Not Your Nan’s Museum: Why York Castle Museum’s Victorian Summer Is Basically a Time-Travel Street Party
Imagine if my great-, great-, great-grandparents broke into your great-, great-, great-, great-grandparents house, took all their nice stuff and then you got invited over to have a look at it (no touching) as long as you made a donation and ate an expensive ropey lunch and bought a t-shirt probably with a picture on it of the stuff they took — well, welcome to the world of most UK Museums.
But that's not the case at York Castle Museum because most of its stuff is from local people in York. So it's a bit more like a really big local charity shop, but without the 200 copies of John Grisham books and broken foot spas.
For these and many other reasons York Castle Museum is a Lamont family favourite. It's essentially a living museum covering 400 years of York history that's packed with Yorkshire people's stuff from furniture to crockery, all displayed in recreated rooms, shops, and streets.
But thats not all it has to offer, and here is some great news you can now grab your top hat, lace up your boots, and prepare for a full-on Victorian summer takeover at the Museum. From now to Sunday 31 August 2025, Kirkgate – the museum’s legendary Victorian street – is getting a gala glow-up, and it’s a proper seasonal shindig.
Expect bunting galore, blooms inspired by the Victorian ‘language of flowers’, and more family-friendly fun than you can shake a stick of seaside rock at. They’re calling it a Victorian extravaganza, but honestly, it sounds more like a time-traveling street party with added brass.
What’s On?
Live music in the museum yard, featuring toe-tapping historical tunes
Street shows with everyone’s favourite eccentric time-traveller Phinneas Fickletickle (yes, he’s back with his Totally Tremendous Time-Travel Tincture – try saying that after a lemonade)
Circus skills and mayhem from The Silly History Boys
Dress-up corners, gala games, and crafts galore – think poster printing, flower-making, and even edible flower demos (finally, a legit reason to eat daisies)
Hoglets Theatre Company is bringing the birds – well, puppets – with their bird of prey workshops
New Exhibition Alert
Opening late June, the Art of Motion exhibition takes you on a whirlwind tour through the history of clockwork toys and brilliantly bonkers automata. With hands-on Brio sets and interactive gadgets, this one’s perfect for kids, adults, and anyone who ever loved winding up a toy just to see what it’d do.
Where? York Castle Museum, Eye of York
When? 19 July – 31 August 2025
Tickets + Info: York Castle Museum website
So, if your idea of summer fun includes flower crafts, puppet falcons, musical strolls and a bit of vintage time-travel, York Castle Museum’s Victorian summer gala might just be the highlight of your holiday and as always if you are coming to York and 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.