Date: 14 July 2026

Tennis tournaments, world cup mania and retro games: York Castle Museum serves up a summer of fun. 

York Castle Museum has put on a seasonal spectacular highlighting both the Swinging Sixties and Victorian summer galas, complete with retro games to serve up hours of summer entertainment for the whole family.  

Games have long been a central part of summer fun, with tennis being a particular staple of the British summer season. Wimbledon officially began in 1877, making it a Victorian invention! The much-loved game ‘Swingball’ was invented in the 1960s, making tennis a perfect crossover for the two eras highlighted at York Castle Museum’s summer programme. 

With the 2026 Wimbledon season just completed, now is the time to take to York Castle Museum and challenge the family to a ‘swingball’ tennis tournament. Several games are set up in the Mill Yard for families (and adults) to enjoy mini ‘tennis’ tournaments as well as space hoppers, hobby horses, skipping ropes and other outdoor entertainment. York Castle Museum’s social media has also been showcasing the best of the games with tennis and the 1966 World Cup win taking centre stage. 

There are games and interactives throughout York Castle Museum, such as dominoes and Cat’s Cradle in the Swinging Sixties and in the Art of Motion exhibition, vintage automata machines. Visitors can play to win prizes on certain machines, or watch animatronic fairy tale scenes, visit a fortune teller and even see a tiger pouncing on Queen Victoria… 

The museum is bringing nostalgia back with activities for little ones to discover or big kids to reminisce. No matter the weather, there will be an activity for everyone to enjoy and encouraging some friendly competition. Book tickets on York Castle Museum’s website now to secure a play-filled summer, see the events page for more programmed activities.