Events

Nature Trail – Sat 28 Mar 2026

Dates: Saturday 28 March 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Nature Trail

Daily except Mondays, Tuesday – Sunday

Suitable for all ages

Collect a trail sheet from the Yorkshire Museum admissions desk | £1 per sheet

Enjoy the outdoors with our new self-led Nature Trail, taking you on a journey through the Museum Gardens to explore nature and wildlife.

Pick up your trail sheet from the Yorkshire Museum admissions desk and don’t forgot to collect a small chocolate treat once complete!

Museum admission is not required to take part in the outdoor trail. Please note, the Yorkshire Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, so the Nature Trail is not available on Mondays.

Illustration credit: Nick Ellwood

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Cells Talks – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Cells Talks
Daily
11.30am and 2.30pm
Included in general admission

Discover the history of York Castle prison and some of its notorious inmates.

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Little Spotters – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 12:00 am
Venue: York Castle Museum

Little Spotters
Daily, self-led activity
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

Collect a Little Spotters activity sheet, available in the Secrets of Dress exhibition, and explore historic fashion items on display. There’s also a colouring sheet on the back for you to complete during your visit, or to take home.

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Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork Sensory Stations – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork Sensory Stations
Daily
Included in general admission

Experience our community exhibition Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork in a whole new way with our sensory stations throughout, allowing you to experience the sights, smells, noises and taste of York’s chocolate factories.

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Time Traveller’s Activity Trail – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 12:00 am
Venue: York Castle Museum

Time Traveller’s Activity Trail
Daily
10am – 4.30pm
Included in general admission
Collect a trail booklet from the admissions desk

Explore York Castle Museum and discover fascinating stories and facts about some of the historical objects on display with our interactive Time Traveller’s Activity Trail booklet.

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Creative Studio – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Musuem

Creative Families

Saturday 18^th July, 10:30-15:30

Kirkgate Learning Studio

Join Pippa Dyrlaga, the artist behind our spectacular summer papercut hot air balloon installation, for a special family dop-in workshop inspired by her creation. Learn papercut techniques and create colourful designs to add to the display.

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Kirkgate Talks – Mon 22 Jun 2026

Dates: Monday 22 June 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 11:30 am-2:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Musuem

Kirkgate Talks
Daily
11.30am and 2pm
Included in general admission

Learn about the creation of the Victorian street, Kirkgate, one of the oldest recreated indoor streets of its kind in the world.

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Retro Games and Toys – Tue 7 Jul 2026

Dates: Tuesday 7 July 2026–Sunday 6 September 2026, 10:30 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Retro Games and Toys
Daily
Included in general admission

Set up friendly challenges and play with friends, family and other visitors with our retro games and toys available in the Exercise Yard and Sixties Street.

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Gallery Babies – Thu 16 Jul 2026

Date: Thursday 16 July 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Babies

Thursday 16 July 2026, 10am – 12pm

Free | Pre-booking required |Book Tickets

Burton Gallery

Drop-in sensory play sessions every Thursday during term-time, for pre-walking babies and their grown-ups, set in the atmospheric surroundings of York Art Gallery.

Using our beautiful sensory toolkit, a collection of colourful squishy sculptural objects, sessions will be gently facilitated, exploring shape, colour and texture.

Gallery Babies is a welcoming and supportive space to relax, bond with your baby and meet other parents and carers, providing a bit of calm and care to your daily routine.

The session starts at 10am and finishes at 12pm, but you can drop in and out at any time. Even after the session has finished, our sensory toolkit will be out in the Burton Gallery for you to continue to explore with your baby.

These sessions are designed for pre-walking babies; however, we understand that you may have your hands full with more than one child. The session takes place in the Studio, a space with plenty of room to play, read and eat much needed snacks outside of the galleries if needed. Buggy parking and baby changing facilities available.

We are also offering a special offer in Sketch café for anybody attending a session: Hot drink and cake £7.00 and lunch and drink £15.00.

Please note: Participants must have a pre-booked ticket to attend the session. Gallery Babies admission includes free access to the permanent gallery spaces, tickets for temporary exhibitions require a separate admissions ticket.

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Aesthetica Art Prize 2026: Meet the Artists – Fri 17 Jul 2026

Date: Friday 17 July 2026, 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Aesthetica Art Prize 2026: Meet the Artists
Friday 17 July 2026
12 noon – 1pm
Included in general admission

Join a selection of shortlisted artists from the 2026 Aesthetica Art Prize to hear insightful short talks on their contributions to this year’s exhibition at York Art Gallery.

Artists include Yasuaki Matsuura, Alexis Pichot, Neil Armstrong, DIVA, Katharine Downson and Liza Dracup.

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