Reviews of JORVIK Viking Centre. (Museum) in York (North Yorkshire).

JORVIK Viking Centre

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Museum

Museum

19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT, United Kingdom

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Information of JORVIK Viking Centre, Museum in York (North Yorkshire)

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Reviews of JORVIK Viking Centre

J. H.

Not originally part of my itinerary but so glad I went! Didn't know anything about the place so everything was a pleasant surprise. A bit of a queue but the ride was really well designed and brilliantly showcased the everyday life of the vikings. Definitely something which would appeal to all ages Near the end the exhibits were great as well, especially the detailed analysis of the skeletons

G. H.

What an absolutely amazing experience, the guides are truly passionate about everything that has been discovered and the actual Tour through the Viking settlement is truly remarkable with incredible eye, ear and nose for detail. Came out of here with so much to smile about. Worth every penny and I highly recommend others to go.

V. B.

It was nice to sit and take in the information on the ride. Especially after all the walking we have done in York. Bit of a bottleneck when you get off to look at the artifacts. But worth it if your genuinely want to read the info and look at the items properly. We enjoyed our visit very much. Lots of knowlegable staff to ask questions that are more than happy to share the stories.

T. B.

It's now a ride. Which is good fun and a good experience. If you have small kids you get round it very quickly as they won't look at the displays. We spent about 30mins here. Note that if you are an English heritage member you can get a discount.

J. M.

This is a short experience (30-45min) that brings to life how the vikings lived in the Coppergate neighbourhood. The animatronics are astonishing and the quality of the narration is excellent in several languages. If you expect a museum, this is not the place. The 'museum area' is fairly limited but easy to follow and well explained. Great experience overall but a bit pricey.

E. C.

Great! Lots to learn from viking history. The figures (people) move & talk. Easy to access for everyone as you sit for most part. The museum bit at the end however could be a little bigger & doesn’t show everything about the ‘Nordic people’ only coins & different materials. Also, there is a lot of people trying to get, but once you buy a ticket it is valid for a year! Which is great & saves money.

U. H.

Great experience here, we were able to walk in and get a viewing pretty quickly without having to pre-book. The tickets felt a little pricey but we enjoyed ourselves. The ride was nice, felt fun and educational at the same time and it was fascinating to see how Viking settlements would have looked like. The exhibits were also very interesting and informative, giving some local history about Jorvik alongside world history with regards to the Vikings and trade etc. The guides are also really enthusiastic and passionate about what they discuss too, which is amazing!

C. B.

Possibly the best museum I have ever been to! So interesting and informative. Interactive mostly and you sit in a car which takes you round a recreation of a Viking town. Before that you can walk on a glass floor over actual Viking finds!! So good 😊 Lots of information on everything and staff dressed as Vikings who demonstrate things like coin making. My only negative opinion would be that they could have shown more about the Vikings being warriors. Ticket lasts a year so worth it just for that. I will return.

P. R.

Really fun experience, learning about vikings and going through real viking artifacts, houses and learning about how they lived. I would fully recommend this for anyone interested in vikings. The gift shops prices are a lil extortionate though! Especially since you already spend a fortune for admission.

T. G.

It’s worth stopping and it provides some incredible history about the area. It is a unique way to learn and experience the history. The start with a short talk where you can see through glass on the floor to understand what they discovered then you get on a ride which takes you through recreated villages. I liked that they didn’t put other people in the same ride car with us. There was a funky smell on the ride. Luckily we had our masks on. After the ride you can look at artifacts. I particularly like the (real) guy who sits quietly plays a replica instrument. I would recommend swing this if you have time to spare in York .

R. T.

Well worth waiting to go in. I've been round it twice in a month. The history of the dig is in the first section and is very informative. Next the ride around the viking village is superb with good narrative for each section. The smells are good as are the layouts. The last part after the ride is the museum of all the artifacts that were found on the dig. I really enjoyed the whole experience. Twice 😁

A. E.

Fascinating and very interesting place, you can even see some of the original excavations from the 1970's preserved under the glass floor before you head onto a ride around old Viking York. After this you get to wander through the exibits found in the excavations and local area, everything from skeletons to jewellery. The kids absolutely loved it especially my 9 year old daughter who finds history fascinating. This was our second visit after also being here last year. Thoroughly recommend a visit to this well put together and fascinating experience.

S. B.

We went there with absolutely no expectations, but the experience just blew our minds. The ride through the village sets was quite good, although I wished there would be a stop between sets explaining what's going on as you're trying to catch up with the audio and visuals it could get a tad bit overwhelming, but this is just my opinion. The museum at the end of the ride was nice too, as it did have artefacts found at that site itself. Some staff were really helpful in providing extra information, which we really appreciated. Overall, it was a really nice experience.

M. L.

Great place to visit. Very informative and some great things to see while in there. Loved how it’s on a cart that takes you round with the speakers built in. Only thing I think is the price of the gift shop is expensive for what you get. Staff are great though and very helpful gets very busy so pre book to avoid disappointment.

E. A.

Enjoyed this very slow ride which tells you the information of what you are seeing. I changed up tesco vouchers to pay for most of the cost. We were in there about 40 minutes ago in all. Kids would love it.

H. D.

An amazing experience!! Had so much fun and the staff couldn't have been more helpful! They were very knowledgeable and eager to help and answer questions! I didn't have high expectations - however I would recommend this for everyone to go to at least once! Great for kids and adults!

B. C.

The JORVIK centre provides a unique perspective on the Viking era and what has happened not only nationally but in York specifically. When we arrived we were quickly bought in to the downstairs area, and asked not to walk on the glass, but to make our way around to the other side to have a talk off the member of staff. Prior to our arrival this member of staff had already started talking to another couple, and we only really got half of the story. We just kind of thought that was okay, and went on to the ride. The ride was good, you found some great information out. Then you enter a room with some display cases and various items for you to look at. For me though... this wasn't the best. We had paid for a Souvenir guide that we were never given to start with. In my opinion the ride should have lasted longer, as sometimes you seemed to be moving past things before you could really process what was happening. There was information on a tablet like screen in front of you to look at at the same time as the ride itself and it was just difficult to appreciate everything. When you got to the final room it felt (in my opinion) that the general perception was 'this is what we feel happened... but it might be something else.' Which I appreciate is to give room for historical inaccuracies. I just felt by the time I left I hadn't actually experienced something that I was paying for to the full extent. Perhaps this was because I had booked on a quieter day and the staff were trying to see several time slots at the same time, but I just generally felt this could have been better.

S. K.

This is an actual “ride” with a small museum. You enter through the architectural site where you walk over a glass floor and can see the remnants of the site. Then you walk over to get on a fly over cart to see a recreated Viking village over Coppergate. It’s all pretty cheesy but interesting none the less. The ticket purchase is also good for a full year from purchase. My teenager enjoyed it.

S. D.

Haven't been here since I was a kid with school, went with my 2 kids on 12/02/22. Had a good time, as soon as you enter the museum there's a small area with guides talking you through whats on display. You then head through to the main part of the experience which is a very slow moving "ride" that takes you around a circuit of animatronics throughout the Viking ages. Another small area awaits after the ride where you have the opportunity to purchase a Viking coin replica if you so wish, then it's up to the gift shop. Was ok all in all, once you pay for tickets you have them for 12 month to return as many times as you like but don't think we'll be in any rush to come straight back, was just alright.

J. P.

Was really busy, had prebought time with York pass. Was good. Little kids would really like it. We were hoping for more history to be told but the excavated items were cool

S. L.

This today was not at all what I expected which I loved! The visual experience of the Viking town and the day to day lives whilst sat being shuttle bussed around was just brilliant. The finds and the quirks too are interesting (where else would I find a Viking poo) I would advise to book and the queueing system can be quite lengthy. My 1 star deducted it for the gift shop it had some lovely things in there but very pricy. This could be reduced as some of the items are way cheaper elsewhere these are not one off finds.

T. G.

Truly enjoyed this experience. I am fascinated with Vikings and this centre has a very well built Viking village that gives a fairly realistic view of life back in Viking time. (So realistic even the smell is replicated) The staff adds even more to the experience as they are dress like Vikings and are truly knowldgeable, funny, and friendly.

T. W.

We visited here, while on a short break. It was very informative and interesting experience. It was fascinating to see the homes and people on display replicated from the archaeological evidence. There's something there for all the family to enjoy. There are lots of artifacts to look at too.

G. H. U.

It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed the tour. I really loved the esthetic and overall environment they presented everything with this unique technology. Hoping to visit soon. Also if you are a student you do get discounts just bring your ID

A. W.

A brilliant place to visit in York, all the staff are very helpful and friendly and can explain anything you ask about Viking history, the tour is great,we loved the moving models they are very realistic , the museum is very interesting. 5 stars for this place..

H. G.

Great step back in time. Very knowledgeable staff who were only to pleased to answer grandsons questions. The ride through the Viking village had him enthralled, me as well

J. B.

Book ahead! When I booked it was already quite busy. There was only a queue for those with booked tickets and advice for anyone without was to ask if there was space or to book online. Our queue was a little longer as a school had turned up late and caused delays, I get the impression that its not usually a bad queue but the website does advise that it can take some time to get through the door. The exhibit has a ride that goes around the manikins and explains the history of the exhibits. This lasts around 5-10 minutes and there are wheelchair accessible carriages too. The tour can also be listened to in other languages. The rest of the museum is literally one room so don't go dashing off expecting to come back and read later as you will find yourself in the gift shop wondering why the museum went so fast. There are plenty of genuine artefacts to see. You can take photos without flash and the staff there to great, answering questions with enthusiasm and encouraging children to get involved. There was a guy making coins with a hammer who I assume is always there. Its £2 (cash) to take one home so kids (and adults) can see their coin being made and then take it away. Great gift shop too with bits of adults and children.

I. J.

Did not expect that level of interactivity, they could get the max out of what it might be a boring excavation. You will be taken to a tour on a moving ship-like rail car to explore the lifestyle of the Vikings. Enjoyed it a lot! Book tickets beforehand, otherwise you will risk standing in a low priority queue. There are toilets at the beginning of the tour. Wheelchair access possible (noticed a lift). Kids friendly.

J. B.

Great value and very interesting. The last time I visited the Jorvik centre was about 25-30 years ago as a kid myself so wanted to take my two (8+4) this time around. The ride was great fun and the addition of kids description meant they could still understand the history lesson as well as seeing the different exhibitions along the way. The guides were extremely helpful and informative after the ride in the museum part and was well worth the visit. Great value for money and and hour well spent.

C.

One of the most unique and unbelievable experiences in York. I have never been to a museum that immersed me so much in history. The animatronics make you connect with the regular people of Viking Jorvik in ways that will leave you speechless.

G. L.

The essential York experience! It's basically a ride that takes you though the archaeological site that has been recreated with moving dummies, clothes, houses and smells with recorded explanation in different languages. You can also see actual finds though I found the glass covered dig a bit disappointing as it was hard to make out what was what.

A.

As someone who can trace their lineage to Norse/Viking settlers, I had to go to the Jorvik Centre on my visit. Best to book ahead as it's a popular attraction, even then you may have to wait until near dead on your booking time to enter. You'll be taken around a reconstruction of Jorvik and meet a number of its residents, crafts people, traders, and people going about their day to day lives. Fully animatronic so you won't get a response from them! You are then taken to the museum section of the centre, which boasts two fairly complete skeletons of people found here, with good in depth descriptions about them from studying the bones. It also holds a number of artifacts, some very well preserved or restored, such as a helmet from these times. The gift shop at the end is only slightly dearer than shops selling similar items. But your supporting conservation and further study so worth getting something, even if it's small.

P. W.

Visited as in York so after recommendations felt we had to visit. Had to queue outside in the 2 queues... One for the peasents who hadn't booked and one for those that had lol. The guide manning the 'rope' at the door was very pleasant and chatted to the waiting hoards. Upon eventual arrival we walked onto a fully glazed floor which lay on top of the original Viking floor, which along with the pictures & video footage on the wall surrounding it, really gave you a sense of 'being there'. Guides around also told you of the history. Then we entered the 'ride ' of this experience. We climbed into our ceiling suspended moving carriage and with the voice of a Sean Bean soundalike Richard Hawley we passed through the ages with his commentary informing us of each stage. It made you feel you were right there so to speak with the moving models, sounds and smells of that time. Then after you got off you passed through rooms with Viking artifacts and again helpful guides to answer any questions. It was an experience to visit but once you've done it there is no need to go again

M. M.

Very interesting to see how the Viking’s lived, it’s an interactive ride, great for the kids to help teach history. Definitely worth a visit. York overall is also a great way to get your kids learning about medieval Britain, lots of interesting free stuff

C. H.

Enjoyed it, but thought it was a little short. Only lasted maybe 10-15 minutes. Wouldn't necessarily go again, but as a one off, it's something different to do.

C. S.

worth every penny the staff are so friendly and you get a real impression they enjoy their job. it was a great day for all our family

K. D.

Jorvik is amazing, it was amazing when I visited as a kid and did not disappoint when I took my daughter there again last week. If you are visiting York it's well worth a visit. Also, if you have a Tesco Clubcard don't forget you can use vouchers for discounted entry.

B. M.

We were in York and had about an hour or so before we had to be back at the car. Girlfriend thought this would be fun and interesting. And she was right. Everyone was very helpful and informative. Lots of artefacts and a few skeletons to see with plenty of information to go with it. We really weren't expecting the ride but we were pleasantly surprised. It was a good laugh and gave a great insight into the Viking way of life.

C. C.

Nice museum featuring a dark ride followed by an exhibition section after. The staff were very friendly throughout, and the staff taking in the museum were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Vikings. The ride section itself is quite unique and is a really nice way of bringing the history back to life.

T. O.

Very interesting story of the Viking archaeological did in Coppergate, turned into a fantastic museum. Sit on a time travelling car and discover what houses and living streets looked, sounded and smelt like!

M.

We had a great time here at the Jorvik Viking Centre. There are some rooms to explore including a nice tour on kind of a "rollercoaster" (but without speed haha) through the ancient viking York, it was fascinating. After this, there's a museum to explore further and at the end the Jorvik shop to purchase some gifts or souvenirs. I liked the atmosphere here, the whole tour, the explanations and also the shop had quite unique items as well. Would always go there again and can recommend it to you!

R. A.

Visited here last weekend. Enjoyed it very much. I found it to be very informative and interesting to hear all of the history behind Viking life.

S. P.

I really love coming here. I first went on a school trip in 1984 just after they opened and have been several times since, including on a recent trip to York with my wife to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. The staff were just as friendly and knowledgable as ever. A great experience.

J. H.

Brilliant Viking Museum. Ride through viking villages and learn all about there way of life, then walk through the museum artifacts, to see weapons silver hoards and skeletons . Very educational.

L. B.

Had a fabulous time in here, plenty of interesting facts and Viking objects to see, staff in costume giving fascinating talks about the finds, all very friendly (yep friendly Vikings!) Well worth the visit and tickets can be re-used for 12 months from date of purchase.

C. W.

If you are visiting York for the first time it's worth a visit and especially if you have kids they will love the ride it's also good value for money.

C. W.

Good place to visit if you have young kids. Only four stars as relatively small. There is a slow ride which tries to give an insight into Viking times by having audio with some scenes reconstructed. Then a small museum staff friendly & informative. I must say one staff member was particularly great - his name was something like Elswerth (sorry can't remember but doubt was his real name must have been a viking name!). He was extremely helpful to a young visitor who has autism, reassuring him before the ride, showing pictures & offering ear defenders. Thanks

V. C.

This place is great. The gondolas that take you around are absolutely fabulous. They turn to face each exhibit, so no one misses out, all whist you listen to a commentary about each thing, time and place. Very informative and educational. Love the glass floor over the recreated dig. The staff are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Well worth a visit. Plus your tickets are able to be reused over and over in for up to 12 months. Definitely recommend.

k. s.

Fantastic attraction. Showcases the amazing history of Viking culture in the area. Tells a great story of the actual day to day life during this time period and how Viking settlers were very much the same as others. Very well preserved historical artifacts and the glass floor excavation display is phenomenal. The showmanship is also very entertaining with staff in costume and an animatronic ride. The staff are friendly and accommodating.

K. C.

amazing experience and the staff was so enthusiastic. Hayden was particularly great and obviously passionate about history. He/they made a great trip even better for our group and we learned so much from them.

M. M.

I wasn’t expecting a dark ride with some animatronics and I was very well surprised. After that you also have a museum but it’s very small. In general the attraction could last longer. At least the museum part could be bigger. But I enjoyed the visit a lot and I really like the efforts they are putting into the immersion. It’s something you have to do at least once!

C. K. (.

This place was super! The animatronic tour was shockingly good. I wasn't expecting the different smells that they used on the tour. Super immersive.

u. u.

Most incredible experience. We had so much fun, learnt tons and even took away a beautiful necklace from the gift shop as a souvenir

S. D.

This was exactly what it says on the tin! Impressive smells, views and interesting facts. Once you pay you get to visit for the next year!!! We really enjoyed this.

S. D.

Excellent ride over the grounds that were archaeology dug. Good storytelling.

K. H.

Amazing attraction. Really great value for money! A must visit if you're visiting York. Made even better by the fact Sean Beam narrates the audio in the Centre. Learnt loads - go visit - "DO IT FOR YORKSHIRE!"

T.

Interesting place to visit. Educational and well designed. Better to buy tickets on line in advance otherwise you have to queue

m. c.

Been some years since I visited Jorvik, was worth the return trip. Well organised in getting into the centre. Would advise pre booking tickets. Quirky little cars to take you around the set, with audio during the tour. A great job done giving insight in Viking life in York. Finishing up in the museum displaying some fantastic finds during excavation of the sight. Definitely worth a visit to discover part of York’s interesting past.

C. D.

Absolutely stunning museum based on the Vikings at York. Superb ride through a village with great info and set pieces, highly informative and fun at the same time. Good for all ages with a kids or adult option on the voice over. Large displays of artifacts and relics after the ride plus a brilliant gift shop at the end!! What more could you want? Good value and highly recommended.

N. b.

What an experience. Something for all ages. Very immersive and short. Not bored at one point. Must do if you have 45 mins in york.

L. A.

Didn’t know what to expect here before visiting, but seemed to come strongly recommended whilst in York. Pre-booked tickets a week or so ahead and spots were already starting to fill. Arrived early and confirmed that normal backpacks were allowed in before joining our queue. After gaining entry, explored the first area without great excitement and moved on to the ‘ride’ section. This is probably the only interesting part of the centre, offering a brief tour of a Viking village whilst seated in a suspended car with 5 other people. Unfortunately it’s difficult to take in the audio information and the surrounds, especially if the person next to you has a different audio selected. Upon completion, had a quick look at some Viking artefacts before exiting. Overall, didn’t really enjoy the visit, but admittedly don’t have any real interest in Viking history. Probably wouldn’t recommend unless you have a specific interest in this topic.

N. M.

Hadn't been for a long time, but was worth the wait! We booked in advance to make sure we would get in. The museum ride was excellent, and the audio guide came in different languages with also a small screen for extra info. If you're local, it's very good value as you get an annual ticket for the cost of one entry. A super trip (especially if you have a primary age person studying Vikings in school!). The one thing which could be improved is as you go in: there was no one there to explain the dig. More info (either in display posters or guides) definitely needed at this point.

R. W.

A great experience,and excellent funny and knowledgeable staff. They were also particularly helpful on the ride as I was visiting with my mother who is not so good at walking ,they had an extra member of staff waiting at the end of the ride to help her climb out of the pod. And they were very patient and a credit to the whole centre, in fact they made the visit just that bit better than it already was. 10/10.

O. A.

A day out with the kids, they absolutely loved the history and the sculptures of the people and village. They have managed to make the place smell a little off too which gives you an indication of what villages were like back then as well. It's in the heart of York, decent parking facilities and lots of other things to do. York is also a nice day out in general, very much recommended for families during the holidays

J. W.

Overall really good experience, arrived a few minutes late and was relieved to find that this was no problem. Additionally the ticket is valid for a year so great value. A fun hour spent finding out a but more about viking presence in the city via a sit down ride and then a short museum section. Staff were very knowledgeable and engaging.

N. o. s. s.

As York was particularly busy managing the reduced number of customers allowed in each location, we booked ahead. Also, as my wife was in a wheelchair we had to have extra precautions taken in the venue. The staff were amazingly helpful right from outside the venue all the way through the whole tour. The venue itself is a gentle ride on a sort of suspended gondola. There is a specially adapted carriage for wheelchair users. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful in getting my wife situated on the platform that was slid into the gondola. In order to give a full experience, there is a smell generator that gives a mild (thankfully) idea of how the area smelled at the time. I think it’s good that they didn’t give a full blown version of the smell as it would have been overwhelming. The ride goes through a series of tableaux showing scenes from the time. There are incredibly lifelike animatronics of people and animals. My wife asked how we were supposed to tell which were “real” actors and which were animatronic. She was shocked to find out there were no actual people. The realism is perfect. Some of the characters’ heads followed the gondola as we passed, making it look like they were looking at us. In terms of value for money I would absolutely recommend this venue. It was really interesting and the are so accommodating. As a plus factor - the purchase of a ticket means that you can visit again anytime in the next year.

P.

Such a lovely place to visit. A well laid out centre with lots to see. Staff were both helpful as-well as informative who seem to have a genuine interest in sharing the Viking history of York. The ride was nice with well thought out scenes with lots of detail even down to the smells, animatronic mice and footprints in the mud. I wish the ride was longer as I greedily wanted to see more after being engrossed by the history brought to life in the scenes. I would highly recommend for history buffs and families alike. Places like this deserve to be supported. Ps. I’d love to see more actors like the coin maker who hand stamps coins if possible. Maybe one involving leather perhaps.

C. T.

Thoroughly enjoyed the highly informative ride through the animated village and the staff were pleasant and helpful. However last time I visited there were real people showing the skills and how things were made, this is now replaced with glass cabinets of items dug up. The skeleton was interesting especially as you had seen the animated lady earlier.

C. M.

It was cool and nice to go through, but not worth the cost of admission for maybe 30 minutes of a tour. Friendly staff and cool gift shop though.

P. R.

Very interesting experience, I would like to have had a few more laps on the ride at maybe 20 times the speed though. It was all authentic until the Viking chap striking the coins was using a stanley hammer from B&Q instead of a mammoth tusk or similar implement. Overall fun and a must when visiting York

C.

The settlement tour in the cart was absolutely brilliant! My friend and I were so blown away by the detail in both sets and audio — it's informative and so fun. Feels a little rushed at the end with a small museum to explore, but there are elements incredibly worthwhile: the preserved skeletons with information on how they lived and passed.

t. f.

Absolutely fascinating place definitely worth a visit if your ever in york Immersed in the history of viking York the displays animatronics are brilliant Loads of languages to pick so alot of people should be covered with the audio commentary while you sweep round at a gentle pace in the car that takes you around after the ride genuine artifacts are on display along with a couple of skeletons staff are friendly and knowledgeable and nothing seemed to much bother 5* all the way

N. E.

What a lovely ride through an actual viking village. I didn't even know it would be an immersive journey likw this! The attention to detail was great! So much to see. My hobby as a teenager was viking age reenactment that based on archaeological findings and knowledge based on scientific research, so I found this recreation to be extremely well-made and captivating. Very well done audio explanations on english and even in finnish! Only slight minus comes, that it was really hard to hear the interesting ancient language samples spoken by the "villagers" as the audio explanation was always speaking over them. The artifacts and stories after the ride were also very interesting, and well as the written informations. The study of the sceletons was really intriguing.

A. P.

The Jorvik Centre takes you through a brief history of vikings in York. Majority of the centre is a ride that takes you through the underground while a narrator explains the surroundings. After this is a small section with items that have been found around York, and then straight out to the gift shop. I may have gone in with too high of expectations, but unfortunately feel I didn't take much from the experience. It was nice to see at least once.

M. L.

Staff were absolutely fantastic, the ride was very unexpected and very educational. I'd highly recommend this if you're visiting as a tourist. I've unfortunately had to knock down an otherwise perfect score, as we couldn't find the world's largest fossilized poo, which was promised to us early on in the tour 😂

J. B.

We visited today and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Viking village recreation/ride was excellent and the audio explanations (including many languages and a kids version) was very good. Impressive smells too! The staff were very good and gave interesting talks about Viking artefacts and life. We recommend it for adults and kids. Will definitely visit again!

G. S.

Great Experience and worth the money! Great ride experience and lots of facts and information to read! Staff were very friendly and polite. Would recommend if you are visiting York for the day!

B. W.

Was a present for my boyfriend, I wasn't sure what time expect as this isn't my cupnof tea but it is for him! And honestly I can say it was pleasantly enjoyable, wasn't nothing like I was expecting at all Him on the other hand was in his element, he loved everymoment of it.

E. B.

An interesting step/ride back in time. The staff were clearly very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about history, and most were dressed in authentic period costume. There were interactive consoles to educate visitors, plenty of viking artefacts to look at, and a five minute ride through a set of mocked up viking streets, complete with mechanical mannequins arguing about what to eat for dinner and even authentic smells of the period. In these Covid times, visitors are encouraged to observe social distancing, and there is a limit to the number of visitors admitted to the centre at any one time. A word of warning: although it is possible to turn up without a ticket, you may be forced to join a slow and lengthy queue. Buying a ticket in advance enabled us to jump this queue and enter the centre within less than one minute, so I recommend you do this if possible.

T. N.

Great, blown away from what was inside, if you book online it's quick and easy to get with barely any que, and the inside is amazing

D. G. C.

As archaeologist I recommend this place. I am admired about the quality of scientific work carry out by the center and the accuracy to explain at general public. Also the way to carry on the visitors to the Viking York very interactive. The explanations are very well documented and with the enough information, not to many not to less. A great experience even for archaeologists or general public. I strongly recommend.

F. K.

I went here in my teen years on a school trip then again as a adult very informative but a tad fast paced the ride is

V. W.

Well worth the visit, wanted to know more about the history and geography of the vikings in York and came away Well impressed with the centre itself.

J. C.

It was a really interesting experience. Definitely worth visiting to learn the rich history about the Vikings and Jorvik. The staff were very helpful and informative and had a genuine passion for anything Viking material. The displays and dig-site was my personal favourite section and the ride through the village was really interesting too. The gift shop is also really good with lots of interesting bits and bobs. The only downside I would say is there isn't a whole lot on Vikings. It's more about the people and Jorvik, which don't get me wrong is still really interesting

p. e.

I really love this very interactive and informative. I would definitely recommend if you are visiting york.

V. D.

I've been here more than 4 times and take all of my friends to it. The Jorvik museum is a pleasure to visit! The ride around old Jorvik is my favourite part. It's wonderful to experience what York was like back then, especially through the reaction of the settlement and stories about what the residents lives looked like then.

C. B.

Great exhibition, we enjoyed the ride element and then had some great conversation with a new viking host outside in the craft area, who explained to our son how his weapon (seax) worked! Highly recommended.

N. G.

This was a really cool place to visit. It's one of the most unique experiences that I have had at a museum. I really enjoyed being transported back into viking times. The staff were friendly as well. Definitely worth the $$ and a pleasant surprise in York.

S. W.

It's the 2nd time I have been really amazing, well worth the visit, it tells you all about the vikings, we prebooked before we went, really enjoyed it,

A. L.

What a fantastic and interesting experience! I first visited here around 20 years ago and found it fascinating then! Since then, following flooding, the museum has had a refurb. Not being a museum fan, (except living museums, I just opted for the tour where you are seated in an electrically driven carriage with guided audio, and you glide back through time to when the Vikings inhabited Jorvik - which we now know as York. The sights, sounds and smells are authentically brought to life, and the characters and animals are unnervingly life like!

A. A.

Brilliant little place which kills an hour or two. Very well presented exhibits as part of the moving car tour and fascinating items included in the small museum including a Viking sock. I'd recommend getting the passport tickets which allow entry to a further three venues at a very reasonable rate.

T. B.

One of the top things to do in York. It's a ride and it's fantastic go line up and go on it!!!!

D. P.

I love vikings and really enjoyed the visit. The kids didn't love it as much as me though and maybe the price is a little high given how long you can realistically spend in here. Tickets are valid for 1 year though but because we do not live locally that is not much use to us. The staff were great all dressed up and were very knowledgeable about vikings and norse gods etc.

S. E.

Really good place, the staff are amazing full of facts and captivating stories. There's an interactive ride on tour that goes around a recreation of how it would have looked in Viking times which was by far the highlight and I could have quite happily sat through another 10 minutes of it. Which leads me onto the only downfall of this place, its too small. I wanted more vikings but before you know it you're in the gift shop on your way out.

P. W.

Well if you want to learn something about the vickings, this is definitely the place, well worth the visit..

M.

Second time visiting, however the experience was different due to the staff being around to chat in great detail about what was on display. The ride through the Viking village seemed to have improved from previous visit which set the scene. There was a little bit of a gridlock between exhibits as there was a lot of people trying to look at the same thing as well as staff talking about their particular section in detail also. If there was room for more space so folks can pass through the museum parts quickly when there is a large crowd gathered in one spot/ or move some of the exhibits into bigger spaces. Enjoyed getting my coin minted right in front of my eyes.

C. C.

We've been there around 5.30pm. No queue at all. Great experience.

D. H.

Not a typical Museum at all, starts off with a ride around a reconstructed village. Lots of old artefacts to view and interesting history to learn. Well worth a visit.

E. W.

Wonderful staff and knowledgeable, really enhance the experience which itself is incredible. If you are visiting York, this is MUST see.

E. F.

Would certainly recommend a visit here, really informative, lovely friendly staff. You won’t be disappointed 👍👍

A. R.

A great attraction which gives you a great in site to the history of york and with many artifacts on display its definitely worth looking round.

G. K.

Interesting place to go re the history of York. Cable car ride is a bit creepy. Lots of knowledgeable staff. The museum part is the most interesting with all the artifacts. It's in the middle of a shopping centre which I thought was odd. But easy to find.

B. H.

Went many years ago but this has changed completely and is now a guided ride, which works really well. The displays are excellent, with appropriate sounds and smells. A small museum area afterwards and the obligatory gift shop. Certainly worth a visit when in town.

G. C.

Great experience, recommend it. The ride is enjoyable and relaxing. Animatronics are quite good as well. Worth the trip.

Z. S.

We went as a group of 5, one person was a wheelchair user and we couldn't praise the staff enough for all of their help. Every single staff member went above and beyond for us and were really accommodating. We were actually quite nervous as it was the first outing with the wheelchair but we were made to feel at ease from the get go. Everything was accessible and it was very easy to navigate around. Thank you to the Jorvik team!

K. S.

Had a brilliant time here. Most of this is seen from a ride inside which was cool. The animatronics depicting viking life were so realistic and brilliant. Really enjoyed the visit and now get a years pass from buying a ticket! Very informative and interesting.

M. T.

A good 30 to 60 minute experience in the heart of York. Time will vary based on how many times you've visited before and how engaged you wish to get with post ride experience exhibit. On entry their Covid controls were spot on however in the post ride this breaks down but this is down to individuals not Jorvik. Maybe a bit pricey but a truly unique experience and re-entry is free for 12 months.

D. s.

I thought it was good, and it had some educational moments. But wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be once the talk through ride was over not sure if the kids would appreciate it might get a bit bored. How ever it definitely wasn't a bad experience would recommend

B. P.

Brilliant experience. The ride was amazing!! Very well detailed and we'll thought out. Being able to select from multiple languages, have your own speakers and screens was perfect.

T. B.

We had a wonderful time at the Jorvik Viking Centre. I didn't enjoy the walk across the glass floor but that is just me! There is plenty of things to look at telling the story of the Vikings and York . You could even have a coin made. The ride through Viking York was exceptional. The models are completely life like you feel you are travelling through York . The Jorvik Viking Centre is reasonably priced and a wonderful way to pass a couple of hours and your tickets are valid for 12 months!!

E.

Very accessible experience with a guide. Special mention to Zoe who supported myself and my partner (both visually impaired) around the exhibits and helped us to fully access the experience. The tour in the cart has an option to have the commentary with audio description which is great. Zoe also made an effort to find artefacts and models we could feel. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Thanks for a great experience.

D. T.

The staff who work here are helpful, polite, and really know their bits. There is a lit to see and do here for anyone interested in England's history. Gift shop had sold out of the item that I most wanted so we will have to go back and do it again....which will be a pleasure.

R. S.

First was here when the excavation was going on. Have been once since, and it really is a must-visit on any trip to York. Order tickets online and it's easy to get in. The initial room has background if you've never been, but the ride through the well-narrated Viking village is thoroughly entertaining, even with its animateonic figures (and cat). Party game: make up your own captions/commentary for what you're seeing! A pretty cool display of artifacts at the end rounds out what's roughly an hour to maybe 90 minute experience.

J.

Great experience, the staff are incredibly friendly! The ride inside makes learning history quite fun! Worth visiting but best to book in advance, we queued up for an hour to get tickets…

T. P.

Brilliant experience. Recreated Viking village which you tour on a ski lift of sorts while listening to a voice guide. Staff really enhance the experience by being knowledgeable and are dressed the part. Once the tour of the recreated York is done you get to see the artefacts they found and learn about their uses in the Viking age. Don't miss out on this whilst you are in York!

K. G.

I’m not a great one for museums but was dragged in here my niece, and what a surprise! It’s actually made quite fun getting on some sort of ride. The staff were SOOO nice and enthusiastic and everything was very well done and interesting. Not narrated by Sean Bean, apparently, but it sounds just like him!

T.

Amazing experience! The smells they put in made it feel like your in the viking time and the old houses and the animated people were really cool. We had our own old viking penny printed and it is great!

L. M.

Loved the attention to detail of all the scenes and knowledge and helpfulness of the staff. Was a fantastic experience. I did feel it was a little too crowded and that they had let in too many people at once as difficult to see everything in the museum area. Gift shop was abit of a let down.

D. P.

Nice place to visit with children. A lot to offer for the given prices. Definitely recommend a visit when you are in York.

A. W.

Didn't know what to expect but was really impressed on our visit. So much so in fact that we went back the day after to do the ride again. The smells can be quite strong but they're intentional and there to help you immerse yourself.properly.in the atmosphere when on the ride. All staff were really good providing good explanations of the various areas they were stood by. Took our 6 and 10 yr old boys in with us. Both enjoyed the ride, 6yr old wasn't as interested in the displays but no surprise there. Thank you Jorvik Viking Centre for a great couple of hours.

N. T.

Took just under an hour for the experience and it was great. Completely different from what I expected but an immersive "ride" through a rebuilt viking village with a narrator telling you what you see and the story of the Vikings. At the end you see many items that were recovered from the site. Would be nice to experience more museums like this.

m. T.

Was great altthough it was quite a short experience. I'd definitely recommend it as one off. Theres a room to look around as you enter and then the museum ride (with Sean Bean doing the audio which was fun) it was done incredibly well and was a nice length. When it's over there is then another room with some items etc in. I went with my partner but it'd be great for anyone on a day out. Great little quick visit if you've been trekking all over York.

m. m.

What an excellent place to visit. Well worth the money, it was so informative. The preserved streets were amazing to see.

V. B.

Interesting and informative. The ride through the museum is well worth the visit with informative commentary, realistic anamatronics and smelly smells!!

J. P.

Really interesting experience, great to travel through a viking age brought to life with great commentary and immersive environment. It is however very busy so you feel a bit rushed through and could do with more exhibition space and talks around the main space. Absolutely book in advance

C. s.

Great concept, based on the real digs in this site, presenting the village life of the Vikings. Recommended experience if you are interested in the Viking era, or of you have children covering this at school. The ride through section is really well done, with a good amount of detail, before moving on to the museum part with a good amount of Viking artefacts. Only negative comment would the first little bit was a bit unstructured, which would make it easy to miss some of the information. There were 2 'guides' giving different information, in the same space at the same time.

m. d.

Tried to book online but said sold out. As we were passing asked and joined a queue about 20 minutes before entry, not bad for jubilee Saturday around 1pm. Excellent display for both adults and my 3 year old grandson.

J. D. P.

Be aware, this is an amusement ride in replica village, so if you are expecting real actors you will be disappointed. The ride is well set up and even features realistic smell! There is a neat little museum at the end which if well worth the entrance. A fun although short indoors activity to do. Took about an hour to get through.

D. H.

Best part of our day in York! My son and I took a day around York using the YorkPass - our first stop was the Jorvik Viking Centre and we were really impressed! We were expecting some museum displays, maybe a couple of actors talking about the history of York, but instead were treated to a Disney-quality ride that looked (and smelled!) like Yorvik back in the day. Only after the high-quality ride was there some museum exhibits, but even those were interesting--especially the skeletons of actual people from that time. With the free 12-month return, we'll definitely be back.

M. R.

Would recommend booking Jorvik and probably nearer the end of the day, as there was queueing for the busy periods even with tickets. The Jorvik ride take approximately 20 minutes and it is impressive. The museum itself could be boring for younger children. To be honest I was in and out in 45 minutes. If you want to take your children anywhere in York The Castle Museum will keep you amused for longer and there is always the Train museum.

N. L.

Visited with family and really impressed by the staff and whole experience. Information was really well displayed and we learned lots of interesting facts about Vikings. Particular highlight was the coin in the exhibition and then being able to buy chocolate replica coins for the family too. Great place to visit for an hour or so.

G. H.

Fabulously entertaining and educational for all ages, it gives children some real insight to this period of Britain. Well laid out, plenty of hand on activities. A great day out for all.

R. H. B.

Compared to the hype about the place, the kids and I were quite disappointed. In the first room we had to wait like ten minutes before we could proceed, but the kids enjoyed some "digging" on some touch screen. After this its basically a ten minute train ride through the Viking village, with some animated puppets. This part is well presented and interesting, but also not wow. After this, there is a lot of stuff that was dug out, little entertainment value for my 10 and 11 year olds. Overall and in parts interesting place and good for max 30 minutes of entertainment. Considering the price, it did not deliver enough. Therefore 3 stars.

K. B.

This is a " must visit" if you visit York. The models in the recreated scene are very lifelike and the guides were impressively knowledgeable - even to the extent of knowing who had provided the voiceover commentary ( not Sean Bean who I thought it was!). Could have spent hours just going round and round. Worth every penny of the entrance fee.

M. S.

Awesome tourist experience, that I'd definitely recommend. The automated tour feels like it'll be the best part - but the exhibit afterwards is fascinating! Plus, a pretty good gift shop too.

C. S.

Everything about it was really excellent. The staff wore 'Viking' dress - and answered questions, very informatively. The ride around the lower chamber, was also amazing! Plus, there's an excellent souvenir shop.

M. S.

Staff are very knowledgable, clearly very passionate. The exhibits are interesting but it wouldn’t take you too long to pass through, even with little ones. Tickets are valid for a whole year but as a southerner I doubt I’ll be back in York for a while…

G. T.

Staff were very friendly! When you first enter you get to walk on top of the Viking excavation site. You then go on a ride which takes you through what it would have been like back in the day. The information given is very interesting and I loved the fact that the model people were made based on skeleton remains. Once the ride is finished you get to look at all the artifacts that were found in the dig site. Well worth a visit. The only downside is the price which is quite expensive. If you are visiting York for a day or a few days, get the day pass as it works out cheaper overall when visiting all the different attractions.

J. T.

What a fantastic place. Well worth a visit. Loved every minute hence the tons of photos 😊

L. 1.

Honestly, even though I knew it's a pretty big attraction, it was far too busy to enjoy properly. Too many people and you couldn't take your time looking at the exhibitions and see them all in relative comfort. This was at 4pm in a Tuesday so I dread to imagine what it's like at a more 'normal' time... having said that, the museum itself is fairly well done, just a shame the experience of it was not great due to being so so busy.

F. J.

Had an amazing experience here today. Me and a group of friends arranged this for a hen party. So educational, fun and engaging, a massive thank you to Elfrick/Anthony who made the whole experience informative yet fun. It was lovely to listen to someone talk about something they were so passionate about. He is a credit to the company.

D. B.

Wow. Glad I went. A brilliant experience that I would recommend to anyone. I would recommend booking in advance on line if you can as it gets very busy at times and you may not otherwise get in, but I got lucky. I had a coin stamped for £2 whilst I was there. Go for it.

D. N.

Interesting and fun. Smaller than I had imagined so tour wasn't long. Staff knowledgeable and friendly - one male staff member in particular gave us loads of information about the skeleton; really caught attention of everyone around and his crowd kept growing.

s.

my original review for the centre was incorrect I thought was reviewing the York dungeons, see other review. now this place is for all ages and so good. lots of oldie world shops and streets of old. police station...post office, sweet shop, school classrooms and staff on hand to give info and answer questions loved it.

E. G.

Great place to visit. Very informative on the history of York. It's a must see.

K. B.

Brilliant for a day out! The staff are knowledgeable and couldn't be more helpful! The ride has a kids version of the audioguide which was great too. Would recommend to anyone into history!

J. H. D.

Excellent! Not a boring old museum by a long shot. The interactive 'ride' makes the history of York or 'Jorvik' very interesting and fun for all ages! A good family place! A+

L. R.

A fun experience that provides an immersive and educational look into the history of York, and how it evolved from its formative age. Great for kids, and adults. Adequate accessibility and the admission lasts for a year. A worthwhile visit when stopping at York.

L. C.

Fantastic place to visit highly recommend it. Staff are and were outstanding three of which took the time to find out why my grandaughter was upset, talking to her and calming her down. She went on to having a fabulous experience wanting to go again.

L.

Enjoyed my visit. Make sure you speak to all the staff, they were all helpful and knowledgeable. However we felt it was overpriced. About £40 and the 3 of us were in there for about 45 minutes. However you can visit again with the same ticket within a year.

J. E.

Enjoyed this place; informative ride with exhibits at the end. Docking a star because of the staff member outside handling the queue as we arrived. We turned up 15 minutes prior to our scheduled time and mistakenly ended up attempting to join the gap in the queue. The staff member approached and loudly said “Do you have tickets?” When we said yes and for when, we were told very loudly again “you are VERY EARLY. Come back at your assigned time.” (We were 12 minutes early.) There was no need to embarrass and deride us and I came very close to requesting a refund and not visiting the attraction based on this staff member’s poor attitude.

B. S.

Very informative and a great ride , although the ride felt rushed at times

M. I.

Get the tickets online to avoid long wait. Had a great experience here, the smell makes everything more realistic 😀

L. N.

Brillant experience. Well worth a visit

O. H.

Brilliant tour, I loved how you can sit in a pod to go around the museum, great for tourists who want to rest their legs and relax whilst being told some fascinating facts! Will definitely return.

M. A.

I really enjoyed there highly recommended each and everyone planning to visit York should visit this place. 🔥🔥🔥

R.

Very interesting, informative and good interaction with the staff. There is a queue to wait if you haven’t booked to fill in space on a session

I. K.

Incredible experience. I would never expected something like this. Amazing carriages tour with authentic smells and everything from this age. Do not hesitate and go to visit this place.

s.

When visited your we pre_booked and it and it didn't fail to disappoint. The museum was filled with interesting items with factual information. You also get to go on a ride which showed you what use to happen. I would highly recommend this place and staff we friendly and helpful.

L. S.

Wasn't really impressed and was glad I used my tesco club card vouchers to pay entry as I would have been rather disappointed if I'd paid cash for entry. We were in and out in about an hour. The ride was God but that's it really

F. H.

Absolutely fabulous. Had a great time

I.

What an experience. Made very welcome when you arrive. The roller coaster type ride was superb. Great experience all round. Staff very knowledgeable and great to talk to. Would highly recommend a visit when you go to York

J. W.

The staff here are really kind and helpful. One of the children in our party was scared about going on the ride but the member of staff manning the ride was really friendly and patient with her and helped explain to her what the ride would be like and offered her a torch so that she wouldn't be worried about the dark. As soon as we got on the ride, he went to the end of it to tell he other people we were with that we would be coming soon and waited at the end for us to check the child was ok and ask her how the ride had been. It made such a big difference as she is normally very scared of anything like this but was very enthusiastic about her visit afterwards. The museum is small so it's only a short visit - I would say about an hour to do the whole thing. It's expensive but in my opinion it's worth it, especially if you live in York and can revisit using the same tickets.

H. F.

If you're into Viking history this is excellent... If not it's still informative and fun. Great staff.

K. P.

First time back since i was a kid, and first time for my kids. Brings back memories and well worth the visit; the magic is still there. A good hour spent for all the family

M. C.

Has to be one of the most interesting places to visit in York. You tack a " Stroller Coaster " into the past where the Vikings are alive. Well amintronic. The sights the sounds and the smells like just being there. Plus your ticket is for 12 months, so why not go again.

K. H.

Great place to go to learn about the Vikings in York. Very child friendly with their own audio. Friendly and informative staff, dressed for the part. My Granddaughter loved the time capsule ride, reasonably priced.

T. R.

Fantastic place to visit if you're in York. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Fascinating to see how the Vikings lived. You get all the sounds and smells as well ! Definitely worth a visit.

K. H.

20 minutes wait to get in....need to book on line before your visit. Climb into a four person car and be whisked round the village ....good commentary, lots of displays. The shop quite pricey, but some lovely jewellery, etc. Your ticket gains entry for a year.

M. B.

Very good experience, well laid out with good commentary.

R. C.

Definitely worth a visit. All the staff were in character, very knowledgeable. The ride through old Jorvik streets was informative and so vivid. Amazing.

A. S.

Absolutely amazing museum! We went through twice in the same day and saw so much more the second time around. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and the information given by them was incredible! We will be back!!

S. K.

A great museum and definitely worth a visit. The part when you are taken around through the village is amazing. Really nice staff and great fun.

A. S.

Informative ride around Viking street scene followed by museum room showing excavated artifacts. The highlight was an expert talking through some of the findings he was very informative and kept the whole families attention. Only negative as others have said is that we were through and back on the street in about 45 mins and it's a bit expensive for that

R. 2.

If you happen to be in Jorvig (York) then, this place is a must to visit. You can buy tickets in advance or just queue outside and you'll get in after the booked slots have entered. Nice display inside and a good (interactive) tour. There is a souvenir shop at the exit, but as with all shops of this kind it is expensive.

P. A.

Very imaginative representation of the site in Viking times. Incredible finds inc a 1000 year old padlock. Unbelievable. And the ticket allows return visits. Very highly rated.

E. W.

Personally I wouldn't necessarily go again. Getting on a ride like this is a fun way of learning something, but I felt like I didn't learn a lot – I guess I was expecting a bit more history, in terms of the broader context. There's little mention of what time this is happening, and I think the only historical event that was mentioned ("the expulsion of the last Viking king"), which I would have liked to know more about, was not explained. If you mostly just want to know general everyday things, e.g. how they dyed fabric or what they ate, then it might be for you.

C. J.

Recommend! Didn't realise it was a "ride" so much more fun than expected. Fun and interesting way to learn real history. Staff were incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable too.

M. W.

We been here before. We throught that was fantastic. But there's be even more improvements we'll worth the experience. No barrier to age. facilities for wheelchair users. Staff were very helpful

Q. A.

Its absolutely awesome. The tour inside takes you around to see how the viking people lived including people shaped robots that look so realistic. Also, they perform some movements and talk too. There are dogs and cats too. Ofc all that inside the village where you go around and see Their tools, crafts, foods, lifestyle in general and some of their remainings.

S. L.

Really good attraction, well thought out and good commentary while going round on the ride, interesting museum at the end, did think the gift shop would be a bit bigger though.

M. T.

Love it! Would definitely recommend. The whole experience was superb. The staff was super friendly and helpful and the way the museum is done unique!

M. P.

I loved every minute of the guided tour and it was the main reason I came to York. I learned so much from the day out and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the Vikings.

P. M.

Not what i expected, was pleasantly surprised after a bad start, had to queue outside for about 10 mins, paid at the entrance, went through and hit a brick wall of people that were queueing, i thought that you walked around the museum and thought if it's going to be like this then i'm out of here. as we went through and around the corner i then realised we were queueing for a shuttle, 4 of us had a 6 seat shuttle to ourselves, it was really, really good, thoroughly enjoyed it.. definately worth a visit...

P. D.

Very interesting and informative. It is also an unusual way of delivering the experience using a sit in ride that carries you over a mock up of viking York. Overall very impressed

H. O.

Absolutely brilliant! A much better way to see a museum than traditional methods. It starts in the excavation room, where in the 70s the remains of a Viking, or Nordic, house were found. An interesting and informative talk is given before you all go on the ride through the town. The ride is very slow - don't worry about it being a fast or scary ride. It seats 6 to a buggy, and you slowly make your way through a Viking village, while the individual voiceover everyone gets tells you the tales of the folk you pass. The animatronics are so unbelievably brilliant, I double took a few times to see if it were a real person! The smells are fantastic, not overbearing but add to the authenticity. The buggys are comfortable and you don't hear anyone elses voiceover. Then there's a traditional museum viewing at the end, with skeletons and jewellery. Some skeletons are even brought to life as dummy's on the way around, so you can see during the ride what they'd have looked like. They invested very well in their museum. I can see why it's such a famous attraction. They say give it an hour to go around, but I think that depends on how long you take in the museum. I think we were out in around 40 minutes. Also buy a ticket in advance. Much easier. We didn't have to wait we walked straight in. Also we went on a weekday, I imagine that's less busy, but I don't know for sure. I highly recommend if you visit York to go to Jorvik!

J.

A really wonderful exhibit. You start out in a room that recreates what was uncovered from the original Viking housing in the area. You then move on to a ride that takes you through a recreation of what historians believe resembles the actual buildings and working of the viking settlers. You finish with viewing tons of artifacts from the actual site. Incredibly cool and the staff is expertly knowledgeable about it all. Worth a visit.

M.

Loved this place and was definitely one of my highlights of my trip to York. Very informative and interesting exhibits. You get a ride around showing life in Jorvik at the time of the Vikings. Worth going.

A. M.

An interesting look at the most complete Viking settlement found. You go on a short ride around a Viking town imagined from the buildings and artifacts they found. Then there is a museum of the artifacts they found. This is interesting. Everything from clothes, padlocks, weapons, skeletons and Viking poo. Worth a visit.

D. G.

Was very impressed with this place, really interesting, a wonderful insight into a long gone era. Made it interesting for the children to understand it is expensive but as it's educational and fun I thought worth the money, you must book ahead to get your time slot.

M. P.

Fantastic experience for kids and adults. History truly brought to life. A highly recommended outing. Wish there were more museums like this.

K. P.

Great wee attraction depicting the Viking age in York,the staff who pose as vikings really know their stuff and the ride on journey through Viking life is amazing,I would go again

G.

It was ok but not great. The 1st room was brilliant u got to take ur looking around ask questions and there was interactive screens around the room. Then you get put on a ride Which was good and informative. Then 1 last room to look around and ur done. It took us less than an hour so didn't feel worth the money and I left feeling quite disappointed

J. J.

Long queues so best to pre-book. Entrance and ride very good but the museum section at the end was quite cramped and limited considering how much has been found on the site.

M.

Informative little place 👌 Staff were great accept the coin maker on Friday. Stood infront of him with my child for about 10 mins whilst him not acknowledging that we wanted to purchase a coin. Wasn't even busy, we felt invisible.

M. S.

This place is now super-high-tech with a moving, rotating 'cable car' which escorts you through the living museum (living with realistic animatronics). The ride is really interesting and knowledgeable with an accompanying soundtrack and guide in a number of languages. The one thing that surprised me was how quickly we were in and out again - about 25mins - as there is obviously no pausing when you're on the cable car which only leaves a fairly small museum exhibit at the end. I was imagining that there would be some areas which you could investigate the streets yourself. Warning: our youngest (who is under 5 so got in for free anyway) really did not like the ride as the realistic figures freaked her out! She kept her head down the whole time!!) Bonus is that once you have paid once, you can revisit again within the year. 👍

S. P.

We really enjoyed our visit. I visited before when I was younger so it was nice to come back again. It was my fiancée and her sons first visit and they really enjoyed it.

j. s.

Reasonable price for entry, staff are very knowledgeable and Friendly, the ride is interesting and well detailed. Gift shop has some great things for sale

L. H.

Very interesting. Definitely good value for money. Loving the ride around what a viking environment would have been like. All captured brilliantly.

A. M.

I would give a 5 star review, but the folks working the line out front were chatty and smiling with the folks who were inline ahead of us...and when we walked up they just told us to walk in. If you have never seen a "Viking Porto-Potty" in use...prepare yourself to be entertained.

K. W. H.

Last time I came here I was a kid and could only remember the ride where you experience Viking life up close and personal. As an adult, it’s so much more than that, and it’s been updated as more research and artefacts have come to light. Several skeletons have been analysed and their human stories brought to life with great detail and empathy. One woman has been reconstructed and features in the ride through the village. Another provides early evidence of African migration to Britain. The staff are enthusiastic - if you ask questions you’ll be rewarded with so much more information than the standard displays provide. Get there early to avoid a queue on the way in, especially at weekends, and pre-book a ticket if you can to get in quicker.

C. M.

Can be very busy at peak times. If you like history it’s ok. It’s a moving above monorail journey through time ending with artefacts from a dig local to the area. The ride lasts about 20 mins, not worth the money.

D. H.

This really is a must whilst visiting York, there’s a recreated dig site under a glass floor which is very interesting, the actual ride around the centre is very informative if a bit brief but still comes highly recommended as a visitor attraction.

J. M.

Very cool center with a lot of great viking artefacts on display, as well as a tour around a huge diorama of Jorvik during its heyday. If you like history or vikings (or both), I can highly recommend it!

L. B.

Amazing, novel, interesting, staff knowledgeable and helpful. Worth the wait and the price. We. Still had a wait even buying tickets in advance.

R. J.

This was an alright stop in York, but we came away feeling like it wasn't quite worth the money spent. If you don't have young kids, this experience will likely only take you 30min (+15min waiting in line). You enter and come to a foyer area with a few bits to read while you wait for the ride. You then ride through an exhibit of animatronic Vikings going about their day to day life in the village while listening to descriptive audio. Once the ride is over, there is one medium sized room with artifacts found during the dig. That's all. We were really hoping for more history not only of the Vikings in York, but also of the dig/archeology itself. We were told this could be found within a companion book at the gift shop, but it wasn't in stock.

H. S.

We visited @jorvikviking Viking centre. My husband sold it to me as a viking #museum I was ready to see ships and try and entertain the kids whilst saying "don't touch that... Be careful... No running" the usual museum parent words. To all of our surprise we were pleased to see this modern and interactive ride experience / historical interpretation of the #vikingworld. We sat in our own little rollercoaster -like ride, as it guided us through history. You can also choose a kids audio guide to talk you through the sites. The staff at the center were also amazing, staying in role play viking characters. Engaging with children and adults and really bringing history to life. If you're ever in York I would totally recommend paying a visit.

J. B.

Informative and the staff dress as vikings ready to be asked anything about viking life and the museum

G. G.

I though it was a bit expensive for what you can see. Its simple a ride with animatronics that are of good quality to represent how the norsemen lived in 960 in Jorvik. There was also a small exibition of artifacts after the ride. There is almost nothing about battles or viking raids. Overall its just not worth the money that is charged. I would be reluctant to return for another "museum" of this kind for that fee. I gave it a 3 only because of the staff that was actually nice or else it would be a 2.

E. M.

As a bit of a history buff I enjoyed this but I left wanting a little more. In essence there are three rooms (a reconstruction of the dig site, a disney-esq ride through a Viking York and an exhibit room) and all told we were in and out in 55 minutes.

H. D.

Everyone really friendly and helpful and the groups were an alright size so it wasnt too difficult to see the exhibits. Robots were also really cool and lifelike

K. C.

I didn't tell my 2 children (age 8 & 10) what was about to happen so they were excited to see it's a ride. It is a little creepy and smells in parts so be warned with younger children.

A. P.

Definitely an unskipable attraction as tourists! It's fantastically well done, I feel like you can get quite a lot out of it. If you're really into archeology and want to look at historical treasures from that time it's perfect, if you're not it's also perfect because it really works hard to keep your attention span entertained! I really appreciate the amount of work it must have taken to really make sure it makes you feel enwrapped in that era! It was a blast and I can only imagine what an amzing attraction it must be for childres as well.

R. J. L.

Wonderful experience, very informative, very accessible with different language options and wheelchair / pushchair accessibility. Great for someone who is a viking fan or just wants to learn something new.

A. S.

A bit of a mixed experience here when my hubby and I travelled to York for a few days back in June. Now believe me when I say - I'm not usually a Karen in these situations, but I do think my reasons are justified for somewhere as well-known as this centre. Given that - to our own admittance, we didn't pre-book nor did we even think to, we were happy to see no queue outside when we arrived. However, when we approached the dressed-up member of staff outside, he told us that they leave the majority of walk-ins for their school trips (which I found odd - surely school trips would be booked in)? But he said if we come back in half an hour they would have a better idea of timings. Half an hour later, we returned and there was now a long line of people in one queue and a few in another. We went back to the same guy we had asked before and he said if we waited in the smaller queue, they would let us in where/when they could, but warned us there may be some wait involved. Turns out the larger queue was pre-booked people and even they were let in really sparingly. Now give them their due, the young man on the door played the part very well; he was charismatic, knowledgeable and chatted away to the people waiting to get in. Anyway, another twenty minutes passed and we were shown in and paid for two adults at £13 a head - not bad. Downstairs was a dig site - displaying lots of tools, foundations and other bits that I could have maybe paid more attention to - had their not been this pungent smell of mould in the air. Now I get that it's an earthy display and we are going underground to an extent, but it was pretty distracting! Next you climb onto what seems like a rollercoaster cart, where you are then taken through a small replica village from Viking-era, which is pretty cool. The wax figures are pretty lifelike and the displays very detailed, but I did get a little motion sickness from the cart spinning left, then right, then back again repeatedly - the smell and the dim lighting didn't help, but that's just me and my annoying struggle with spinny things. After our ride through the town, we then entered the actual museum part of the centre, with it's glass displays of skeletons, objects and weapons. Once again - pretty amazing and well laid out, however we noticed a small school group in the corner, being instructed by their teacher to grab their bags and have a look around. WELL we then couldn't move through the displays, without being bumped into or having kids pushing in front to tap the glass and giggling away between themselves. Now the teacher, bless him, did try and remind them several times to be considerate and keep quiet, but ended up ironically being louder than kids after several attempts to keep them controlled. Now again, I get that the rowdy kids are not the fault of the centre or their staff, but given that we were given access to the museum whilst a school group was in it, you'd think they would facilitate this a little better or maybe not allow walk ins until the group is done? It really did put me off the museum aspect of the tour, as I eventually gave up trying to manoeuvre my way between kids and rucksacks, whilst also being distracted by the noise levels. This was all made worse, when I thought we decided to move on quicker than we would have liked, only to enter the gift shop that the same heard of kids then followed us into and, once again, took over! Like I said, a mixed experience and I'm sure, school trip aside, I would have enjoyed it more, but it was a let down because of this. The facilities themselves were really good, but I do think they should review their schedule to not blend school groups with standard paying visitors.

g.

We were pleasantly surprised that this place had a mini-ride that took you through the Viking history of York! We all loved this and would recommend to anyone visiting!

L. D.

Positives: • The ride experience is a novel and interesting way to be immersed into a Viking village. The attention to detail of the village and its animatronic characters is excellent and impressive. • The ride experience has several language settings. The good design of how the speakers are embedded into the headrest ensures that the sound from your seat-neighbor's speakers does not interfere with the sound from the speakers in your own headrest, while also allowing the sounds of the village to be heard. • Knowledgeable staff that are passionate about Viking history. They enhanced the experience by wearing clothing from Viking period, and were fantastic at answering Viking-related questions. • A selection of well-preserved items on display in the Artefact Gallery. • The entrance ticket we got allows for unlimited entry within 12 months of being issued (unsure if this applies to all kinds of tickets). Negatives: • Before the ride experience, there is an exhibit to see the reconstructed Coppergate archaeological dig (1976 - 1981) under a glass floor - this was good but many areas were not able to be seen clearly as the glass was fogged. • The ride experience simulates aromas of the Viking-era which is an interesting idea but there appears to be only a couple of scents and these were all (presumably intentionally) unpleasant. There could have been better variation here. • The entire experience was a bit short - after viewing the archaeological dig exhibit, completing the ride experience and viewing the items in the Artefact Gallery, the duration was just over 1 hour. The ride experience could have been a bit slower to allow more time to absorb the sights and observe the finer details. • It would have been interesting to get more information on Viking longship construction and invasions. Overall, a great experience that should definitely be considered if visiting York.

E. S.

At times the centre tested my ASD teens' sensory levels, but we all really enjoyed it. The ride is really interesting, and the exhibition of the artefacts gave just the right level of information for us too. An enjoyable part of our day in York.

B. S.

I couldn't rate this poorly I thought it was more than just a ride there are a few bits with descriptions and interesting pieces but not as big as I thought worth a visit maybe two but not sure if we will go more then that.

R. B.

This was an amazing experience. The Viking archaeology under your feet, separated by glass was exceptional. You then get in a car, and slowly meander around street life as what it was back in the Viking days. There is a brilliant museum of Viking archaeology and a shop.

J. S.

Really good visit . Had been a number of yrs ago before they had the ride but the whole experience now is more enjoyable. Story telling my staff was really good.

C. W.

Excellent little visit. A great insight into the history of York (Jorvik). Not been here in a long time but it's nice to see that it has improved dramatically but still keeping some of the parts (especially the smells!) that I fondly remember from my childhood. Would recommend a visit if you're in the area.

P. G.

Excellent exhibit. Very good day out and such an interesting place to visit. Great shop for picking up a keep sake of your visit

M.

The ride portion of the attraction, is fantastic, interesting and really gives you a good and detailed insight into how life was back in Jorvik. However, apart from 2 other small galleries (which are pretty interesting) there is not much else to see, making it feel a tad short for the entry fee. However, covid measures were done well and the staff were brilliant and very knowledgeable.

S. B.

Brilliant couple of hours very informative the staff were very polite helpful we had younger children ranging from 3 to 8 I think there could of been a little more interaction like shields or swords more hands on experience but all in a very enjoyable afternoon thank you

C. D.

My 5 year old had a brilliant time on this tour, whether it was the Viking toilet, the ride, or the coin making, she enjoyed it all, and the guides were really friendly and informative

K. C.

Buy a ticket once and it is valid for the next 12 months... Visited twice in two days. Best museum I have ever been to. The educational trip is well put together and extremely well curated. The staff were all top notch, you get a feeling that they love their job at this center. Must watch!!!

J. D.

What there is, is excellent and the kids really enjoyed it. However it is expensive for what in essence is a shortish visit. No more than an hour and you will be finished.

B. R.

Awesome place. Been thru it once and want to do it again. Sadly we weren’t able to get in this time due to all the schools having there tours.

J. C.

When I was a kid I went here and found it wondrous, as an adult I returned to see very little has changed and I don't mean that in a good way. It's very much a blink and you'll miss it experience, it's a shame they can't expand.

S. k.

Really interesting museum of archeological finds in York. The ride is a great dimension to finding out more about viking life. The staff are knowledgeable and their input adds to the experience.

M. B.

Excellent, well informed staff. Real to life exhibits.

T. C.

Absolutely amazing. Photos taken. Booked this venue. Definitely go again. I spent an hour there. Has a gift shop.

T.

Could do with a renovation. The glass floor in particular is in desperate need of glass polish as we couldn't what we were supposed to be looking at beneath it. Overall, lots of history and a pleasant experience

D. L.

If you have even a passing interest in the Vikings or history of York you shouldnt miss the Jorvik Viking Centre. When you first enter there is some information on the digs. Then a ride like tour of some dioramas showing how the vikings lived and what the streets and houses of york would have looked like. The animatronic models are really great! At the end of tour there is a chance to see some artifacts that were found aswell as some from elsewhere. Staff are really friendly amd passionate, all to happy to talk at lenths and answer questions. As a seal of approvals my daughter said its was " smelliest ride she has ever been on" props to the designer on the street smells i think!

C. T.

A brilliant experience, very well organised. The guides are all extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely recommend booking before you go

J. S.

Fascinating display - I especially recommend going if you're interested in seeing the biggest historical poo ever discovered. Friendly, informative and highly in-character staff.

C. D.

This place is amazing if you're interested in the history of York during the times of the Viking man (or woman). The ride that takes you round the different houses is fab as well. I was so impressed with the accessibility of the centre, I'm a wheelchair user and was even able to access the ride in my chair - I wouldn't have even been able to access any of the centre otherwise due to full time outdoor chair use. The staff were really helpful too, and made sure myself and my cousin were safe and comfortable the whole time. The last part of the centre wasn't for us but would likely interest people who have an invested interest in Jorvik and Vikings - it's more of a museum display layout with various items from an archaeological dig on the site of Jorvik

J. F.

Haven't visited for 10yrs. Back then, it was a fantastic experience, now it is even better with lots more to see. Well worth a visit 🙂

N. B.

2 adults and child trip. Used the york pass and pre booked. Short queue, very interesting and good for children.

D. P.

This is one of a number of places to visit while in York, best to go early in the day if you can , you and your family will love it , the museum is more for adults then young children

L. O. B.

Amazing place to learn about the local history, well worth the visit. Has a gift shop and ride inside taking you through the archaeology and the way the vikings lived.

b. g.

Really fun and informative the ride was really good and the animatronics on it were so lifelike and the guides really know their stuff

r. D.

Nice and informative visit, I initially was reluctant to go as I thpugh it was a turist trap, but I was plesantly surprised its a nice well documented exhibition, I am glad we did it

I. W.

Interesting, but limited in scope. There didn't feel much depth was to be had. Loved the staff outfits and helpfulness.

J. B.

Overall it is a good experience , the ride at the start is great as the mannequins and back drops are very realistic and animated . Once off the ride you enter a room full of display cabinets with a Viking talking about deer antlers and how they made them into items and another Viking making coins and explaining how they used them as currency . If you read everything and listen to the 2 Vikings you could be there for 1.5 hours , but if you just look and read a bit you will be in and out in less than an hour . All that said it is worth a visit 😄👍

P. T.

Brilliant would definitely recommend, we got there early(just as it opened)we prepaid and we walked straight in,however the queue was quite long by the time we came out.

d.

Brilliant place.. Loved it... Very well put together... Really enjoyed it .. Highly recommend.... Booked before I went ..

C. P.

I would definately recommend buying your tickets in advance They do have a standby queue and do their best to get everyone in. Staff are very friendly and helpful and the whole experience of the centre was so good. A must see if visiting York

D. T.

We enjoyed the ride but were a bit surprised and disappointed that there wasn't much more to ot than that. Costumed staff were friendly though, which was nice.

S. C.

About 17 minutes car ride looking at replication of Viking living. Then gallery which is too small. Overall a good visit may totalling 40 minutes. Some of the replications were scary for children.

K. G.

Centrally located next to a multi-storey car park. Ticket valid for 12 months giving free access repeatedly. Authentic and educational experience of Viking settlement. Sit on track vehicle tour giving a realistic view of everyday life, even with real life smells! Great for all ages, can be large queues so best to book.

R. S.

We only visited the gift shop. A really good variety of items and jewellery at various prices. Trinkets from a couple of pounds to weaponry at a few hundred

C. L.

Excellent way to see York as it may have been during the Viking era. Museum pieces and descriptions from rhe dig are extremely interesting.

d. r.

This is a great experience, enabling you to be immersed in viking york with sights and smells of how it all was, the ride around in the gondola type automatic chair withna great sound system with multiple language touch screen you sit and listen to the commentary and has on screen written language to help you get all the history ypu could need.

B. S.

Fantastic visit , loved it , very interesting , Children can learn so much , Advisable to book in school holidays gets very busy

J. N.

Amazing place staff so helpful and very knowledgeable. Really interesting place . All the staff should be so proud of themselves made a good day great

P. M.

Visited as part of York residents weekend. Queued over an hour, but that was well expected given we entered for free! I haven't been since I was a child so had forgotten how it looked inside, and it has also been re-vamped when they experienced flooding. I enjoyed going round, but I wouldn't go again in the next few years, just because it doesn't change.

K. C.

[July 2022] If you are into Vikings and history, then we’ll worth a visit. Book your tickets in advance the save time.

D. S.

Wonderful experience and really good. It takes you back in time and also the smell of the place was making it more realistic. We had pre booked online and from the moment we arrived the staff were very friendly and extremely helpful and friendly with the kids.

S. B.

What a brilliant place! You may have to queue up, don't worry, you will be thoroughly entertained by the staff who are fully dressed up in costume. My 5 and 3 year old didn't get bored. Once inside there is all sorts to see, the highlight would have to be the ride round the Viking village, absolutely fantastic and everyone will learn something no matter what (full commentary in many language's and a child version). The staff are posted at various places throughout and help to educate all ages. You finally come out in the gift shop. If you are pondering whether or not to travel here, it really is worth it. York is such a special, beautiful place that you really are surrounded by a huge amount of history.

D. D.

Went with the kids. Fantastic display and recreation of a Viking village, staff Very interested in their jobs, overall very satisfied, little bit pricey.

B. A. V. K. E. t. 3.

Great place for both adults and children. Very interesting, well laid out and a fantastic multi lingual sit down tour/ride when you've been walking all day and it's also great to walk above the unearthed remains of a viking discovery.

B. K.

This experience is an uncompromising look into viking life and culture. You are truly immersed from the second you walk in. The way you experience half of the museum is so unique, but I won't spoil it for you! If you love history this is the place for you. Everything you are showed is steeped in archaeological findings to back up the theories presented. You will have an amazing time here!

E. S.

The tour started with a detailed description and view of the original excavation site of the original viking era road. The tour guide was enthusiastic and had vast knowledge of the era. After that we progressed to the 16 minute ride taking you through a recreation of the viking Town and coppergate market. It was fascinating with vivid scenes and smells. Afterwards a quick walk through an exhibition featuring original viking equipment discovered in the exhibition site. A gift shop finalises the tour. Toilets are available and COVID guidelines are adhered to.

A. B.

Really nice place to visit. Full of history. They give an interesting prospective in the Vikings as it makes them seem like regular people of the time. Rather than some looks as they have been originally seen as. The ride is also really good as you travel thought the town, and into some buildings.

B. B.

There is an glass floor that you can walk on which is weird but good. I really enjoyed the ride through the settlements, that was the best part. The museum you go to next is very interesting. You can get a coin stamped almost the way they used to do it it's well worth a visit

T. N.

A fun experience. They've recreated a viking village that you tour around on a rollercoaster style ride with an audio guide

T. M.

A wonderful little attraction in city centre. Reasonable price and great staff to greet you as you make your way around.

D. B.

We were able to walk in which was great because we didn't pre-book. It was an interesting visit, but it smelled quite badly which was a huge turn off for me. We couldn't wait to get out. The ride was really cool... the people and animals looked so life-like. It could have been a really great outing but we couldn't spend much time looking at everything and just wanted to be out in the fresh air.

M. C.

My partner and I went their April 2018. She had seen it advertised and had been many years ago. The queue was quite long so I would advise anyone wishing to attend to book in advance and use the fast lane. The main attraction of the event takes you on a 15 minute ride through a recreation of Jorvik town, with audio commentary. There is a small museum part before and after the ride. At £11 an adult (and a ticket that lasts for a year) this is definitely worth it! Only negative part was that there was not so much of the original village under glass as we had expected from the event.

D. D.

Really enjoyable hour spent here. The history of York is fascinating and told so well here. On entering you go down some stairs and you find yourself walking literally on history! A glass floor covers what was uncovered by archaeologists. Then you go on the ride. A screen lets you choose a language so it's world friendly! The car takes you through Viking York and the displays are so realistic and interesting - and smelly! After the ride finishes there's a chance to see all the artefacts found and staff are there in costume to answer questions. Then along to the gift shop. A bonus is your ticket is valid a whole year so you can go as many times as you like. Brilliant!

M. U.

Not what I expected... This is not your usual linear a to b trip, once seated on the for - want of a better word - carriage, the trip starts off and in a dungeon like atmosphere complete with smells the story of York in the age of the Vikings unfolds through a series of set pieces, homes, shops, workshops and markets the ride moves from the straight and narrow to take you up close and personal almost like a dodgem car at the fair. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand and as said the smells are there to, not pongy mind but definitely oldy worldy. Very immetsive 20 minutes or so. As I am in a wheelchair it was quite nice to find one of the carriages adapted and the technician is very helpful. MAKE SURE TO BOOK as only one wheelchair in each half hour slot. I paid the concession rate and my carer got in free, what's more is your ticket lasts for a year so revisits can be made, the museum needs revisits as there is much to see very worth the entrance fee and the time spent there.

P.

A great time out! The queue was a little long for entry, made doubly so when a school trip turned up and not very good in the rain. However it did surprise me when a staff member offered umbrellas to use whilst in the queue. Once inside however, it became apparent why it took a little while to get in, the first area is atop the excavated ruins of a viking house. Walking atop a glass floor you can clearly see the preserved fireplaces, walls and fences where a staff member clearly explains it and how it happened. The second area is a ride, sat on a six person car and listening to an audio recording whilst you go around a track listening to the sounds and the smells of a recreation of the village. The third area is an exibit, where you look at all the findings and have an explaination of the amout and quality of them before exiting to the gift shop. Overall a fun place and at £12.50 per adult, which also gets you in again if you want to come back in the same year too, it is better value than most places!

G.

Just brilliant! I hadn't been here since I was a child. Back then it left a lasting memory on me - especially the smell ... it was brilliant! Since then there has been a significant investment. There are csble cars taking you back to experience Viking York; it hasn't lost its charm. What makes this even better are the incredible staff. They are knowledgeable and passionate about the Viking period and bringing the experience to life. A definite must for any visitor in York.

K. Y.

Loved it, the ride is worth it, great to see and the staff are really knowledgeable and chatty, worth booking in advance.

M. N.

Very good visit if you like your history. Lots to see if you take your time to look properly

S. M.

Superb set up, highly recommended very interesting 👍 and we got blue light discount so we were delighted!

L. D.

Well organised, and excellent Covid precautions in place, informative and enjoyable ride through old Jorvik, even with masks on you could still experience the smells, and in some cases was glad you had them on so not to have the full effect, also one highlight is the oldest poo in the world, ite even has its own Blue Peter Badge.

B. B.

The centre hasn't changed in 6 years - it is still as good as it was previously and the kids, thoroughly enjoyed their second visit from an older perspective. The staff are friendly and helpful, even those on duty for those queuing in the rain (they offer umbrellas). Booking is essential - it is extremely popular although it doesn't really feel full at any time, they seem to manage social distance numbers well.

E. C.

Fantastic experience. The 'ride' was much more fun than we'd anticipated and our party of 8 people ranging from age 9-51 all had a good time. Loads of viking hosts ready with fascinating and sometimes gross facts and figures!! The staff were very accommodating of my mobility issues and went out of their way to help. Excellent all round, plus we were given 12 month return visit stamps which we hope we can use! Definitely recommended!

k. g.

The Jorvik Viking centre Is Brilliant a lot of brilliant artefacts and I would recommend buying in advance Cause it takes up to a hour waiting with No ticket in advance

L.

Me and girlfriend enjoyed it. It's not the longest experience you'll have unless you participate in the two additional options (must pay extra). Ticket prices are a little on the high side due to the duration. However, this can be forgiven as the building was flooded not long ago and it had to be rebuilt. I would happily visit again and your ticket is valid for a whole year so you don't have to pay twice in 12 months.

M. H.

Overall it was good, however expect long queues! We waited about 90 mins but it was mostly worth it. It was fun and interesting except for the big school groups running around which weren’t well controlled. Immediately through the front door, the large school groups made it difficult for us to know where we were meant to go. The suspended ride was great, well narrated and made interesting given the context of real local discoveries. Many great interactive activities and explanations for kids and families. Wait times at the entrance could have been better communicated to save continuous asking of staff and people unsure of where the queue started/finished.

M.

Booked at last minute....very insightful look into Viking lives gone by. Surprisingly there is a ride within, hundreds of original artifacts and knowledgeable and fun staff.

d. s.

Great experience very informative and interesting, gives you an insight into the viking world. Staff friendly and helpful.

R. P.

Slightly expensive tickets but the show is worth looking at. The best part is the reusable tickets. You can give it to your friends and they can visit them again. The staff are friendly as well. Happy to recommend d the place for a family outing or children educational tour.

O. K.

I liked the excursion but there was a smell that made some people sick,though it was a part of a plan. Only two toilets. One for ladies and one for men,which causes lines and inconvenience if you are a big group of people. Otherwise it was very interesting.

A. B.

Went there beginning of Jan 2018, got tickets on fast track with not much of a wait. Staff very helpful at the door. Lift down perfect for pram. Cloak room to park it and leave our coats. Glass floor room was interesting, kids liked it (age 7,5 and 3). Went on the ride then, that was great! Kids couldn't hear much due to the height of speakers but I don't think they were bothered. Quite happy to just look around and ask questions as we approached different scenes. The slave girl left an impact and also the smell from the pooing man's toilet! 😂😂😂 the next room with artifacts was interesting, kids were playing with touch screen choosing different ancient instruments to listen to. the older two went around the ride two more times, whereas little one was not impressed with the smells and just wanted to leave 😂 had a fab photo with a "real viking" (guy with long red hair and beard) and will probably visit again in the future 🗡🛡🏹🗝

S. 2.

Enjoyable visit to Jorvik, the ride was broken when we arrived so our slot took longer than it should have been but the staff were excellent in the circumstances. Fascinating and would visit again.

T. H.

Such an interesting experience. I was expecting a typical museum layout but instead, the bulk of the Jorvik Centre is traversed through a ride that goes underground, showing how people lived in the previous version of York. There's clearly been a massive amount of time and effort put into the this. In the areas that you do walk through, you are met with some incredible artifacts and relics from a bygone era. The gift store is one of the best I've been to - the selection of books is amazing, and there are plenty of inventive gifts available for all budgets. Couldn't recommend enough.

J. C.

A really interesting place to visit while in York Learn all about what the vikings did while they was here Firstly you go around a Viking village on a under rail ride while a narrator tells you everything about the village, then you get off the ride and get to see all the viking exhibits which is really interesting 10/10 from me 👍🏻👍🏻

s. t.

Really good very well organised, but is over in a very short amount of time for the price you pay, your in & out in 40 mins.

N. B.

Such a good experience, very interesting and informative, only negative would be visibility of dig under glass at the beginning of the tour. But good overall. Thank you

O. O.

Really interesting experience with a fascinating insight into life in ancient York. On entering you get to walk over an archeology dig with people explaining what you're looking at, followed by a carriage with narration through a recreation of Viking-era York - smells included! There's then a display of the many artefacts found in the area and a gift shop to finish. Good way to spend an hour or so, but not great for young kids as no interactive elements other than the carriage through the recreation.

K.

We visited here expecting a small-scale museum with some artifacts to look at. Wow, were we wrong! This is certainly one of the best attractions in the UK if you have even a passing interest in vikings and their history. We were very impressed with the experience!

S. B.

It is great, very informative and interesting. Although it is very crowded when busy but still a great visit. However. If you are visiting with children with sensory issues i dont recommend to go when its busy. What with the smells and speakers and ambient lighting then a LOT of people when you get to the end can make for quite a stressful situation. We will re visit. And we will come in term time. Overall a brilliant experience and would recommend.

Z. T.

Fantastic enjoyable as Nd informative, the staff were enthusiastic and helpful. Given a subject this is history Brought to life in a unique and innovative way, taking you on a ride through time, suspended in cars that turn around as they follow the twisting track. A little bit pricey to be honest, but definitely worth checking out. The price does allow for unlimited readmission in a twelve month period, though truth told not sure why you'd keep visiting. Gift shop a little small and underwhelming.

T. s. U.

A fascinating glimpse back in time, with talks by guides, a ride that takes you to a viking village and exhibits of items found. Well worth taking some time out and visiting

S. W.

It amazing it even includes smells, sights, sounds, interactive screens and you can see what's underneath the floor. I give it 5 stars.

S. G.

You might ask is it worth it most definitely had a great experience would I go again yes definitely worth the money

M. D.

Visited it before last entry at 5.00pm. Staff very helpful & willing to answer questions & explain areas where you require further information. Well laid out and easy to stroll round after the ride to look at exhibits. The ride was well paced and the information clear from the speakers in the headrests of the seats. Whilst expensive especially if there are a few of you their are special family prices and the tickets are valid for 12 months The gift shop is modest but we'll priced for treats A great visit.

R. A.

Quite exquisite. There is an interesting uptake upon the viking era and a very modern walk through history inside of a machine. It’s worth the ticket price. P.S. I had no pre-bought ticket, so they have told me to stay in the standby queue. In less than 10 minutes, I was inside.

v. s.

Very nice ride through recreated Vikings' York engaging for adults and children. The staff are great. The audio guide through the ride supports multiple languages too. Highly recommended to learn about the Vikings and the archaeological findings.

K. A.

Well worth a visit. A good story told as you are transported along via a pod. Followed by a short walk through the museum part. Informative and well recommended

C. B.

It was educational, the ride in the very slow cars in the center was okay although it smelled like animal dung throughout the entire ride. The center was crowded and we had to wait to view the artifacts. Social distancing was non existent and the gift shop was overpriced.

b. j.

Very good story broight to life by british history experts! Revelaed by accidentqlly but presented with care. Visit do not hesitate.

S. B.

Informative with real-life characters depicting life in Jorvik. Travelled around the museum not on foot but in an open, suspended railcar.

J. R.

Absolutely loved our day here, it's been updated and is amazing now.... Can't wait to go back

J. C.

Fantastic place to visit. My 10 year old son loved it so much we went twice in a week! (Your ticket is valid for 12 months)

N. H.

This is a brilliant attraction. Educational, informative and really lots of fun! The guides/staff are passionate and enthusiastic and obviously enjoy the subject matter of their job. The animatronics throughout the main event are absolutely fantastic and the 'people' are so realistic, you really feel them looking intensely at you and following you with their eyes.. you travel round recreated Viking streets in a cart type thing whilst the tale of what is occurring is narrated via speakers located either side of your head in your cart seat, the stories unfold as you move through each scene.. some great touches, such as a couple of the characters have been reconstructed from actual human remains found, to appear as close as possible to how these individuals would have looked all those years back, when they were alive. The pre and post main event sections re the archaeological side of things and mini museum of the findings were really good too. The tickets are reasonably priced and can be used to gain entry for the whole year.. amazing value for money and makes it even more of a must see attraction! Fab gift shop too

C. B.

Excellent place to visit on a cold day. Very polite and friendly staff with great knowledge about the vikings' lifestyle.

H. J.

It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed the tour. I really loved the esthetic and overall environment they presented everything with this unique technology. Hoping to visit soon. Also if you are a student you do get discounts just bring your ID

N. O.

Second visit to Jorvick as the kids love it, especially the ride. The staff were great throughout and never left character. They were very knowledgeable answers any questions we had with ease and we particularly enjoy the the coin hammering. Sure we will be visiting again especially as tickets are valid for a year after for any return visits which is great value for money.

R. S.

Fabulous place, no queuing for max members. Great friendly staff too. We love it here. One tiny thing - I wished they didn’t allow so many people in all at once, it’s scarily busy and crammed.

M. C.

Excellent ride through viking times. Loved the lifelike working displays. Didn't take as long as we expected Well worth a visit.

T. M.

Lots to see and read about, with a great theme park like ride thru the York reconstruction. Staff all dressed in period costumes, and gave good information. Shame some were a bit disparaging about the ride(?). Highly recommended.

m. t.

Good fun. Staff seemed very Friendly. Tale your time going round

G.

The JORVIK Viking Centre was great! They were well organised, very knowledgeable, and welcoming. In addition they had lifts/accessibility precautions in place. Overall a great visit and will recommend to anyone coming to York.

A. T.

Jorvik never fails to delight and the welcome 'Vikings' help to set the scene. It is one of the best museums I have ever visited (this was at least our third visit). There is always something new to see. The 'cars' that take you round the main exhibits/tableaux also provides a good commentary to go with them. After completing the ride there is an opportunity to take a look at some of the artifacts that have been found at the dig. I would advise going on-line to buy tickets, as you can select a time slot to suit you if available; it also avoids the disappointment if turning up, queuing, and not being able to gain admission. I think it is fair to say that any time we visit York, Jorvik will be on our itinerary.

S. S.

Brilliant ride, museum afterthought. Ride part is worth your money, ignore museum and gift shop. Detail in ride higher than Disney standard.

C. E. W.

Was a very different and good experience loved the idea of the cart ride tour and my 13 month old enjoyed it. Wish there were more to see but what was there was great and very life like robots. Staff were very friendly and helpful too, loved how they stayed in character and enjoyed it themselves throughout.

A. H.

Great place a lot of information, clean and tidy. I had great time.only down side is that need pre book tickets.wish I had known would have same me standing waiting. Would advise on busy days

c.

Very good experience. The ride taking you through a set up of Jorvik life was really cool. Very impressive collection of artifacts too!

M. T.

Fantastic place to visit or revisit... The car ride may have changed a bit from my last visit well over 20 odd years ago but still brilliant.

b.

Just 1 word amazing !!!! The cart ride is great and very informative .the museum is small but fab .Just needs to be bigger !

M. F.

Great place for the kids and adults to enjoy a trip back on time to the viking age of Jorvik.

C. B.

Museum was ok & some interesting information was gained on the tour, however we couldn't hear what the figures/people in the display were saying because of the audio in the 'car' on the tour. I feel it was a bit expensive for the experience you have.

S.

I liked the centre but the visitor experience was a lot shorter than i was expecting for the price of admission. I love history but we were only there for 45 minutes in total. The ride taking you through the history of Vikings in York was very good but just wish the attraction was bigger and there was more to see. A cafe would have also been welcome and clearer signage to the toilets. Staff doing the tour were friendly.

N.

Great place and staff. Can have a long wait and the journey through is not very long but still very interesting. A good point is the fact that you can return for FREE within 12 months if you keep your receipt.

L. B.

I was expecting ALOT more from this, this was what i was looking forward to the most. For £12.50 i was extremely dissapointed. I enjoyed the ride at the beginning which lasts for around 15 minutes, its very informative. What was after that was when i became dissapointed, it was just two small rooms with little bits of artefacts in glass boxes and 3 corpses. After leaving the room and ending up in the gift shop i actually said 'is that it?' .. i wont be going back.

E. S.

Loved everything about this place! The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The displays and ride are top notch.

L. S.

Very informative and interesting, the models are a bit dated now and it was smaller than I remember as a child but still worth a visit! I would have bought some jewellery but I don't wear silver so much anymore!

T. V.

The Vikings were settled in Yorkshire at Jorvik, now York, in the late 900s. First you ride on cars through a re-creation of their town, then you see the many artifacts from the excavation of Jorvik that was discovered in the 1980s. It is fun and educational.

S. S.

Love it, very interesting. Must visit at least once.

G. S.

My son was suposed to come here on a school trip that he was really looking forward to, unfortunately due to covid lockdown they didn't make it so decided to take him my self. It didn't disappoint. My son and I really enjoyed the tour and learning about the vikings history and seeing the artefacts. The tour guides gave informative and engaging talks and were very helpful. Son particularly enjoyed the ride on tour around the viking village and the interactive screen showing the skeletons in more detail and of course the gift shop. Would definitely recommend if your having a day in york.

L. T.

Absolutely fantastic place. Going underground back in time is brilliant. Staff dressed the part and had great knowledge of vikings and their history. Must go see place in York

K. N.

Such a cool, educational, fascinating place! Love the little ride around!

N. G.

Very realistic animatronics, great value for the price. Would recommend to anyone. Possibly once of the best museum I’ve ever been to

E.

We visited in 2019, I wanted to go because I had been here as a child. Felt bad for the guide as we did not have a lot of time left in York, so my hubby cut him short of the history intro and asked if we could just go on the ride. Sorry.

J. B.

Very good alternative to the standard museum layout. It's a reconstruction of a Viking settlement that was found there.

D. W.

This was awesome! Must visit place in York.. One of the best 😁 so realistic on the tour ride inside the building. Mind Blowing!

K. C.

Fantastic experience. Staff where friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The displays where realistic including sound and smell. Highly recommended.

S. R.

It was my first time there yesterday and I went in twice! What an experience. The staff there are amazing. They all do such an amazing job. Will be going again real soon

T. G.

Was a bit skeptical of it being worth the price but it was a very entertaining and informative look at viking life in York. From a public history perspective, I also think that it is a great way of engaging the public with viking history in an innovative and interesting way. I also appreciated the nods to the archeological aspects of what was found where and how they went about choosing what to include in the museum.

D. W.

Great experience, very knowledgeable and entertaining staff in full costume. The ride was great. Well worth a visit

A. W.

A fantastic family day out , very informative, friendly staff an altogether great experience. Learn how vikings lived and in Jorvik ( York) .

A. P.

Had a great time and hoping to visit again

A. I.

A superb experience about as close as jumping in a time machine as you will get, the sights sounds and smells of Viking Yorvik , With an informative voice over as you travel in your pod . More suited to older children and probably not for claustrophobics . If you don't fall into those categories , you will enjoy this very different and interesting attractions . There are often queues outside , either pre book or pay a visit out of peak times .

A. N.

A very interesting and informative place. You'll be in there for about an hour, maybe longer if you take your time reading everything. £32 for a family of 4. We used Tesco Clubcard vouchers so it lessened the blow. Expect to queue outside for a while but the staff do walk along the queue showing off small exhibits and offering information or help which passed the time somewhat.

S. L.

I'm a bit of a rubbish reviewer for this, as I don't really have a lot if interest in history. But it was good. Some of the figures were spooky as they were looking at you. Brilliant!

S. A. S.

Nice tour of a viking replica village explaining all the different aspect of vikings life at the time. Great information and you also get to see some real Viking belongings and bodies

C. B.

Hubby and I were there Thursday 22nd March 2022. Brilliant place/gift shop, fascinating "animation androids" as the Vikings/animals, lovely "train" ride around the centre. Staff are top class. Good on them!

H. M.

It was well done but underwhelming from what we learnt. Great little ride but to short. The team were to busy chatting to each other instead engaging with customers.

J. B.

Great experience and very informative. New safety measures in place worked well and staff were brill. Ticket is valid for 12mths.

M. J. G. C.

Very entertaining and illustrative.

T. E. N. S.

Excellent experience for both adults and children.

B. B.

Went here over twenty years ago, fond memories of the 'smelly' ride. Just re-opened in April 2017 after 2 years, once you go in down into a large basement is a glass platform with part of the viking settlement underneath and some well made interactive screen 'infotainment' screens. Next there's a decent ride with some pretty good animatronic models and info as you go along. After, there's the exhibits, a few 'interactive' parts with staff and that's about it. Jorvik trust but It's constrained by it's size/location but still worth a trip.

B. F.

Both children loved it and so did I even though I've been multiple times before. Always a fun and informative experience for all ages.

P. T.

We were really impressed with our visit at the Viking Centre. Absolutely amazing representation of the discoveries from the pre-histrionic Yorvik's viking settlement. Fantastic exhibition, a great journey from entering the museum and seing the ancient village house underneath the glass with various ancient tools and objects and then going onto a mini electrical car ride and seing the vikings and animals looking so amazingly realistic includng voices, movements and even smells. My favourite were the ancient skeletons of viking people both male and female and the ability to zoom into the female bone structures using a touch screen display and get a deeper scieentific view and analysis of the individuals bone/joint anatomy and physiology. Staff were also very polite and welcoming, it was a pleasure to talk to them about the exhibition and they were happy to answer our questions. What an awesome place to visit! Would love to go again! Highly recommended!

K. b.

Brilliant for adults and kids. My 1 yr old and 10 yr old loved it.

D. P.

Fairly average. Perhaps I was expecting something similar to the British Museums Viking exhibition but it was nothing like it. My kids weren’t that impressed either.

p. a.

Quick and easy access. Good history of York in Viking times. The ride was good, staff were friendly. Maybe a tad over priced.

A. S.

Really interesting look into the Viking history of York, and learning about how they lived. The guides were very informative and the artefacts were very interesting to look at.

S. J.

Education, fun and enjoyable, a great place for kids and adults, everyone wearing masks and keeping apart. Good safe

B. A.

Very good attraction. A little overpriced, can be a expensive visit for a family of four. Needs more Toilets. Staff very nice.

R. T.

Amazing experience and well worth the money.

A. C.

Definitely pay this place a visit . Communication is first class and you can use your ticket for a year.Very knowledgeable guides.I knew virtually nothing about the Viking era before entering.

B. C.

Queue was very long and I wish we'd booked ahead, but the experience was still well worth the wait. Very informative and life-like animatronic ride which was great for the whole family, and the following museum had a vast number of artifacts packed into a small space. The actors in the space were very engaging and good fun to talk to. Plus, the tickets are valid for a whole year.

J. R.

Jorvik is a place I have wanted to visit for some time now and finally got to as part of my wedding anniversary, I had high expectations and it superceded them, this place was amazing, we both had a great time and the ride through was fantastic, very informative and creative, the artifacts that are on display are brilliant and the workers were polite, friendly and very fun, looked the part and I for one can't wait to come back with the kids, skäl

R. F.

Good size, clean, comfortable rooms with decent bed good bathroom with a strange sliding door which also guards a wardrobe. Good breakfast, great location for railway and city sites.

K. H.

Love the experience. The ride really showed a lot about the time period and was a fun and educational experience.

R. O.

Tour guides are there to help at every part of your journey and are very knowledgeable. The ride is very educational and is diabled friendly, with a slide on seat for which your chair fits on. They have a lift to all floors. The centre has plenty to interest everyone from the young to the old. After you have explored the Viking center there is a gift shop which is definitely worth a visit. With plenty to choose from.

S.

We arrived at Jorvik approx 10:30am on a Saturday and threw was already a 20 minute queue to get in. We decided to wait and so glad that we did!! Jorvik is absolutely brilliant and is an absolute must visit place if you're heading to York. It is full of history. You begin in a room stood on a glass floor that is above the actual archeologist dig. Shortly after you take a ride on a multimillion £ simulator that takes you through the viking age explaining how they lived and developed. It is truly amazing. 3D models greatly detailed and even move with state of the art projections on the walls. After this you visit the museum that is full of actual finds from places around York and further a field. This includes combs, weapons, shoes and real viking skeletons!! The staff are great and dressed like Vikings performing tasks as if they're true Vikings such as; playing instruments, knitting and making coins, which you can purchase for £2. When you're finally free, you enter the shop area to purchase keepsakes. The ship even sells viking horns to drink out of and are real bull horns. Enjoy!!! I know you will. Time inside is approx 1hr30 mins to 2hr30 mins if you take your time and read the history.

M. V.

Very good experience. Aimed at children I would say so good for families. Loads of information for history enthusiasts.

S. d. (.

You can't visit York and not go here! It's an amazing place. I'm so impressed and I work at an Viking museum my self. So much to learn! And so well made!

V. D.

Had a great experience here during a recent trip to York. I especially enjoyed the carriage ride through the representation of a JORVIK Viking city.

O. s.

Surpassed my expectations. A very well curated collection of artefacts with an immersive showcase that brought the world of the Vikings to life. Will be back with my kids. Staff super helpful and knowledgeable too. Definitely recommended!

R. A.

Long time since I visited, so when my son said he was doing vikings at school and needed to visit a museum, this was my immediate idea, good price, well staffed excellent place to visit.

M.

Delightful to experience history in a 21st Century way! It's the Disney ride of the Vikings! Great fun and educational.

V. K.

What better way to understand the past than taking a step back in time Jorvik Viking Centre does exactly that. It offers its visitors the opportunity to have a sneak peek at the York of yesteryear with life like displays that just draw you in with their attention to detail A great afternoon out without doubt and a must add to anyone’s must see list when when in beautiful York!

A. E.

Really good animatronic figures. Lots of useful information given during the ride through the exhibits. A good collection of artefacts.

N. D.

The last time I came here was 37 years ago with my primary school. Still a fun experience and wonderful for kids to get a look at the historical excavation of the site.

A. s.

Very informative insight to when half the country was ruled by the mighty Vikings, Danes & norseman, Sköl !

H. H.

Really good for the tour of the viking village and the staff who role play in costume and their jobs in what they did during the viking age.. very interesting facts about the site..

P. T.

Brilliant experience, had a little wait but it was well worth it, the sights, sounds and smells were amazing, throughly recommended.

S.

Fascinating place but too busy and crowded to take it all in 😒 The ride through the village was great though 👍

J. J.

A must do for York to see the history on Viking settlement and the birth of Yorkshire city. Some great artefacts as well as a ride that takes you through an old jorvik village.

m. m.

This wasn't planned visit but I took my family and another family there. Children found the ride very enjoyable and I personally found it entertaining and educational

B. B.

Nice tour and some interesting objects to look at that have been dug up. Great staff and very knowledgeable

W. B.

Very informative and interesting well worth a visit - tickets are valid for a year too so will be back again!

W. N.

Came yesterday while we we were on a day trip to York, definitely worth a visit

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