Your guide to the best things to do in the city.
Madness headline the Music Showcase at York Racecourse on Friday 23 July 2027, with a six-race card before the concert. Tickets start at £15 and go on sale at 10am on Friday 25 September via the racecourse website and Ticketmaster.


David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood, presents his new book 'Out of Colditz' at Topping & Company Booksellers.

David Essex brings his Thanks for the Memories tour to the York Barbican, celebrating his career in music and theatre.

Meet the winemakers and enjoy a 7-course tasting menu paired with six South African wines at Roots.

A fun and friendly dance event for toddlers and their grown-ups, featuring movement, stories, and creative play led by York Dance Space.

Beginner-friendly pasta-making classes with unlimited Prosecco, led by Pasta Evangelists chefs.
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A practical guide to York’s main ghost walks and the Necrobus, with routes, prices, meeting points and autumn schedules. It also covers booking ahead, accessibility and what to expect from the city’s darker history tours.

Brew York has released its Brewcade trilogy, a limited Halloween set inspired by Resident Evil, Doom and The Last of Us, alongside the Dark Chapters range. Here is what is in each beer, how to pair them with autumn treats and where to try them at the Walmgate taproom.

Annual exhibition of textile art by the York Textile Artists group at the historic Cemetery Chapel, featuring Nicola Harper's 'Fragments of Imagination'.

Live theatre experience where you step into the shadowy hideout of the infamous 16th-century prophetess Mother Shipton, exploring themes of superstition, fear and fate.

Free whisky tastings featuring Spirit of Yorkshire and Fragrant Drops at the new Royal Mile Whiskies shop on Coney Street.
Aesthetica Film Festival returns to York from 4–8 November 2026 for its 16th anniversary edition. The programme will combine independent film screenings with VR, games, podcasting, talks, workshops and live events across city venues.
From rutting deer at Studley Royal to migrant birds at Spurn Point, Yorkshire has plenty of autumn wildlife within reach of York. This guide covers riverbanks, woodland, wetlands and farmland, with practical details for planning a respectful visit.
The York Barbican will host the Romeo + Juliet Film in Concert tour on 21 October 2027, with a live ensemble performing the score to Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film. Presale opens 16 September 2026, with general sale from 18 September.
Ghost Week VII brings free ghost hunts, family trails, crafts and gothic events to York from 24 October to 1 November 2026. Here are the main activities, prices and age restrictions to know before planning a visit.
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The York Christmas Market returns to the city centre with traditional chalets, twinkling lights and independent traders selling local artisan goods and festive food.

A magical Christmas film screening with the soundtrack performed live by a professional orchestra, presented by Carrot Productions.

The UK Championship snooker tournament brings the world's top players to the York Barbican, one of the biggest events on the sport's global calendar.

A major seasonal shopping event with over 250 artisan stands, local food producers, fashion retailers, and chef demonstrations at the York Racecourse.

Traditional Christmas service with nine readings, music by the Choir of York Minster and carols for everyone to join in.