Revisiting York Ice Trail 2025

Thinking about coming to the York Ice Trail this year? Whether you were a visitor last year and want to reminisce, or interested in completing the trail for the first time, let's look back at the fun in 2025.

York Ice Trail 2025 successfully returned for the weekend Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd February, a free event that allowed visitors and residents alike to enjoy amazing sculptures and events dotted around the city.

Last year's York Ice Trail proved to be as popular as ever, with a staggering 30 ice sculptures to discover. 

As people wandered through the city, they uncovered the theme of "Origins," with stunning ice sculptures inspired by legends, myths, and York's rich history. Live ice carving brought these stories to life, and interactive experiences delighted visitors of all ages. 

Visitors enjoyed posing in front of the neon 'Ice Ice Baby' sign, and many shared this to social media to share their experience. Nearby, highlighting last year's 'Origins' theme, a block of ice showed the origin of all of the magnificent sculptures around the trail. 

We loved the Viking at the bus stop ice sculpture sponsored by York Park & Ride, as well as the frozen chocolate by York's Chocolate Story.

On Parliament Street, YorkMix were broadcasting live from the YorkMix Broadcast Bus. People had the opportunity to win cash prizes, spin the game wheel to win goodies, or even get on the radio. YorkMix's sculpture showed their mascot Mixie Monster come to life in ice form.

YorkBID sponsored an incredible 7 sculptures, all showing different extinct animals that were alive during the Ice Age. Meanwhile, Bettys created their Craft Bakery in Harrogate in ice, the 'origin' of Bettys. 

The ice sculpture sponsored by Bradley's Jewellers showcased a daffodil, known in York for decorating around the City Walls during spring. Bradley's provided the opportunity to enter a competition to win the a daffodil pendant, worth £1000.

The Society of Alchemists also hosted a competition, providing the opportunity to win a giant version of their poular dragon egg hatchlings. Yorkshire Soap Company also offered the chance to win a luxury gift voucher, for those who visited their bar of soap ice sculpture.

Gillies Fabrics' ice sculpture showcased the Overlooker machine. The fabrics and sewing shop encouraged visitors to come and see the latest machines in action from Baby Lock, Janome and Husqvarna Viking. There were special offers and discounts on a range of machines and on a selection of fabrics.

Middletons hosted four sweet-themed ice sculptures, including an icy chocolate orange to celebrate York's connections to Terry's. At the hotel grounds, an 'Ice Wall' allowed people to 'freeze' for the the perfect picture.

Finally, there was a live ice carving session for people to see the amazing artistic process of making an ice sculpture. The sculptors, Icebox, transformed a block of ice to a stunning sculpture of York Minster.

Food and refreshments stalls were on hand to help people keep warm, including delicious food from Miller's Fish and Chips and hot chocolate from Chocolate Circus.

Visitors were able to pick up a free map from the Visitor Information Centre, and our helpful team were on hand all day to ask any questions about the trail. Stickers were also given to those who found all of the sculptures!

Discover the full list of the ice sculptures and York businesses involved in the York Ice Trail 2025:

• Reawakening The Stories of The Past | Provided By Murton Park
• Minster to Metropolis | Provided by Grand Central
• House of Mouse | Provided by Mr Chippy & City Cruises York
• York's Chocolate Story-book | Provided by York's Chocolate Story
• Ouroboros | Provided by The Society of Alchemists
• Prehistoric Mixie Monster | Provided by YorkMix Radio
• Woolly Mammoth | Provided by York BID
• The Former Airspeed Factory | Provided by SPARK:York
• Woolly Rhino | Provided by York BID
• Coppergate Centre - 40 Years Old | Provided by Coppergate Centre
• Ate O'Clock is 8! | Provided by Ate O' Clock
• From Needle & Thread | Provided by Gillies Fabrics
• The Chocolate Orange | Provided by Middletons Hotel
• Sweet Like Chocolate | Provided by Middletons Hotel
• City of Treats | Provided by Icebox
• The Ice Wall | Provided by Make It York
• Glyptondon | Provided by York BID
• Ringing in New Beginnings | Provided by The Milner York
• A Grand Journey | Provided by The Grand, York
• Giant Ground Sloth | Provided by York BID
• The Hobbits | Provided by The Judge's Lodging
• Star Carr Stone Age Headdress | Provided by York Museums Trust
• Where It All Began | Provided by North York Moors National Park
• 50 Years of Railway Legends | Provided by National Railway Museum
• At The Cutting Edge | Provided by York Minster
• Dodo | Provided by York BID
• York Daffodil | Provided by Bradley's Jewellers, York
• Soak In Yorkshire | Provided by Yorkshire Soap Company
• No Longboat? No Problem | Provided by York Park & Ride
• Bettys Craft Bakery | Provided by Bettys

We're looking forward to welcoming you for the York Ice Trail 2026! Wander around the city centre and explore this year's new ice sculptures under the theme 'An Enchanted City' on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February 2026, 10:30am - 4pm.

Aside from the trail, there's also plenty of things to do in York city centre on the York Ice Trail weekend. Step into the Ice Village - a brand new addition filled with family-friendly fun and themed traders offering magical delights. Make sure to book a place on one of the Ice Carving Masterclasses and learn how to carve a polar bear!

Find out more here ▸