There are loads of birthday party options in York for children, making it really difficult to choose what to do (have a look at our best birthday parties in York here). JORVIK DIG is one of the attractions that offers birthday parties, and we went along to try it for ourselves.
Our little Vikings have enjoyed visiting the JORVIK Group attractions since they were really young, so it was no surprise that our daughter jumped at the chance to have her seventh birthday party at DIG: An Archaeological Adventure. She was really excited about being able to invite a group of her closest friends to one of York’s best family attractions for a couple of hours of fun and games with a very appropriate Viking theme.
How it works Birthday parties at DIG take place at the weekend, from 11am to 1pm or 2pm to 4pm. Our two-hour slot flew by, packed as it was with digging in the archaeologists’ pits to uncover bits of history (including the all-important toilet), playing games, feasting and crafting. It’s a very well-organised affair, with a knowledgeable guide and a hilarious Viking host overseeing proceedings and keeping everyone entertained.
The activities Digging in the pits is always a novelty, no matter how many times the children have done it (which, in the case of our children, is a lot). All of the children seemed to love discovering the treasure lurking beneath the ‘soil’ and hearing the stories behind it. From there, we went up to the mezzanine level and into our own room to decorate shields. With party guests ranging from four to almost ten, this was a great activity that everyone could join in with (and they could take the shields home afterwards too – bonus). After the birthday feast – of which more below – there were games galore with our Viking friend, and again he made sure that everyone joined in and there were no tears (a rare thing indeed).
The food Lunch was a real highlight, with the children all feasting together, Viking-style, at a table set with goblets, Viking helmets and other accessories that made it really fun. We chose the stress-free option of including catering and were very glad that we did: there was an abundance of food, from platters of sandwiches to a huge array of fruit, crisps and cupcakes for the kids to tuck into. There was so much that we couldn’t eat it all, but hopefully the leftovers fuelled the staff through the afternoon. All we had to provide was the cake, but we still managed to forget the candles! Thankfully the staff were able to magically produce a number 7 candle to save the day.
The party bags – Party bags are an additional £3, and as someone who has devoted too much time to sorting out party bags in the past, I would recommend them. The bags contain a nice little selection of things from the DIG shop, like mini panpipes and Viking coins, and our children were really pleased with them. It was lovely not to have to source them ourselves and we felt that they were good value.
The verdict We would wholeheartedly recommend a birthday party at DIG. They’re well-organised, fun and it’s a real treat to have a party at one of York’s star attractions. The birthday girl really enjoyed herself, and her four-year-old sister enjoyed it so much that she’s asked to have her birthday party there too!
The essentials
Availability – Saturdays and Sundays, at 11am-1pm or 2pm-4pm
Age range – 4 to 12
Capacity – Minimum 12, maximum 25 children
Prices – From £10 per child
Optional extras – Party bags and invitations
Contact – Call on 01904 615505 (lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pm) or email birthdays@yorkat.co.uk
