Our pick of the best things to do at York's 2025 Eboracum Roman Festival
Grab Your Togas: The Romans Are Back in Town from this Saturday
Starting this Saturday (24 May), York goes full toga for eight whole days of family-friendly Roman antics. Think parades, trails, walking tours, people in sandals shouting in Latin, and small children whacking each other with foam swords.
York was originally called Eboracum but it was eventually dumped by the tourist board because no one could work out how to spell it when they were putting it into the satnav.
But once a year York becomes Eboracum again with the Roman Festival where everyone can relive the good old days of the fun stuff that got banned by the snowflake, tofu-eating, woke mob, like crucifixion (it's too good for them), army parades, war, overly long poems and Gladiators (not ones that wear spandex and have their own hair product range).
You’ll find it at the York Museum Gardens that will have been transformed into a Roman Living History camp with a Kids Army, demonstrations, lectures, concerts, food stalls, craft stalls, demonstrations, re-enactment battles and a parade of Roman legionaries.
What have the Romans ever done for York?
Roads. But not the A64: that was created by other bloodthirsty tyrants
Built a lovely long wall
Built a very tall column near York Minster
Built the sewers. Some can still be seen at York Museum Gardens and some are still currently on the Yorkshire Water repair shortlist
Built the Roman Baths — there are still remains under the Roman Bath pub in the centre of town
Brought peace - that one is for Python fans
Festival Highlights:
Main Weekend Highlights (Sat 24 & Sun 25 May)
Free Roman Living History Encampment
10am–5pm, Museum Gardens lawn
Re-enactors in full Roman gear recreating military and civilian life. Think tents, swords, and excellent sandals.
Big Roman Parade
Starts 12 noon both days
Watch fully-armoured Roman soldiers stomp from the Yorkshire Museum to York Minster.
Route: Museum Gardens → Lendal → St Helen’s Square → Stonegate → Minster Gates.
Saturday’s return trip goes via Bootham Bar, for bonus Roman road stomping.
Inside the Yorkshire Museum
Roman storytelling, mosaic-making, and a Roman coin talk by David Michaels.
Included with museum entry, which is free with a York Card or if you pretend to be very interested in dinosaurs too.
For Kids (and Grown-Ups Who Still Like Crafts)
York Minster Roman Experience (29–31 May)
10am–3pm, included in Minster admission (free for York residents)
Crafts, object handling, and the all-important “meet a Roman soldier” moment.
Run by the lovely lot from Days Gone By.
DIG Roman Face Pot Making
11am–3pm daily at DIG, St Saviourgate – £3 per person
Make your own slightly wonky Roman-style pot.
Also: they’ve got the only skeleton in the world with a lion bite from a gladiator fight. That’s worth the price alone.
Free Roman Treasure Hunt
24, 25, 28, 29 & 30 May across York city centre
Great for little explorers. Also good for parents who need a walking nap in disguise.
For the Nerdy Types (You Know Who You Are)
Walking Tours of Roman York
27–31 May
Discover the hidden Roman layers under your feet, including the ones you accidentally stood on at the pub.
Talks & Academic Events
Featuring absolute history legends like:
Mary Beard (yes, that Mary Beard)
Peter Addyman, local archaeology hero
David Jennings, CEO of York Archaeology
Plus Tom Moore (Durham Uni), Sophia Adams (British Museum), and more
Talks on everything from Roman York to new Iron Age finds (Melsonby Hoard – currently at the Yorkshire Museum)
Special Roman Research Symposium
23 May, Tempest Anderson Hall
For anyone who enjoys PowerPoint, pottery shards, and impressing people at parties. 
Plan Your Visit:
Dates: 24th May – 31 May 2025 
Locations: Various venues across York
Tickets & more info: click here
If you love Romans, dressing up, shouting in public, or just really good history with a side of fun – get to the Eboracum Festival and as always, if you need a place to stay then just visit our website www.houseofyork.org and book:
- one of our homes for up to six people
- two of our homes for up to 12 people
- or all three together for up to 18 people
Rather conveniently, all our houses are next door to each other!
Want to read more for your next visit to York?
Then download a free copy of our book York Local Knowledge Must-do Top Tens & the vouchers to get them for less where you will discover the historic UK city of York like a local with tips, top tens, and guidance on where to find the best discounts and vouchers, so you can experience it all without breaking the bank!
You can download it for free from the Apple iBooks Store here
You can download it for free from the Google Play Books Store here
This isn’t your average guidebook—it’s a laugh-out-loud, down-to-earth companion, packed with top-ten lists covering everything from essential attractions and hidden gems to entertainment, dining spots, walks, tours, festivals, and shopping, all enriched with a local’s insider knowledge.
With insights, amusing anecdotes, and a sprinkling of puns and dad jokes, Alistair’s love letter to York will help you see the city in a whole new way. Grab a copy and start planning the York adventure you didn’t know you were missing!
With over 240 pages, this guide is ideal for families and groups of friends planning a trip to York and includes:
Up-to-date information on everything in the ever-changing city of York—this is the 2025 edition.
Top ten lists of York’s best tourist attractions, entertainment spots, food and drink, walks, tours, festivals, and independent shops.
Beautiful photography accompanying every recommendation.
Answers to visitors’ top questions, from “Where’s the best place for ice cream?” to “Where can I find a great takeaway curry?”
Recommendations on where locals go for up-to-date information about York.
The best places to stay, from five-star hotels to holiday homes and houseboats.
Details on where to find discounts and vouchers for York restaurants, attractions, and experiences.
Want to hear a great podcast about York?
A fab podcast for tourists and locals looking to find out more about York History, must do York Top 10's and money saving tips to do it all for less.
Just search your podcast app for York Must Do Top 10s or click on this link for the show on apple podcast here
Book one of our Holiday Homes for your next trip to York
Are you looking for a great place to stay for your next trip to York. All 3 of our holiday homes are next door to each other which means you can hire them individually for up to 6 people or together for up to 12 (107 & 109 together) or even 18 people (Spencer House & 107 & 109 together).
To check availability and book just visit www.houseofyork.org
We pride ourselves on being couples and family friendly and we try to take any of the stress out of your stay so you can focus on enjoying yourselves and magnificent York.