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Whether you’re a fan of history, literature or just looking for something to get you away from your degree, York and Leeds have plenty to offer. Here are a few suggestions to take you from the beginning to the end of term.
The fun all kicks off with the opening of the revamped Langwith bar, the Courtyard. Promising plenty of alcohol and of course tasty food at student prices, it all starts with the Launch Party on Saturday 17th January where you can get your glad rags on and check out YUSU’s contribution to the York campus bar scene.
The Courtyard is boasting a full ents planner this term as well as Sky TV and wireless access throughout the day. So if you can’t make it on Saturday, be sure to check it out in the next couple of weeks.
If you never got the chance to test your skills on the ice last term on York’s outdoor ice-skating rink then Leeds offers the perfect second chance. The Ice Cube ice rink is bigger and better and returns for its ninth consecutive year in the trendy surroundings of Millennium Square.
Boasting 1200 square metres of real ice, the Ice Cube is the largest outdoor skating rink in the UK
Boasting 1200 square metres of real ice, the Ice Cube is the largest outdoor skating rink in the UK. Open for over a month from Saturday 17th January to Sunday 8th March the rink will be open for general skating all day between 10am and 9.30pm (7.30pm on Sundays), so it’s the perfect opportunity to explore Leeds in the daytime.
For a free taste of culture the recently launched Leeds City Museum is one not to be missed. Offering four floors of galleries and activities, the museum houses a range of exhibitions exploring Life on Earth and Ancient Worlds. Highlights include the Leeds Tiger, the Leeds Mummy, Nesayum, and the spectacular Leeds Arena.
The Arena is the interactive hub following Leeds history through a giant floor map of the city, five large suspended screens and interactive podiums. The current visiting exhibition will display a range of lost photographs by the French photographer Marc Riboud, taken in 1954. The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday each week and admission is completely free, so it won’t make a dent in your wallet.
If you haven’t made it to the Jorvik centre so far then the Jorvik Viking Festival is the perfect opportunity to make the most of York’s history. Between 13th and 17th February (Week 5-6) the city centre will be invaded by the ancient Scandinavians to celebrate York’s 23rd annual Viking Festival.
The festival will see a range of activities happening all over the city: learn about Viking life in Coppergate Square or witness staged battles in the Museum Gardens as York’s bloody history is reconstructed. The original York Ghost Walk will also be running throughout the week but with a Viking twist to give you all the latest ghostly sightings and experiences of Viking York. Although some of the more popular events demand a small fee, you can check out the craft fair and continental market for free on Thursday 19th February.
If history’s not really your cup of tea then the York Festival of Fairtrade is a perfect opportunity to support a worthy cause. Taking place from 23rd February to the 8th March (Week 7-8) the festival will celebrate the city’s fourth year of Fairtrade status.
The Fairtrade market will take over Parliament Street on the festival’s final weekend (Saturday 7th-Sunday 8th) and will offer a range of wonderful Fairtrade products from clothing to cuisine. When you’re done shopping don’t miss out on the Latin song and dance which will accompany the market on Saturday 7th.
Towards the end of term the York Literature Festival comes to town, running for two weeks from the 1st March until 15th March the festival promises to be packed with a range of workshops, storytelling and readings by both locally and nationally recognised writers. With events planned throughout the city, the festival is sure to offer something whether you’re a budding writer or a self-confessed bookworm.
Starting on the 7th March, International Women’s week is the final string of celebrations to look out for. Events will include a massive range of activities such as dancing, singing, storytelling, painting, discussion, poetry and history, which will be staged across the city and York University campus.
For more information on any of these events check out these websites:
YUSU – www.yusu.org
Ice Cube – www.leeds.gov.uk/icecube
Leeds Museum – www.leeds.gov.uk/cityMuseum
Jorvik Viking Festival - www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
Festival of Fairtrade - www.yorkfestivals.com
York Literature Festival – www.readwriteyork.co.uk
International Women’s Week – www.yorkwomen.org.uk
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