Snow and ice has descended on the Jorvik Viking Centre – in their special winter adventure for all ages.
A Winter Adventure opened today, Monday 10 November, and will run until Sunday 22 February 2026.
Journey back to 10th century Coppergate, and discover the brand new Time Portal before boarding the Time Sleigh for an immersive wintery tour of the streets. Take a look at what to expect in our video below…
Gareth Henry, director for visitor engagement for York Archaeology, which runs JORVIK Viking Centre, has been directing this year’s stunning displays and technological innovations.
“Snow hit Viking-age Coppergate for the first time last year, and was received phenomenally well by our guests, so we’ve brought it back for this winter season – and added a few more changes too,” explained Gareth.
“For the first time ever, visitors will be able to peer through a time portal, into the blacksmith’s house that we excavated on this site in the 1970s, and see what it would have been like to live there, even before they get on board a time sleigh to travel back in time for themselves!”
The new Time Portal forms the first part of the visit to JORVIK. An introductory show, using the most up-to-date time vortex technology, provides a window to the city populated by Nordic settlers 1000 years earlier – and visitors will see the first glimpses of the snow-covered city.
Visitors will then alight a Time Sleigh, for a tour around the backstreets, transformed into a stunning winter wonderland with snow-covered streets and houses.
“This year, we’ve stepped it up,” said Jay Commisn, spokesperson for Jorvik and managing director of Pyper York. “It’s all still authentic. It’s all still Viking and based on the archaeology but it’s got a real winter twist – it’s amazing.”
Prebooking is essential for all visits to JORVIK, can be done on the website. Tickets are £17.50 for adults, £14 for students and £12 for children. A family ticket costs £49 (two adults and two children) or £56 (Two adults and three children), with under 5s admitted free of charge.
Tickets are valid for unlimited repeat visits for a whole year – which means that visitors can enjoy A Winter Adventure as well as a more conventional visit to JORVIK when the snow once again melts away at the end of February 2026.
Take a sneak peek inside A Winter Adventure in our gallery below.
Gallery
