This event is presented in collaboration with York's Hidden History.

On Sunday February 2nd, during the York Ice Trail 2025 weekend, we’re teaming up with our friends at York's Hidden History to offer An Ice Age Tour of York. With prehistoric creatures taking to the streets of York as part of this year’s Ice Trail, we’ve booked resident palaeontologist, Fossiliam (Dr Liam Herringshaw), to lead the search.

We will seek out the ice sculptures of prehistoric animals on this year’s trail, reveal which of them used to roam Yorkshire (and which didn’t), and show how glaciers shaped our city. Indeed, York wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for ice.

Starting by Micklegate Bar, just inside the City Walls, we'll head down Micklegate and Tanner Row to North Street Gardens, keeping our eyes peeled for Pleistocene megafauna. Crossing the Ouse Bridge, we'll watch out for ice floes before following King's Staith round to Tower Street, the River Foss, and the frozen wastes of Fossgate.

After an hour and a half of prehistoric exploration, we’ll defrost in the former schoolhouse at Peasholme Green. This historic building is now home to Thin Ice Press, the York Centre for Print, who’ll let us all try our hand at a spot of frosty heritage printing. Every ticket-holder will be able to take home their very own hand-printed souvenir!

The Ice Age Tour of York is suitable for polar explorers aged 6 and over, and is strictly limited to 15 people. We will begin the walk at the junction of Bar Lane and Micklegate, just inside Micklegate Bar, at 10.30am, and arrive at Thin Ice Press by 12pm, where souvenir printing is included in the ticket price.