Make It York This Christmas
- Michelle's Monologues
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Christmas in York dates back to Roman times with the mid-winter festival of Saturnalia (around December 17-25). The earliest Christian celebration - "Feast of Nativity" in Britain is sometimes cited as having occurred in York in 521 AD. Over 2,000 years of evolving into modern celebrations of today. Here is why you should make it, York this Christmas.
Make It York This Christmas
We travelled down on Thursday last week from Edinburgh direct to York on the LNER train (2 hours 30 minutes). It was a smooth and quiet journey. Staying two full days to explore the must-see attractions, Christmas Markets, and to enjoy the delicious food & drink. We pre-booked Jorvik Viking Centre, York Castle Museum, and with the York Pass, we had a grand plan in place.
Here is what you might like to experience on a long weekend trip to York over the Christmas period.
Travelling To York This Christmas
LNER is my dedicated train operator of choice - large comfortable seats with charge points. Did you know that you can order directly from your seat with the QR code on the back of each seat? Large luggage storage areas for those travelling for longer periods, and overhead storage racks for smaller weekend bags. Don't forget to download the LNER app for extra savings and perks!
Accommodation In York This Christmas
We booked our accommodation ahead via Booking.com for three nights at The Apple Guest House, a traditional Grade II listed brick townhouse only a 15-minute walk from York Centre and also a short walking distance from York Railway Station.
The double-bedded en-suite room was comfortable and cosy, with a delicious full English breakfast, cereal, muesli, and more available. Complimentary bottles of water, tea and coffee were also provided in the room, as well as the local chocolate bar - Yorkie. Replaced each day (this chocoholic loved it). *Please note no lift. Perfect for those that, like to get their extra steps.
Christmas Markets & Shopping
Some of the best Christmas shopping places in York include Parliament Street Christmas Market, Shambles Market and Food Court with 70 stalls, 20th Year of Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland by the York Designer Outlet, high street shops - Coney Street, and award-winning independent businesses on Fossgate. Don't miss York's most magical Christmas speciality shop - Käthe Wohlfahrt, the family-owned shop established in 1964, is located in a timber-framed 1434 building with its nooks and crannies. You will find an array of genuine German handcrafted Christmas decorations and much more! It was all perfect for a stroll, last Thursday evening, much quieter than the very crowded Saturday.
Must-See Attractions In York This Christmas
If like us, you love to visit all the must-see attractions. VisitYork.org offers the incredibly good value YorkPass.com
All the below mentioned attractions are included, and it saves so much time and gives you even more discounts!
Hop On Hop Off City Sightseeing Tour Bus York
The Hop On Hop Off City Sightseeing Tour Bus York is a great way to get an orientation of the city, discover some local gems and hear about York's incredible historic past. With 21 stops including Exhibition Square for York Minster, Treasurer's House, The Shambles, Clifford's Tower and much more. With the 24-hour ticket, you also get 20% discount at the York Chocolate Story and other discounts at Drakes Fish & Chips, Roman Bath Museum, and York Dungeon. During the winter, tours depart every 30 minutes.
York Minster
One of only two churches in the UK still using the name Minster, the other being Westminster. York Minster is England's largest Gothic cathedral, the centre of Christianity since the 7th century. The must-see 7 points include; The Nave, The Chapter House, Crypt, The Great East Window, Quaire, The Rose Window and Undercroft Museum. You might like to take the challenging but rewarding climb to the top of the tower. The spiral staircase is in two halves, with a walk along the roof in between. The 275 narrow, winding medieval steps are not for the faint-hearted! (The Tower is included with the York Pass) If you decide to do it without the York Pass, it is £20 to visit York Minster and a further £6 per person to take the tower trip. The Tower Trip can only be booked on the day and is subject to weather and availability. We also took the highly informative 1-hour guided walking tour inside York Minster (included). Highly recommend!
While visiting, don't miss the Christmas Tree Festival with 70 uniquely decorated trees, each created by local businesses, schools and charities. Vote for your favourite and the winning school/charity will win a £200 prize. On Now until Monday 5th January.
York Minster's Advent Wreath is said to be the largest suspended in the air (3-metre-wide). Crafted by volunteers with holly and ivy from the Minster's grounds. The 5 large white candles are individually lit each Sunday of Advent by the Archbishop of York, signifying hope, love, peace and joy with the coming of Christmas.
Clifford's Tower
The last remaining keep of York Castle - Clifford's Tower has a turbulent past, from William the Conqueror to the tragic Jewish massacre in 1190. The city's historic landmark, managed by English Heritage, has been transformed from a ruin, with a new interior, interactive audio displays and transcripts bringing history to life, and incredible walkways leading you up to the roof with 360-degree panoramic views.
Clifford's Tower is closed to the public on 24th and 25th December. Local legend claims the walls still "bleed" red annually on the anniversary (March 16th).
English Heritage works with the Jewish community to commemorate.
York Castle Museum
The award-winning York Castle Museum is a fun, interactive experience for all the family! Kirkgate - the Victorian Street is the oldest street to be recreated indoors. Every business is named after a real business that operated in late Victorian York between 1870 - 1901. Costumed guides can tell you more about each shop. You can even step inside a few and buy actual sweets inside the sweet shop. Right now, Kirkgate is a winter wonderland, with its snow-covered cobblestone path, Christmas decorations and visits from Father Christmas himself. Hear stories from the green-suited, cheerful, gentleman on the facts of Christmas and how he himself came to be known as Father Christmas.
There are various hands-on experiences on different dates including; lino-printing, discovering old mince pie recipes and more!
Your entry also includes; York Castle Prison, 1914: When The World Changed Forever, The Sixties, and The Period Rooms.
Fairfax House
Said to be the finest Georgian Townhouse in England, with over 250 years of history, the Fairfax House is adorned by a superb collection of furniture, clocks, paintings and more from Mr Noel Terry (Terry's Chocolate Factory).
Join in on the Christmas Mousequerade, with lots of elegantly dressed mice all over the house. Will you find Dick Turpin, the infamous highwaymouse?
Jorvik Viking Centre
It all started with The Coppergate Dig in 1976, almost 50 years since York's hidden Viking heritage was discovered and 40 years since the Jorvik Viking Centre opened its doors for the first time. Today, you can see the incredible glass floor showing the original excavation site up close, and then travel back in time to winter AD 960. Where you learn how York (Jorvik) looked, smelled, and Viking-age residents went about their daily lives. Before, warming up in the gallery with Norse tales, and to see the incredible objects found between 1976 - 1980 during the 5 years of The Coppergate Dig.
Treasurer's House
Said to be the most haunted house in York, with over 2,000 years of history from Roman soldiers to The Grey Lady. Treasurer's House was donated in its entirety by Mr Frank Green, a wealthy industrialist from Wakefield, to the National Trust in the 1930s.
Filled to the brim with antiques and art, Treasurer's House can currently be seen adorned with beautiful and unique Christmas decorations in an Inspired Christmas until 21st December. Telling the stories of the past residents of Treasurer's House including; writer Elizabeth Montagu, astronomer John Goodricke and in the late 19th century Mr Frank Green. Look out for the display by York's Central Women's Institute for pioneering mathematician Jane Squire, Candles in the Tapestry Room marking a typical 17th-century Christmas, felted servent mice in the kitchen, and more!
While visiting, you might like to try the seasonal special - The Christmas Pudding Scone in the cafe. Yum!
York National Railway Museum
A visit to York must include a visit to the York National Railway Museum. Trains started departing the historical York Railway Station back in 1839. A lot has changed in 186 years! This year marks the 200th anniversary of train travel. Today, you can see some of the railway legends such as Mallard, step onboard the only Shinkansen not in Japan and explore one of the most extensive collections of royal carriages, inside the newly opened 150-year-old-grade-II listed gallery - Station Hall.
We used the York Pass across two days to visit all the above attractions. There was so much more, including York Dungeon, boat trips along the River Ouse and additional discounts.
York Food & Drink
A visit to York wouldn't be complete without having a traditional Yorkshire Pudding. Originating in the 18th Century and called "Dripping Pudding", it was a way to use meat drippings, and served as a starter with gravy to make meals more filling and affordable. Have you heard about the sensational Yorkshire Puddings at York Roast Co? Wow! We went with the Festive YorkyPud Roast - turkey and all the trimmings inside a large Yorkshire Pudding. Delicious. You might like to try the Festive YorkyPud Wrap or one of the other menu options.
If you have been following me for a while, you will know I love chocolate. Did you know York is often called "the UK's chocolate capital" with its rich history in chocolate? Today you can enjoy learning all about it alongside delicious chocolate samples at York's Chocolate Story (also included in the Visit York Pass), see the famous Terry's Chocolate Factory from the Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus, enjoy a pure liquid shot of chocolate at Monk Bar Chocolatiers, visit York Cocoa Works and indulge with a luxury hot chocolate at a 19th Century Toll Bridge - Sophie's Skeltergate.
Looking for freshly baked sweet treats? How about the 44-year-old, family-owned Thomas the Baker festive biscuits? Most of the ingredients are ethically and locally sourced, and all the products are produced at their Helmsley Bakery. With a promise of freshness, quality and value for money, why would you go anywhere else? We thoroughly enjoyed our robin, festive biscuits and indulged in Truffle Christmas Puddings too. Yum!
York Nutcracker Trail
Have you heard about the York Nutcracker Trail? Running now until the 4th January 2026.
This year's theme is a kid's takeover! Each nutcracker has been designed by a school-aged child from York and re-created by talented local artist, MarcoLooks. Find all ten and collect their names on your trail map to enter the prize draw for a £250 York Gift Card. That’s not all – by answering the bonus question, you could win an art hamper filled with goodies from the artist.
Pick up a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre or visit York Nutcracker Trail - The York BID to get started.
There is so much to see and do, a long weekend just wasn't enough time. It was a brilliant trip! Inspired to return and explore more.
I hope we have inspired you to make it, York this Christmas.
Happy Holidays,
Michelle x
P.s Where would you like us to visit next, on a Christmas/festive long weekend? Let us know in the comments.
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