A Victorian Christmas Cracker

Step back in time to Victorian York at Christmas in our A Victorian Christmas Cracker workshop. Enjoy a one-man performance of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol on our snow-covered Victorian street, discover the origins of some of our most treasured Christmas traditions, and make a Christmas cracker – complete with sugar mouse – to take away with you!   

Location 

York Castle Museum
Eye of York
York 
YO1 9RY  

Workshop times 

10am-12.15pm.  

Age group 

Key Stage Two. 

Numbers 

Maximum group size of 33 pupils per workshop.  

Session fees 

£7.50 per pupil. For groups of 24 or less, there is a flat fee of £180 per workshop.  

What to expect  

In this session, your pupils will:   

• Enjoy a 30-minute theatrical performance of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. 

• Explore Kirkgate, our reconstructed Victorian street, to find out about Victorian Christmas traditions and how these are similar, or different, to those of today. Notes for teachers will be provided to support this activity.  

• Make their own festive Victorian cracker, complete with sugar mouse, to take home with them.  

Our Victorian Christmas Cracker workshop is led by an expert member of our Schools Learning Team.  

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Pre-visit information 

To ensure you are fully prepared for your visit, please download and read the following documents. These include detailed information on what to expect on the day:  

• A Victorian Christmas Cracker – Teachers Workshop Pack 

• York Castle Museum: School Visit Pack  

You will be sent notes designed to support your visit to Kirkgate, as well as a copy of our A Victorian Christmas Cracker Workshop Risk Assessment, in advance of your visit.  

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Available dates  

Our A Victorian Christmas Cracker workshop is available for delivery on the following dates:  

• Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10am-12.15pm 

• Friday 28 November 2025, 10am-12.15pm 

• Monday 1 December 2025, 10am-12.15pm 

• Tuesday 2 December 2025, 10am-12.15pm 

• Friday 5 December 2025, 10am-12.15pm 

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Booking a visit  

If you would like to book A Victorian Christmas Cracker workshop, then please complete a copy of our online booking form.  

Please be aware that completing the form does not represent a confirmed booking. A member of our team will be in touch within four working days with further information. Bookings will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of our team directly, please contact us at schools@ymt.org.uk or call 01904 650348.

Cancellation policy  

If you need to cancel your workshop booking, then please give us as much notice as possible so that we can offer your slot to another group.  

If a booking is cancelled less than one week before your visit date, then your school will be charged a cancellation fee amounting to 50% of the visit fee.  

If a booking is cancelled less than 24 hours before your visit date, then your school will be charged a cancellation fee amounting to 100% of the visit fee.