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York

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What's on in York

October/November/December

York is transformed with image and light through the dark days of autumn, when internationally acclaimed projection artist Ross Ashton illuminates this beautiful, historic city. The Yorkshire-born artist lights up York’s Museum Gardens from 24 October - 2 November in an exhilarating nightly show.

All this amidst the city’s seasonal cheer of roasting chestnuts, flickering candles in cosy bistros along medieval cobbled streets and spooky ghost walks after dark. Throughout November there’s open-air ice skating beneath the imposing ruins of Clifford’s Tower, followed by elaborate ice sculptures in The Quarter area of the lovely old town, plus music and carols galore. Yorkshire produce, from cheeses and pork pies to mulled wine and fruit cakes, is on open-air stalls and at food and craft markets, and if that’s not enough to make you merry, there are different themed Christmas markets every weekend until after New Year.

A York Christmas

From 14 November 2008, city wide
Bumper programme of festive events, including St Nicholas Fayre (27 - 30 November), Ice Factor ice skating (15 November - 4 January), Festival of Angels (13 - 14 December) and York Early Music Christmas Festival (11 - 14 December).

Accendo

24 October - 2 November 2008, Museum Gardens
Yorkshire-born international projection artist Ross Ashton illuminates the Museum Gardens nightly with a spectacular show that’s open to all visitors.

Illuminating York, citywide

24 October - 2 November 2008
See York in a new light during this after-dark festival, with cutting-edge artwork, site-specific performances, exhibitions and tours in some of the city’s historic hotspots.

5 things to see and do in York from...

York Minster

One of the great cathedrals of the world. Vast spaces, filled with music and inspired works of art in glass, stone and other fabrics.
York Castle Museum

A very popular museum of British everyday life, recreating different historical periods using original articles. Also features period rooms and a modern collection displaying early TVs, vacuum cleaners and other household objects.
York Dungeon

Brings over 2,000 years of gruesome history back to life... and death. Recreates the darkest chapters of our grim and bloody past in all its dreadful detail. Everything you experience here really happened!
National Railway Museum

Free entry into a world of interactive fun and famous trains – the Flying Scotsman, Shinkansen, the 'Bullet Train' and Mallard, the fastest ever steam locomotive, plus a replica of Stephenson's Rocket.
Castle Howard

Guides share the history of this magnificent 18th century house, its family and collections. Outdoor tours reveal the secrets of the gardens and architecture. There’s also a programme of exhibitions and events.

Comprehensive guide and accommodation ideas for York.

Near the station

Chinelli – 9 Grape Lane, YO1 7HU

This leading independent shop specialises in buying men’s and women’s footwear from small Italian Designers. It also stocks accessories, as well as larger footwear brands, including Rodo, Baldinini, Camper and Guess.

Sweet Treasures – 5 Shambles, YO1 7LZ

This old fashioned sweet shop has a strong sense of time gone by. Stacked high with jars full of multi-coloured confections, Sweet Treasures stocks sweets that can’t be found anywhere else. Stock up on fond childhood memories here!

Sarah Coggles – 91 - 93 Low Petergate, YO1 7HY

Expect the unexpected as you explore this boutique department store. Selling a huge range of designer clothes for men and women, there’s also a great range of limited edition T-shirts. Throughout the store you’ll find products as diverse as books, dog carriers, iPod cases and Japanese denim.

Melton's Too – 25 Walmgate, YO1 9TX

This popular cafe-bar bistro is set in a beautiful three storey 17th century building. Melton's Too has a reputation for intergrating quality local and regional produce in good homemade food. Open all day, every day, the menus cover brunch, lunch and dinner. In addition the cafe-bar serves tapas, real ale, wine, coffee and homemade cakes.

BoBo Lobo – 5 Little Stonegate, YO1 8AX

York’s only Latino café bar and restaurant is a lively place to visit whether you want to eat or drink. The exciting menu and choice of over 30 tequilas and rums live up to this popular restaurant’s vibrant atmosphere and décor.

Bettys Café Tea Rooms – 6 - 8 St Helens Square, YO1 8QP

80 years after it opened, this Yorkshire institution attracts one million customers a year. Once seated, customers can enjoy a range of traditional fare while relaxing in art deco elegance. Huge curved windows, impressive wood panelling, ornate mirrors, fancy pinnies and china teacups are all part of this must-do experience.

City Screen – 13 - 17 Coney Street, YO1 9QL

Enjoying a spectacular riverside location, this is one of York’s hippest and most popular venues, having a wide cultural mix of clientele. The relaxed ground floor bar has a trendy urban rustic décor with comfy sofas, chilled music and regular art exhibitions on the walls. Downstairs in the basement, there are regular live music and comedy events.

Fibbers – Stonebow House, The Stonebow, YO1 7NP

This is a bistro style café by day and a music venue by night with a great indie atmosphere. Ideal for lovers of live music and beer.

Oscar’s Wine Bar & Bistro – 8 Little Stonegate, YO1 8AX

A lively and colourful bar that offers a great range of wines to suit most budgets, as well as a selection of beers. Oscar’s has a Mediterranean style décor and is one of York’s most popular meeting places.

The York Brewery – 12 Toft Green, Micklegate, YO1 6JT

A tourist attraction and working brewery producing the first traditionally brewed ales within the walls of York in over 40 years. A gallery around the brew house provides an excellent viewing platform into both the fermenting and conditioning rooms.
The visitor centre has a bar for beer sampling and a shop offering York Brewery home brewing kits and the five bottle brands produced at the brewery.

Ghost Detective Tour – Coppergate Walk (Outside Jorvik Viking Centre), YO1 9NT

The Ghost Detective of York will lead you on an evening walking tour along narrow passageways to investigate bloodcurdling tales of scandal and death and spooky stories of phantoms, ghosts, apparitions, the strange and macabre. Meet at 7.30pm.

Jorvik Viking Centre – 15-17 Coppergate Walk, YO1 9WT

A chance to experience life as it was in the days of the Vikings. Visitors can journey through the reconstruction of Viking-age streets as they would have been in the year AD975. The centre also offers three exciting exhibitions and a face to face meeting with a ‘Viking’.

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