Doors thrown open to York's treasure trove of attractions

Families came face to face with dinosaurs and ancient artefacts during a record-breaking weekend which saw more than 70 attractions in York open for free to city residents.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Feb 2016, 05:00 BST
Sisters, Alice, aged five, and Florence Slezak, seven, from York, getting a close up view of a T Rex at the Yorkshire Museum as part of the York Residents Festival. (GL1008/78b)Sisters, Alice, aged five, and Florence Slezak, seven, from York, getting a close up view of a T Rex at the Yorkshire Museum as part of the York Residents Festival. (GL1008/78b)
Sisters, Alice, aged five, and Florence Slezak, seven, from York, getting a close up view of a T Rex at the Yorkshire Museum as part of the York Residents Festival. (GL1008/78b)

At The Yorkshire Museum, young visitors heard from archaeologists in a link up with York College and tried making their own Roman face pots.

An assortment of the city’s most celebrated attractions were involved in the 21st incarnation of York Residents’ Festival, sponsored by First, which also gave the city’s sizeable student population free access for the first time. Organised by Make It York, the event included discounts off purchases at retailers and eateries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kate McMullen, head of consumer products and marketing at Make It York, said: “When it was first set up our Residents Festival was unique in the country. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and we’ve expanded the programme each year.”

Mila Scarborough, aged seven, from York, with a Roman face pot made at a workshop run by York College at The Yorkshire Museum. (GL1008/78c)Mila Scarborough, aged seven, from York, with a Roman face pot made at a workshop run by York College at The Yorkshire Museum. (GL1008/78c)
Mila Scarborough, aged seven, from York, with a Roman face pot made at a workshop run by York College at The Yorkshire Museum. (GL1008/78c)

New additions included the York Army Museum and the Victorian ballroom in the De Grey Rooms at Exhibition Square where visitors got up close to costumes in the hire department from past theatrical productions.

Tours were also given of the new gallery spaces at York Art Gallery following its £8m development.

Related topics:York