Fancy a festive trip out with the kids but worried everything is booked up or needs pre-booking… don’t panic! This is the list for you!Lots of places do need pre-booking, might already be booked up and sold out… but fear not…Christmas is not ruined! We’ve got a list of 11 brilliant places & things to do in York you can visit or just turn up and do! Yippee! No planning in advance, no pre-booking, just decide right now you want to do something and go and have some fun!
Tucked away down one of the oldest streets in York, you’ll find Barley Hall, a restored medieval townhouse. Once home to a Lord Mayor of York, Barley Hall has returned to its 15th-century state, ready for a medieval Christmas. Little ones can make themselves at home, join in dress-up fun and activities in a Tudor School Room and experience what it would have been like to live in medieval England.
This winter, explore the beautiful Great Hall and rooms decked out and ready for a medieval Christmas, with flickering candles and garlands of ivy and mistletoe.
Have fun exploring The Bard at Barley Hall exhibition – see costumes worn by celebrities such as Al Pacino, Kate Winslet and more; have a go at shadow puppet theatre and guess the Shakespearean play from the smell box!
You could also visit DIG or the Jorvik – neither requires pre-booking.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Open 10am – 3pm until 23 Dec 2023
📍 Where: Coffee Yard, Off Stonegate, York, YO1 8AR
Bar Convent at Christmas – Let there be Light!Gather your loved ones for a visit to 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 our stunning C18th Chapel this Christmas. ‘Hope: Shadow and Light’ is a collaborative community work of art that not only responds to the Bar Convent’s Christmas theme, but is part of a global drawing campaign originating in Viborg, Denmark; one of York’s fellow UNESCO Creative Cities of Media Arts.
Chapel and Georgian Parlour are free to enter and last admission is 4pm. Try to visit between 2.30 and 4pm when it’s the quietest and it’s also darker to the installation looks even more vibrant! Last admission: 4pm
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Open 10am – 5pm until 19 Dec 2023
📍 Where: 17 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AQ
Fairfax House – a Townmouse ChristmasGet ready for an enchanting Christmas experience that’s bigger and better than ever before – 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 our very special (and yes, a tad naughty) town-mouse guests, who will capture the hearts of the whole family.
In true 18th-century style, the house will be dressed magnificently with festive foliage – so don’t miss this wonderful wintertime display celebrating the Christmas traditions of the Georgian townhouse, and the jolly festivities of the Georgian town-mouse.
The best part? This exhibition is free for children 16 and under!
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: open every day 11am-4pm (last entry 3:30pm)
📍 Where: 17 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AQ
Rainbows Ceramics – Painting for ChristmasPop in to paint this Christmas and you’ll find the shelves full with Santa and Snowmen, reindeer and robins, plus plenty more festive ceramics ready for your Christmas creations!
Head over to the shop at www.rainbowsceramics.co.uk/shop for the full list inc prices.
With stamps, stencils, sponges and paints you need to help you and your little one get creative. Located on the corner of Bootham and Gillygate and parking is available on Bootham Row, just behind the shop. We are open Tuesday – Sunday and are walk ins only.
💜 Mention York Mumbler for 10% off (excluding parties & evening bookings)💜
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Open Tuesday – Sunday and are walk ins only.
📍 Where :15-17 Bootham, York, YO30 7BW
Spark* at ChristmasThis Christmas, head down to SPARK:York for fun activities that will ignite your creativity, and leave you with memories to cherish.
Finish off your Christmas shopping at our Festive Makers Market. Discover a curated selection of handcrafted, sustainable, and locally-made goods. Support small businesses and find one-of-a-kind treasures!
Spark* are running FREE facepainting with Alex from Face Paint York and board games for families on 28 December, 12pm-4pm in the SHOW space upstairs. No pre-booking is needed.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Open from Tuesday-Sunday, with coffee and pastries available from 9am-6pm, and food and drinks from 12pm until late.
📍 Where: 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
York Castle Museum – A Victorian ChristmasWander through our famous Victorian street, Kirkgate, as Christmas arrives with a sprinkling of festive snow on the historic cobbles. With a variety of family friendly Christmas activities on offer, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.
A Victorian green clad Father Christmas will be on Kirkgate welcoming visitors every weekend throughout December until Christmas.
On Sundays, including Christmas Eve, the cobbles will ring to the sound of carol singers.
For younger children, Story Craft Theatre will bring some cute Museum Mice to life with puppets, games and lots of fun followed by a craft activity on several weekdays.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: now until 6 Jan 2023 – the museum will close early at 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and will be closed on 25 and 26 Dec 2023 and 1 Jan 2024.
📍 Where: Tower St, York, YO1 9RY
York Mansion House – A Very Georgian ChristmasExplore the four fascinating floors of York Mansion House as we step back in time for the festive season from 15 November to 23 December. Discover the weird and wonderful delicacies during a cooking demonstration and learn the language of the fan.
11.30am: Georgian cooking demonstration
2.30pm: Language of the Fan
These events are included in the price of admission, and your ticket lasts all day so you can take part in both activities!
The hobs are also back in full force for a new trail for little ones!
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Open Wed-Sat until 23 Dec
📍 Where: St. Helen’s Square, York, YO1 9QL
York Minster Tree FestivalEnjoy the peace and tranquillity in the minster, away from the busy streets of York as you explore the Christmas trees together. They have been decorated with completely different themes by local businesses, schools and charities. Also, in case you haven’t heard, we have our very own York Mumbler tree and couldn’t be more proud of it!
Young visitors can borrow a Little Explorer Backpack and a trail map to follow the Christmas Tree Quest and find decorations in the cathedral as you learn more about the Christmas story together.
At the end, you can vote for your favourite Christmas tree in the ‘best-dressed tree’ competition, and add your own Christmas message to a special tag on the festival’s prayer trees.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Running during general admission times until Friday 5 January 2023
📍 Where: Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
York Nutcracker TrailYork BID has partnered with local charities, schools and artist Sian Ellis to bring you 10 bespoke nutcracker statues, dotted around the city.
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. Once you’re finished, submit your entry at the Visit York Information Centre or pop it into Santa’s post box at Museum Gardens. What’s more, if you work out the link between all of the nutcracker names, you could win your own miniature nutcracker! (Ts & Cs apply – on physical Nutcracker Trail leaflet).
Sian Ellis is a Yorkshire-based illustrator and mural artist, and has designed five of the nutcrackers herself. With the other five statues, she taken inspiration from the following schools and charities to design and paint them: York Mind; Changing Lives; My Sight; Wigginton Primary School; and St Wilfrid’s R C Primary School.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Until 4 Jan 2024
📍 Where: Various locations in York City Centre
The Avocado Events annual Christmas Window Sticker TrailSimply 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
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Until Sunday 7th Jan 2024
📍 Where: Various locations in York City Centre, Monks Cross, Haxby/Wiggington, Acomb, Holgate and more!
Yorkshire’s Winter WonderlandYorkshire’s Winter Wonderland will be returning to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York.
The Ice Factor – the North of England’s largest outdoor ice rink at 975 sq m – will have a 30ft high sparkling Christmas tree as its centrepiece, surrounded by illuminated trees, log cabins, the rink side cafe and a viewing platform.
This year the funfair will be bigger and better, with new modern rides including an exciting Twist and Waltzer. There will be 5 children’s rides and game stalls offering prizes every time.
Also new this year is a terrace overlooking the ice rink. Inside the alpine-themed café, tasty food and drinks will be available to purchase, and private parties can be arranged.
The Winter Garden with its heated covered picnic tables offers an alternative outdoor eating area, with The Dog Haus cabin selling a range of hot dogs and festive drinks.
ℹ️ For more information click here
📅 When: Until 7 Jan 2024
📍 Where: Various locations in York City Centre
Wishing you a fun, spontaneous festive trip out in York!
