If you’re looking for events to do for Christmas, our accessibility reporter Dan has come up with a few ideas:
Big Christmas Concert with Alistair Griffin
December 3rd and 10th 2021 within St Michael le Belfrey Church next to The Minster
Taking place next to York Minster in the beautiful medieval Michael Le Belfrey Church. A brass band will play you in, then Alistair Griffin’s Big Christmas Concert will take you on a musical journey from acoustic versions of traditional carols through to Wizard, Slade and The Pogues. Sing along and sip mulled wine whilst enjoying the fairytale of old York.
York Minster has excellent disabled access both inside and outside by providing lifts and ramps.
The Snowman film in York Minster
Saturday 11 December 2021 12.30pm, 3.00pm and 7.30pm
The iconic Christmas film, The Snowman is being shown in York Minster again this Christmas. We saw it there a few years ago and it truly is a magical experience. The film is projected onto a large screen and has a live orchestra accompanying it. They have a local child singer to sing ‘Walking in the Air’. Tickets sell out fast, so get booked in!
York Christmas Festival 2021
Thursday 18th November – Thursday 23rd December 2021
There’s usually lots going on in the centre of York over Christmas (even if there wasn’t, Christmas in York is so pretty it’s always worth a visit!). St Nicholas Fair, the York Christmas market is planned to return this year, with lots of food, festivities and a lovely Christmassy atmosphere to soak up.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering and Grosmont
Pickering Santa Specials 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19 and 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24 December 2021
More details to follow
Grosmont Santa Specials 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19 and 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24 December 2021
More details to follow
NYMR run Santa specials as well as their illuminated Northern Lights service.
The Railway has five stations along its eighteen-mile route, four of which are easily accessible to wheelchair users and mobility impaired persons. The only station without disabled access is Newtondale Halt.
Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience
Dates yet to be announced
Steeped in Christmas magic and excitement. Enjoy a magical Twelve Days of Christmas Walk through the Captains Wood around the estate, make the turtle doves fly, walk through the five gold rings and be one of our drummers drumming! Uncover a secret fairy hideaway in our rock garden. Visit Santa in the North Pole and meet our elves helping in their workshop. Marvel in the splendour of the Edwardian House with the rooms dressed in all their festive finery. Wander down to the Elf Village where young ones can join the elves in making craft activities or listen to stories, and everyone can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or warm snack under our twinkling canopy. More wonderful Christmas days out Yorkshire.
A proportion of the museum is fully accessible.
There is a lift and almost all visitor areas, including the Fashion Galleries, are now fully accessible.
Due to the historic nature of the hall and its displays, larger motorised wheelchairs and scooters cannot navigate the visitor route, so these aids are not permitted. Light wheelchairs are available to borrow for use in the house.
Some rooms on the first floor are accessed by a chair lift.
Eureka! Santa’s Grotto West Yorkshire Confirmed
Santa Claus is coming to town Visit him in his snuggly Grotto at Eureka! this Christmas. Father Christmas is heading to Eureka! this December, his *ski-doo laden with gifts a-plenty, and he wants to meet YOU! *the sleigh’s in for an MOT. Come along to see the big man himself and an elf helper or two, for a discussion about how naughty/nice you’ve been this year, pressie requests, snap a festive (s)elfie and receive a gift! All in the comfort of the snuggliest grotto in town (as decided by us).
There are dedicated parking spaces for disabled visitors about 50m from our main entrance. If you’d like some assistance on arrival, please ask any member of the team.
We’ve got a number of wheelchairs available to borrow while you visit just ask when you arrive or call ahead on 01422 330069. Access at the main entrance to the museum is completely level, we have a low level counter at our admissions desk, and a lift between floors.
Eureka Museum, Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE from 4th to 23rd December 2021
Regular entry price plus You can visit Santa’s Grotto for £5 per child, which includes a gift. Buy your Grotto ticket at the tills when you get here.
Harewood House – Harewoods Festive Season West Yorkshire Tickets on Sale Now
Delve into a voyage of the imagination this festive season, as Harewood recounts a Christmas tale and the House reveals its magic to all those in need of whimsical wonder.
Christmas is back and Harewood House has much missed the company of visitors from far and wide. Created by connoisseurs of make-believe Lord Whitney, the House shares its favourite memory of when a little girl was granted a festive wish to experience a Christmas like no other.
Address: Sandy Gate, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LE
When? 13th November 2021 to 3rd January 2022
How much/do you have to prebook? There are varying prices for different events
There is public toilets for disabled visitors, there is disabled access to both the State Floor and Below Stairs of the House, with wheelchair lifts and ramps in place.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Winter Illuminations South Yorkshire Tickets on sale now
The Winter Illumination light and lantern trail is returning to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, with 4 enchanted worlds to journey through, which will be your favourite? Under the Sea? World of Fantasy? Animal Adventure? OR Fairytale Kingdom.
Because the Wildlife Park is mainly outdoors and on pathways, the majority of pathways are level with shallow gradients, all pathways accessible to disabled visitors. As its an outdoor attraction, visitors are advised to dress appropriately i.e. sturdy shoes.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Branton, Doncaster DN4 6TB
Selected Dates in Nov, Dec and Jan.
How much/Do you have to prebook? Standard illuminations ticket per adult £20, £17 per child age 3-15. Other pricing options are available.
If you want to go see some Christmas lights switch-ons, in Yorkshire there is:
The Ridings Friday November 19th at 8pm The Ridings Shopping Centre, Wakefield
November 24 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Featherstone Library Victoria Street off Station Lane
Featherstone, West Yorkshire WF7 5BB United Kingdom
Normanton Friday November 26th at 4pm High Street Normanton
