Dust off your YorkCard, it’s time for York Residents Festival! This annual thank you to locals for giving visitors such a warm welcome sees the city’s attractions open their doors free of charge and it’s happening on 25th and 26th January 2020. It’s a great excuse to go out and explore new places or revisit old favourites without spending a penny. Highlights include free admission to DIG: An Archaeological Adventure, free tours of York’s Chocolate Story and boat trips with City Cruises York. Here are just a few more of our favourite family-friendly places that are throwing their doors open for free for York Residents Festival 2020:
- Barley Hall – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Beningbrough Hall – Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 3.30pm
- Beetle Bank Open Farm – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm (pre-book https://yorkastro.org.uk/events/)
- Castle Howard – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- DIG – An Archaeological Adventure – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm
- William’s Den – Saturday & Sunday (prebook through the William’s Den website https://williamsden.digitickets.co.uk/tickets)
- Clifford’s Tower – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Holgate Windmill – Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 4pm
- JORVIK Viking Centre – Saturday & Sunday, after 1pm
- Mindlock Escape Games – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 10pm, pre-booking required (info@mindlockyork.co.uk)
- National Railway Museum Road Train (from York Minster) – Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 4pm
- Northwood Trail Fairy Sanctuary – Saturday and Sunday (2 tickets for the price of 1), 10am to 4pm; pre-booking required (hello@northwoodtrail.co.uk)
- York Army Museum – Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm (also 1st & 2nd Feb)
- York Art Gallery – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm
- York Castle Museum – Saturday & Sunday, 9.30am to 5pm
- York’s Chocolate Story – Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 4pm (free tours between 9am and 10am)
- York Mansion House – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm
- Yorkshire Museum – Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm
- York Motorsport Village – Sunday only; Pre-book (info@ymsv.co.uk)
- York Dungeon – Saturday & Sunday, 4pm to 7pm
There are special offers on eating out, too, if you decide to make a day of it – take a look. Some attractions do require pre-booking, so it’s worth planning ahead. Keep an eye on the Visit York website for the latest details.
Top tips
- Check whether your YorkCard is valid and renew if necessary; don’t leave it until the last minute or you could be queuing in the library for a long time!
- Check whether your chosen attraction(s) need pre-booking
- Wrap up warm!
