Dates: Wednesday 29 October 2025–Sunday 2 November 2025, All Day
Venue: York Art Gallery

Explore, Play, Create
Daily, Wednesday 29 October – Sunday 2 November 2025 | 10.00am – 5.00pm
Included in general admission | Booking not required

Book General Admission Here

Throughout the gallery, families are invited to discover three engaging areas designed to enhance your experience and help you explore both the space and our wonderful collection.

Explore
Discover the Burton Gallery with our Sensory Toolkit, created by artist Sarah Marsh. This interactive experience, suitable for all ages and abilities, encourages participation through sensory exploration of the gallery’s forms, colours, and textures. It is designed for quiet reflection.

Play
Get playful with costumes inspired by ceramic pots on display. Explore the shapes, colours, textures, and forms you see on gallery and mix and match to design your own wearable pot.

Create
Unleash your creativity with our Art Cart, stocked with drawing materials, intriguing objects, and inspiring activities linked to gallery artworks and exhibitions. Accessible for all ages and abilities, this space is designed for creative exploration.

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Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025, 10:15 am-12:15 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

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Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

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Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

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Date: Thursday 30 October 2025, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

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Date: Thursday 30 October 2025, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet me at the Yorkshire Museum: Viking North
30 October 2025 | 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm
Included in general admission | Suitable for all ages | Book Now

There are only two seasons in the Viking world.

Summer and Winter.

It is winter.

Night and day are dark and the air is cold. Raids must stop. Longboats are pulled out of the freezing river onto land, and the Great Army must shelter from the harsh weather.

In the dark, fire meets ice and crackles. A story can be heard on the wind. A tune is played. A laugh rings out!

This summer, visit the Winter… as the camp dwellers bring the dark season to life with stories, music, games and laughter.

Meet characters from the Winter camp and discover more from the Viking North exhibition through live performance and interactive interpretation with History Riot.

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Date: Thursday 30 October 2025, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Stories Alive in the Cells
30 October 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now 

Brand new for October 2025, get involved with immersive performances inviting visitors to play judge and jury, deciding the fate of some of York Castle Prison’s most famous historical felons such as Dick Turpin and Mary Bateman. Join Eden from Stories Alive in York Castle Prison to hear mystifying and peculiar real-life stories in the authentic prison cells. 

*11:00am, 12:00 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. Drop-in performances, suitable for all ages.

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Date: Friday 31 October 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

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Date: Friday 31 October 2025, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Stories Alive in the Cells
31 October 2025 | Available throughout the day| Included in general admission – Book Now 

Brand new for October 2025, get involved with immersive performances inviting visitors to play judge and jury, deciding the fate of some of York Castle Prison’s most famous historical felons such as Dick Turpin and Mary Bateman. Join Eden from Stories Alive in York Castle Prison to hear mystifying and peculiar real-life stories in the authentic prison cells. 

*11:00am, 12:00 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. Drop-in performances, suitable for all ages.

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Date: Saturday 1 November 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Saturday 1 November 2025 | Throughout the day | Included in general admission 

Watch live cooking demonstrations throughout the day in our studio kitchen.

This October half term, we’re making Soul Cakes, a small cake with sweet spices traditionally made for Halloween. These treats are a symbol of community and remembrance in Christian traditions, used as offerings to commemorate the dead. Tasters may be available if you’re lucky!

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