Plan your visit to experience York at that most wonderful time of the year! Enjoy the Christmas cheer on offer in one of the UK's most festive cities as York's restaurants, shops and attractions are beautifully decorated and provide a wonderful winter experience.

We recommend securing yourself a Visit York Pass to make even better use of your sightseeing time. Get the best deals by booking your break early with LNER, and choose from 5-star luxury at The Grand, York to cosy B&Bs.

www.visityork.org/loveyork

Travel in style with LNER

Christmas tickets are on now on sale! Book now for the best prices and to arrive in comfort and style to your festive break in York. To help you relax you can enjoy selections of festive food and drink served right to your seat. From Wednesday 30 November 2022 to Wednesday 4 January 2023, the brand new Festive menu will be available on all trains.

Take the little ones for just £99 with the all-in-one family ticket for up to 2 adults and 4 children. With free Wi-Fi and plenty of charging points, you won’t be hearing the phrases ‘I’m bored’ or ‘are we there yet?’.

Book direct with LNER and you’ll avoid booking fees. You can also join LNER Perks to earn 2% credit with every LNER Advance ticket, plus get £5 free when you join.

York Christmas Festival 

Christmas really is just around the corner with our York Christmas Festival opening on 17 November, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the St Nicholas Fair. It’s set to sparkle even more this year with new Christmas lights, over 70 chalets and the brand-new Winter Hütte! For the perfect York Christmas, stay longer and give yourself a luxurious amount of time to soak up the festive atmosphere. Find out all the latest on what’s in store in the York Christmas Guide.

City Cruises York - Festive Sightseeing Cruise 

Put down the shopping bags and rest your feet (and arms!) as you experience Christmas on the river! You’ll be whisked away from the hurly-burly of the busy shopping streets of York and escape into a winter wonderland as you explore the fascinating history of the city and enjoy some Christmas songs. All enjoyed with a warming hot drink of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and a festive mince pie, or apple pie included in the price! The cruise takes in several famous landmarks, including Clifford's Tower, and turns around at the glorious 13th Century Bishopthorpe Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of York.

JORVIK Viking Centre

Whatever the weather outside, visitors to JORVIK enjoy a warm and dry visit to 10th century York on a famous ride through the sights, sounds and smells of Viking-age Coppergate. Cutting-edge technology, ancient artefacts, and ‘live’ Viking hosts bring the Vikings back to life. Peruse the Silverdale Hoard, one of the largest Viking hoards ever discovered in the UK. Book your time capsule online now. What’s more the JORVIK Viking Festival will be back in February 2023 even more reasons to Love York!

National Railway Museum

A perfect free family day out, come rain or shine. Become immersed in the history of the railway; see stunning historical sights such as Queen Victoria’s personal carriage, or the first ever steam engine, Stephenson’s Rocket. Marvel at the Japanese Bullet train and the Eurostar, the superstars of our time. There are free children’s activities over Christmas too. Come and see pop-up science shows that investigate how our railways will be powered in the future, or get to work crafting at our making station.

York Minster

Discover one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals this festive season, with beautiful breath-taking services and seasonal concerts for all the family. Join a candlelit service during Advent, or experience the popular, traditional Christmas Carol Concerts featuring the Choir of York Minster, one of the UK’s leading cathedral choirs, with seasonal readings from a special guest. Explore the cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival, featuring nearly 40 trees decorated to individual themes set inside its medieval Chapter House and Lady Chapel. Add your own message to a tag for the festival prayer trees or vote for your favourite in the ‘best dressed tree’ competition.

Christmas at Castle Howard - Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas

After the sell-out success of last year’s ‘Christmas in Narnia’ experience, Charlotte Lloyd Webber Events and The Projection Studio are back and set to transform grand rooms into magical forests and faraway kingdoms. Expect to be enchanted by theatrical installations and projections that bring to life your favourite fairytales as the sounds of glass slippers on ballroom floors and horse-drawn pumpkins echo through the great halls. Visitors can indulge in Christmas shopping, from unique gifts to delicious local produce for your Christmas dinner. Why not indulge with a festive afternoon tea before taking in the magical surroundings with a mulled wine at the after-dark experiences featuring winter light displays, and twinkling Christmas trees.

The Grand, York

Check into the Grand, York’s finest hotel located just inside the city’s historic walls, with original features from 1906, the bedrooms are the perfect place to unwind and rest your head after a day of hustle and bustle in the city. Plenty to choose from with the new fine-dining at Legacy, gourmet food restaurant, The Rise and a state-of-the-art cookery school that offers a range of immersive and dynamic classes, it makes it the ideal getaway location for culinary enthusiasts. Get into the Christmas spirit with a festive night stay, from Christmas in The Courtyard where guests can cosy-up in with a mulled wine or Christmas cocktail in hand, accompanied by a sweet treat and live music, to an exquisite Festive Afternoon Tea with a twist complete with a selection of picture-perfect Christmas pastries and a moreish Christmas cocktail.