once roamed our vast and ever-changing landscapes, as well as rediscover our

prehistoric predecessors through the most fascinating remains in the region, the latest re search and

ground-breaking technology as they step into Yorkshire’s Jurassic World.

From Journeyman to King’s Carver: The Genesis and Genius of

Grinling Gibbons – Fairfax House 14 April – 14 September 2018

Following a major fundraising appeal, Fairfax House in York has saved for the nation a rare 17th

century wooden sculpture by the acknowledged ‘Michelangelo of Wood’, Grinling Gibbons. Saved

from international export and potential obscurity in a private collection, this magnificent work now

forms part of the permanent collection at Fairfax House. To celebrate the ‘home -coming’ of this

exquisite piece of craftsmanship and to illuminate the extraordinary skill of Grinling Gibbons’, Fairfax

House will be mounting a major new exhibition in 2018, From Journeyman to King’s Carver: The

Genesis and Genius of Grinling Gibbons. Opening on the 370th anniversary of Grinling Gibbons’ birth, this exhibition also marks the 350th year of his arrival in York.

Drawing on new research and bringing together artworks and sculpture by the hand of this iconic

individual from across the country (including St Paul’s Cathedral, Hampton Court Palace, the Sir John

Soane Museum, V&A to name just a few), From Journeyman to King’s Carver celebrates Grinling

Gibbons’ unequalled talent, his visionary genius, and his ability to transform the medium of wood into

something magical. It will explore his development from an obscure journeyman through to becoming the country’s most celebrated master-carver, working for the King himself.

Sea is the Limit – York Art Gallery May – September 2018 (exact dates to be confirmed)

A new exhibition coming soon… watch www.yorkartgallety.org.uk for details.

Friends of York Art Gallery 70th Anniversary May – September (exact dates to be confirmed)

A new exhibition coming soon… watch www.yorkartgallety.org.uk for details.

Aesthetica Art Prize – York Art Gallery 18 May – 30 Sept 2018

Hosted by Aesthetica Magazine, the Aesthetica Art Prize is a celebration of excellence in art from

across the world. It offers both emerging and established artists the opportunity to showcase their

work to a wider audience, and further their engagement with the international art world. The award

attracts thousands of entries in a range of innovative media from locations as diverse as Australia,

Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.

#onlyinyork Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre – Europe’s first ever pop-up

Shakespearean Theatre comes to York 25 June – 2 September 2018

Plans are afoot to bring a thrilling and unique theatrical experience to York in 2018, when Europe’s

first ever temporary Shakespearean Theatre will be constructed. Inspired by the original and legendary

Rose Theatre in London, which was built in 1587, this new Elizabethan-style theatre will sit beside the

iconic, 13th Century Clifford’s Tower in the heart of the historic city of York. Four of William

Shakespeare’s greatest plays (Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Richard III) will

be performed in repertory in the inaugural, 10-week season in summer 2018. The intimate

environment, as in Shakespeare’s day, will immerse the audience in the action on stage, making the experience an interactive one. www.shakespearesrosetheatre.com

A Personal Collection of Vivienne Westwood Shoes – York Castle

Museum 13 July 2018 – 28 April 2019

A touring exhibition from The Civic, Barnsley - A Personal Collection of Vivienne Westwood Shoes, this

ultimate indulgence shows how a private collector has built this collection over the last 15 years,

choosing them for their innovative attitude towards design and most importantly their passion.

Vivienne Westwood is best known as the creator of punk and new wave fashions as well as for opening

the ‘Sex’ boutique with Malcolm McLaren in the 1970s. This collection of shoes spans the decades from that time.

#onlyinyork York Mediale 27 September – 6 October 2018

Founded as a major international event to celebrate York’s designation as a UNESCO City of Media

Arts, the first biennial York Mediale will take place in autumn 2018. The festival will celebrate,

showcase and demonstrate the world’s leading artists and technologists, and bring the beautiful city

to life with mind blowing art, performances, workshops and installations. Engaging over 100,000

people in cutting edge media arts, the festival will provide a platform for innovative art and technology

to tell York’s stories in places people least expect it. www.cityofmediaarts.com/mediale

Mediale – Strata – York Art Gallery 29 September 2018 – 13 January 2019

An exhibition of cutting edge digital art to coincide with the York Mediale, bringing together leading digital artists from around the world. More details to follow soon…

The BFG in Pictures – York Art Gallery 12 October 2018 – 24 February 2019

The BFG in Pictures is a touring exhibition from House of Illustration – an exhibition of original Quentin

Blake illustrations, prepared for Roald Dahl’s classic story ‘The BFG’. The exhibition contains 40 original

artworks, including unpublished illustrations of The BFG which have never been exhibited in public before.

The illustrations were included in first designs but were not used when the book was published for

the first time in 1982. They provide a unique insight into the character development of one of the

most iconic characters in children's literature. These unpublished illustrations are exhibited alongside

the final illustrations for the book, providing a fascinating insight into the collaboration between author and illustrator, and a glimpse of a BFG that might have been...

Celebrating the end of ‘The Great War’ – Mansion House November 2018

Celebrating the end of ‘The Great War’ is an exhibition highlighting the role of York’s Mansion House

during World War One. Taking visitors on a journey through the house and how it adapted to solely

entertain returning soldiers, their personal accounts and the welcoming of thousands of Belgian

refugees. This is an opportunity to discover the story of the chocolate tins that will be on display for

all to see then head down to the kitchen for a taste of the times. There will be a series of talks, a themed afternoon tea and much more closer to the time.

NEW YorkPass Trail – Georgian Mystery with a YorkPass The Georgian love of gossip and scandal has inspired a new way for residents and visitors alike to

explore the city of York, with the launch of a new mystery prize trail. The Georgian Trail takes visitors

on a circular route around the city centre, enabling them to start at any point, and highlighting points

of interest along the way. Georgian Trailers can use their York Pass to visit key attractions around the

city to solve the Mysterious Case of Emily Price – a local socialite whose fate is shrouded in scandal.

Clues are hidden inside six attractions and outside famous landmarks. www.yorkpass.com/trail

Yorkshire Tour de Phantome Series of paranormal-themed visits and tours has been launched in October 2017 and are attracting

even more visitors to scenic lands of North York Moors and the Yorkshire Coast. Those looking for

spiritual adventure can walk in the footsteps of saints and sinners, and discover the stories of folklore

characters like witches, hobgoblins and spirits of local legends. There are 5 blood-chilling stages within

the Yorkshire tour de Phantome, with each route designed to take in some of the most picturesque

sights of Yorkshire along with iconic venues with significant paranormal history.

www.iscoveryorkshirecoast.com

York Food Scene News

Sara Danesin Medio Supper Club Food enthusiasts are invited to meet Sara Danesin Medio - the MasterChef Finalist 2011 and now a

well-known Chef and Food Consultant – in the heart of the city of York for a supper club evening. Sara

uses region’s amazing variety of ingredients such as Whitby Crab which she skilfully fashions into

seafood ravioli, superb game like wood pigeon, partridge and grouse which are beautifully crafted into

stunning looking dishes. Dinner will prove to be an unforgettable experience with food served in a

relaxed setting of Sara’s beautiful Victorian house against the backdrop of York Minster. The venue is

an experience that is as much about culinary delights as social interaction. The evening features a four

course tasting menu and an opportunity to meet like-minded people from across the city and beyond. For enquiries please email: dmedio@hotmail.co.uk or sara.danesin2@gmail.com

The Ivy Collection spreads its roots to the North of England The famous Ivy Collection restaurant has expanded to the North of England landing their new branch

in York in December 2017. York was handpicked due to its vibrant dining culture and thriving tourist

trade. Located next to York’s famous Mansion House, home to the Lord Mayor of York, The Ivy St

Helen’s Square is a refreshing addition to York’s already exciting food and drink scene. The brasserie

features an all-day dining menu and is open from morning until after midnight every day of the week.

With a bar, terrace and interiors designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the restaurant has a quintessentially British feel and display art representing its York location. www.theivyyork.com

Investment News for 2018

Clifford’s Tower to close for redevelopment early 2018 Plans have been revealed by English Heritage that show the planned development of Clifford’s Tower,

including a visitor centre and viewing platform. It is planned that the Visitor centre will provide access

to a currently hidden 19th century wall that has been inaccessible since 1935. The proposals include

the construction of a timber structure that will enclose much of the tower’s interior and act as a

viewing platform and activity space. The designs were created by Hugh Broughton Architects in

collaboration with conservation specialists, Martin Ashley Architects, after having won a design competition in January 2015. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cliffords-tower-york

York Community Stadium York Community Stadium project involves the creation of a unique combination of sporting, health,

educational facilities. The ‘core’ facility will be an 8,000 all seater stadium which will be shared by

York City Football Club and York City Knights Rugby League Club. The Community Stadium will provide

a high quality new home for York City Football Club and York City Knights Rugby League Club and build

on links to the new leisure facilities provided at the site, which will include newly improved swimming

facilities, gym, dance studio and a sports hall with spectator seating. www.yorkcommunitystadium.co.uk

The Grand Hotel & Spa 100 bedroom expansion A £15 million development project commenced in 2017 at The Grand Hotel & Spa in York – Yorkshire’s

only 5-star hotel – that will see the award-winning venue double its number of guest rooms. The Grade

II listed building will be connected to the adjacent Roman House, creating over 100 additional

bedrooms along with new spaces for meetings and corporate hospitality. Existing guest rooms will all

be refurbished and the Spa will be enlarged with the creation of additional treatment rooms. Due for

completion end of 2017. www.thegrandyork.co.uk

In Other News Growing new audiences for England’s Heritage Product wi th the Discover England Fund:

Using new technology to bring heritage to life this project has been developed to increase the appeal of England’s heritage with the under 35s in the US. Twelve iconic heritage sites and experiences, one in each of England’s Heritage Cities (www.heritagecities.com), have been interpreted using augmented reality. A brand new APP created for the Minster, making the most of many untold and hidden stories brings the Minster to life usi ng AR and video footage. The APP has had over 4,500 downloads to date.

Growing Manchester as an International Gateway to the North, led by Marketing Manchester. This project will increase the volume of visitors coming through Manchester Airport by creating itineraries that showcase the city, and excursions that open up the North of England. Working with destinations, travel trade and the tourism industry and targeting the US market, Marketing Manchester will lead a partnership to maximise the potential of the North of England as an international destination and gateway to the North.

Horseracing – The Sport of Kings. Cheshire West and Chester Council will be leading the project to create experience-led itineraries for visitors from the Middle East, incorporating world-famous race-courses (Ascot, Newmarket, York and Chester) with luxury accommodation offers, in heritage locations.

Key Festivals and Events in 2018…

York has a jam packed programme of events and festivals. See below for more details .

JANUARY 13 Jan York Book Fair 27 – 28 Jan York Residents Festival

FEBRUARY 12 – 18 Feb 34th JORVIK Viking Festival

MARCH 15 – 26 Mar York Literature Festival

3 - 4, 6 - 8, 10 - 11 Mar 60163 Tornado storms into the North Yorkshire Moors Railway 31 Mar – 2 Apr York Model Railway Show

APRIL 30 Mar – 2 Apr York Easter Festival

30 Mar – 2 Apr York Chocolate Festival 16 – 22 Apr York Fashion Week

14 – 15, 21 – 22 Apr York Open Studios 21 – 22 Apr Festival of Vintage

MAY 3 – 6 May Tour de Yorkshire

JUNE 1 – 3 Jun Eboracum Roman Festival

5 – 17 Jun York Festival of Ideas

9 – 10 Jun York Food and Drink Taster Festival 25 Jun – 2 Sep Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre

30 Jun Proms at York Museum Gardens

JULY 5 – 8 Jul Bloom! 6 – 14 Jul York Early Music Festival

7 Jul – 1 Sep York River Art Market 14 – 15 Jul 60’s Fest at North Yorkshire Moors Railway

9 – 29 Jul The Great Yorkshire Fringe 29 Jul Ryedale Rumble

SEPTEMBER 9, 12, 16 Sep York Mystery Plays on Wagons

15 – 16 Sep York National Book Fair

21 – 30 Sep York Food and Drink Festival 28 – 30 Sep York International Balloon Fiesta

OCTOBER 12 – 14 Oct Railway in Wartime at North Yorkshire Moors Railway

27 Sep – 6 Oct York Mediale 27 Oct – 4 Nov Future Engineers at the National Railway Museum

NOVEMBER 7 – 11 Nov Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF)

DECEMBER 16 Nov – 22 Dec York Christmas Festival and St Nicholas Fair

8 – 16 Dec York Early Music Christmas Festival

JANUARY York Book Fair: 13 January 2018

The UK’s largest one day book fair where over 100 booksellers from all over the country gather to

showcase over 40,000 antiquarian, rare and second hand books on every subject. This one day event also offers a wide selection of prints, maps and ephemera.

York Residents Festival: 27 – 28 January 2018

York Residents’ Festival is a chance for local people to explore the city and be a tourist for the weekend

– for free! Organised by Visit York in partnership with the City of York Council, this annual Festival is

our way of saying a HUGE ‘thank you’ for the warm welcome the residents of York give to York’s 7

million visitors. It’s a great way to discover York’s visitor attractions for free and wine and dine using

our discounted offers. This year people will have the chance to explore behind the scenes at places

not usually open to the public and take advantage of some great dining offers.

FEBRUARY #onlyinyork 34th JORVIK Viking Festival: 12 – 18 February 2018

Recognised as the largest Viking Festival in Europe, the annual JORVIK Viking Festival is a citywide

celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage. The festival’s programme of family friendly events, lectures,

guided walks and battle re-enactments attracts over 40,000 visitors from across the globe, with many

returning year after year to take part and enjoy the atmosphere. Inspired by the ancient Viking

celebration of ‘Jolablot’ - a Norse festival that heralded the end of winter hardships and the coming

of spring, this 1,000 year old tradition was long forgotten until York Archaeological Trust, the owners

of JORVIK Viking Centre, brought it back to life in the 1980s.

Returning to York every February Half Term, JORVIK Viking Festival has become a firm fixture in the

York festival calendar. With a wide range of hands-on events and living history on offer throughout

the week, visitors are sure to come face to face with the Vikings of JORVIK during their visit. Other

events planned for the festival include talks and presentations by local experts and visiting authors,

crafting workshops where participants can help make props to go into the new JORVIK displays, city tours and a host of fringe events, from pub walks to films, throughout the city.

MARCH York Literature Festival: 15 – 26 March 2018

In 2018 York Literature Festival will feature a wide range of author-related events, poetry, talks,

workshops and so much more. Over 40 events across the city will see York focus on the written and

spoken word, with some well-known names heading to York to take part. This year highlights will

include a 'History and Historical Fiction Series', some events focused around the theme of 'Speculative

Worlds' and a celebration of 200 Years of Frankenstein. The 2018 festival will also include a number

of other events, such as a dedicated performance strand at York Theatre Royal, the return of the York

Literature Festival HUB celebrating the incredible talent of York, as well as a variety of creative writing

workshops. Venues include York Theatre Royal, York Explore Library, York St John University and St

Peter's School.

60163 Tornado storms into the North Yorkshire Moors Railway: 3 – 4, 6 – 8, 10 – 11 March 2018

Legendary locomotive, 60163 Tornado, will storm in the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in March of

2018. This stunning Peppercorn A1 Pacific class engine has been on a whirlwind of tours since she

began moving under her own steam in 2008 and this year talent spotting teams were quick to select

her to be used in the latest film about a friendly bear from deepest darkest Peru, 'Paddington Bear 2'!

York Model Railway Show: 31 March – 2 April 2018

York Easter Show has expanded to become the North's premier event and, at three days, one of the

longer running Model Railway Shows in the Country. The exact total and blend of exhibitors varies

from year to year but they aim for a total of between 110 and 130 stands including around 40 working

layouts will fill in the Knavesmire Stand at the York Racecourse.

APRIL York Easter Festival: 30 March – 2 April 2018

York has so many activities for all over the Easter Holiday, from egg hunts, special exhibitions and

workshops to outdoor activities. York Minster is the perfect backdrop to experience the spiritual side

of Easter. With a list of concerts and choral music as well as Easter services you will have a truly

inspiring Easter experience.

York Chocolate Festival: 30 March – 2 April 2018; York - Britain’s Home of Chocolate

This Easter themed weekend will give visitors a delicious chocolatey experience in preparation for the

main Food and Drink Festival taking place in Autumn. While other northern cities made their wealth

from wool, cotton and steel, York went its own sweet way and built a city from chocolate. Its rivers

brought in the vital ingredients, while the railways transported the final products at speed around the

country. York has a rich chocolate history with some of the biggest chocolate producers beginning

their production here: Rowntree’s create Kit Kat, Smarties and Aero, while Terry’s came up with the Chocolate Orange. www.yorkchocolatefestival.co.uk

York Fashion Week - Fashion city York: 16 – 22 April

Fashion City York is proud to bring York Fashion Week to the city. The whole city centre will be taken

over with runways, live windows, lectures and more – showcasing York’s fashion scene. From high

street brands and independent retailers, right through to international designers – York Fashion Week is the perfect celebration of fashion, style and creativity.

York Open Studios: 14 – 15 April & 21 – 22 April 2018

York Open Studios is a not-for-profit organisation run by a committee of volunteers for the benefit of

York residents, artists and visitors. Open over two weekends in the spring, organisation aims to

promote, celebrate and encourage participation in the visual arts. York Open Studios offers the chance

to visit artists and makers in their own studios and workshops, discover their passions and inspiration,

share their knowledge and support their engagement with the local community. With studios,

workshops and exhibitions open all over the city, York Open Studios has become a major event and over the years has introduced hundreds of artists to the public.

Festival of Vintage: 21 – 22 April 2018

The ultimate Vintage Festival Celebrating Vintage Music, Vintage Fashion & Vintage Life in the 1930's-

1960's. Visitors are invited to join in with the spirit of the Festival by wearing Vintage Attire and enter the daily Best Dressed Competition.

MAY Tour de Yorkshire: 3 – 6 May 2018

A four-day Tour de Yorkshire has been included in the 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday

3rd and Sunday 6th May. The news will bring far-reaching benefits to the county and further enhance

Yorkshire’s reputation as a world-class cycling destination. The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015

following the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Départ 12 months previously, and it has since

grown to become one of the sport’s best-supported and most exciting races.

JUNE #onlyinyork Eboracum Roman Festival: 1 – 3 June 2018

After the two consecutive years of success of the Eboracum Roman Festival, the festival will return to

York on 1 to 3 June 2018 with a packed programme of displays, exhibits, events and activities suitable

for all ages. There’ll be military parades, siege weapon demonstrations and guided walks. A Roman

camp in the Museum Gardens will showcase domestic Roman life with stalls selling themed gifts.

The Yorkshire Museum is home to some of Britain’s most significant Roman treasures, and there’ll be

activities and workshops in the museum throughout the festival. The museum holds the bones and

skulls of six people who came to Eboracum from all over the Empire, whose remains and possessions

tell us much about how they lived. Other highlights include a sculpture of the head of Constantine and the tombstone of a French soldier for the famous Ninth Legion.

York Festival of Ideas: 5 – 17 June 2018

York Festival of Ideas, organised by the university of York, will return with a wide range of talks and

events on various topics from 5 to 17 June 2018, with the theme ‘Imagining the Impossible’. With

mostly free events, including talks, performances and exhibitions, the Festival delivers events for all

ages and interests. The Festival is now the largest free festival in the UK. Full programme details will

be available in May 2018.

York Taster Festival: 9 – 10 June 2018

An assortment of cuisines from Jamaican to Thai, Greek to Indian, will be available to sample during

the York Taster Festival – better known as the little sister of the York Food and Drink Festival that takes

place in September. Taster might be small, but is still filled with a myriad of different flavours to try.

At the St. Sampson’s Square visitors and residents will be able to participate in food and cocktail

demonstrations, hands on workshops and speciality tastings. While the Parliament Street will offer the best shopping opportunities for locally produced foods, and some fantastic street food.

#onlyinyork Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre: 25 June – 2 September 2018

Inspired by the original and legendary Rose Theatre in London, which was built in 1587, this new

Elizabethan-style theatre will sit beside the iconic, 13th Century Clifford’s Tower in the heart of the

historic city of York. Four of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays (Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s

Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Richard III) will be performed in repertory in the inaugural, 10-week season in summer 2018.

Proms at York Museum Gardens: 30 June 2018

York Museum Gardens will be the stunning backdrop to the inaugural York Proms, an open air picnic

concert celebrating the most popular classical music ever written with a rousing proms finale,

champagne, strawberries and much more. The new event will also raise money for the York Museums

Trust, which operates York Museum Gardens along with York Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum,

York Art Gallery and York St Mary’s in York.

JULY #onlyinyork Bloom! Festival: 5 – 8 July 2018

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Ancient Society of York Florists, the oldest florists’

society still in existence in the world, a new festival, Bloom!, is being planned for historic York in 2018.

The new four-day festival, from 5-8 July, celebrating horticulture and flowers in York, will mark this

milestone with events and installations right across the city. The Ancient Society of York Florists is the

oldest existing horticultural society, predating any other, with records dating back to 1768, when the

society was founded. It is the only society retaining the word 'florists' in its title, which refers back to

the time when only florists' flowers were accepted as exhibits - a florist being a person who grew

flowers for their beauty and not a seller of cut flowers as it is today.

York Early Music Festival: 6 – 14 July 2018

The internationally acclaimed York Early Music Festival had a bumper year in 2017, when it cel ebrated

its 40th anniversary. Attracting the best musicians and performers from around the world to present

musical performances from the 12th - 18th centuries, the 2018 Festival takes place in historic venues

in the medieval City of York. The theme for 2018 is Power and Politics and highlights include Brecon

Baroque directed by violinist Rachel Podger, Gallicantus directed by Gabriel Crouch with the Rose

Consort of Viols and The Sixteen directed by Harry Christophers. There is also a strong focus on

emerging young talent, showcasing ensembles including Prisma; Voces Suaves; Rumorum and BarrocoTout.

Ryedale Rumble: 29 July 2018

The very popular Ryedale Rumble is making its long awaited return to the Sportive calendar on July

29th 2018. Now being run by Ryedale School PTA, to help raise funds for our small but outstanding

school, the Rumble has a few changes of route but essentially is still the same exhilarating and arduous

challenge that it always was. The Ryedale Rumble allows riders of all abilities to e xplore areas of the North York Moors national park, while raising money for Ryedale’s leading secondary school.

York River Art Market: 7 July – 1 September

York River Art Market is a Summer time, city centre, river side arts event which runs each Saturday

10:30am-6pm from 7 July until 1 September. Situated alongside the river Ouse on Dame Judy Dench

Walk, behind the historic Museum Gardens and visible from Lendal Bridge. Artists from all over

Yorkshire and beyond display their unique artworks along the rai lings by the river, creating a wonderful atmosphere which many have compared to the Parisian Left Bank art markets.

York Maze (dates to be confirmed…)

Created from over one million living, growing maize plants, York Maze is not just the largest maze in

the UK it’s an award winning fun filled, day out in the country. With over 20 different rides, attractions and shows to enjoy York Maze offers an amazing fun-filled full family day out.

60’s Fest at North Yorkshire Moors Railway: 14 – 15 July

Visitors are invited to step back to the swinging 60's with live music at all stations along the railway

and a mix of period locomotives and vehicles. Featuring headline 60s acts, alongside the best in local

and regional musicians, the event also includes a showcase of classic 60s cars, memorabilia shops, 60s

hairdos and fancy dress, as well as children’s rides. This year Pickering Station will host a Pop Pirate Radio show, hall of legends exhibit and 60s fashion show.

The Great Yorkshire Fringe: 9 – 29 July 2018

Following a remarkable success, The Great Yorkshire Fringe festival is returning to the heart of

Yorkshire this summer. Starting July 9th, the festival will fill the historic city centre of York with

comedians, musicians, food and drink enthusiasts, as well as residents and visitors, young both in body

and soul. The festival will be back for three weeks from 9 to 29 of July 2018 for another year of music, comedy and theatre. For more information visit www.greatyorkshirefringe.com

SEPTEMBER #onlyinyork York Mystery Plays on Wagons: 9, 12, 16 September 2018

The York Mystery Plays will be staged again in 2018 on pageant wagons in the city’s streets. The York

Mystery Plays are a cultural treasure that the city is rightly proud of. Beyond the religious significance,

they represent the values of community and togetherness as they draw on the talents of local people,

who gladly give their time to present these iconic plays to the people of Yorkshire and beyond. In 2018

for the first time an additional torch-lit evening performance will be held.

York National Book Fair: 14 – 15 September 2018

From modest beginnings with just 20 exhibitors at the White Swan Inn in York in 1974, the York Book

Fair has grown into the largest rare and collectable books fair in the UK. Held over two days, over 220

of the country's leading booksellers offer a breath-taking diversity of books, as well as posters,

ephemera, manuscripts, maps and prints, ranging in price from just a few pounds up to tens of

thousands of pounds. Besides booksellers there will also be bookbinders, paper resto rers, calligraphers and others in the associated trades’ area.

York Food and Drink Festival: 21 – 30 September 2018

York Food and Drink Festival will offer day and evening events from wine tastings, talks and food

tastings to cookery demonstrations and hands on workshops in some of the city’s iconic historic

buildings. A more detailed programme to be confirmed in 2018. www.yorkfoodfestival.com

#onlyinyork York International Balloon Fiesta: 28 – 30 September 2018

The skies of York will be transformed once again this year when the city welcomes its second hot air

balloon festival following the success of last year’s flight. A total of more that 40 hot air balloons, from

all across the UK, will fly across York while a fun packed festival -style weekend takes place below.

Visitors and residents can watch the balloons lift off from the Knavesmire while they explore the

funfair complete with Victorian inspired rides, live music, a beer tent and tasty street food stalls from Yorkshire vendors.

OCTOBER #onlyinyork York Mediale: 27 September – 6 October 2018

Founded as a major international event to celebrate York’s designation as a UNESCO City of Media

Arts, the first biennial York Mediale will take place in autumn 2018. The festival will celebrate,

showcase and demonstrate the world’s leading artists and technologists, and bring the beautiful city

to life with mind blowing art, performances, workshops and installations. Engaging over 100,000

people in cutting edge media arts, the festival will provide a platform for innovative art and technology

to tell York’s stories in places people least expect it. www.cityofmediaarts.com/mediale

Railway in Wartime at North Yorkshire Moors Railway: 12 – 14 October 2018

Visitors and residents alike are invited to relive the amazing spirit and camaraderie of World War II

and enjoy the various re-enactments, entertainment and vehicle displays along the line at Pickering, Le Visham, Goathland and Grosmont Stations.

Future Engineers at the National Railway Museum: 27 October – 4 November (half term)

Taking place over October half term, this popular event returns for a third year promising a bigger and

better programme of free, interactive family activities themed around engineering.

Part of the national ‘year of engineering’, Future Engineers brings together the biggest names in

engineering and the exciting challenges for the next generation of engineers. Last year’s programme

reached more than 40,000 people and highlights included an engineering gameshow, an edu-rapper,

a resident poet and much more.

Future Engineers is suitable for the whole family and includes live demonstrations, hands-on activities and science shows alongside the engineering legends of the steam age such as Mallard.

NOVEMBER Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF): 7 – 11 November 2018

The BAFTA Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) is organised by Aesthetica, an international

art and culture publication. The festival was launched in 2011 and takes place annually at the

beginning of November in York. ASFF champions outstanding filmmaking talent and expands audience

choice by showcasing 300 stunning films from across the world in 18 of the city’s most iconic venues.

The films span a diverse range of genres, including advertising, animation, artists’ film, comedy, dance,

documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video and thriller. 2018 will be the festival’s eighth

year and will be celebrated with an even bigger programme of films and networking opportunities that make the festival a must-attend event for all filmmakers and film fans.

DECEMBER York Christmas Festival and St Nicholas Fair: 16 Nov – 22 Dec 2018

York Christmas Festival takes place annually, now extended to run from mid-November to 23rd

December. The popular St Nicholas Fair in Parliament Street will run for the full 35 days too, with

extended opening times. Snug wooden chalets, dressed with pretty garlands and twinkling lights will

line Parliament Street and extend into St Sampson’s Square. Adding to the festive atmosphere,

stallholders will be selling a range of gifts including jewellery such as Whitby jet, ceramics, homewares,

crafts and Yorkshire produce such as locally made wines and cheeses. www.visityork.org/christmas

York Early Music Christmas Festival: 8 – 16 Dec 2018

York Early Music Christmas Festival is a key part of the Christmas calendar in York, showcasing

beautiful festive early music and performing in the atmospheric surroundings of St Margaret's Church, Walmgate. More details to follow in 2018.

York Races – Various dates

Visit one of the finest racecourses in the country:

Dante Festival – three days of racing in May: 16 – 18 may 2018

May Spring Meeting – York’s first Saturday of 2018: 26 May 2018

June Meeting with Macmillan Charity Raceday: 15 June 2018

Summer Music Saturday: 30 June 2018

John Smith’s Cup Meeting – York’s informal party highlight: 13 July 2018

Music Showcase Weekend – live music & racing combined: 27 – 28 July 2018

Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival inc. Ladies Day: 22 – 25 August 2018

The Press Family Raceday – a Sunday with the family: 9 September 2018

October Finale – last chance to come to York in 2018: 12 – 13 October 2018

#onlyinyork 10 THINGS THAT MAKE YORK SPECIAL

1. York is home to the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe: York Minster. This massive

structure took 250 years to build, from 1220 until its consecration in 1472.

2. York is home to one of the largest railway museums in the world, where visitors can witness the

Tim Peak’s Spacecraft and view the only Japanese Bullet ‘Shinkansen’ train outside of Japan.

3. The best racecourse in Great Britain is right here in York. York Races run from May to October

and attract thousands of visitors each year. Did you know the Romans started racing in York in

208 AD?

4. The biggest Festival of Food and Drink in Great Britain takes place for ten days here in

September.

5. You can visit JORVIK – the only attraction of its kind that is based on a real archaeological dig.

York was the trading hub of the Viking world and the authenticity of JORVIK makes it unique. It

attracts millions of tourists and has become one of Britain’s top visitor attractions.

6. Britain’s Home of Chocolate has a long history of chocolate making since 1725. Both Rowntree’s

(now Nestlé) and Terry’s (now owned by Mondelēz International) started here, and Kit Kat is the

biggest seller, with around 5 million Kit Kats being produced in York every day. Visit York’s

Chocolate Story to find out more!

7. We have two of the country’s most beautiful national parks right on our doorstep – the Yorkshire

Dales and the North York Moors. The North York Moors Steam Railway at Goathland was the

location for the first Harry Potter film.

8. The Treasurer’s House in York was in the Guinness Book of Records for having the ‘Ghosts of

Greatest Longevity’. Built over the main Roman thoroughfare leading into York, the house was

the site of a remarkable apparition in the 1950s when ghostly centurions wandered through the

cellar along the Roman road. This is just one of the sightings in York and it’s been named

Europe’s most haunted city. There are a number of ghost walks to choose from.

9. York has the longest and best preserved city walls in England.

10. Finally don’t forget there are a lot of new things in the city. If you haven’t visited for a year or

two you will find a multitude of new bars, cafés and award-winning restaurants.

THE CULTURE VULTURE’S ADVENTURE

1. Marvel at astonishing artwork and ceramics at York Art Gallery – now also home to the Centre

of Ceramic Art.

2. Strut the catwalk with York Castle Museum’s ‘Shaping the Body’ exhibition

3. Immerse yourself in York's past at the Yorkshire Museum

4. See if you can catch the famous Flying Scotsman at the National Railway Museum that is going

on a tour around the UK this year

5. Enjoy recreated Viking-age streets for the sights, sounds and smells of JORVIK Viking Centre

6. Envisage life in the air force at the Yorkshire Air Museum

7. Imagine yourself in “Brideshead Revisited” at Castle Howard

8. Discover the York Guilds at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

9. Seek out the cat statues located on York’s historic buildings

10. Walk the entire length of the medieval city walls

11. Spoil yourself with designer goods at York Designer Outlet

12. Roar with laughter at the Great Yorkshire Fringe Festival (July)

13. Relax in York's Botanical Museum Gardens

14. Place your bets on a world class winner at York Racecourse

THE FOODIE’S ADVENTURE

1. Cook up a feast at the York Cookery School

2. Indulge in champagne afternoon tea

3. Decorate a chocolate lollipop at York’s Chocolate Story

4. Learn how real ale is made on a tour of York Brewery

5. Tickle your taste buds at the York Food and Drink Festival

6. Experience award-winning afternoon tea at the National Railway Museum’s Countess of York

7. Discover shops full of delicious treats on the Shambles

8. Treat yourself to fresh Yorkshire produce at Shambles Market

9. Try fine real ale and Yorkshire puds at the Walmgate Ale House

10. Head to the Star Inn the City for a menu of renowned local dishes

11. Conspire with fellow plotters as you dine at the Guy Fawkes Inn

12. Enjoy fine fodder at the Hairy Fig deli & café, Fossgate

13. Learn some cooking tricks from MasterChef finalist Sara Danesin Medio

14. Master the art of making delicious chocolates from scratch at York Cocoa House

15. Take in views of the city walls in the Lamb & Lion beer garden

THE HISTORY LOVER’S ADVENTURE

1. Get lost in the city’s ginnels and snickelways

2. Be enthralled at York Minster’s Evensong

3. Solve the Georgian Mystery with the YorkPass trail

4. Steal a kiss under the Heart of Yorkshire window at York Minster

5. Experience the era of steam at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and National Railway

Museum

6. See world heritage at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

7. Join the quest to find the missing diamond jewels at Fairfax House

8. Dress up as a vicious Viking at the JORVIK Viking Festival (in February)

9. Be an explorer at Whitby's Captain Cook Memorial Museum

10. Journey into over 2000 years of horrible history at York Dungeon

11. Check out all things Roman at the Roman Bath House

12. Peek through York Cold War Bunker’s blast-proof doors

13. Hide inside a priest hole at England's oldest living convent

14. Explore Byland Abbey, once one of the great northern monasteries

15. Immerse yourself in the story of York Minster on a guided tour

THE THRILL SEEKER’S ADVENTURE

1. Place your bets at York Racecourse and watch your winning horse come in

2. Discover the darker side of York on the Ghost Bus Tour

3. Explore York from the river in your own motorboat at York City Cruises

4. Meander across bridleways and tracks on a rural cycling tour

5. Lose your way in Europe’s biggest maize York Maze

6. Scare yourself on a ghost walk in Europe’s most haunted city

7. Roam through hidden streets with York Cycling Tours

8. Fly through the trees at Dalby Forest on a zip-wire at Go Ape

9. Come face to face with sharks at The Deep in Hull

10. See falcons fly overhead at the National Centre for Birds of Prey

11. Challenge yourself on the high ropes at the Web Adventure Park

12. Get your bounce on at Energi York trampoline park

13. Beat the clock in a live room escape game at Gr8 Escape

14. Enter the cockpit of an F1 car at York Motorsports Village

15. Board a York City Cruises Ghost Cruise if you dare….

16. Boost your adrenaline on a day out with Lost Earth Adventures

17. Experience astronaut Tim Peake’s dramatic journey back to earth in brand-new VR simulator

at the National Railway Museum

19 ideas for your stay in York...

In this section, we look at different travellers and their motivations for looking for a different holiday

destination, and then explain why York is perfect for each of them. This is just to whet your appetite!

1. York’s English Gardens

Outdoor inspiration, from window box to stately home

York and its surroundings have so many gardens from fields of lavender to banks of daffodils, cottage

gardens to vegetable plots, and bluebell woods to wide open parklands. To combine green fingered

delights with some of the best views of Yorkshire – all within an hour’s drive of the centre of York

visit…

…the UK’s biggest National Collection of hardy Waterlilies at Burnby Hall Gardens.

…the UK’s longest and one of Europe’s longest double herbaceous borders at Newby Hall and

Gardens.

…one of England's most comprehensive collections of modern roses (over 2,000 varieties),

plus an Arboretum linked to Kew Gardens at Castle Howard.

…RHS Harlow Carr, the most northern of the RHS’ four gardens. Visit the ‘Gardens Through

Time’, the Alpine House or the Kitchen Garden.

…York’s own Botanical Gardens and also Goddard’s garden – at the former home of chocolate

entrepreneur, Noel Terry.

…the multi Award-Winning Yorkshire Lavender Farm. The farm awaits for everyone to relax in

the spectacular hillside plot of nearly 60 acres, within the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding

Natural Beauty.

…Rowntree Park designed by Frederick Rowntree which occupies 30 acres on the south bank

of the River Ouse, designed around a large lake, with grassland, trees and colourful

flowerbeds. The park also includes a memorial to the workers of the Rowntree factory who

fought in the First World War.

…Bishopthorpe Palace gardens, which were established in the 11th century beside the River

Ouse. The historical features include an almost 800 year old fishpond, a folly, rare trees and

spectacular displays of spring flowers and rhododendrons. There’s also a Garden of

Remembrance for Diana, Princess of Wales. The Palace Gardens are not open to the public,

but can be hired for private functions.

...the penguins at Harewood House! There aren’t many gardens in the UK where you can see

penguins walking around, but there is one near York – Harewood Gardens have penguins,

owls, flamingos and even parrots! It truly is a sanctuary to exotic species.

…Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens. Stillingfleet offers a variety of workshops and talks on how to

manage and create beautiful gardens.

For a different take on gardening you could visit the Rose Window at York Minster.

2. York for culture vultures

York has been the cultural heart of England for over 2000 years. With a year round programme of

festivals and events, there’s something for everyone around every corner…

The streets surrounding York Minster, King’s Manor and St William’s College are steeped in an

unmistakeably intellectual, academic atmosphere. This has been a place of historians, of

archaeological and religious study, of choristers, of book publishing, of scholarly endeavour -

for hundreds of years.

York’s museums (Yorkshire Museum and York Castle Museum) display the city’s wealth of

historical and artistic treasures, from Roman times to York’s genteel Georgian days.

York Art Gallery is remarkable for its collection of important European paintings spanning

seven centuries, with works by Bellotto, Reynolds, Lowry and York-born William Etty.

The Centre of Ceramic Arts (CoCA) is the new gallery home to a collection of more than 5,000

examples of British Studio Ceramics from throughout the twentieth century right up to the

present day.

Cultural offerings range from medieval music in the Minster to challenging drama, world music

and innovative venues and showcases for new artists of all kinds.

The packed programmes at the Grand Opera House and York Theatre Royal range from grand

opera and classical ballet to Stomp and Soul Explosion.

Concerts at the National Centre for Early Music feature folk, jazz, 20th century and world

music as well as Britain’s premier festival of early music every year.

Events and festivals reflect the cultural nature of any city and York is no exception. The Festival

of Ideas features more than enough talks and discussions on various topics from science and

human nature to literature and history. York Minster services and concerts, the annual York

Early Music Festival and even the many buskers on York’s streets all make York a perfect place

for music lovers.

City Screen York is one of Britain’s Picture House cinemas. As well as screening arthouse,

independent and quality mainstream films, the Basement Bar hosts diverse music, poetry and

comedy events plus a regular film quiz night.

Art of Protest Gallery is a place where the cultural production born of this reality break

through to everyday conversations outside of the established art arenas. It pushes these

conversations beyond the borders of country, religion, class and social media groups, and

illuminates the common ground that we all stand on through the prism of visual culture.

3. City of UNESCO Media Arts

The city of York received one of the world’s most sought-after accolades in 2014…and for good

reason!

With an emphasis on ensuring everybody in the city benefits from the ‘UNESCO City of Media Arts’

designation, York is currently putting into action an ambitious and inclusive plan to encourage even

more participation and enjoyment of the arts in many different forms.

York is already a leading destination for creative and digital businesses: it is the largest growth area of

the city’s economy, benefiting from significant investment in supporting infrastructure in recent years,

including the £20 million Ron Cooke Hub for creative enterprise and the new £30 million Heslington

Studios at the University of York. This attracts both extraordinary entrepreneurs and outstanding

talent, helping to create the thriving cultural scene for which it is famed. In October 2018 a new

international media arts festival – Mediale – is taking place to celebrate York’s UNESCO city of media

arts accreditation.

If you fancy using your iPad or smartphone instead of old maps and guides, there are more than

enough apps to use in York:

York Museums Trust has three free history trails apps for your mobile.

English Heritage Cities App – developers have placed special “trigger points” that uncover

augmented-reality displays - showing features on the smartphone screen ‘on site’ at the

historic venues around the country - 3D reconstructions, and 360-degree panoramas that tell

the unique stories associated with the sites, which includes York Minster.

CityConnect Wi-Fi in York is a free public Wi-Fi service that is available 24/7, 365 days a year

and has been designed and managed by Pinnacl Solutions.

‘Cycle Yorkshire Ride the Routes’ is an innovative mobile app designed around the Yorkshire

stages of the Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire. It encompasses information on the

routes, hints and tips on how to cycle specific sections and general rural cycling road safety

advice.

The York Churches app shows the whereabouts of all York's churches on a GPS-enabled map,

plus a quick intro to them, their history and crucially their current life.

4. York for history buffs

‘The history of York is the history of England’– King George VI

It’s true; little things really do say a lot as York’s collection of curious objects demonstrates. The

fascinating facts they reveal speak volumes about the ancient city, which is home to many of the

country’s rarest treasures.

Captain Scott of the Antarctic’s tin of cocoa - this treasured home comfort was found beside

the frozen explorer’s remains. It survived one of the world’s most famed and daring

expeditions and is now back in the city it was made in. See it at York’s Chocolate Story.

Unusual artefacts made by German and Turkish prisoners of war - including a glass bead snake

from WWI, a ship in a bottle, a cigarette case made of aluminium and a duck toy. See them at

Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum which is housed within an original prisoner of

war camp.

The York Helmet - the most outstanding object of the Anglo-Saxon period to survive in Europe.

Dated to approximately 750 to 775AD, this iron and brass helmet was discovered when struck

by the claw of a mechanical digger – luckily the operator stopped to check what had been hit.

See it at the Yorkshire Museum.

The Horn of Ulf - The Chapter of York, which remains the guardian of York Minster, was given

the land on which York Minster and its precincts stand by a Viking nobleman called Ulf, who

owned a significant estate around York. As a symbolic deed of trust, he presented the Chapter

with a large and ornate ivory horn, the Horn of Ulf. See it in the Minster’s new Undercroft

exhibition.

The National Railway Museum houses the world’s finest collection of royal carriages including

Queen Victoria’s last surviving saloon car. Built in 1869 this carriage is lavishly furnished and

included luxuries such as an onboard toilet (which she never used).

The only known surviving example of a Viking-age knitted sock is on display at JORVIK Viking

Centre (form 8 April), alongside a host of everyday items and relics that provide an unrivalled

insight into Viking life.

A Roman hairpiece from the late 3rd to early 4th century – this exceptionally rare hairpiece

was discovered in York and probably belonged to a girl who was in her mid-teens when she

died. The bun of auburn hair was found with two jet hairpins in a stone coffin.

One of the finest pieces of Gothic jewellery found in Britain – the Middleham jewel and ring.

A member of the powerful Neville family whose home was based at Middleham Castle may

possibly have had this fantastic jewellery made by one of London’s famous goldsmiths. See it

at the Yorkshire Museum.

5. York and famous historical characters

Septimius Severus, the African-born Roman emperor, died in Eboracum in 211. Septimius was

an intimate friend of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Some say he may have e ven had a part

in Commodus’ murder!

Guy Fawkes, the famous Gunpowder Plotter was born and baptised in York. He was baptised

at St Michael le Belfrey church in 1570, which still stands there, right across the road from

York Minster.

Margaret Clitherow, wife of a Shambles butcher, was crushed to death for harbouring Catholic

priests in 1586. Today her house is a shrine (located in the Shambles) and Margaret is revered

as a martyr. Her hand, which was cut off after her death, is kept in the Bar Convent Museum.

Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor was declared emperor in York

306AD.

George Hudson, the Railway King was born near York in 1800 and was a Councillor, Alderman,

Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of York.

Dick Turpin, the famous dashing highwayman, was imprisoned and stayed at the Castle

Museum until being hanged at York Racecourse in 1739.

Alcuin, the famous Anglo-Saxon scholar, was educated at York’s cathedral school around 750,

he was a major figure of York’s ‘Dark Ages’.

Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking warrior and the King of York, ruled over York for 14 years until being

expelled in 954 and later murdered. He was most certainly representative of the bloodiest

characters in York’s bloody history.

6. York has over 48 medieval churches

A treasure-trove of medieval churches and their stories

‘York has England’s finest set of medieval town churches. It has also been successful in bringing them back to

life … and … they remain a wonderful complement to York Minster, evoking some sense of an English city in the

late Middle Ages, each neighbourhood owing allegiance to an often tiny place of worship, enclosed by lanes

and alleys.’

From England’s Thousand Best Churches, by Simon Jenkins.

Yes, throughout times York has had more than 48 churches, some of them long gone. Today, 19

medieval churches are still standing and regular services continue to be held in the majority of them.

The following gives a flavour of what you can see:

York Minster - second in importance only to Canterbury Cathedral in the Church of England,

its spires dominate York’s skyline. The largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, taking 250

years to build, and nearly 200 feet high, it has more original medieval stained glass than any

other church in England (the East Window is the size of a tennis court), and endless examples

of master craftsmanship.

Holy Trinity, Goodramgate: truly a hidden gem, the second oldest of York’s medieval churches

with original box pews and rare 15th century stained glass.

Holy Trinity, Micklegate: once a substantial priory. The city’s stocks remain in the churchyard

today.

All Saints, Pavement: outstanding features include a 13th century knocker on the door, a 15th

century lectern and a 17th century pulpit from which John Wesley preached.

All Saints, North Street: has the finest medieval stained glass of all York’s churches, in

particular the window from 1425 which depicts the 15 signs of the end of the world, which

was at that time expected to occur in 1500.

St Michael-le-Belfrey, High Petergate: home to the baptismal record of Guy Fawkes.

The Spurriergate Centre is the only café with a full peel of bells.

…And some you can’t see anymore:

All Saints, Fishergate was built in or before the 11th century and fell into disuse after the

dissolution of the Monasteries. By 1549 the church had disappeared.

Holy Trinity on King’s Square was rebuilt in the 19th century, but closed in 1886. It housed a

small flock of sheep in 1896 and was then demolished in 1937. You can still see some of the

gravestones from its churchyard near the top of the Shambles.

St Benet was built on the corner of Swinegate and back Swinegate in 1154 and was demolished

around 1300.

St George on Fishergate was in a ruinous state by 1644. Its churchyard along with Dick Turpin’s

gravestone has survived.

St Wilfrid church used to be on Blake Street. The church was suppressed in 1585, but the name

was revived in 1760 for a Roman Catholic chapel on a different site and in 1802 it was rebuilt

in Duncombe Place where the present St Wilfrid replaced it in 1864.

7. Taste York

Visit great restaurants… with plenty to fill in the time between meals, too!

Yorkshire folk take their food and drink seriously which is probably why Yorkshire now boasts the

largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants than any other county in England outside of London.

So it’s no surprise that as Yorkshire’s ancient capital, York flies the flag for good food and drink in

the region:

One of York’s ‘Foodie Streets’ is Fossgate (you’ll find lots of independent restaurants here)

York Food and Drink Festival, held every September is the largest event of its kind in the UK,

and a massive showcase for the restaurants, hotels, shops and food manufacturing

companies.

The Yorkshire pudding has been voted the top Yorkshire icon (above the Minster and the

Yorkshire Dales: Dalesman Survey 2014) – you can learn how to make one on a cookery course

in York.

York’s world-renowned tea rooms Bettys Café Tea Rooms – are simply the place to sample a

Yorkshire Fat Rascal and a ‘proper’ cup of tea.

York has around 40 Fair Trade cafés and restaurants.

York’s award-winning food and drink suppliers include The Balloon Tree and Demijohn.

York’s award-winning chefs include Roux-trained Michael Hjort at Melton’s and Andrew Pern

at Star Inn The City.

Visit the Countess of York - officially the UK’s best afternoon tea (Visit England) inside a

beautifully restored carriage at the National Railway Museum

If you can’t go to Italy, Italy will come to you... at Roberto Italian Gelato café near Monkgate

Bar on Goodramgate.

Anyone who fancies a true gourmet pint should visit one of the many beer houses including

the House of Trembling Madness (a medieval drinking hall) and Stein Bier Keller (German beer

keller).

You can take a tour of the local craft breweries with Brew York

Find the exotic looking black cheddar at the independent cheese shop on Gillygate – Love

Cheese. If black cheddar is not really your thing there is a core selection of around 65 cheeses

which are kept in stock all the time. This covers the classics such a Keen's Mature Cheddar,

Brie De Meaux, Cropwell Bishop Stilton and around 25 delicious Yorkshire cheeses!

For more information about food and drinks in York please see our Taste York media pack or

www.visityork.org/food

8. York for chocoholics

York – Britain’s home of Chocolate is the perfect place for chocoholics!

When it comes to chocolate, there really is no place like York. You can literally eat, breathe and sleep

it. York’s reputation as the city of chocolate dates back to the 20th century when two of the most

famous names in chocolate set up shop: Joseph Rowntree went on to create Kit Kat, Smarties and

Aero, and Joseph Terry the Chocolate Orange and All Gold collection. Today York’s love of chocolate

is as strong as ever and can be experienced in numerous attractions, restaurants and shops around

the city. If you’re seeking extra helpings of cocoa there’s even an annual spring chocolate festival

complete with a ‘chocolate market’ showcasing local chocolate makers’ creations, and also chocolate

tastings and workshops.

York’s unique chocolate experiences include:

York’s Chocolate Story - one of York’s biggest visitor attractions celebrates the mouth-

watering story of chocolate and confectionery in York. Discover chocolate's origins, how to

make it and how to taste it like an expert.

York Chocolate Trail - a chocolate-themed walking trail with sweet treats at every turn.

Following the footsteps of Joseph Rowntree on the Rowntree Trail.

Chocolate-making workshop – York offers a range of practical courses from the city’s experts

including chocolatier Sophie Jewett at York Cocoa House. Learn how to make your own

chocolate to show off and share.

Goddard’s – home to the Terry family - visit this former arts and crafts-style family home built

in the 1920s with a perfect view from the beautifully secluded gardens across the Knavesmire

to the former iconic Terry’s chocolate factory.

Book your hotel stay with one of the hotels offering a Chocolate Break, you can choose from

Hotel Indigo or The Limes.

You can often breathe in the scent of chocolate as you walk through the streets – York’s

chocoriffic experience that has absolute ly no calories! If you’d like to track the delicious

chocolate smell follow @YorkChocAroma on Twitter and see maps highlighting the likely

coverage based on wind speed and direction.

For more information on chocolate please see our Chocolate York media kit or

www.visityork.org/chocolate

9. York for music lovers

York’s thriving music scene includes big name acts and local artists

York has many strings to its bow when it comes to music and can play along to anyone’s favourite

tune. As well as musical events such as the annual York Early Music Festival and York Minster’s services

and concerts all mentioned in the cultural ideas section of this pack, a big part of York’s music scene

belongs to its diverse range of street performers and bands who make music free and accessible across

the city and its pubs, clubs and restaurants. These include:

The red piano playing busker who has had more than 230,000 hits on YouTube seen playing

one of his original tunes, ‘Chokin' Boogie’

‘Encouraging the Loony’ plays at the Victoria Vaults on the first Tuesday of every month. This

‘loud and proud’ band performs a mix of comedy and ‘going for it’ music, playing everything

from boogie-woogie to Rachmaninov, Tom Jones to The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin to Herbie

Hancock and Scot Joplin.

Ed Alleyne-Johnson is a British electric violinist and prolific busker. He has been busking since

he was a Fine Art student at Oxford University in the early 1980s and uses an electric violin

that he carved with a kitchen knife, a custom pedal-board, and an amplifier which he modified

to run off rechargeable batteries. This setup has enabled him to perform on the street in

almost every major city in Europe, and across the United States and Canada.

The Voice contestant Beth McCarthy is one of York’s popular buskers.

Music at the National Centre for Early Music ranges from folk, jazz, 20th century and world

music, plus Britain’s premier festival of early music every year.

The Nook is a small cosy café that changes into a bohemian bar with great cocktails (and good

prices!) with open-mic evenings every Friday, where young Yorkies share their talent with

everyone in the café.

Ryedale Jazz Festival takes place in venues across Pickering and is run by Ryedale Jazz Society,

which was founded with the aim of introducing traditional jazz to younger audiences as well

as ensuring that enthusiasts have opportunities to enjoy performers from all over the country.

On a final musical note, Yorkshire’s favourite spring sound is birds singing. In a poll of over

2,000 people, of those living in Yorkshire, the National Trust found that 70% declared that

birdsong was their favourite sound of spring.

10. York for film lovers

Choose one of York’s cinemas for a memorable film experience:

City Screen York is one of Britain’s Picture House cinemas. As well as screening arthouse,

independent and quality mainstream films, the Basement Bar also hosts a regular film quiz

night.

Brandy Brown’s Cinema at 1331 is a luxurious attic cinema full of atmosphere with all of the

mod cons. There are 18 fully reclining leather armchairs and several comfy beanbags. The

cinema can also be hired out for private screenings!

Famous actors from York:

Dame Judi Dench, one of the finest, best-known and best-loved English actresses, was born in

York in 1934. She attended the Mount School.

David Bradley, the cadaverous caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films, is from York.

David has also had a glittering theatre career and played God in the 1976 York Mystery Plays.

Mark Addy, the insecure security guard Dave in The Full Monty, Fred Flintstone in 'Flintstones

in Las Vegas’, and more recently the King of the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones was born and

bred in York.

Ian Kelsey, best known as Dave Glover in the popular English soap television programme

Emmerdale or as Dr Patrick Spiller in Casualty was born in York in 1972.

Filmed in York:

The Water Babies (1978) – City of York

Brideshead Revisited (1981, 2008) – Castle Howard

Elizabeth (1998) – York Minster

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) – York Railway Station

Mansfield Park (2007) – Newby Hall

Death Comes to Pemberley (2013) – Castle Howard, York Minster, St William’s College,

Treasurer’s House, York Castle Museum, County Court House, Harewood House

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (2015) – York Minster, St William’s College

Victoria (2016) - Castle Howard, Harewood House

Girlfriends (2017) – By Kay Mellor – TV Drama

11. York and Crafts

York has many hidden crafty shops, cafés and even a trail to follow!

At Shambles Market you can find something to use to be crafty yourself, or get wonderful and

original hand-made presents.

The Viking Loom stocks an eclectic mix of products embracing quality, colour, shape, texture

and variety. Our favourites are the top quality beads from all over Europe in all sorts of colours

and shapes. They also have a wide selection of different fabrics delivered regularly.

Grace & Jacobs is a small business offering beautiful textiles and materials, wool, jelly rolls and

much more.

Did you just love Jack Sparrow’s jacket buttons in the Pirates of the Caribbean? Look no further

than Coppergate in York. Duttons for Buttons equipped the whole Pirates of the Caribbean

with buttons!

Ramshambles offers a variety of York wool for knitters.

The Arts Shop has craft and art material for the professional, serious amateurs and for leisure

painters.

York Art Gallery is remarkable for its collection of important European paintings spanning

seven centuries, with works by Bellotto, Reynolds, Lowry and York-born William Etty.

The Centre of Ceramic Arts (CoCA) is the new gallery home to a collection of more than 5,000

examples of British Studio Ceramics from throughout the twentieth century right up to the

present day.

York is brilliant for inspiration, nestled in the streets around the city are so many crafty shops

offering everything from knitting to stitching and from papercrafts to beading. To find all the

shops download the York Crafters Trail on www.visityork.org or pick one up from the Visitor

Information Centre on 1 Museum Street.

12. York for bookworms

York is like a literary classic – a page turner you just can’t put down

You can’t judge a book by its cover but a novel way of learning about York is through its rich literary

connections.

Walk the walls and hear the Minster Bells in the footsteps of Grace Trewe in ‘Times Echo’ by

Pamela Hartshorne.

Stay a night at the Bloomsbury Guesthouse which is named after The Bloomsbury Literary

Group who met in York between 1904 up to 1939/the Second World War.

2017 - Celebrate 110 years since the birth of W.H. Auden, who was born in York

See the real-life Museum which inspired Ruby Lennox’s character in Kate Atkinson’s ‘Behind

the Scenes at the Museum’ and stop for a coffee in Bettys which won the praise of fictional

detective Jackson Brodie in another of Kate Atkinson's books ‘Started Early, Took My Dog’.

Immerse yourself in the stories of ‘The Sweethearts, York’s Chocolate Girls’ at York’s

Chocolate Story, by Lynn Russell and Neil Hanson.

Look for the perfect dress in the vintage shops of York and fulfil the dream of Ella Moreno in

Sophie’s Nicholls’ novel ‘The Dress’, perhaps the dress you choose will have its own story!

Soak up the riverside views from Skeldergate Bridge, an area of the city described in great

detail by Wilkie Collins, a friend of Charles Dickens, in his novel ‘No Name’.

Stroll down Stonegate, one of York’s prettiest streets, where the first two volumes of Sterne’s

landmark ‘Tristram Shandy’ were printed, and look out for the printer’s Red Devil which sits

on number 33, a former printers, and serves as a lasting reminder of when Stonegate was

famous as a centre of books and publishing in the 16th century.

See the building on Piccadilly where Neville Shute, who wrote a number of famous novels

including ‘On The Beach’ and ‘A Town Like Alice’, worked as an aeroplane designer.

Follow in the footsteps of the Henry VIII royal progress to York, and see the sights that remain

a reminder of the turbulent history at what is left of St Mary’s Abbey in York Museum Gardens,

as depicted in C J Sansom’s historical mystery ‘Sovereign’, the third novel in his ‘Matthew

Shardlake Series’.

Explore the birthplace of Daniel Defoe's world-famous character Robinson Crusoe who was

born in York in 1632.Books can also be used in York like an archaeological tool to peel away

layer upon layer of the city’s history and reveal hidden literary treasures such as:

One of the highest concentrations of rare, second-hand, and antiquarian booksellers in the

country

Europe's largest annual National Book Fair, held each September at York Racecourse

York Literature Festival (March)

The mystery of the Great Lost Library of Alcuin

York Minster’s library, one of the oldest in the country, which includes the York Gospels, over

1000 years old and still used today. Stained-glass windows were also the medieval equivalent

of a book, making stories from the Bible accessible for their congregations – and York Minster

has more than most, with 65% of the UK’s medieval stained-glass and some of the world’s

most important examples of stained-glass artistry

Did you know? York's literary connections:

Famous literary visitors to York include Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Daniel Defoe, Virginia

Woolf, and the Brontë sisters.

Authors born or educated in York include Kate Atkinson, Margaret Drabble, AS Byatt and WH

Auden.

Authors who have made York their home include John Baker, Fiona Shaw, Matt Haig, Pamela

Hartshorne and Kate Lock. Numerous poets currently inhabit the city, including Oz Hardwick,

Carole Bromley, Anneliese Emmans-Dean, Henry Raby, Steve Nash and Abi Curtis.

Current York authors of note include: Matt Haig, who has found commercial success with ‘The

Radleys’, a book about a family of vampires who live in Bishopthorpe and was commended by

Stephen Fry on Twitter in 2014 for his book ‘The Humans’; John Baker, who has written various

novels set in York, usually of a crime nature; Nuala Casey, who has had two crime novels

published recently; Sophie Coulombeau, whose debut novel ‘Rites’ came out in 2012; and Jack

Mapanje, who hails from Malawi but now lives in New Earswick. His autobiography ‘And

Crocodiles Are Hungry at Night’ was published in 2011. His poetry has been published by

Bloodaxe books, one of the UK's leading poetry publishers.

Jack Sheffield has written a nostalgic humorous story Silent Night about a headmaster Jack

returning for an eighth year to the village primary school in Ragley-on-the-Forest (an

amalgamation of Huby and Sutton-on-the-Forest) in 1984. It is the era of the miner’s strike,

Trivial Pursuit, Band Aid and Cabbage Patch Dolls. Their school choir is to sing a carol in a

church in York, and is going to be on television. Helping to keep his excited children, not to

mention their parents, under control during these momentous events taxes Jack and his staff

to the limit. And at the same time, Jack has his own problems to deal with.

13. York for shopaholics

A centre of trade since Roman times, York still excels at providing retail therapy for shopaholics of

every type

With more than 2,000 shops, shopping is one of York’s main attractions . The fantastic range of unique

independent and designer shops so perfectly intertwined with magnificent attractions, pedestrianised

streets and peaceful havens make shopping in York an experience in itself. The city centre has a vast

array of shops – many of them unique to York – selling everything from fine china and heraldic art to

handcrafted souvenirs, unusual books, antiques and designer clothes. And, of course, they sit

alongside York’s magnificent historical buildings, so shopping and sightseeing are easily combined.

The Coppergate Centre is the only shopping centre within the city walls, home to not only the JORVIK

Viking Centre, but York’s premier department store, Fenwick, which features a host of designer labels

from MAC cosmetics to Mulberry handbags and the latest fashions from Paul Smith to Vivienne

Westwood. There are bargains galore at the city centre’s only Primark, and specialist stores from The

Whisky Shop to Castle Fine Art.

Just outside the city is York Designer Outlet (over 120 stores with up to 50% off all the labels you love,

including Armani Collections, Coast, LK Bennett, Hobbs and Jaeger) and Monks Cross shopping for a

huge TX Maxx, Outfit and Laura Ashley.

York’s shopping streets at a glance:

The Shambles - one of the best preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe and awarded

the title of most picturesque street in Britain in the Google Street View Awards. Some of the

beautiful old buildings still have exterior wooden shelves, reminders of when cuts of meat

were served from the open windows.

Stonegate - leads to the Minster from St Helen’s Square, and was originally the ‘Via Pretoria’,

or principal road of Roman York. One of York’s prettiest streets, it boasts some fantastic

medieval and Georgian architecture.

Swinegate Quarter - a stone’s throw from the Minster, in the former medieval swine -market

and red light district, this area is made up of Little Stonegate, Back Swinegate and Grape Lane

(for obvious reasons once known as Grope Lane). Cobbled streets, snickleways, the city’s

oldest print works and the famous medieval Barley Hall add to its character.

Goodramgate – dates from the 14th century and is home to the oldest row of houses in York,

and possibly the country.

Petergate - named after the Minster, which is dedicated to St Peter. It started life as one of

the main streets through a massive fortress housing 5,600 Roman soldiers in AD71.

Coney Street - York’s most modern shopping street runs along the course of a former Roman

road, which lay just outside the Roman fortress and almost parallel to the eastern bank of the

River Ouse.

Fossgate - home of the fish market in medieval times it was also known as Tricksters Lane after

the unscrupulous traders who set up shops there. These days it is far more respectable,

although it retains a certain bohemian charm. Mysterious tunnels in Fossgate, discovered

when a pub was demolished in the early 1960s, are now thought to be the Roman Sewer

System.

Shops to try:

Northern Antiques - Northern Antiques of York specialises in quality antique pottery,

porcelain, glass and silver and other antiques, dealing primarily in 17th, 18th and early 19th

century stock, with a range of antiques to suit most tastes and budgets.

Kathe Wohlfahrt - Käthe Wohlfahrt boasts an extensive range of products are candles,

Christmas tree decorations, nativity scenes and nutcrackers. All products are made from hand

and with only limited numbers available, stock sells out very quickly. The shop is open all year

long and boasts the world's largest selection of traditional German Christmas ornaments.

Love Thy Interiors – A family run business offering beautiful furniture and stunning accessories

for your home.

Hairy Fig – ‘Purveyors of Fine Fodder’ - quirky deli with lots of local produce to buy.

Monkbar Chocolatiers – Artisan chocolatiers - chocolates are made on the premises and

customers can see the various stages of production.

York Antiques Centre – featuring five showrooms spread over three floors and over one

hundred dealers from all over the country, the shop stocks a hugely diverse range of antiques

and vintage items, catering for all tastes and covering many periods from Ancient Rome to

Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco through to contemporary.

Red House Antiques Centre - 18th century former town house, situated in the heart of the city

centre at Duncombe Place. It is a Grade 2 listed building which was constructed in 1700 for Sir

William Robinson, Lord Mayor of York, and is reputed to be designed by William Etty.

Occupying 3 floors Red House offers 10 showrooms on 3 floors, including a dedicated vintage

room in the attic.

Minstergate Books – you can find anything in there from old country maps to the newest copy

of number one crime thrillers.

Stonegate Teddy Bears - The finest Teddy Bears available, featuring the ever popular Charlie

Bear collection and the stunning Steiff range, there are bears for every taste.

The Inkwell – a small shop specialising in vinyl records and pop culture oddities. A true

hipster’s must see.

Via Vecchia is a small Italian bakery on Shambles, offering delicious fresh bread and pastries.

According to McGee is a quirky art gallery offering works by local artists.

Yorkshire Soap Company offers mouthwatering-looking soaps and bath bombs. With its

magical and delicate interior Yorkshire Soap Company offers a true experience.

The Imaginarium is part of the Yorkshire Soap Company and full of the most interesting and

bizarre trinkets and decorations one could imagine. Much like at the Yorkshire Soap Company,

one can feel like Alice in Wonderland after entering to the shop and consider it being one of

the best experiences in York.

Bowler Vintage is offering beautiful vintage clothing and accessories for men and women.

Rafi’s Spicebox is a small family run business offering a wide select ion of spices and mixes for

curries. Rafi’s has become so popular they’ve had to open another shop in Harrogate.

The Shop that Must Not Be Named - Located in The Shambles - the inspiration for Diagon Alley

- The Shop That Must Not Be Named stocks everything from wands to scarves to potions, it is

a spot not to be missed by any Harry Potter and magic fans from around the globe.

14. York for intrepid explorers!

Underground York

There’s more to York than meets the eye – there’s the subterranean side. York has more underground

experiences than any other heritage city of its size, so do more than scratch the surface and plunge

yourself into York’s hidden depths:

Descend to the Viking-Age city of Jorvik as it stood nearly 1,000 years ago at the JORVIK Viking

Centre.

Explore the Undercroft and Treasury beneath York Minster at Revealing York Minster – the

biggest visitor attraction within a cathedral in the country and one of York’s newest

attractions.

Enter the blast-proof doors of the York Cold War Bunker and investigate the more unusual

side of York’s heritage and the secret history of Britain’s Cold War. The Cold War Bunker is the

most modern and spine-chilling of English Heritage’s properties.

Enjoy afternoon tea at Bettys Café Tea Rooms in the basement Bettys Bar - a favourite war-

time haunt of thousands of airmen stationed around York and marvel at the ‘Bettys Mirror’,

on which many of them engraved their signatures with a diamond pen; a fitting tribute to their

bravery.

The dungeon-like underground atmosphere of Lendal Cellars is cool and strangely comforting

– it makes a great place for a pub lunch or quick drink with friends.

Follow in the footsteps of Charles Dickens at the Me rchant Adventurers’ Hall – Dickens

repeatedly visited the Undercroft drawn by the romanticism of the ‘Gloomy Basement’!

Be entertained at the underground comedy club at The Basement at City Screen or on a tour

of the underground cellar at the Treasurer’s House.

15. York for ghost hunters

A ghost around every corner in Europe’s Most Haunted City...

With its history of conflict York boasts more than its fair share of ghoulies, ghosties and things that go

bump in the night. In fact, sometimes it seems as though a ghostly figure with a score to settle is in

residence in just about every street or ginnel in town.

York’s unique ghostly experiences include:

The title of Europe’s Most Haunted City: in 2006 the International Ghost Research Foundation

declared York to be the most haunted city in Europe.

The Legendary Legionnaires, Mad Alice, The Grey Lady, The Funeral Guest, The Headless Earl

and Marmaduke Buckle – these are just some of the creepy characters to look out for on your

ghost tours through York.

The chance to see a ghost at The Treasurer’s House – if you’re lucky...or should that be

unlucky?

Bleeding walls – the walls at Clifford’s Tower are said to bleed. This is thought to be connected

to the massacre of Jews who fled there for safety in the 12th century.

Ghost walks galore: there’s a different ghost walk for every night of the week including the

Original Ghost Walk of York, which has been running for more than 30 years and is believed

to be the first exclusive ghost walk in the world!

Rest a while at the Golden Fleece – York’s most haunted guest house and also a public house.

The Ghost Bus Tour has rolled into town with a fantastic show – a mixture of comedy, horror

and history, giving visitors a new view of York’s ghostly present.

16. York for lovers

York on one knee – the ultimate city of romance

If you’re looking for somewhere romantic, York spells it out:

R ailways are an important part of York’s heritage. The city boasts a beautiful, Victorian railway

station – could there be a more slushy setting for farewells or reunions? York is also home to

the world’s greatest railway museum. Here you can marry on the platform alongside

beautifully restored royal carriages

O’ Tell Me The Truth About Love, wrote WH Auden in his famous poem of the same name.

Auden was born in York on 21 February 1907.

M ajestic and imposing, York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps. Did any

building in Britain ever inspire such feelings from the heart as this architectural masterpiece?

The Duke of Kent married Miss Katherine Worsley here in June 1961; this was the first Royal

wedding in York Minster since King Edward III married Philippa of Hainault there in 1328.

A lmost half of all wedding ceremonies that take place in York are for couples who do not live

here. This could have something to do with the fact that York has previously appeared in The

Independent newspaper’s 50 Best Places in the World to be Married.

N ovelists, past and present, have taken York and its evocative surroundings as inspiration for

their work. Within a short drive of the city lie the romantic Yorkshire Moors where Emily

Brontë penned her novel Wuthering Heights, the story of unrivalled love between Cathy and

Heathcliff.

T wo Love Lanes can be found in York, double the quota in most cities. One is behind The

Mount, the other alongside the Ouse in Fulford.

I dyllic gardens provide the perfect setting for your wedding pictures and can be found close

to the city centre or at many of our approved venues. Take a walk around Museum Gardens

near the Yorkshire Museum or visit Dean’s Park behind the Minster.

C ivil weddings and partnerships in York take place in arguably some of the most romantic

venues in the country – medieval guildhalls, unique attractions and stately homes. Nearly

1,000 civil weddings take place in York every year

Y um! York is the home of chocolate – how better to say ‘I love you’ than with a handmade

box of chocolates?

O ne of the biggest collections of Valentine cards in the UK can be found in the York Castle

Museum. A thousand or more messages of love are in the archives – including possibly the

oldest printed Valentine’s card in the world. This was published on 12 January 1797 by John

Fairburn of 146 Minories, London.

R ide through the city in a romantic horse and carriage. Tours leave from near the Minster.

K iss your partner below the West Window of York Minster and you’ll remain together forever,

according to local superstition. Look up at the window to see the heart-shape worked into the

tracery, known as the ‘Heart of Yorkshire’.

17. York for family and wallet-friendly staycations

York’s got everything for the whole family

Promise your children a trip to a city famed for Kit Kats, Viking warriors, spooky ghosts, highwaymen,

Guy Fawkes and railways and you should have them eating out of your hand. Add some traditional

Yorkshire thrift and you’ve got the perfect place for a family break.

What’s good about York for you and your family?

Most of the historic streets in the city centre are traffic-free.

The city is so compact you can walk from one attraction to the next quite easily, even with

younger children.

The National Railway Museum is free to enter and has a play area for under-fives and plenty

of things to see and do for the whole family

There is a wide range of accommodation, where family rooms are available, from luxury self-

catering apartments offering great value without compromising on quality to the city centre

YHA – ideal for school groups or families on a budget.

For pure family fun of the ‘run off energy’ type, you can’t beat Creepy Crawlies, where you

will find one of the biggest four lane Astra slides in the country, six different play zones, an

outdoor adventure park, animal farm, plus an award-winning café!

Must-sees include:

JORVIK Viking Centre

National Railway Museum

York Minster

York Designer Outlet (for designer shopping)

York’s Chocolate Story

York Castle Museum

Yorkshire Museum

Lots of free must-see things to see and do too:

Visit Dick Turpin’s grave or Guy Fawkes’ birthplace, have a picnic in the botanical gardens –

Museum Gardens – or take a riverside walk.

Visit the National Railway Museum: home to the world’s largest collection of railway artefacts

including the famous Mallard and Japanese bullet train.

Walk the City Walls: At 3.4 kilometres long they are the longest medieval city walls in England.

Play in the parks: Museum Gardens, Rowntrees’ Park, York Designer Outlet’s covered play

area.

Go on a free city walking tour: You’ll get fresh air, exercise, fun and history all in one go! Try

the Five Walks of Rowntree York: From Chocolate comes Change. The Rowntree Society has

produced a 48-page book detailing new walks that incorporate the City Centre, Clifton, Out of

Town, Haxby Road and New Earswick – including a total of 60 stopping points and 8 hours of

walking in all.

Save more:

...with a York Pass. Once purchased the York Pass offers you a choice of free entry into over

30 York attractions and tours, as well as restaurant and shopping offers. You can buy a one,

two, three or six-day pass, making it a superb addition to your leisure break.

…by using the Park and Ride. If you’re driving, it is easy and straightforward to leave your car

at one of the several Park and Ride sites around the city and hop on a bus. Parking is free and

the buses are frequent

18. Becoming a Yorkie

Experience York like a local – forget the guidebook, this is an unconventional city…

York is one of those places that however many times you’ve been and however well you think you

know it, there’s always something new to discover that will surprise and del ight you. Just think what

new nuggets of information you’ve yet to find out…

For example did you know…

… that the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall has a coded letter from King Henry VIII about piracy in

the North Sea? The code could not be broken until the 1960s!

… one of the memorials in the Minster is dedicated to Jane Hodson, wife of a chancellor to the

Minster, who died in 1636, aged 38, presumably of exhaustion, having given birth to 24

children…

… a little red devil sits outside No 33 Stonegate, not because the inhabitants were diabolical,

but because the building was once a printer’s (‘Printer’s devils’ were errand -boys who had to

carry hot metal type).

… about York’s unusual walking tours: the Historic Toilet Tour, the Graveyard, Coffin and

Plague tour, the Guy Fawkes Trail and the Bloody Execution Tour.

… a contributing factor to York’s churchyards overflowing when the plague hit in 1604 was

because the mayor foolishly ordered the killing of all the cats and dogs – therefore leaving no

predators for the plague-carrying rats!

… The Black Swan at Peasholme Green - an inn and hostelry since the 18th century - still retains

its original outer door complete with Black Death spy hole, used to check that whoever was

knocking was not infected with plague.

… The Bar Convent, the oldest living convent in England, established in 1686, has a beautiful

neo-classical chapel dating from 1769 which has a priest’s hiding hole and eight separate exits

to facilitate the escape of the congregation in the event of a raid during the time Catholicism

was outlawed in Britain. Long serving Nun, Sister Agatha, has been stationed at the Bar

Convent since the 1970’s and released a book in 2017 about her experiences. ‘A Nun’s Story’

is a multi-faceted tale of sacrifice, heart break, bravery and sheer determination. From saving

her close-to-bankrupt convent with help from John Paul Getty, to meeting a murderer on a

train, the Sister’s life has been nothing but extraordinary. Agatha is now a recognized public

speaker and has begun to share her story worldwide, inspiring all who hear it.

… Andrew Martin, who was born and grew up in York, has written a dozen novels, most of

which feature scenes set in York? Martin – whose father worked for British Rail, in the office

on Station Rise that is now The Grand Hotel and Spa – is best known for his award winning

series of nine novels about Jim Stringer, an Edwardian Railwayman. From the third book in the

series onwards, Jim is based at York station, and the following titles have many York scenes:

The Lost Luggage Porter, Death on a Branch Line, Murder at Deviation Junction and The Last

Train to Scarborough. He is also the author of The Bobby Dazzlers, a stand-alone crime novel

set in York. All of the above are published by Faber and Faber. In July 2017, Martin’s novel,

Soot, will be published by Corsair (Little, Brown). It is set in York in 1799, and concerns the

murder of a Silhouette painter.

… The Yorkshire Air Museum is unique in being both a memorial and a museum? It is based

on the site of what is now the largest original WWII Bomber Command Station open to the

public, RAF Elvington. Its Memorial Gardens provide a peaceful place for visitors to reflect on

the sacrifice of the 55,800 airmen of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WWII.

19. York for sports enthusiasts

A visit is sure to quicken your pulse

Sports enthusiasts of the armchair or participant variety will be cheered on by York’s diverse range of

amateur and professional sporting events and activities:

If golf is your passion, stay for a week and play at a different course each day. York has seven

golf clubs, including the course at Fulford which is home to 23 international and European

professional tour events and the only 27-hole golf complex in the York area. In addition,

Heworth golf club has four-par three holes which are rated as the toughest par threes in the

York Union of Golf Clubs

If you fancy golfing from a different angle, try Footgolf at York Golf Range! Footgolf is a

combination of soccer and golf. There’s a separate nine hole footgolf course with holes

ranging from 39 yards to 91 yards. AND it’s family-friendly, being suitable for everyone from

the age of 5!

Push your physical and mental limits in a Rat Race Adventure Sports event. The team also sells

a wide range of bikes, accessories and all things extreme sports-related.

One of sport's most important tournaments, Snooker's WilliamHill.com UK Championship, has

been hosted at the York Barbican for several years.

Cheer on your winning horse at York Racecourse – one of the premier tracks in Europe having

recently won Flat Racecourse of the Year Award.

Head for the heights at Web Adventure Park (high wire).

There are many reasons to cycle in York:

You can reach the parts of the city you can’t get to on a bus tour, taking in popular sights as

well as hidden gems. For example, York Cycling Tours’ tour of York covers eight miles of the

city in two hours.

The facilities for cyclists are unbeatable, such as the high quality cycle retailers for accessories

and repairs, cycle parking at popular visitor destinations, combined cycling/pedestrian routes,

signalled crossings, advanced stop lines at traffic signals and Bike and Ride – in conjunction

with the Park and Ride scheme.

Affordable bike hire – you can collect a bike or have one delivered to you – from Cycle Heaven

(York Railway Station) and Get Cycling.

The New Walk runs along the east bank of the River Ouse from Tower Gardens to Millennium

Bridge, a distance of about 1.2km (3/4 mile).

York is linked to several regional, national and international cycle networks that reach from

Scotland to Sweden.

York Bike Belles, York’s NEW cycling community for women

Your Bike Shed, a café where cycling and café culture meet in one relaxed and friendly

environment by Micklegate Bar. Get your bike fixed or serviced, pick up a spare part and enjoy

fantastic coffee and nutritious locally sourced food.

Cycle York’s Solar System, tour the planets by bike on York’s Scale model of the solar system.

The scale model of the solar system is spread out along 10.2km (6.4 miles) of the old East

Coast main railway line. The scale of the model is 575,872,239:1, which means that a single

stride will take the cyclists about 500,000 km. Parking is available at the Askham Bar Park and

Ride, which has direct access onto the cycle path.

Beyond York

Beningbrough Hall & Gardens, York

Beningbrough Hall is a Georgian mansion, which was built in 1716. It contains one of the most

impressive baroque interiors in England. Inside the house visitors can view some ex ceptional wood

carvings, an unusual central corridor running the full length of the house and over 100 pictures on

loan from the National Portrait Gallery. There is also a delightful garden, which is surrounded by water

meadows. The gardens comprise an American garden, a Victorian conservatory, box-edged rose

gardens, a lily pool and a walled garden. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-

beningbroughhallandgardens

Brontë Parsonage Museum

The three Brontë sisters Emily, Charlotte and Anne spent a large part of their lives in the West

Yorkshire village of Haworth, where they lived with their father at the Parsonage. Their writings were

heavily influenced by the surrounding Pennine moorlands, especially the area known as Top Withens,

renamed by Emily as Wuthering Heights, in the book of the same name. The Parsonage is now an

intimate museum cared for by the Brontë Society. Rooms are furnished as in the Brontë’s day, with

displays of their personal treasures, their pictures, books and manuscripts.

Castle Howard

Castle Howard is a spectacular 18th century palace, which has been home to the Howard family for

300 years. The construction of this magnificent palace took more than 100 years and spanned the

lifetime of three earls and numerous architects and craftsmen. As the house was built and decorated,

the grounds were filled with lakes, temples, monuments and a grand mausoleum. Indoors, furniture,

paintings, sculptures and a host of other treasures were assembled by successive generations after

their tours of the Continent. Castle Howard is today still home to the Howard family.

www.castlehoward.co.uk

Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum

This award-winning museum is situated on the site of an original Prisoner of War Camp, built in 1942.

It transports visitors back in time to wartime Britain with exhibits and reconstructed scenes. New areas

of the museum include a Garden of Remembrance, War Newspaper Reading Room and an exhibition

entitled Conflicts Since 1945 and WWI. www.edencamp.co.uk

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Estate

Fountains Abbey with Studley Royal Water Garden, four miles west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, is of

outstanding historic and aesthetic importance. It is one of the best preserved and largest abbey

remains in Britain and is set in the beautiful parkland of Studley Royal by the river Skell. The abbey

was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks seeking a simpler life. They later became Cistercian

monks. The garden is a stunning panorama of elegant ornamental lakes, temples, follies and statues,

ponds, cascades, bridges and tunnels. The visitor can explore over 10 historic buildings, incl uding a

superb Victorian church, the dramatic remains of a Cistercian Abbey and also a medieval deer park,

home to 500 Red, Fallow and Sika deer. www.fountainsabbey.org.uk

Newby Hall

The family home of Mr and Mrs Richard Compton has featured in the BBC programme “Heirs and

Graces”. This is one of England’s renowned Adam houses, an exceptional example of 18th century

interior decoration, recently restored to its original beauty. Newby Hall is famous for its collection of

classical statuary, one of the most important private collections in Britain. One piece from the

collection, the Jenkins Venus, hit the headlines when it was sold at Christie's for a staggering £7.9

million, setting a new world record for an antiquity sold at auction, and helping to provide the funds

for Newby Hall’s restoration. Newby Hall’s contents also include the Gobelins Tapestry Room and an

excellent Chippendale furniture collection. Award-winning gardens include England’s longest double

herbaceous borders and an adventure garden for children, sculpture park and miniature railway.

www.newbyhall.com

Sutton Park

Situated in the heart of the immaculately well-kept village of Sutton-on-the-Forest, Sutton Park is a

charming, early Georgian house built in 1730, overlooking beautiful parkland. This is the home of Sir

Reginald and Lady Sheffield and their family. The house contains beautiful 18th century furniture,

paintings mostly from Buckingham House, now Buckingham Palace, and an important collection of

porcelain. Award-winning gardens contain a Georgian icehouse. www.statelyhome.co.uk

Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby

Captain Cook spent the first nine years of his seafaring career in Whitby, and is commemorated in the

17th century house where he lodged. The Museum, meticulously restored, houses an important

collection of authentic material. Letters illustrate Cook’s friendship with his master Captain Walker,

the Admiralty’s disputes with the botanists Banks and Forster, and the sorrow of King George at Cook’s

death. www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates steam trains along an 18-mile line between the market

town of Pickering and the village of Grosmont. The line runs through the heart of the North York Moors

National Park and passes through wide-ranging scenery, from wooded valleys to heather clad

moorland. It also calls at villages along the way and offers access to unspoilt countryside for walkers

and cyclists. Its most famous stop these days is undoubtedly Goathland station, which played the part

of Hogwarts Station in the Harry Potter films, and is also best known as Heartbeat Country as the

station and village provide the setting for the popular TV series. The NYMR is one of the earliest and

most historic lines in the North of England. Its origins go back well over a century and a half, when it

was an important trade link between Pickering and Whitby. www.nymr.co.uk

The International Centre for Birds of Prey

See the birds flying free at the wonderful Duncombe Park in Helmsley .

There is a large collection of exotic and spectacular birds of prey. There are three flying

demonstrations every day (two in the winter) and very often, there will be opportunities to see the

birds being trained on the flying field. It’s possible to see a special bird or species if phoned in advance.

Taking photos is allowed and without restrictions, which gives everyone an opportunity to take

wonderful pictures of all the birds in the park. In high winds there is a sheltered area of woodland for

the flying demos and in wet weather there are demos inside Christmas Tree Cottage. Whatever the

weather – visitors can always see birds flying! www.icbp-duncombe.org

Yorkshire Air Museum

Following on from the most successful year for attracting visitors that the Yorkshire Air Museum has

witnessed in its 30-year history, the museum will expand its programme of live aircraft engine runs

during their Thunder and Rolling Thunder Days. The Museum’s international reputation continues to

grow and the Memorial was very proud to secure the medals of 13 French pilots who served with the

RAF during the Battle of Britain to be presented to their families in Paris in November in 2014. YAM

is pleased to once again have been voted by readers of ‘Going Places’ tourism magazine as the ‘Top

Specialist Attraction in the UK’ and TripAdvisor comments regularly rank the Museum in the top 3 of

all York Museums. www.yorkshireairmuseum.org

Helmsley Walled Garden

Dating back to 1759, Helmsley Walled Garden nestles at the bottom of the North York Moors between

the Grade One listed landscape of Duncombe Park and the scheduled ancient monument of Helmsley

Castle. The garden was a major employer during most of its history, but following the First World War,

it was leased as a commercial enterprise and was run as such until 1984. In 1984, it was abandoned

and fell into dereliction. The restoration began in 1994 to restore the garden back to its original

Victorian beauty and productivity. Local woman Alison Ticehurst wanted to create a beautiful garden

for visitors to enjoy as well as provide horticultural therapy for local people in need. Today the aim of

Helmsley Walled Garden is to conserve and restore the fabric of this historically important walled

garden and return it to full productivity using environmentally sustainable techniques. Gardens and

gardening carry with them a wide range of therapeutic benefits for people and so the garden provides

a horticultural therapy service to local people with a range of disabilities.

www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk

Go Ape: Activity Park in Dalby Forest

Enjoy Hill-to-Hill zip wires with Stunning Views of the Vale of Pickering. Go Ape: Activity Park has Tree

Top Adventure and Forest Segways as an alternative way of enjoying a day in the Great Yorkshire

Forest. The team at Go Ape: Activity Park will brief all of the guests for safety before flying down the

zip-wires, leaping off the Tarzan Swing and tackling the crossings whilst enjoying some of Britain’s

most breath-taking scenery. As an alternative there is an option to try out the latest invention in green

technology – a self-balancing electric Segway. From two legs to two wheels - for the ultimate forest

Segway adventure on rugged all-terrain. www.goape.co.uk/days-out/dalby

The World of James Herriot

The famous museum attraction is located in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The museum exhibits the life and

books of the 20th century veterinarian and author James Herriot (1916-1995). Visit the 1940s period

house with veterinary science exhibits, which was the original practice of James Herriot, at 23 Kirkgate,

known as "Skeldale House" in the books. When James Herriot died in 1995, Hambleton District Council

bought the house and started a £1.4 million restoration programme. Go behind the scenes of the BBC

series “All Creatures Great & Small” and experience what’s involved in the making of a TV program. In

the foldyard enjoy an exclusive short film featuring previously unseen footage and interviews with

friends, family and cast members. There are plenty of fun activities in the Interactive Gallery, which is

a great place to end the tour of the Centre. They also house the largest collection of Herriot

memorabilia in the world – from books, posters and letters to ornaments and collectables.

www.worldofjamesherriot.com .

See more: www.visityork.org/beyond-york.aspx

Ryedale

Ryedale is nestled quietly along the tip of York’s north eastern boundaries, within a 30-minute drive

of York. It is a land of legend and mythology: where giants once ruled (Hole of Horcum), the River Rye

runs backwards (Derwent at Howsham) and the land ends (at Sutton Bank cliff-face). A place of lost

kingdoms (stronghold of the Brigantes, one of the largest and last free tribes in ancient England. It is

also a place where you can see the footprints of people from across seven millennia from 5000BC,

revealed in ancient excavations) – standing stones, castles and abbeys, mighty country houses,

deserted medieval villages, ancient drovers’ and miners’ trails. Ryedale has the best of British weather:

sitting partly within the UK’s driest/least rainy national park, there’s a good chance you won’t see your

umbrella during your holiday (official MetOffice stats). This unique microclimate has created a vision

of the English landscape you may have thought was lost in time - lush rolling farmland, big skies on

the rolling chalk wolds, miles of purple heather, dramatic river gorges, woodland stretching to the

horizon. This is a rare place: a place you can hear yourself breathe; a place you can see not just stars,

but the Milky Way (the area has official Dark Skies status, Milky Way class); a place officially designated

‘An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (Howardian Hills).

Ryedale's market towns all have something different to enjoy. Helmsley is one of North Yorkshire’s

most popular market towns housing some unique boutiques and acting as the starting point for the

Cleveland Way National Trail. Kirkbymoorside - "Church dwellings beside the moor" - this small market

town has a wide main street, cobbled on either side and flanked by fine Georgian houses and

welcoming hostelries. Malton has long been regarded as the centre of Ryedale; it is a market town full

of activity, with a street market on Saturdays and a livestock market twice a week. The market town

of Pickering is the official gateway to the North York Moors National Park. From here you can explore

the breathtaking scenery aboard England’s longest steam railway, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The picturesque villages of Ryedale are one of the district’s best assets. Whether visiting the moorland

in the north, the beck side villages in the middle of Ryedale or those nestling amongst the rolling hills

in the south, you will be equally rewarded. Some of the country’s best-known villages are in Ryedale,

such as Thornton-le-Dale and Hutton-le-Hole, but many others have something special to offer.

Distinctive landmarks of these villages include thatched cottages, sundials, village stocks, duck ponds

and village greens.

See more: www.visityork.org/ryedale.aspx