Over 50 York buildings and hidden gems will be opening their doors as annual free festival returns next month.
York Unlocked 2025, returning on Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 September, offers residents and visitors the chance to step inside some of York’s most intriguing and normally inaccessible locations.
The full programme for 2025 has been released, and this year includes 56 buildings and spaces – some historical, some modern, some new, and some favourites.
Highlights include rare behind-the-scenes access to the National Railway Museum, Nestle’s Product Technology Centre, Bettys, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, and the Terry’s Factory Clock Tower.
Some of the city’s most historic buildings will be open for everyone to visit, including the iconicHerbert House, the masonic lodge at Castlegate House, York Medical Society, the Guildhall and Bedern Hall among many others.
For most venues, no booking or advance planning is required; simply walk up and enjoy access. However, for a select number of buildings, it is necessary to book a free ticket in advance. Tickets will be available from the York Unlocked website at 10am on 15 August.
The festival aims to highlight the remarkable architecture and heritage that lies behind closed doors in York, and to allow everyone – whether you’re a long-term resident, first time visitor, or returning guest – to experience the city in a new light.
Project lead, Steve Morgan, said “We are thrilled to share this year’s programme for York Unlocked.
“We’ve secured access to some of the most exciting and interesting buildings in the city and we can’t wait for people to discover them. If you’ve ever been curious about York and its buildings, this will be the perfect weekend to visit and explore.”
To find out more, visit the York Unlocked website here.
Take a look at all the buildings taking part in this year’s festival.
To get your own copy of the full York Unlocked programme, pick one up for free at York Explore Library or the Visit York Information Centre, download a free digital copy directly from the website, or have a copy sent to your door for £6 online.
Bishopthorpe Road and York South
1. Kentmere House Gallery
2. Rowntree Park
3. Terry’s Factory Clock Tower
4. The Bonding Warehouse (Patch)
5. The Old Liquor Store
Bootham, Clifton, and Museum Gardens
6. Bootham School
7. Museum Gardens Lodge
8. St Olave’s Church and Churchyard
9. The Blue House Bookshop
10. The Churches of York Walking Tour
11. The Hospitium
12. York Art Gallery Fine Art Store
13. York Explore Library and Archives
Castlegate and Walmgate
14. All Saints, Pavement
15. Castlegate House
16. Fishergate Postern Tower
17. Herbert House
18. Spark York
19. St Denys Church
City Centre
20. Assembly Rooms (ASK Italian)
21. Bettys
22. Coney Street Riverside Development
23. Holy Trinity, Goodramgate
24. PICA Studios
25. St Helen’s Church
26. St Martin-le-Grand
27. The Guildhall
28. York Medical Society
29. York Oratory (St Wilfrid’s) and Garden
East
30. 22 St Saviourgate
31. Bedern Hall
32. Central Methodist Church
33. Merchant Taylors’ Hall
34. Monk Bar
35. Royal Air Forces Association Branch and Club
36. St Anthony’s Garden
37. St Anthony’s Hall
38. St Saviourgate Masonic Hall
39. Thin Ice Press
40. York Unitarian Chapel
Haxby Road
41. Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library
42. Joseph Rowntree Theatre
43. Nestle Product Technology Centre
44. The Cocoa Works
45. William Sutton Pavilion
Holgate
46. Holgate Windmill
47. The Fox
48. West Bank Park
Micklegate and Railway
49. National Railway Museum, Station Hall
50. NRM Art Stores and Archives
52. NRM Conservation Studio
53. NRM Signalling School
54. St Columbia’s
55. The Milner Hotel
56. York Railway Institute
