We’ve listed some fabulous festive lights, drive-bys, walks and trails to get you in the Christmas spirit!
Use the links below to jump to a section, or scroll the whole list for loads of Christmas lights inspiration!
We might be biased, but we think York is one of the most festive cities in the UK! The snickelways and cobbled streets, like Stonegate and the Shambles, really lend themselves to twinkling lights and Christmas trees!
Find out where to enjoy a brilliant festive experience and soak up all the Christmas lights in York in 2023!
Take a walk along Parliament Street and onto St Sampsons Square to look at the alpine chalets selling gifts and treats. With sparkling lights, festive music and the aromas of mulled wine and chestnuts, you can’t help but start to feel Christmassy!
In Kings Square, there is a vintage carousel for the kids to enjoy. Plus don’t forget a wander through the Shambles Market, which has lots of local, independent traders selling everything from cakes to handmade crafts.
When you wander through the Coppergate Centre, don’t forget to look up to see their fantastic Christmas lights and decorations!
Enjoy the Christmas lights in St Sampson Square and the huge Christmas Tree in the centre of the square. Why not take a family selfie next to the tree?
There are always some amazing festive window displays to see in York. Some of our favourites include Bettys, The Ivy and The Yorkshire Soap Company!
Remember to take your letter to Santa into town so you can pop it in the sparkling, illuminated postbox in the Museum Gardens!
The post box is just inside the Museum Street entrance to the gardens – please note letters posted do not receive a response from the man in red!
As it gets closer to Christmas, lots of houses will start to look Christmassy with many people choosing to put Christmas lights outside. You could go for a walk or short drive once it’s dark and spot the houses lit up for Christmas!
Acomb Christmas Lights
York Mix switched on the Acomb Christmas Lights on Sat 2 Dec on Front Street!
Festive house in Fossway
If you’re in the area, this house looks AMAZING!
A Huge Santa in Poppleton
The enormous Father Christmas is back near the Green in Upper Poppleton! Well worth a look! On Hodgson Lane, just down from The Lord Collingwood pub. Fundraising for Millie Wright Children’s charity and I am Reusable. Until Christmas Day, weather permitting (will be taken down on Tuesday 26th December 2023).
Please note that Santa’s appearance is weather dependent as windy weather is not giant Santa-friendly! He will have to be dropped on Thurs 21st and Fri 22nd Dec 2023 as the projected wind speeds are too high. All being well he should be back up on 23rd December, weather permitting.
Thirkleby Way, Osbaldwick
The family at no. 9 are decorating their house and taking donations for their chosen charity, the Osbladwick Baby & Toddler Group! The Vicar from St Thomas’s will be switching on the lights on Sat 2nd December at 4pm!
Main Street, Bishopthorpe
A house down Main Street with LOTS of lights, and welcome any donations to their chosen charity.
Derwent Drive, Wheldrake
The garden is decorated every year for charity!
Kingsway West, Yo24 4RD
Approximately 8 homes now decorated and there is a fantastic bungalow with lots of decorations!
Walton, near Wetherby
Lots of lovely lights in the village of Walton. It is 2 miles east of Wetherby. It is adjacent to Thorp Arch and Thorp Arch Trading Estate.
Enjoy a festive trail or walk in York.
A great way to see York in all its festive glory is by following the brand-new Nutcracker Trail.
Pick up your Nutcracker Trail leaflet from the Visit York Information Centre and find the names of all 10 nutcrackers for your chance to win a £250 York Gift Card.
The trail is open from Thursday November 16 until Thursday January 4 2024.
2 December 2023 – 5 January 2024
Experience the popular York Minster Christmas Tree Festival, set inside the medieval Minster, with 60 trees on display in the cathedral’s stunning Nave, Chapter House and Lady Chapel.
Families can take time away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre to explore the trees, which will be decorated to individual themes by local businesses, schools and charities. Don’t miss our very own York Mumbler Christmas Tree!
🎟 Entry is free with general admission. Don’t forget, entry to York Minster is free for York residents with valid proof of address and up to four children aged 17 and under go free with each adult.
Saturday 16 December 2023, 3-4pm
Join Mrs Santa and get a present from the fairies! Meet in the picnic area.
🎟 No charge (but donations are always appreciated). There will also be a small stall with some fun Christmas items to try and raise funding.
Winter Windows Walk – Friends of Glen Gardens, Heworth16 & 17 December 3 – 4.30pm
See the winter windows of Heworth in the Winter Windows Walk. Enjoy hot chocolate and festive treats from Glen Gardens kiosk while you are there! Garden gates are locked at 4.30pm.
🎟 Map £1
Explore the four fascinating floors of York Mansion House and step back in time for the festive season!
Children can enjoy the Hob trail. Hobs are little household faeries (old English) that have been haunting Yorkshire homes for centuries. They are extremely friendly and like to help with the cleaning and the chores… but they also have a mischievous side! The Hob Trail is included in admission. Open Wednesday to Saturday, and there is no need to pre-book.
🎟 Adult £6.50/Child 5+ £3.50/ Child under 5 Free/ Family £17
Enjoy the annual Merry Mouse Children’s Christmas Trail. The creatures of the wood are feeling sleepy as it is time for them to hibernate through the winter. Help Merry Mouse discover the story that will put the woodland to sleep. At Danby Lodge National Park Centre & Sutton Bank National Park Centre.
🎟 from £5
York Quest Santa Search From 16 Nov until 6 Jan. Santa and Mrs Claus brought some of their festive friends to York to see the lights and get in the festive spirit, but now they’re lost in the City Centre.
Join the Santa Search and discover 7 jolly augmented reality virtual characters along the way at magical locations around York. Use the GPS-enabled map to find and collect each one.
🎟 The York Quest app is free to use and is available now on Google Play Store or App Store
York Minster Christmas Trail Pick up a Christmas Trail leaflet inside the Minster and get spotting whilst you enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations. trees and giant wreath!
🎟Entry is free with general admission. Don’t forget, entry to York Minster is free for York residents with valid proof of address and up to four children aged 17 and under go free with each adult.
Designer Outlet Elf-venture trailEight cheeky elves are on an adventure around the Designer Outlet at York. Try and find them all in the shop windows and help get them back to Santa before Christmas Eve!
🎟 Free – pick up a leaflet from the information centres
Simply spot one, or as many as you want, take a photo of the sticker in the window and tag Avocado Events AND the business on Instagram or Facebook to be in with a chance of winning an EPIC prize bundle worth over £400.
There are 11 stickers to spot around York City Centre, Monks Cross, Haxby/Wiggington, Acomb, Holgate and more!
PRIZE BUNDLE FOR THE LUCKY WINNER:
🎁 Child annual pass 2024 for Piglets Adventure Farm
🎁 Family day ticket (2 adults, 2 kids) from Web Adventure/Creepy Crawlies
🎁 Holiday Camp voucher from The Little Gym York
🎁 £20 voucher Cakerbells
🎁 £20 voucher Paul Stride Nursery Store
🎁 Star Street Salon kids mini Mani/Pedi voucher
🎁 £15 voucher Curious Coffee
🎁 £10 voucher Blue House Bookshop
🎁 £10 voucher Laughing Llama cafe
🎁 £5 Cots To Tots voucher
The window trail runs until Sunday 7th Jan 2024. Winner selected on Monday 8th Jan 2024. For more information click here
There are plenty of spectacular Christmas lights and festive experiences further afield too!
Herman Mertens
From 4pm – 10pm daily, 15 November to 22 December
A brand-new winter lights trail will see Peasholm Park illuminated like never before. Book your tickets and enjoy this enchanting trail through the park. Running from 4pm – 10pm daily, 15 November through to 22 December.
A first for Scarborough is the brand-new installation at St Mary’s Church, featuring incredible light artworks by Flemish artist Peter Snijder. The Fading Light of Ruins will see St Mary’s Church transformed into a spectacle of light between 16-30 November, book your tickets now.
🎟 Find out more here.
📍 Various locations in Scarborough
From 2pm – 5pm every Saturday and Sunday between 25 November – 31 December (excluding 3 and 10 December).
A brand-new winter lights trail will see Peasholm Park illuminated like never before. Book your tickets and enjoy this enchanting trail through the park. Running from 4pm – 10pm daily, 15 November through to 22 December.
A first for Scarborough is the brand-new installation at St Mary’s Church, featuring incredible light artworks by Flemish artist Peter Snijder. The Fading Light of Ruins will see St Mary’s Church transformed into a spectacle of light between 16-30 November, book your tickets now.
🎟 Find out more here.
📍 Fountains, Ripon, HG4 3DY
RHS Glow at Harlow Carr Every Wednesday to Saturday until 30 December 2023
Let it Glow! Enjoy an unmissable after-dark spectacle of lights at RHS Garden Harlow Carr this festive season. Bring all the family for a magical evening at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. See the garden in breathtaking beauty as amazing illuminations light your way on our spectacular Glow trail.
Take an enchanting walk at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, marvelling at spectacular light displays along your way. See iconic features adorned with festive lights including Streamside, the Edwardian Garden, Queen Mother’s Lake, Winter Walk, Doric Columns, Bath House and the Kitchen Garden.
🎟 Find out more here.
📍 Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, HG3 1QB
There are lots of lovely places to visit in around York that you can see all decked out for Christmas. Here are a few highlights to inspire you!
🎄 A restored medieval townhouse and once home to a Lord Mayor of York, Barley Hall has returned to its 15th-century state, ready for a medieval Christmas. Explore the beautiful Great Hall and rooms decked out and ready for a medieval Christmas, with flickering candles and garlands of ivy and mistletoe.
🎄 Explore the four fascinating floors of York Mansion House and step back in time for the festive season until 23 December. Discover the weird and wonderful delicacies during a cooking demonstration and learn the language of the fan. 11.30am: Georgian cooking demonstration and 2.30pm: Language of the FanThese events are included in the price of admission, and your ticket lasts all day so you can take part in both activities!
🎄 The entire Estate will be transformed into a winter wonderland as Tinkerbell sprinkles fairy dust over the Castle and Grounds, creating a Christmas day out like no other. The main House will be transformed into a Peter Pan-themed odyssey, with beautiful decorations, installations, and projections.
🎄 Enjoy an enchanting Christmas experience with hundreds of merry mice taking over Fairfax House! A Christmas wonderland like no other, you’ll find our mousey guests swinging from the ceiling, bursting out of drawers, and causing general havoc whilst they play amongst our festive Georgian decor. Be prepared to be charmed, amused, and thoroughly delighted by the antics of the very special (and yes, a tad naughty) town-mouse guests!
🎄 Visit the Bar Convent this festive season as this historic house becomes aglow with a twinkling tree, dazzling decorations and an exciting new luminous installation as part of this year’s Christmas experience ‘Let there be Light!’. A brand-new light installation will take centre-stage against the befitting backdrop of the stunning C18th Chapel this Christmas.
Looking to get some Christmas decorations or supplies? There are some beautiful garden centres nearby, with some magical Christmas displays to inspire you.
Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
“Castle Howards Garden Centre is very Chrismassy and you can also get a coffee and cake.”
Mumbler PT
Langlands, York Road (A1079), Shiptonthorpe, York. YO43 3PN
“Langlands garden centre at Shiptonthorpe is amazing! My little boy who’s 5 thought it was magical.”
Mumbler SM
Deans Garden Centre, Stockton Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, York YO32 9UE
“Deans Garden Centre always has a great range of decorations and is fun to wander around with a toddler or young child!”
Mumbler JC
Dobbies Garden Centre, Northfield Lane, Upper Poppleton, YO26 6QE
“Deans and Dobbies both entertained my little on for well over an hour.”
Mumbler DS
Spring Garden Centre, Hornsea Road, Sigglesthorne, Hornsea HU11 5QL
“Spring Garden Centre in Hornsea is absolutely magical!!”
Mumbler HH
Keep checking back, as more will be added!
If there’s anything you know of that is not listed in the blog, do let us know so that we can share, email jane@mumbler.co.uk
🎄 🎄 🎄 We hope you enjoy a festive walk, see some Christmas lights and start feeling very festive! 🎄 🎄 🎄
