Accessibility Guide

Make It York is proud to organise many free events and festivals throughout the year for residents and visitors to enjoy. We are committed to ensuring that everyone can participate, with access requirements in place to support people with additional needs. Below is our accessibility guide to York Christmas Market.

York Christmas Market

Parliament Street & St Sampson’s Square, York, YO1 8RY

01904 551551

info@makeityork.com

Opening Hours

10.00am - 7.00pm

Thursday 14th November – Sunday 22nd December

Introduction

York Christmas Market is located on Parliament Street and St Samsons Square. The City of York Council has put a number of measures in place in York city centre to improve access for disabled people. 

• Quiet time – From 10am to 12pm daily, visitors can be assured a music-free period.
• Toilets: Read the online Toilet Map, or for more city-wide information, see City of York Council's list of public toilets.

• Take A Seat Initiative – To allow a rest for those in need. The initiative is all about making the city more accessible to older people who may have reduced mobility but want to get out and about.
• Trader Map – View the accessibility-friendly Trader Map online, making it a winter wonderland breeze to locate your favourite stalls and plan ahead!
• Virtual Christmas Market – available from 14 November, you can explore familiar favourites and uncover new treasures, all from the comfort of your own home.

Further information on accessible parking and toilets can be found here.

To assist pre planning to the event and what to expect when you arrive, we have outlined

• All stalls, food and drink concessions are accessible and any raised structures will feature access ramps.
• The revised layout introduced in 2023 allows for much wider paved areas across the site with no enclosed spaces. This greatly improves space for crowd movement which will reduce crowd density.
• Signage will be large, clear and positioned in suitable locations.
• Lighting – the site features a combination of street lighting, Christmas lights and stall/shop lighting – there will be no strobe lighting on site.
• Event staff/Security/Stewards - All stewards and security personal have been briefed to signpost/assist members of the public where possible. If they can’t give you an exact answer they will be able to contact the specific person for your needs who will be able to help.
• First Aid – We have first aid provision for the duration of the market and a first aid point at the Pavement end of Parliament St. If you are in need of urgent medical attention then please contact any member of staff or go to the first aid point.

Designated Quiet Periods

We understand that York Christmas Market can be a busy event at peak times (especially weekends) which can be overwhelming to some attendees.

We are integrating designated quieter periods where music will be minimal from 10am – 12pm each day.

Parking

City centre foot streets will be closed to vehicle access between 10.30am - 7.00pm for the duration of the market.

Holders of valid Blue Badges can drive into the city centre via the staffed Goodramgate barriers from 5:00pm-10:30am. This comes into effect from 5pm on Tuesday 26 November.

Blue Badge holders can drive along Goodramgate and Colliergate only and can park on Goodramgate only. Goodramgate will also be used at this time by traders leaving Shambles Market.

From 7:00pm-10:30am, badge holders can drive into the city centre freely.

Access via the Blake Street barriers will be from 7:00pm-10:30am during the market.

The nearest car park to the Christmas Market is Coppergate Car Park (approx 120m)

For more information on car parks around the city, click here.

Further information on Blue Badge parking in York can be found here. 

Shopmobility

Shopmobility York staff are volunteering their time to open on Sundays while the Christmas Market is on, as well as offering all customers a special 10% discount off the hire of its mobility aids between 14 November and 22 December.

Now in its 26^th year, Shopmobility York is based on the top floor of Piccadilly Car Park and offers low-cost hire of mobility scooters, powerchairs and wheelchairs. Its customers benefit from free parking, an accessible toilet and easy access via a lift to Fenwick and the Coppergate Centre. From there, the rest of the city centre is just an easy ride away.

Public transport

York’s local bus services are the most efficient way to travel to and within the city, and you can plan ahead at itravelyork.info. In addition, with York Park & Ride you can park securely for free at one of six sites around the city and catch one of the frequent electric buses into the city centre. Find details at firstbus.co.uk/york

Outside Access

All stalls are located on the pedestrian area of Parliament St and St Sampson’s Sq.

All drop kerbs and tactile crossing points will be maintained.

Some of the pavement surface is uneven due to tree roots.

All stalls are either counter service or have a temporary ramp into the stall.

Read more information regarding accessibility in the city centre here.

Accessible Toilet Provision

The nearest accessible and standard toilets can be found on Silver St, approx 40m from the market. For further information on public toilets in York city centre can be found here.

Public toilets in York are cleaned and maintained by Healthmatic and you can report any issues on telephone: 01249 823143. Toilet locations are outlined below with accessible toilets (require a RADAR key):

• St Leonard's Place public toilets, St Leonard's Place, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW
• Coppergate Shopping Centre public toilets, Coppergate, York, YO1 9NT
• Nunnery Lane public toilets, Nunnery Lane car park, York, YO23 1AA
• St George's Field public toilets, St George's Field car and coach Park, Castle Mills Bridge, York, YO10 4AB
• Rougier Street public toilets, Rougier Street, York, YO1 6JB
• Silver Street public toilets, Silver Street, York, YO1 8RY
• Union Terrace public toilets, Union Terrace car and coach park, Clarence Street, York, YO31 7ES

Quiet Oasis at St Sampson's Centre

As part of our commitment to improving access for residents and visitors with disabilities, Make It York are working in partnership with St Sampson's Centre and City of York Council to deliver a 'Quiet Oasis' during the York Christmas Market. St Sampson's Centre is the perfect venue to provide an accessible space a few meters away from the main market and next to the accessible toilet and Changing Places facilities on Silver Street.

St Sampson's Centre
Church Street, York, YO1 8BE
Open Monday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm

St Sampson's Centre has been an integral part of York's services for those in need for 50 years. Its main aim is to combat social isolation and loneliness by providing games and activities throughout the year for those who choose to take part. They serve food and drink at low rates and pride themselves on being a safe place that welcomes all. stsampsonscentre.co.uk

Counter Terrorism barriers

New permanent protective security barriers are now in operation across the city. They are necessary to protect people attending and working in the Christmas Markets, and the visitors and residents enjoying the city over the festive season and all year round.

York Christmas Markets take your safety and security seriously. That’s why we’re supporting Counter Terrorism Policing’s campaign to encourage everyone to help keep each other safe this winter. We have security measures you can see and, of course, ones you can’t. We ask you to help by staying alert and trusting your instincts. While you’re with us, you will see our security team / stewards / staff, who are there to help you if you need it.

If something doesn’t feel right, tell them straight away and they will do the rest. You won’t be wasting our time. In an emergency, call 999. Let’s keep each other safe.

If you would like to discuss access requirements for York Christmas Market, please email events@makeityork.com

City of York Council works in partnership with AccessAble to give you the detailed information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible to you.

AccessAble’s Detailed Access Guides tell you all about a venue's access – hotels and guest houses, places to eat and drink, places to visit and much more. They are 100% facts, figures and photographs. We know everyone's accessibility needs are different, which is why having detailed, accurate information is so important. It's why AccessAble send trained surveyors to check out every single place in person and why the information collected has all been decided by the people who use it.

Check out access information for York - before you leave home or on the move using AccessAble’s App and website.