York Ice Trail 2026 – here’s what visitors are saying

The Press was on the streets following York Ice Trail 2026 and spoke to some of them – both York residents and some who’ve come from across the country – about why they’ve made the journey to the city to experience the 36 sculptures and some of the new features in this year’s showcase.

Almost all the people we spoke to said the breadth of the event across the city gives them an opportunity to see more of York and take in the architecture and sites of places where they might not visit.

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And some of the York residents said the same thing – the event gave them more time to look at parts of the city that aren’t on their normal shopping or commuting routes.

In Walmgate, all the way from Derby were the Mee family, who were making a return to York for the first time in years, just for this event.

The Mee family – Jessica, Matthew, Dominic and Felicity were visiting York from Derby – their first trip in years to the city – just for the Ice Trail (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Dominic Mee said he was thrilled to have seen the hammer sculpture in Parliament Street and Felicity had enjoyed the neighbouring one in Merchant Adventurer’s Hall.

Matthew Mee said the event is a good chance to look at the city’s history.

The Jones family from Anlaby near Hull were definitely making a day of it from Parliament Street – home of “The Ice Village” – dad Martin said a local park run had been chalked off the list and the family intended to look around the city record stores as well as take in the Ice Trail.

The Jones family were also planning a day out in York buying records, and had just come from a local park run (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Martin said: “But we’ve come especially for this, we’re going around every one of them, with some lunch after this morning’s effort – there’s something for everyone.

“Ava here has been before and took us around every one of the sculptures, and it’s going to be great for Poppy too.”

The crowds were two or three deep around St Sampson’s Square when the expert sculptors from Icebox began to carve a creation of a cathedral.

The Bassett family including Hazel from Riccall, with grandsons Freddie and Hugo (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Hazel Bassett was in town from Riccall with her grandsons Freddie, 6, and Hugo, 3.

Hazel said: “We do them all every year.

“I think the fun comes with just seeing different parts of the city which we don’t really appreciate.

“My husband is an architect, and you can sometimes bypass some of the incredible buildings here when you come in for other things.

“The children were really excited, even coming in on the bus, they’ve really been looking forward to seeing the different sculptures.

“We’ve seen about seven or eight so far and Freddie is taking part in a school project with his Kung Fu Panda to show his classmates at Thorpe Willoughby Community Primary School what he’s been doing this weekend.”

Liz Smith, a lifelong York resident, said she’s been a regular at the Ice Trail along with her daughter (Image: Kevin Glenton)

In Museum Gardens at one of the three “Photo Opportunity” sculptures, stood waiting in line was Liz Smith, a lifelong York resident, from Leeman Road.

Liz used to come each year with her daughter who’s now 18, but this time round she was with her partner.

Liz said: “It’s lovely to see bits of York you don’t really see on your way round.

“I think it’s a big draw for York and judging by the crowds, it’s very popular.”

Just arrived on the bus from Malton were father and son Dwayne Young and his eight-year-old son Bailey.

Dwayne and Bailey Young were planning to make a day of it with this being the eight-year-old’s first Ice Trail (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Bailey said he was looking forward to visiting everything and really liked all of the sculptures they’d ticked off so far, especially number four – “All Aboard for Railway Stories” and dad Dwayne said they planned to tick them off in order of the trail map.

He said: “We come to York quite often because it’s a special place anyway, but this is his first one and we’re both looking forward to it.”