Start a new tradition, send Christmas magic instead of cards this year

Christmas cards have been part of festive celebrations since Victorian times — and the Victorian Christmas cards in York Castle Museum’s collection tells part of that story.

This year, we’re inviting businesses to continue the Christmas tradition a little differently. Instead of spending your Christmas budget on corporate cards and gifts, consider donating some, or all of it, to help make Christmas at York Castle Museum more accessible for the people of York and beyond.

Your support will help York Museums Trust, a registered charity, provide Relaxed Christmas Visits for those who would benefit from experiencing the museum in a quieter, calmer and more supported environment.

Make Christmas at York Castle Museum more accessible 

Christmas at York Castle Museum is York’s most atmospheric experience, transformed for the season with the sights, smells and sounds of Christmases from the past.

We recognise that busy spaces, unfamiliar surroundings, queues, noise and changes in sound or lighting can make a museum visit difficult or overwhelming for some people.

This Christmas, we’re piloting a series of Relaxed Christmas Visits, on selected dates throughout November and December, designed for neurodivergent visitors, those with sensory processing differences, families who might need a quieter space, or anyone that may need a different pace to their visit, to ensure more people can enjoy this popular festive experience.

Visitors can expect earlier openings with reduced capacity time slots, adjustments to sound and lighting, clearer sensory and access information, calm spaces, sensory resources, Sunflower scheme support and additional signage.

An old tradition with a new purpose

The giving and receiving of Christmas cards became a popular element of festive traditions during the Victorian period. Today, businesses can spend hundreds of pounds each year posting cards and gifts to clients and colleagues.

We’re inviting organisations across York and beyond to take that familiar Christmas tradition and give it a new purpose.

Turn your Christmas cards into a gift to York this year, by donating what you might otherwise have spent to York Museums Trust, a registered charity, to help us make Christmas special for even more people.

Whether that’s £50, £150, £250, £500 or more, every donation in lieu will support our Relaxed Christmas Visits at York Castle Museum and help us develop more accessible and welcoming museum experiences.

As well as supporting visitors over the festive season, the Relaxed Christmas Visits help us understand how these adapted openings could become a regular offer for visitors to York Castle Museum through feedback.

Share your Christmas message

Businesses that support the campaign will receive a digital supporter graphic to share with clients, colleagues and followers.

These resources will enable you to tell people that your Christmas budget contributed towards Relaxed Christmas Visits at York Castle Museum, gifting the magic of festive memories to even more people this year.

Click here to donate

For more information about donations, please contact fundraising@ymt.org.uk.

Find out more about Relaxed Christmas Openings at York Castle Museum

Find out more about Christmas at York Castle Museum: The Night Before Christmas