You will receive the map and guide outlining the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.
The samples provided on the taste trail vary widely depending on the participating businesses, but may include small bites of food, such as cheeses, meats, breads, and desserts, as well as drinks, such as wine or beer.

Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.

Tickets are limited to 100 per day – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point while stocks last
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)

*Please note:
– Some samples will involve alcohol and therefore under 18s will not be able to participate with all of the stops on the trail.
– While you can collect the booklet between 10am to 4pm, each business has different opening times and some will close as early as 3pm
– Some businesses are closed on specific days.

Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this demonstration programme for all visitors to the festival to attend.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.

At the minimum, there are six workshops available, covering a range of themes including bread making, pasta making, vegan dips, and smoking your own food. New workshop themes will be added in for 2025, ensuring that there is always something new to learn and discover at the festival.

The workshops are interactive and hands-on, providing participants with an opportunity to get involved in the cooking process and learn by doing. The workshops are suitable for all ages, and experienced instructors are on hand to provide guidance and support.

The York Food Festival is always on the lookout for talented volunteers to work with the public by delivering workshops. If you are someone who has a passion for cooking and wants to give back to the community, then we encourage you to consider volunteering with us. If interested, please fill out our online form

Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this extensive free food education programme for all visitors to the festival.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.

Participants receive a guide map (FREE for all) providing a unique and engaging way for families to explore the local chocolate scene, while also having fun and learning new things along the way.

Purchased ticket holders end the tour decorating a Chocolate Bar with York Cocoa Works.
Tickets can either be pre-booked online or purchase at the information point (while stocks last)

Collection of the guide map is from the Information Point any day of the festival from 10am, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)

Last entry for the chocolate bar decorating at York Cocoa Works will be 4pm (Please allow at least 45 minutes to come back to collect your Chocolate Bar once it has set).

Did you know that the York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation?
Any money generated (from trader fees to ticket sales) goes back into the festival to improve it year after year.
During the festivals we run this demonstration programme for all visitors to the festival to attend.
Please consider making a donation to support this programme and keep it running.

You will receive a guide map listing the various participating businesses, along with a schedule of when each business is open and offering samples.

The trail features around 20 stops to sample – small bites of food or drink samples – which will vary depending on the participating businesses.

Overall, the Taste Trail is a fun and engaging way for visitors to sample a wide variety of local food and drink offerings and experience the unique flavours and culture of a particular York.

Tickets are very limited – You can either pre-book online or purchase your booklet at the information point while stocks last.
Collection of the trail booklet is from the Information Point any day between 10am to 4pm, located on Parliament Street – In front of Claire’s (37 Parliament Street, YO1 8RU)

*Please note:
– Some samples will involve alcohol and therefore under 18s will not be able to participate with all of the stops on the trail.
– While you can collect the booklet between 10am to 4pm, each business has different opening times and some will close as early as 3pm
– Some businesses are closed on specific days.

This iconic clock tower features a clock with a ‘waiting train’ mechanism, powered by an electrical impulse from a master clock. The tower is part of five buildings designed by J G Davies and L E Wade for Terry’s chocolate factory (built 1924-1930). Tours in partnership with York Clock Group.

Opened in 1937, Bettys’ upstairs dining room was modelled on the art-deco glamour of transatlantic
liners. Our insider tours will explore the basement that was an informal WWII ops room, the staff canteen and store rooms that were once a ballroom.

For more information click here.

This state-of-the-art centre includes a small manufacturing facility, a development laboratory
and a confectionery kitchen to develop and reformulate products. DLA Architecture’s 2011
extension – which includes a unique glazed, tree-lined street linking the original and new
spaces – won a York Design Award.

For more information click here.

York became home to confectionery giants Terry’s, Rowntree’s, and Craven’s throughout the nineteenth century, and by the mid-twentieth century the city was a hub for the confectionery community, manufacturing and distributing products on a global scale. Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork has been curated in collaboration with the public to reveal what life was like for workers and those living in York during this time.

The invitation to share lived experiences, objects and memories was welcomed by the community following a successful callout for information. York Castle Museum received a range of incredible submissions that have fed into the wider narrative of the exhibition.

The exhibition guides visitors through the history of confectionery in York, and other areas of working life. Nostalgia is a key theme throughout, with household favourites such as Terry’s Chocolate Orange and KitKat sporting retro wrappers and packaging, reminding visitors of childhood treats. Workers items, uniforms, images, film and oral history create five themed rooms exploring York’s confectionery industries. The exhibition has been supported by York Oral History Society who have generously allowed access to their archives, allowing workers voices to be heard in the museum.

During your time with us, one of our expert chocolate makers will share the secrets of our cocoa and how we transform it into chocolate. You will discover our origins and learn the rich history of chocolate making in York before taking a peek into our manufactory and watching our chocolate being made. This session concludes with a special tasting conducted by our cocoa connoisseur. You will sample the chocolate we make from cocoa beans all around the world, experiencing the different strengths and flavour notes in our range.

Following the journey, you are invited to join us in our Chocolate Cafe where you can use your ticket to enjoy further discounts across our whole product range.

Explore the chocolate making history of York and create your own mini Chocolate Bar!

Pre-booking available – 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 11.30, 12.00, 12.30, 1.30, 2.00, 2.30, 3.00, 3.30 (4pm on Saturday and Sundays)

Crafting high-quality, handmade ceramic pots and vessels that blend artistry with everyday living. Driven by a passion for craftsmanship and creativity, each piece is thoughtfully designed and meticulously handcrafted to bring a touch of uniqueness and beauty into your home. Discover pottery that’s as functional as it is artful.

Originally the transformer house attached to the clock tower, water tower and boiler house, it’s possible that rum and coffee beans were later stored here. Now a restaurant, floor-to-ceiling original 1920s tiles and photographs of Terry’s factory employees complete the interior design by Banjo Beale (BBC Interior Design Masters winner).

For more information click here.

Previously this site was a trolleybus shed, aviation factory and garage, but SPARK renovated the then derelict land using low-impact shipping containers to create a community space. It’s a place to discover food, drink, retail and social enterprise start-ups.

For more information click here

• Discover where cocoa comes from and its origins
• Learn how we manufacture our chocolate here on site
• Try a selection of our own chocolate
• Then work with your chosen chocolate to mould and design a chocolate bar
• Flavour & Decorate your chocolate bar

Begin your journey with our Classic Guided Tour, where you’ll:

Explore the rich history of chocolate, from its ancient origins to its transformation into today’s indulgent treat.
Learn the art of chocolate tasting like a connoisseur.
Dive into York’s chocolate-making heritage, discovering the stories behind its famous confectionery families.

At the end of your tour, enjoy an additional 15 minutes of hands-on chocolate making, where you’ll:

Roll four decadent ganache-filled truffles in the finest Belgian couverture chocolate.
Personalise and package your creations to take home as a sweet memento.