When the Jorvik Viking Festival rolled around in York, 2016, we were so excited. Vikings, ships, swords and ale; Who would complain about that? We were also really looking forward to visiting the Jorvik Viking Museum. ArgeyMum visited it many years ago on a trip with her parents and was excited to take the rest of us to see it. Unfortunately, during the York floods of late 2015, the Jorvik Museum was not spared the wrath of the River Foss when it burst its banks. Most of Jorvik’s collection and the museum is located on the basement level and had about one metre of water go through it. Some of the artefacts and much of the display was damaged by these waters so the exhibit had to close for renovation and restoration. As a result, we had to be content with visiting the museum’s gift shop and enjoy the rest of the Jorvik Viking Festival (which we certainly did). We resolved to return once the museum was open again.
Sixteen months, and £4M later, the Jorvik Viking Museum has re-opened and so we made our way back to the lovely city of York, England, for the visit.
The first thing I want to tell you is to book your tickets online ahead of time. Booking ahead gives you a time slot to enter the museum and gives you fast track entrance. We chose not to do this and as a result, we had to stand outside in a line (yes a line, always a good sign of the popularity of something) for almost half an hour in the rain.
The staff helping outside are very personable and helpful. It was good to see them helping out some elderly punters by providing them somewhere to sit outside of the rain until it was their time to go in. Our spirits weren’t dampened though and when we made it inside to purchase our tickets (very reasonable at £30.95 for a family of 4) we soon discovered it was worth the wait. The entrance ticket is also valid for 12 months so you can visit as many times as you want, simply bring your ticket with you and you get in for free the next time. We will definitely go back!
THE JORVIK GROUP
When buying your tickets online, you also have the option of buying a ‘Pastport’ for the other attractions in the Jorvik Group. This Pastport ticket will get you into the five Jorvik Group attractions in York, UK. You will be able to enter DIG, Barley Hall, Richard III and Henry VII Experience. The Pastport is only £49.95 for a family of four (a saving of 42% if you were going to do all five attractions) and as with the single attraction entry, is valid for an entire year.
After entry, you descend down a set of stairs (there is a lift for disabled access also) into a dark room with a glass floor. This floor shows ground layouts of some Viking houses and gardens that were discovered in the Coppergate excavation dig. There are projectors lining the room projecting a film about the York Viking excavation and its discoveries. Interactive touch screens are also located in the room. These screens take you on an interactive experience of what it’s like to excavate artefacts, removing them from the ground, and cleaning them for preservation.
Once you have had your fun with the excavation, you enter the Viking ride experience. The pride and joy of the museum, the ride takes you on a journey through a Viking village. This village is designed and built on evidence and details uncovered from the Coppergate dig. With an informative commentary in several different languages, this ride is a fascinating glimpse into the history of York during the Viking times in the 1st and 2nd centuries. There is also a kids version of the commentary (in English only) to keep the young ones engaged. This ride is a truly engaging experience that includes animatronic people and animals, with the sights and sounds of a Viking village. It even includes the various smells that you would have come across.
After leaving this immersive village experience, you enter the museum itself where there are a multitude of items on display that have been excavated from the Viking sites around York. Included in the displays are two almost complete skeletons that were found. There are knowledgeable staff members scattered throughout the museum that can answer your questions or show you demonstrations on how various things were used.
Once you have learned as much as you desire you can go back upstairs to finish in the museum shop where you can purchase all manner of Viking memorabilia, trinkets, books, souvenirs and even ales.
The York Jorvik Museum was a wonderful experience and definitely worth the wait and the entry price. We can’t wait to go back and visit again. I highly recommend this museum to anyone who is interested in Viking history, particularly of the York area. You won’t be disappointed I am sure!
To read what the kids thought click here or here.
Don’t forget the Jorvik Viking Festival is on every February and well worth a visit too!
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