York’s Chocolate Story is a visitor attraction focussing on the city’s history making confectionary. Terry’s, Rowntree’s and Craven all started life here giving birth to classics like Fruit Pastilles, the Kit-Kat and the Chocolate Orange. When you visit the attraction, you get to see a big screen film showing you the ‘origin story’ of how chocolate was developed from cocoa water. You even get to taste some – although it’s not very nice! Next door is the explanation of how chocolate arrived in York using photos from the past that come to life, Harry Potter style, and interact with the tour guide. Very clever! Next a trip to the demonstration area where chocolates are made in front of you.
When you go downstairs to the demonstration area, the first thing you see is a “Chocolate Factory”. This is an interactive exhibit which is explained by a host and it shows you exactly what processes are involved to make chocolate. The children on our tour enjoyed spinning the wheels and pulling the levers to make it all happen. Next there’s an area with audio visual information and we enjoyed the exhibits of old chocolate bars we remembered from our childhood. The final section is where chocolate is made in front of you and you get to taste some too….although we’d have liked more! The timings were a little off on the day we visited, so when we got to the chocolate making, a group in front of us had just finished. As such we had to wait around a while before the next demonstration began. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance as paying on the door costs more. You can check latest availability and check prices using this form…
Downstairs alongside the main tour entrance is a Chocolate Bar which serves yummy hot chocolate and sells bars of chocolate too. The chocolate bar is open daily from 10am to 6pm but there are later closing times at peak periods. York’s Chocolate Story is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Adult admission is £16 when bought in advance (2025 prices). Tickets are timed as tours begin every 10-20 minutes.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York, YO1 7LD
Tel: 0845 498 9411 (within the UK)
MORE ON YORK CHOCOLATE
York’s Chocolate Story – Official website
Rowntree’s Chocolate – Wikipedia
Terry’s Chocolate – Wikipedia
Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour – Stops near to York’s Chocolate Story
York Pass – Free entry to many York attractions
VisitYork.org – Official York Tourism Website
York Insight Guide – Amazon