Updated on December 31, 2024
For one wintery weekend each year, spectacular ice sculptures glisten throughout the streets of York! Here is my York Ice Trail review and everything you need to know before you visit this super cool event!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Find out more here.
York Ice Trail
York Ice Trail is a big event in York’s annual calendar of events. Every year, hundreds of visitor flock to York city centre to catch a magical array of ice sculptures.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about York Ice Trail!
What is York Ice Trail?
York Ice Trail is the UK’s biggest outdoor ice trail. It features over 40 ice sculptures, sponsored, and designed by local businesses.
The trail is a free, two-day event. Visitors of all ages can follow the trail, spot the sculptures, grab a photo, and check them off the list.
Transforming York city centre into a magical winter wonderland, it is the perfect opportunity to discover York in a new way.
When is York Ice Trail
York Ice Trail takes place in late winter each year. The event usually happens in either February or early March.
Where to get the York Ice Trail Map
Each year a map is created to complement the trail and to help you find the sculptures. If you don’t want to miss any spots on the trail, make sure you have a copy of the York Ice Trail map!
You can pick up a map for free from the Visitor Information Centre (1 Museum Street, YO1 7DT) or download a copy before you go here.
What to expect when visiting York Ice Trail
So, what can you expect when you visit York Ice Trail? Here’s an overview of everything the trail has in store!
Stunning Sculptures
Obviously, the main attraction that draws hundreds of visitors to York Ice Trail each year is the incredible ice sculptures. During the event, over 40 of them are positioned throughout the city, waiting to be discovered!
The sculptures are amazing to see. Make sure you spend some time admiring the level of detail in each one. I had no idea you could create such detailed art from ice!
Photo Opportunities
As well as admiring the sculptures, you can get up close and interact with some of them for a great photo opportunity!
While all the sculptures are amazing and just asking to be photographed, you will find a handful of sculptures that are designed to capture your memories of York Ice Trail in the form of a photo. These fun and interactive sculptures are ones where you can get up close to the ice (you can even put your head into some of them) for a fun photograph.
Ice sculptures that are designed for fun and interactive photo opportunities are indicated on the Ice Trail map.
Familiar Faces
As you are walking the York Ice Tail you will encounter some familiar faces! Cartoon characters are popular subjects for the sculptures on the trail, so keep an eye out to see who you encounter!
Here’s a shot of Simba, who we found on the 2022 trail.
In the same year, we also got to meet the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, and Olaf from Frozen too!
Big Brands
As well as familiar faces, you’ll spot some familiar names at York Ice Trail too! Each sculpture is sponsored by a business. These businesses range from local, independent stores, restaurants, and hotels to nationwide names.
Some of the sponsors you might recognise include LNER, First Buses, ASK Italian, Turtle Bay as well as many more.
Local sponsors include hotels, The Grand, Middletons Hotel, and Judge’s Lodging. Restaurant sponsors include Heavenly Desserts, Betty’s, and Ate O’Clock. Plus, local attractions City Cruises, York Army Museum, Shambles Market and Coppergate Centre are just some of the many local sponsors of York Ice Trail.
Famous Landmarks
Another popular subject for ice sculptures is famous landmarks. The trail theme for 2022 was “around the world” so there were a lot of famous landmarks to be found. From Big Ben to the York skyline, the trail does take you around the world and back!
Large Sculptures
Some of the sculptures along the trail are huge! Any sculptures considered ‘large’ will be marked on the maps and these are one not to be missed!
If you really want to appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that goes into these incredible sculptures, seeing them on a giant scale is a fantastic way to do it.
Some previous large sculptures have included a life-sized Viking couple, a five-foot sculpture of Big Ben and a huge diamond ring which encased a real ring.
Live Ice Sculpting
If you want to see how all the magic happens, you can catch one of the live ice sculpting demonstrations throughout the day. Professional ice sculptors will show off their skills and share some of their tips and tricks in front of a live crowd.
Or why not turn your hand to ice sculpting? York Ice Trail will often also feature the chance for you to grab a chisel and have a go at ice sculpting yourself! So, keep an eye out for this unique opportunity.
Competitions
Finally, make sure you keep your eyes out for various competitions throughout the York Ice Trail. Some of the companies who sponsor the sculptures will also be running competitions. You can get more information about the competitions at the related sculptures.
How to get to York City Centre
If you are visiting York Ice Trail, you should note that the city centre will get remarkably busy! Parking in the city centre is extremely limited, so if you are visiting for the day, I would advise using York Park & Ride to get in and out of the city centre.
York has the largest park and ride system in the UK, with a total of six ‘hubs’ around the city centre. Simply park your car at one of these hubs for free, then pay the small bus fare for transport into the city centre.
This is usually a much cheaper option than parking and reduces congestion in the city centre. Find your closest park and ride hub here.
If you are staying in York for the weekend and travelling by car, I would recommend booking a hotel with a dedicated car park.
Bonus tip: make sure you book a table at a restaurant for lunch in advance. We were caught out by this one! Even by 3pm we couldn’t find a single restaurant with a space to eat!
Where to stay in York
If you want to enjoy the trail fully, splitting it across the two days gives you more time to appreciate the sculptures without cramming them all into one day.
Here are my personal favourite hotels in York if you are planning to stay in the city:
- The Grand (£££) for a luxurious stay
- Middletons (££) conveniently located and a beautiful building
- Holiday Inn York City Centre (£) ideal for a comfortable budget stay
Bear in mind that there will be a high demand for hotels across the Ice Trail weekend, which will significantly impact availability and price. Book early to avoid disappointment.
If you want to compare more hotels in York before booking your stay, check out this map for more options:
Booking.comOther things to do in York
If you are looking for some other things to do in York when you visit York Ice Trail, here are some ideas:
- Scare yourself silly at York Dungeon.
- Give your feet a break and unwind on a relaxing city river cruise.
- See the sights with the convenience of a hop on hop off bus tour.
- For more ideas, check out some of my favourite things to do in York or these romantic things to do in York for couples.
Or, if you loved the Ice Trail and you want to explore more trails in York, why not try one of these other options on your visit:
- Can you track down the 22 York cats on the York Cat Trail?
- Do you have what it takes to pass the test and join the pirate crew with Treasure Hunt York?
- Explore the magical side of York on this Harry Potter themed tour.
- Have you strolled down York’s secret streets? Discover the Snickelways of York and see what you’ve been missing!
York Ice Trail Review
Overall, I absolutely loved the York Ice Trail! It was an incredible event that is fun for visitors of all ages. The ice sculptures looked spectacular! I’m kicking myself for not having visited the event sooner!
I especially loved the wintery feel of the event. There is a distinct lack of large events early in the year, which creates a bit of lull in the long winter months. The ice sculptures certainly felt fitting for the season and brought a lot of fun to another chilly winter weekend!
York Ice Trail is a really unique experience, and I would recommend everyone should try to catch it when it is happening.
Before you go
So, here is my review of York Ice Trail! Would you visit this cool event? What would you most like to see in ice sculpture form? Let me know in the comments below!
Want to discover more incredible Yorkshire events? Check out this calendar of events to make sure you don’t miss any of the events taking place across the Yorkshire region.
And if you want more York inspiration ahead of your visit, download your free York Quick Start Planning Guide for a list of the top 10 attractions in York, plus a guide to where to stay, when to visit and more!
Plus, you’ll get four bonus travel planning printables you can use when it comes to planning and packing for any trip!
Until our next adventure,
Related Articles
P.S. Love it? Pin it!
If you like this guide to York Ice Trail be sure to follow Get Lost on Pinterest. That’s where I’ll be sharing all my great North Yorkshire travel guides.
Hello, I’m Hannah! I’m a writer and photographer who loves experiencing the wonders of Yorkshire. My guides will help you escape from your daily routine by showing you that you don’t have to go far to find an adventure.