Hello, October! Here’s a guide to making the most of Autumn in York

With the first couple weeks of October down, it seems autumn is well and truly upon us – despite still having the occasional day where somehow you’ve dressed for all the wrong types of weather. So, here’s a breakdown of how best to romanticise that seasonal depression into making the most of this autumn in York. 

‘Ghosts After Dark’ in the Museum Gardens

If you’ve wandered round York Museum Gardens recently and thought “why is there a wire sculpture of a horse here…and is that Long Boi?” then that is because Ghosts in the Gardens is back and bigger than ever. This year there are 45 ghost sculptures in many of York’s public gardens which you can visit whenever from 21st September to 5th November.

But enough about that, Ghosts After Dark is perfect with spooky season just around the corner…

York is the most haunted city in the UK and in the Museum Gardens from 7th – 10th November, you can see the ghosts lit up with spooky smoke and ominous sounds surrounding the sculptures, accompanied by some ghostly storytelling. Tickets for Ghosts After Dark are £7.50 and you can book your preferred time slot, so not bad for an evening of ghostly fun!

Vinyl shopping 

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Sad girl autumn is on the horizon and how can you truly maximise a gloomy, gothic autumn in York without the right soundtrack? Maybe it’s an album that you always associate with an October/November vibe that you need to experience on vinyl, maybe it’s something completely new, or maybe it’s an album you’ve never heard of? Luckily, York has you covered with multiple places (that aren’t just HMV) for you to find your 2024 autumn sound: Try Vinyl Eddie, Earworm Records, Rebound, Pitch 22 & FortyFive Vinyl Cafe.

Lightshow at York Minster

From 19th October to 2nd November, you can book tickets to see a sound and light projection show where York Minster is lit up to commemorate the 40th anniversary of a fire in 1984. The illumination of the cathedral will tell the story of the fire and its aftermath. Tickets for this are also £7.50 and you can stay as long or as little as you like. Even if you don’t enjoy history, seeing a beautiful building lit up with colourful lights is a wholesome way to spend a chilly evening.

Pick out a new Jellycat

As students, we’re not made of money and the prices of Jellycats seem to be creeping up… but what can I say, I’m an enabler! This is your sign to head to town either with friends or solo and find yourself a fluffy new pal to keep you cosy as we head into these winter months. Who am I to deny you (or myself) a new Jellycat when there are so many cute festive friends that need loving homes for the small price of a million pounds? You can adopt your new Jellycat from the following places: Give the Dog a Bone, Daisy Taylor, York Minster shop, and Scribbler.

Pumpkin picking

There’s nothing quite like wearing possibly the worst choice of footwear to a muddy field to pick a pumpkin (or perhaps a tiny aesthetic gourd) that will rot after a week to get you in the autumnal spirit! If one of you has a car, you can venture to some of the bigger pumpkin patches but if not, you can find the bus route to some of the closest locations.

Here are some nearby pumpkin patches in and around York you and your pals can go to acquire instagram pics of you perched or cradling a pumpkin: Piglets Adventure Farm (Towthorpe Grange), The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Cafe (Stamford Bridge Road), Yorkshire Pumpkins (Lodge Farm), Spilman’s Pumpkin Festival: Farm Shop & Cafe (Thirsk).

Pottery painting

Ever heard of Rainbows Ceramic Painting Studio? Bish Bash Pot gets all the love but there is another lovely pottery painting studio in town perfect for painting a new mug to make all your cosy, autumnal drinks in. Rainbows Ceramic Painting Studio is located around the corner from the York Art Gallery and makes for a fab group activity with your friends/housemates.

Have a hot chocolate

Maybe it’s because I am yet to become a tea and coffee drinker, but I long for this time of year where it is perfectly acceptable to have a hot chocolate every time I step foot in a cafe. York has no end of lovely cafes but some of my favourites are Kiosk, Vi and, of course, Drift In who never fail to have a delicious specialty drink on the menu.

Take an autumnal walk 

Whether it’s uni stress getting to you or you just fancy getting outside to enjoy the simplicities of autumn, like the changing colours of the trees, going for a walk (unfortunately) does always make me feel better. Rowntree Park is a 20-acre park in Fulford and perfect for a scenic stroll this autumn. It’s along the river Ouse so you can say hi to the ducks and is easily a good location for some autumn-y aesthetic pics.

If you don’t fancy a small trek to Fulford, you can’t go wrong with a little walk on the city walls. Hop on at any point, see York Minster from a different perspective and if you plan your route well, end up at The Fat Badger pub for a drink.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

•Spice, spice, baby: Here are the most aesthetic spots you’ll find in York this Autumn!

•From Dusk to Zaap Thai: A York student’s guide to York Restaurant Week

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