What's on in York, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: The Ouse comes up (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually))

Peak crowds — JORVIK Viking Festival, February half-term in United Kingdom

• Festival

  JORVIK Viking Festival

  16–22 FebMajor festivalCrowded

  A week of combat displays, encampments and a march through the streets over February half-term, run out of the Coppergate dig. It is the busiest the city gets before Easter. Source ↗

• Festival

  York Literature Festival

  27 Feb – 31 Mar · usuallyArts festival

  A month of author talks, poetry and workshops in venues across the city through March, with a weekend strand given over to folk horror and ghost stories. Source ↗

Still on: The Ouse comes up (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually))

Busy — York Chocolate Festival, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  York Chocolate Festival

  20 Mar – 25 Apr · usuallyFood & drink festivalCrowded

  Over the Easter weekend a chocolate market fills Parliament Street and a tasting trail runs through the centre, a nod to the city's Rowntree and Terry's past. Easter school holidays add to the crowds. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Easter bank holidays

  3–6 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedClosures

  Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK and Easter Monday everywhere but Scotland. The long weekend opens the domestic touring season: popular towns, coasts and parks get busy, rooms cost more, and rail engineering works often cut or replace train services. Source ↗

Still on: York Literature Festival (27 Feb – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — York Chocolate Festival, Easter bank holidays

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: York Chocolate Festival (20 Mar – 25 Apr (usually)), Easter bank holidays (3–6 Apr)

Peak crowds — Dante Festival at York Races, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

• Festival

  Dante Festival at York Races

  10–18 May · usuallySporting eventCrowded

  Three days of flat racing on the Knavesmire in mid-May, with the Dante Stakes a key trial for the Derby. Hotels and trains fill and prices rise for the week. Source ↗

• Festival

  York Festival of Ideas

  28 May – 15 Jun · usuallyArts festival

  Two weeks of mostly free talks, exhibitions, tours and performances hosted by the University of York from the end of May into mid-June. Source ↗

Busy — Late-May half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: York Festival of Ideas (28 May – 15 Jun (usually))

Peak crowds — English school holidays, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

• Holiday

  English school holidays

  18 Jul – 1 SepCrowded

  The Shambles is a lane wide enough for two people and takes the whole of August. The Minster and the walls absorb it; the streets between them do not. Source ↗

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, English school holidays

• Festival

  Ebor Festival at York Races

  19–22 AugSporting eventCrowdedBook early

  Four days of flat racing on the Knavesmire in the third week of August, and the week the city's hotels charge the most. The centre fills with race-goers from lunchtime on. Source ↗

Still on: English school holidays (18 Jul – 1 Sep)

Busy — English school holidays, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  York Food and Drink Festival

  15–30 Sep · usuallyFood & drink festival

  Ten days of markets, tastings and demonstrations across Parliament Street and the guildhalls in the second half of September, after the summer crowds and before the market chalets. Source ↗

Still on: English school holidays (18 Jul – 1 Sep)

Busy — October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — St Nicholas Fair, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  The Ouse comes up

  1 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyFlood seasonClosures

  King's Staith and the riverside pubs flood most winters — the pubs have tide marks on the walls and mop out afterwards. The Foss Barrier holds the worst of it back from the centre. Source ↗

• Festival

  St Nicholas Fair

  12 Nov – 21 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Alpine chalets down Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square from the middle of November, with the Shambles lit above them. Weekends are shoulder to shoulder; weekday mornings are fine. Source ↗

Peak crowds — St Nicholas Fair, Christmas holidays in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: The Ouse comes up (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)), St Nicholas Fair (12 Nov – 21 Dec)