York Residents’ Festival returns on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026, offering York residents free entry to the city’s top attractions, and exclusive offers on food, retail and unique experiences across the city.
Organised by Make It York, this much-loved event is a celebration of everything York has to offer, giving residents the chance to support local businesses and independent makers.
For the second year running, there will be a launch for experiences requiring pre-booking so that residents can book tickets online for a variety of attractions, allowing you to secure your spots ahead of the festival weekend.
This includes York Museums Trust offering free entry to York Castle Museum, York Art Gallery and The Yorkshire Museum, as well as the National Trust offering free entry to Treasurer’s House.
With countless exclusive deals and offers, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy an unforgettable weekend in York.
The full list of offers and pre-booking will go live from 12pm on 9 January 2026 at visityork.org/resfest. So, mark your calendar, start planning your weekend and be ready to book early for venues with limited spaces!
Read on for a glimpse of what’s to come – from free entry to iconic attractions and unique tours and experiences to exclusive dining deals – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. These include:
- Beningbrough Hall
- Treasurers’ House
- Goddards
- The Potions Academy
- Merchant Taylors’ Hall
- Clifford’s Tower
- Tours of Holy Trinity Goodramgate and a free guidebook
- Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
- Fairfax House
- The Hole In Wand
- York Cold War Bunker
- Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print
- York Medical Society
- Fishergate Postern Tower
- York Minster’s new exhibition ‘St William of York: Life and Legacy’
For those wanting to explore the city they call home, Go Quest Adventures are offering 50% off their self-guided tour, taking you around York in a different way! In addition, York residents can enjoy 50% off tickets for York Guided Historic Pub Walk, helping you discover an alternative history of York.
If you love craft, design, creativity and heritage, you’ll love Rainbow Ceramics who are offering 20% off pottery painting.
Food and drink lovers can enjoy exclusive discounts at some of York’s most-loved eateries. Treat yourself to 10% off at Love Cheese and The Speakcheesey. As well as 20% off at Caffe Massarella, serving up authentic Italian flavours. 10% off at The Potions Express, at York Railway Station, will provide you with magical treats as you set off on your journey. For those with a sweet tooth, York’s Chocolate Story is offering 200 free tickets over the weekend (100 each day), as well as 25% off their classic guided tours. Those who enjoy a drink can make the most of York Gin offering 20% off in store, as well as 10% off refills of their award-winning gins.
Thrill-seekers can take their adventure to new heights with Rock Climbing and Abseiling at Brimham Rocks! Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a complete beginner, the dramatic rock formations offer an unforgettable outdoor experience.
For music and shows, The Black Swan Inn are putting on a free concert for York residents, as well as The Bar Convent hosting a fascinating Q&A with Sydney Thorne. For a delightful musical adventure for children and families, get 25% off tickets to Ruby’s Worry at National Centre for Early Music, a family concert told through live music, song, puppetry and physical theatre.
Shopping offers include Avorium giving away a free pen pot with every purchase, and 10% off at Lucy Pittaway where you can discover the vibrant world of the award-winning artist. The Potions Cauldron at the Shambles are offering 10% off all purchases, including magical treats and drinks.
Enjoy a unique staycation at The Bar Convent, who are offering 20% off bookings made during York Residents’ Festival.
Live from Friday 9 January
The list of offers will go live at visityork.org/resfest on Friday 9 January from 12pm. Make sure to check the website regularly, as new offers and additional tickets will be added over the coming weeks.
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said: “York Residents’ Festival is the perfect opportunity to rediscover the city you call home. With so many offers, free tickets and brilliant experiences, make the most of this amazing weekend available to all residents and explore everything on offer – don’t miss out!”
How to take part
To take advantage of the offers, all you need to do is present a valid York Card, student card or identity card that proves your York residency. If presenting an identity card, this must clearly state ‘York’ (e.g. driving licence or older person’s bus pass).
The York Card is available to all who live or work within the York area. The York Card costs £6 for adult residents and free to children and young people up to the age of 18, and free if you are in receipt of a number of means tested benefits. It’s valid for 12 months and is available to purchase as a digital card online or at any Explore library. For full details, visit card.exploreyork.org.uk
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Note to editors
PRESS RELEASE: 2 January 2026
York Card – The ‘Work in York’ card (£10) and a Concession Card is not currently available to purchase online – please visit any Explore library to purchase these types of cards. You can find contact details and addresses for all Explore libraries here.
About Make It York
Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally – as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. Its mission is to grow the economic prosperity and wider wellbeing of York and its citizens. In practice, this means delivering a range of projects and programmes based around our corporate strategic priorities. These are, city positioning and profile-raising, ensuring an exciting city centre, and delivering the city’s ground-breaking cultural strategy. MakeItYork.com
About Visit York
Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand. Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York. Activity covers all aspects of tourism marketing and PR, including market intelligence, as well as providing business support through the membership programme. Visit York operate the Visit York Pass, York’s city-sightseeing card, and run the Visitor Information Centre. VisitYork.org
