York is a beautiful historic city in Northern England, and is well worth visiting in its own right. But if you can time your visit with one of its fantastic festivals you are in for an extra treat. York has a year-round calendar of events, and with so much going on you are sure to find something to suit every taste! These are special festivals which bring together the very best of York’s talent and history, offering a unique insight into the city and its wonderful people. Here are my picks of the festivals in York you simply cannot miss!
Jorvik Viking Festival: February
The largest Viking Festival in Europe, the yearly JORVIK Viking Festival celebrates York’s Norse heritage. The festival harks back to the ancient Viking celebration of Joloblot, which heralded the end of winter and celebrated the coming of spring.
Reinvented by the York Archaeological Trust in the 1980s, the festival returns to York every February during half term, and includes a packed calendar of events including lectures, guided walks and battle re-enactments as well as plenty for the kids. This is a unique chance to experience living history, culminating in a spectacular finale weekend. Watch out for the armies of Vikings marching through the city!
For more information visit the website www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk
York Literature Festival: March
Featuring a wide range of author-related events, this is York’s celebration of the written & spoken word. Over 40 events across the city will include live performances, poetry competitions, talks from some of Yorkshire’s top authors, and guided tours of York’s places of literary interest. See what inspired York’s authors, and learn more about the next generation of writers as York’s students present their best works.
For more information visit the website www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk
York Races: May to October
Horse Racing is a time-honoured tradition in the UK, and York’s racecourse Knavesmire has been popular with racegoers since it was founded in 1731. Nearly 300 years later it is still going strong, with meetings running between May and October. One of the most popular is the Ebor Festival in August, so make your bookings early to secure places. The events are exceedingly popular, with one record-breaking race in 2010 being attended by more than 42,000 people.
Knavesmire has a rich history of its own, and is also known for being the place where highwayman Dick Turpin was hanged in 1739!
For more information visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk
York Food and Drink Festival: September
The York Food & Drink Festival is a fabulous showcase of the very best of Yorkshire’s food and drink. Enjoy live demonstrations, wine tastings, cooking classes and live music amid rows of stalls selling delicious food to take home or enjoy then & there. This is a must for foodies everywhere, and a perfect way to spend a weekend in York.
Read more about my visit to the York Food & Drink Festival here. For more information on the festival see the website www.yorkfoodfestival.com
Aesthethica Short Film Festival: November
Film buffs will love York’s Short Film Festival, organised by the international art and culture publication Aesthetica. The festival is now in its sixth year, and celebrates independent film from all over the world. This year, the festival will include showings of over 400 short films across a wide range of genres such as advertising, animation, comedy, music video and more, in 14 locations across the city.
Over 25 masterclass sessions with key speakers from the world of film will take place, including speakers from the BBC, Industrial Light & Magic, Jagex and other leading organisations, to allow budding and experienced filmmakers the chance to get advice and tips from the people shaping the film world today. There will also be plenty of networking opportunities for film-makers and fans alike.
For more information visit the website www.asff.co.uk
York Christmas Festival: November to December
Christmas comes early in York, with various events throughout the city all with a festive feel.
The newly extended Christmas festival beginning in mid-November, and the St Nicholas Fair returns to Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, with wooden chalets housing stalls of a range of gifts including jewellery, ceramics, homeware, crafts and locally produced wines and cheeses. The Shambles market is open daily too so be sure to stock up for your Christmas feast with local Yorkshire produce.
Theatre productions include The Snowman at the York Barbican, and panto at the York Theatre Royal and the Grand Opera House. The York Early Music Christmas Festival is host a fantastic line up of musicians too, with something to suit every taste.
And why not catch a carol service in the York Minster, for a unique experience in this splendid Cathedral. With all this on offer, Christmas is a perfect time to visit York!
For more information visit www.visityork.org/christmas
Where to Stay in York
Hostels in York
Hostels are opening up again now, and with the right safety protocols in place can be a great way to enjoy York on a budget, whether you are ready for a dorm room or prefer to book a private room. Check the details of what new procedures have been brought in and make sure you feel confident in the hostel before booking.
Astor York
Astor York is a lovely hostel in a listed building about 10 minutes walk from the centre of York. It gets great reviews for the staff, amenities and social activities.
The Fort Boutique Hostel
The Fort is in a great location right in the centre of York. It gets great reviews for the location, comfy beds and cleanliness. It’s above a bar so could be noisy at the weekends, but a pair of earplugs should sort that out.
Hotels in York
There is no shortage of great hotels in York. I especially love the smaller independently run bed and breakfast style hotels in York, where the owners really go out of their way to take care of guests.
No.21 York
I stayed at the award-winning No.21 York Bed & Breakfast and loved it! Owners Simon and Andrea are so kind and welcoming it felt like home. The Bed and Breakfast is located close to the Museum Gardens, and the rooms are comfortable and spotlessly clean. Simon and Andrea use local ingredients for their delicious breakfast and homemade bread, and source as many of their produce & services as possible from within a 20-mile radius of York.
BOOK YOUR HOTEL NOWTower Guesthouse
Tower Guesthouse is another popular choice when visiting York. It is slightly further out of the city than No. 21, about a mile away from York Minster, but the boutique style and luxurious decor makes up for the walk. Guests also loved the great breakfast and friendly staff.
If neither of those takes your fancy, you can browse all hotels in York here.
Airbnb in York
There are also lots of options for Airbnbs in York.
You may also like:
York Food & Drink Festival: A Paradise for Foodies
A Backpacker´s Guide to York on a Budget
The Best Afternoon Tea in York
Nine Reasons to Visit the North of England Now!
Thanks 🙂 Everyone loves vikings!
The Viking festival sounds amazing, definitely want to go there! Thanks very nice and useful post!
The Yorkshire Pudding situation is awesome, I can vouch for that myself after eating a huge one at the festival! Aww and such a cute nickname bunny 😉
The vikings certainly were a force to be reckoned with! It’s strange about the pin, it works fine for me – hopefully next time 😀
Shame on you!! Aww don’t feel too bad – I lived in Leeds for 10 years and had no clue either!
Yes, I’d love to see the Vikings roaming the streets! Not your usual festival lol
Who doesn’t love Christmas lights and food 😀
Definitely! Festivals are the best time to visit any place I think 🙂
This place can be so much fun with all those festivals. Good job in collecting the details about them.
All of these festivals in York look like fun. I couldn’t go past the Christmas one with all the pretty lights. The food festival also sounds like my cup of tea 🙂
The Viking Festival looks like fun. The Christmas lights are so pretty too and I’m sure there’s a wonderful atmosphere in the air at that time of year.
Now this is totally shameful. I am a very proud Yorkshire lass and had no idea half of these existed. I love the idea of the illuminations. York races are also so much fun although to be honest the day after usually isn’t! Lol
I would really like to immerse myself into a Viking festival. I have so much respect for these people and I cannot explain why. Thanks for sharing this article!
By the way, I wanted to pin it, but your image seems to not load in Pinterest.
Food festivals always top my list! I wonder what the Yorkshire pudding situation would be like. My mum calls me bunny so seeing all the illuminated rabbits guiding the way would be precious. Seems like there’s tons to see in York!
Christmas festivals are great to visit for sure 🙂
Can’t beat some Viking action – it is in York, England thought, not NYC – the vikings didn’t make it that far 😉
Sign me up for the Viking and Christmas festival! These are something I have always wanted to do. .
Viking and the Christmas festival for me. Seems like so much fun. Glad to know about the rest of them too. Did not know that NYC had so many fests.
York is a city I used to visit lots as a kid. But it seems to have evolved beyond just the Jorvik Centre (which is awesome) into a true city of culture.
To be honest I had no idea either until I started looking into it, I lived an hour away from York for years I never knew! :O
I never knew that there are so many cool festivals in York. The food and drinks one sounds really exciting, I would love to visit and try a bit of every cuisine present in the festival. The Illuminating York festivals sounds very interesting also, I bet you can take some really cool photographs by playing with the light.
Hi Fern, sorry for the confusion, it’s York, England not NYC 🙂 If you make it over to England you should definitely check it out!
I had no idea there were so many festivals in NYC, we just missed the food and drink one, bummer.