Visitor centre to be region's showcase

Tourism leaders in York yesterday announced that two specialist firms had been appointed to help develop the city's new Visitor Information Centre into the best facility of its kind in the country.

Heritage retail specialists Retail Matters has been taken on to source a range of products that show off the best of the region including local foods and preserves, arts and crafts, gifts and books.

The Harrogate-based creative design consultancy SoVibrant has been recruited to design the interior in the Grade II listed building.

The new centre will provide an in-house box office, travel information and accommodation booking as well as an itinerary planning service.

The new centre in Museum Street will be opening to the public this summer, replacing the existing service at the De Grey Rooms in Exhibition Square.

The development is in a building which dates from about 1840 and has undergone restoration overseen by York Conservation Trust.