On Saturday, 31 January – Sunday, 1 February, York Residents’ Festival 2026 will lift the lid on the city, providing its residents with unfettered access to all of York’s best-loved attractions with exclusive free or discounted entry.
While the historic city of York may attract millions of tourists each year, the annual Residents’ Festival gives something back to the people who live here. Yorkies, take note: the following exclusive deals enable cheap or free access to the most in-demand heritage buildings, iconic attractions, exciting experiences, tantalising tours, and top hospitality spots on your doorstep…
York Residents’ Festival 2026: What’s On?
Organised by Make It York, this year’s York Residents’ Festival boasts a jam-packed programme of citywide offers.
Residents can enjoy exclusive free entry to some of York’s most iconic historic attractions and heritage sites, including Beningbrough Hall, with its stunning gardens and exhibitions, and the two National Trust venues in York: Treasurer’s House, the intriguing town house next to York Minster, and Goddards, a little-known hidden garden overlooking York Racecourse, which was once home to the Terry family, a key part of York’s chocolate heritage! In addition, more historic hidden treasures can be unearthed at venues including the York Medical Society, which will enable residents to explore its rooms, housing an interesting museum of medical instruments, and the Fishergate Postern Tower, one of the oldest surviving postern gates on the City Walls, first built between 1505 and 1507.
If you’re more into craft, design, art and creativity, you can make the most of a range of offers, including free entry to Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, free entry to York Art Gallery, and a Free Annual Pass Upgrade to Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery at The National Railway Museum.
Thrill-seekers on the hunt for adventure and new experiences are sure to get their fill with offers including free Rock Climbing and Abseiling at Brimham Rocks (suitable for seasoned climbers or complete beginners, these dramatic rock formations offer an unforgettable and challenging day out), while local businesses including Avorium, Lucy Pittaway and Rainbow Ceramics will also be dishing out discounted deals exclusively to York residents. There will also be special event offers running as part of the festival, such as 25% off tickets for Ruby’s Worry at National Centre for Early Music, a delightful family concert told through live music, song, puppetry and physical theatre.
Food and drink lovers can also enjoy an extensive array of exclusive discounts for some of York’s most-loved eateries, distilleries and watering holes, such as Love Cheese, The Speakcheesey, Caffe Massarella, Ate O’ Clock, The Hooting Owl, York Gin, and more!
YORK RESIDENTS’ FESTIVAL 2026 OFFERS:
HISTORY & HERITAGE
- Free Entry at Yorkshire Museum, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-festival-2024-the-yorkshire-museum.
- Free Entry at York Art Gallery, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-festival-2024-york-art-gallery.
- Free Entry to Clifford’s Tower, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-festival-2-2.
- Free Entry at York Mansion House, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/residents-festival-at-york-mansion-house.
- Free Entry at York Castle Museum, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/residents-weekend-2024.
- Free Entry to Treasurer’s House, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/visit-treasurers-house-for-york-residents-festival.
- Free Entry at Yorkshire Air Museum, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-weekend.
- Free Entry to Castle Howard, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-gardens-tickets-and-discounts-in-the-farm-shop-and-courtyard-café-for-york-residents-festival.
- Free Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-behind-the-scenes-tours-of-the-joseph-rowntree-theatre.
- Free Entry at York Cold War Bunker, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-cold-war-bunker-residents-festival-2024-2.
- Free Entry to Beningbrough, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-entry-to-beningbrough-for-york-residents.
- Free Entry to the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-entry-for-york-residents-2.
- Visit Taylors Hall, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/merchant-taylors-hall-york-residents-festival-2.
- Save 10% in the Cafés and Gift Shops at the National Railway Museum, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/save-10-in-the-cafés-and-gift-shops-at-the-national-railway-museum-2.
- Free Entry at Fairfax House, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/fairfax-house-free-entry-for-residents-weekend-4.
- Free Tours and Refreshments at All Saints North Street, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-weekend-free-tours-and-refreshments-at-all-saints-north-street.
- Free Entry to Goddards Garden, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/visit-goddards-for-york-residents-festival.
- Fishergate Postern Tower: Free Entry with Friends of York Walls, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/fishergate-postern-tower-2.
- York Medical Society Rooms, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-medical-society-rooms-open-for-york-residents-festival-on-saturday-31-january-2026.
- Past and Present – Tours of Holy Trinity Goodramgate, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-past-and-present-free-tours-inside-holy-trinity-goodramgate-for-york-residents-weekend-2.
ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES
- Free Entry For at The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring (First 50 Residents), Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-weekend-january-hospitality-offers.
- 200 FREE Tickets for York’s Chocolate Story & 25% Discount for Locals, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/200-free-tickets-20-discount-for-locals.
- Free Boat Trip with City Cruises!, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-boat-trip-with-city-cruises.
- Free – Try Rock Climbing & Abseiling at Brimham Rocks with Lost Earth Adventures, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-for-york-residents-try-rock-climbing-abseiling-at-brimham-rocks.
- 50% Off Entry at the York Dungeon (pre-booking required), Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-festival-with-the-york-dungeon-free-entry-or-50-off.
- Free Entry to The Potions Academy, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-entry-to-the-potions-academy-for-york-residents.
- Free Entry at The Hole In Wand, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-entry-for-york-residents-festival.
- 25% Off Axe Throwing, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/20-off-for-york-residents.
- Go Quest Adventures – 50% Off, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/go-quest-adventures-50-of-for-york-residents.
- Play a York Quest with 75% off!, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/ghost-quest-york-is-75-off-2.
- 25% Off Flying Scotsman Virtual Reality Experience, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/fbnuosagfhsrdf.
- Free Mini Chocolate Bar Making at York Cocoa Works, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/mini-chocolate-bar-making-at-york-cocoa-works-york-residents-festival-2.
- Free Annual Pass Upgrade to Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-annual-pass-upgrade-to-wonderlab-the-bramall-gallery-2.
- Free Entry to Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/thin-ice-press-the-york-centre-for-print.
- Free Entry – NCEM Open House & Wedding Fair, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-entry-ncem-open-house-wedding-fair.
- York’s Hidden History – Free Tours for Residents, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/yorks-hidden-history-residents-festival-2026.
- Free short tour of the vineyard and winery with wine tasting at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/yorkshire-heart-vineyard.
- Tour of The Grand York, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-residents-offer-tour-one-of-yorks-most-loved-landmarks-the-grand-york.
- 10% off at The Potions Cauldron, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/the-potions-cauldron-york-residents-offer-2.
- 10% off at The Potions Express, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-off-at-the-potions-express-this-york-residents-festival.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- 25% Off Tickets: Ruby’s Worry at the National Centre for Early Music, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/rubys-worry-family-concert.
- York’s Guilds & the Road to the Mystery Plays, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/yorks-guilds-the-road-to-the-mystery-plays.
- Crossings: The Bridges of York at York Explore Library and Archives, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/crossings-the-bridges-of-york.
- In Conversation with Sydney Thorne at The Bar Convent, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/in-conversation-with-sydney-thorne-at-the-bar-convent.
- Be the first to view York Minster’s new exhibition ‘St William of York: Life and Legacy’, Visit
- https://visityork.org/offers/be-the-first-to-view-york-minsters-new-exhibition-st-william-of-york-life-and-legacy-with-free-entry-for-york-residents.
- Black Swan Folk Club: York Residents’ Open Day at the Black Swan Inn, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/black-swan-folk-club-york-residents-open-day.
FOOD & DRINK
- Free G&T or Dram of whisky, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/free-g-t-or-dram-of-whisky-for-the-york-residents-festival.
- Complimentary Bottle of Wine with Luncheon at Middlethorpe Spa, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-resident-festival-2026-complimentary-bottle-of-wine-with-luncheon.
- 20% Off Food & Beverages in January & February, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/20-off-food-beverage-in-january-february-for-local-residents.
- 10% off Refills at York Gin from 9th January, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-off-refills-at-york-gin-from-9th-january-for-york-residents.
- 10% Discount in the Speakcheesey at Love Cheese, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-discount-in-the-speakcheesey-2.
- 2 Pizzas and Bottle of Wine for £20: Hooting Owl Lounge Bar, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/hooting-owl-lounge-bar-offer.
- Set Menu: 2 courses £17.50/3 courses £21.50 at Bill’s Restaurant, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/set-menu-2-courses-17-50-3-courses-21-50.
- 30% Off Food all January at The Whippet Inn, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/40-off-food-all-january-for-york-residents-festival-3.
- Social 8 Lounge – 20% off Food & Drink, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/social-8-lounge-25-off-food-drink-2.
- 20% off at Ate O’ Clock, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/ate-oclock-25-off-for-york-residents-2.
- 20% Discount on Gin Tasting Events, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/20-discount-for-york-residents-weekend.
- 10% off any Purchases at Love Cheese, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-off-any-purchases-at-love-cheese-2.
- Tea Room Discount – Ampleforth Abbey, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/tea-room-discount-ampleforth-abbey.
- Buy a Milkshake and get One Half Price at Loopy Scoops Ice Cream Parlour, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/buy-a-milkshake-and-get-one-free-2-2.
- 20% off at Caffe Massarella, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/residents-festival-offer.
LOCAL BUSINESSES
- Staycations at The Bar Convent Guest House (up to 20% off), Visit https://visityork.org/offers/staycations-at-the-bar-convent-guest-house-up-to-20-off.
- Complimentary upgrade to the ‘Middlethorpe Spa Half-Day Discovery’, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/complimentary-upgrade-to-the-middlethorpe-spa-half-day-discovery.
- Tuina Massage and Reflexology Offer, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/york-festival-special-locals-offer.
- 10% Discount at HEIMA, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-discount-at-heima-for-york-residents.
- 20% off Pottery Painting at Rainbow Ceramics, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/20-pottery-painting-for-york-residents.
- 10% off Artwork at Lucy Pittaway, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/10-off-artwork-at-lucy-pittaway-2.
- Free Personalisation at Avorium, Visit https://visityork.org/offers/avorium-york-residents-festival.
Why Attend York Residents’ Festival 2026?
To put it simply, York Residents’ Festival is your chance to celebrate everything that makes the iconic city of York so unique – it’s a weekend designed for residents to reconnect with their city. From discovering historic landmarks and exciting attractions to indulging in delicious food and drink, this annual festival is the perfect way to explore hidden gems and support local businesses, without breaking the bank. Whether you’re planning family fun, a foodie adventure, or a relaxing day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at York Residents’ Fest 2026!
How You Can Take Part
All of the offers for York Residents’ Festival 2026 are open to local residents. In order to prove you are a resident of the city, all you’ll need to do is present a valid York Card, student card, or official ID confirming your York residency – examples of accepted ID could include a driving licence, older person’s bus pass, or council tax letter. Essentially, as long as you can prove that you’re currently living at an address in York, you’re in!
Please note that some offers may require pre-booking or additional proof of address for activation, so make sure that you check the individual listing details before you attend! It’s also worth noting that many offers are subject to demand and availability, so go ahead and book now to avoid disappointment!
Visit https://visityork.org/offers/category/york-residents-festival to browse the full programme of offers and events. If you have any questions or queries, visit https://www.makeityork.com/ to get in touch with the organisers, Make It York! Have fun and we’ll see you at York Residents’ Festival 2026!
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