Love to LEGO®: Learn from the artist

Become a medieval master of LEGO® at York Minster!

Join us for a unique hands-on experience with LEGO® artist Warren Elsmore as he recreates the magnificent medieval shrine of St William of York.

Help shape this historic build by creating your own section using LEGO® bricks, which will be added to Warren’s large scale structure. Once complete, the finished model will go on display in York Minster as part of our celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of St William of York.

They take place in St Stephen’s chapel inside the Minster. The sessions operate on a drop-in basis, no booking required, and are included with your sightseeing ticket.

Don’t forget – children go free to York Minster! Every adult sightseeing ticket includes entry for four children aged 17 and under.

St William of York: Life and Legacy

Discover the miracles, murder and mystery of our city’s patron saint in our new exhibition St William of York: Life and Legacy.

William fitzHerbert was twice Archbishop of York during the 12th century. Although he was loved by the people of York, his appointment was riddled with political and religious disputes which ultimately led to his untimely death. William became violently ill while celebrating Mass and quickly rumours began to spread that his communion chalice had been poisoned by one of his enemies.  No concrete proof of foul play has ever been discovered and the true circumstances surrounding William’s death remain an unsolved medieval mystery…

As we celebrate 800 years since the canonisation of William as a saint, take the rare opportunity to see pieces from his medieval Nave shrine returned to York Minster for the first time in almost 500 years. Explore his story and see precious artefacts which narrate the life of a man who devoted himself to our city and cathedral.

Amongst the treasures on display are a delicately decorated ivory casket was made in Sicily with Arabian design influences, a reproduction of the only surviving seal of Archbishop William, and the stone which fell on the head of an unsuspecting man who was miraculously saved from harm.

Visitors are invited to discover the exhibition plus a new cinematic experience, before journeying through the Crypt to see St William’s tomb, a holy and historic place of pilgrimage.

Good to know:

Running until January 2027, St William of York: Life and Legacy is on display in the cathedral’s historic Treasury during sightseeing times. Entry is included with a sightseeing ticket at no extra cost.

York Minster has a living collection which includes objects that are still used in the cathedral today. If you are making a special journey to see a specific object, please do contact us so we can check whether or not it will be on display.

The Treasury, Undercroft Museum and Crypt can be accessed via stairs or a lift. Please speak to a member of our Visitor Team (in blue) if you wish to discuss your access needs.

Handel’s Messiah

Experience George Frideric Handel’s glorious Messiah performed by the world-renowned Choir of York Minster in the cathedral’s awe-inspiring Nave, alongside an accomplished orchestra and celebrated soloists.

From the sorrowful tones of ‘He Was Despised’ to the jubilant culmination of God’s triumph in the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus, Handel’s Messiah narrates Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection through spectacular choral and orchestral music.

Considered by many to be the most beautiful musical representation of the great Easter story that allows us to walk with Christ to the cross, Handel’s Messiah offers contrasting episodes of deep contemplation and exultation, and has quickly become a tradition in the concert calendar of the city of York.

Good to know: 

Tickets cost £32 for the Front Nave and £20 for the Rear Nave. Reserved seating in the Nave can be booked via York Minster’s online Box Office.

Tickets for the Nave Side Aisles cost £15, with a concessionary price of £7.50 available for students and those aged 27 and under. Unreserved seating in the Side Aisles can be booked via York Minster’s online Box Office.

Tickets can also be booked by calling York Minster’s Bookings Team on 01904 557200.

Colour & Light

Colour & Light will once again transform York Minster’s iconic South Transept this February. This year’s free event will celebrate the beauty of York’s wildlife, creating an unforgettable event for all ages, and highlighting the city’s heritage and creativity.

The display will combine famous and lesser-known stories about York’s wildlife, from the peregrine falcons that call the Minster home and the foxes that roam the city after dark, to the horses that the Roman’s rode into Eboracum on, and the legendary dragons carved into York’s history.

The projection will run each evening from Wednesday 12 February to Sunday 2 March between 6pm and 9pm, with projections on a 10-minute loop.

Kohima Memorial Service

80th Anniversary Commemoration Service at York Minster: The Battle of Kohima – the turning point in the Far East Campaign during the Second World War 

 The Kohima Educational Trust, with 2 Signal Regiment and York Minster will hold a Service of Remembrance on Thursday 4th July at 11am in   Dean’s Park at York Minster. The Service will commemorate all those who fought and died for their country during this crucial battle.  

 The service will be attended by descendants of veterans and friends of those who fought, together with The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire; the Lord Mayor of York, and The Sheriff of York. 

 In April 1944 the town of Kohima was besieged by a Japanese division spearheading what they hoped would be the invasion of India. The defenders, 1500 men of the Royal West Kents, the Assam Regiment and the Assam Rifles, held out for two weeks until relieved by their comrades of the 2nd British Division. The ensuing battle, fought at close quarters for two months, was the first defeat of the Japanese by the British army, and a turning point in the war in Asia. 

The town of Kohima was completely destroyed, but this did not prevent the local inhabitants from supporting the British and Indian troops as guides, porters and combatants. Without the help of the Naga people, it is doubtful if the battle could have been won. 

 Sylvia May, CEO of the Kohima Educational Trust comments:  

“Our annual service, this year commemorating the 80th anniversary of the battle, is a marvellous occasion when families and friends gather in front of the 2nd Division memorial, a replica of the one that stands in Kohima, to remember those ‘who did not come home’. We are honoured to be hosted by the Dean who will conduct the service and we are delighted to welcome this year the Venerable Dr (Air Vice-Marshal) Giles Legood, Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the RAF, who will give the Address.”

 The Dean of York comments: 

 “In this major anniversary year, we are privileged to host this important memorial that recalls one of the signficant events of the war in the far east in World War II. The Kohima Educational Trust’s work with the Naga continues to be profoundly important and it is an honour for the Minster to be associated with this.”

York Minster celebrates Pride

Ahead of York Pride, at 7pm on Wednesday 4 June, Christians at Pride in York will be hosting a pre-Pride event at York Minster. Come and enjoy this fabulous building after hours!

7pm:

All are welcome to enjoy the building as we give thanks for those we love.

Experience the cathedral after hours with a welcome from York Minster clergy, refreshments, and the chance to share your hopes and wishes in prayers.

8pm:

Join a beautiful service of candlelit Compline to end the evening in the knowledge we are loved by God.

All are welcome, no booking is required.

A Service of Commemoration

To mark the 40^th anniversary of the 1984 fire, York Minster will be hosting a special service of Choral Evensong, remembering the devastation caused and giving thanks for the dedicated and talented individuals who helped to rebuild and restore the magnificent cathedral we see today.

The service will include special prayers and readings, as well as a sermon by the Archbishop of York.

The Choir of York Minster, led by Robert Sharpe, Director of Music, will perform a selection of reflective music including Bernard Rose’s responses; Psalms 47, 48, 49 for the 9th evening; Herbert Sumsion’s Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in A; and I Was Glad by Hubert Parry. Ben Morris, Assistant Director of Music, will play Cecilia McDowall’s Sacred and Hallowed Fire on the cathedral’s Grand Organ.

All are welcome, no booking required.

PHOENIX: lightshow

Tickets are available to book HERE or by calling 01904 557200.

Experience York Minster in a new light this autumn when the cathedral is illuminated with PHOENIX, a brand-new sound and light projection commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the 1984 fire.

On Monday 9 July 1984, a devastating fire destroyed the roof of York Minster’s South Transept and sent shockwaves through York, which reverberated across the world. The story of this fire is not just one of damage caused to one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, but also a story of bravery, resilience, and determination to rebuild.

Telling the story of that night and its aftermath, PHOENIX will commemorate the bravery, power and ingenuity of those that responded to the fire, celebrating the resilience of York Minster and the people of York through their own words, in the very place where it happened.

Visitors will see lightning strike the cathedral, lead pour down from the roof and the iconic Rose Window crack, before the clean-up operation begins and expert restoration leaves York Minster standing as a symbol of hope in the city once more.

PHOENIX is a major new projection mapping and sound installation by award-winning artists Ross Ashton and Karen Monid which will transform the nave of York Minster. The installation is bespoke, having been specially created to bring the cathedral’s unique architecture and history to life. Ashton and Monid also created ‘Northern Lights’ in 2019 and ‘Platinum and Light’ in 2022, two spectacular installations which attracted tens of thousands of people to the cathedral.

The events will help raise funds for the continuing restoration of the cathedral’s fabric. York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, but with the current building dating from the 13^th century, it is a fragile masterpiece which needs constant care. As well as its history, York is famed for its media arts, benefitting from UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts designation since 2014. The Minster, which has stood at the heart of the city since 627AD, is a beacon of human creativity where artisans and craftspeople have told stories through the media arts for generations. Phoenix utilises the latest in projection mapping technologies to use our building as a storytelling backdrop in ways our medieval founders could only have dreamt about.

Commemorative badges:

Visitors can pre-order a ‘Restoration Rose’ pin badge when booking tickets and collect their order when they arrive at the event.

The specially created commemorative badges feature one of the winning Blue Peter boss designs, inspired by the cathedral’s iconic Rose Window surviving the flames.

Event times and prices

The events will open on Saturday 19 October and run each evening until Saturday 2 November.

Monday to Saturday, the projection will start at 7pm, with booking slots available every 20 minutes until 9pm. Doors will close at 9.30pm. On Sundays, the projection will start at 6pm, with booking slots available every 20 minutes until 8pm. Doors will close at 8.30pm.

The projection will be shown on a continuous loop throughout the evening. Visitors can stay for as long or as little as they like after their timed entrance slot, and are invited to move location in the Nave and experience the installation from a different perspective.

Tickets cost £7.50 each, or £25 for a family ticket for up to two adults and two children (aged 16 and under). Tickets are available now via this page, or by calling 01904 557200.

Please note that the projection includes flashing lights and loud music in places. The projection will also feature images of the cathedral on fire which some visitors may find distressing, viewer discretion is advised. 

Peter and the Wolf

Join brave young Peter as he overcomes his fear of a big bad wolf in Sergei Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf played on York Minster’s recently-refurbished Grand Organ.

Hear captivating instrumental characterisations of Peter’s animal friends as a live feed of the cathedral’s marvellous organ being played by Ben Morris, Assistant Director of Music at York Minster, is shown on screens to the audience. Using special stops on the organ, Ben will guide young listeners through the sounds of this magnificent instrument. The performance will be narrated by Stuart Perry, the Silly History Boys’ silliest boy.

Prokofiev’s familiar and accessible composition is the perfect introduction to classical music. During the performance, children are encouraged to move and sit on cushions and rugs at the front of the Nave to get the best possible view of the organ.

The performance will take place on Tuesday 13 February and will last approximately one hour. Children are encouraged to bring a toy with them and are welcome to come dressed in their pyjamas ready for bed, but remember to wrap up warm! A buggy park will be available.

Tickets for the family concert are now on sale HERE or by calling our Bookings Team on 01904 557200. Tickets cost £8 for an adult and £6 for a child. A family ticket of £22 for two adults and two children is also available. Children over the age of two need their own seat.

The performance is recommended for ages 5 to 95!

Organist and narrator details:

Dr Benjamin Morris, organist

Benjamin Morris is Assistant Director of Music at York Minster. In this role, he plays for services and accompanies the choir in the Minster’s daily cycle of music, in concerts, tours, recordings and broadcasts, and assists in the training of the boy and girl choristers.

Prior to this, he was Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating with First-class honours in Music. Before starting university, Ben spent a year as Organ Scholar at Gloucester Cathedral.

With recent venues including Sage Gateshead, Selby Abbey, Leeds Town Hall and Westminster Cathedral, Ben is active as a soloist for recitals and other performances. He has performed as organ soloist under Sir Roger Norrington, Howard Shelley, Paul McCreesh, and Sir Stephen Cleobury, and has played organ and harpsichord continuo alongside His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts, The Saraband Consort and Britten Sinfonia. He is a prizewinning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

Stuart Perry, narrator  

Stuart Perry trained at Bretton Hall earning his BA (Hons) in Theatre Acting. He is an accomplished singer and actor with a specialism in theatrical combat.

Stuart can now be seen travelling around the country with the Silly History Boys, a comedy history troupe that Stuart co-created. His storytelling and character work can be found on their ‘Silly History Boys Show’ podcast. Available for free on all good podcast platforms.

Vigil for peace in Israel and Gaza

Join us for a night of reflection and contemplation as religious, political and civic leaders from across York come together for a vigil to call for peace and an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The vigil will begin with a welcome and address from the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, Dean of York, before reflections are shared by political, civic and religious leaders from across the city.

There will be a period of silence before members of the public are invited to write their thoughts and prayers onto provided pieces of white paper which will be placed on the cathedral’s altar platform to form a large white peace dove.

Candles will be lit at the end of the vigil as we continue to hold in our hearts the suffering of all those affected by the conflict.

The vigil will take place in the cathedral’s nave starting at 6.30pm and will last approximately an hour.

All are welcome, no booking is required.

Christmas Tree Festival

Booking is now live for this year’s Christmas Tree Festival! Book your timed entry ticket here.

The festival will run during sightseeing times until Monday 5 January. Entry is included with a sightseeing ticket.

As a living church, we will be closed on occasions during Advent and Christmas for services, this will result in temporary closures to the Christmas Tree Festival. Please note, the Festival’s opening times during the Christmas period:

• Monday 22 December: 9.30am – 5pm
• Tuesday 23 December: 9.30am – 1.30pm
• Wednesday 24 December: Christmas Tree Festival closed, please join us for services.
• Thursday 25 December: Christmas Tree Festival closed, please join us for services.
• Friday 26 December: 10am – 5pm
• Saturday 27 December: 10am – 5pm
• Sunday 28 December: 12.45pm – 3.30pm
• Monday 29 December: 10am – 5pm
• Tuesday 30 December: 10am – 5pm
• Wednesday 31 December: 10am – 5pm
• Thursday 1 January: 10am – 5pm
• Friday 2 January: 10am – 5pm
• Saturday 3 January: 9.30am – 5pm
• Sunday 4 January: 12.45pm – 3.30pm
• Monday 5 January: 9.30am – 5pm

*Last admission to York Minster is one hour before closing time.

Experience York Minster’s popular Christmas Tree Festival, set inside the medieval Minster, with 70 trees on display in the cathedral’s stunning Nave, Chapter House and Lady Chapel.

Explore the trees, which will be decorated to individual themes by local businesses, schools and charities, and add your own Christmas message to a tag on the festival’s prayer trees.

Please note, the trees may feature flashing lights.

Advent Procession – FULLY BOOKED

Free, in-person tickets for this event are now FULLY BOOKED. You can enjoy the service from the comfort of your own home by watching the livestream via our YouTube channel.  

Join York Minster’s worship to mark the start of Advent with an atmospheric and breath-taking candlelit service of music, readings and prayers, in celebration and anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. 

The service, which will include music from the Choir of York Minster, starts in darkness before a single flame is used to spread light through the cathedral, with candles held by each member of the congregation. 

The order of service can be found here.

Booking 

Free, in-person tickets are now fully booked.

A small number of seats may be available at this service, in the event that those with pre-booked tickets do not attend. Those without tickets are invited to queue outside the Minster and will be admitted if space is available. 

Please note, there is no guarantee that congregation without pre-booked tickets will be admitted.

Doors will open at 4.30pm, ticket holders should be seated by 5.15pm.