You can spend the summer with dragons and Vikings – as special exhibition opens in York today (Monday).
Cressida Cowell’s How To Train Your Dragon School Exhibition opens at DIG, St Saviourgate, from today, Monday 21 July.
The new exhibition has been created in partnership with Cressida Cowell and publishers Hachette Children’s Group, based on the recently launched How to Train Your Dragon School book.
A dragon, Windwalker, soars overhead a replica Viking fishing boat – inspired by The Hopeful Puffin, the boat belonging to the star of the book series, Hiccup.
In a nod to DIG’s archaeological ‘dig pits’, a new pit encourages visitors to grab a trowel and uncover items that feature in the book.
The exhibition also features interactive activities, like a colour-changing dragon, and the chance to see original sketches from the much-loved How to Train Your Dragon books.
There’s the chance to meet Cressida herself, in a special writing and illustration workshop on Thursday 21 August – find out more details here.
There are also “Viking artefacts dotted throughout because we are an educational charity, so it’s really important for us to have that learning aspect,” said Lisa Wood, head of marketing and communications at York Archaeology.
How to Train Your Dragon School recently launched in paperback through Hachette Children’s Group, with a second instalment due in 2026. The original series has now been made into a series of globally successful animations, and a new live-action film.
“DIG is typically aimed at children, but we very much always want the big kids – which are their parents, grandparents, guardians – to equally feel excited and feel part of it.
“We want anyone who’s read the book or been to see the film, for this to be an extension of their summer of dragons.
“It’s open all summer, so we really hope people come along and enjoy it, and have a really good time.”
DIG is open daily from 10am to 4pm, with admission prices of £10.50 for adults and £9.50 for children. Family tickets are available for £32 for a family of four (two adults and two children), or £37 for five (two adults and three children). Under 5s are free.
Prebooking is recommended as timeslots are expected to book up quickly – visit DIG’s website or call 01904 615505.
Take a look inside the new exhibition in our gallery below.
Gallery
