York is looking brighter and a lot more playful this summer. If you’re someone who loves chilling outdoors, snapping fun photos, or just enjoying a bit of green in the city, York BID’s latest additions are right up your street. With colourful new seating areas, cheeky grass animal sculptures, and family-friendly trails on the way, it’s basically like the city’s thrown on its best summer outfit — and everyone’s invited.
Colourful seats popping up all over the place
If you’ve wandered around York lately, you might’ve noticed patches of colour that weren’t there before. York BID has brought back its popular summer seating, adding 400 more places to flop down, catch your breath, and maybe have an ice cream if the weather plays nice. They’re not just plonked randomly either — you’ll find them in places that make stopping feel like part of the day, not an interruption.
Spots to check out include:
- Exhibition Square
- York Museum Gardens
- Duncombe Place
- Dean’s Park
- College Green
- Eye of York
- Davygate
- Barbican
- Peasholme Green
Picture this: you’ve been dragging the kids around all morning, the sun’s doing its best, and you just need a break. Suddenly, there’s a bright, comfy seat waiting for you. Perfect.
Grass animals are back — and they’re as fun as ever
And it’s not just about somewhere to sit. The much-loved grass animals have also made their comeback, popping up all over town like a sort of leafy safari. You’ll spot them in those same seating areas, adding a proper splash of fun for kids, adults, and anyone who just loves a bit of whimsy. There’s even a brand-new grass horse seat over at Davygate if you fancy sitting down on something that’s equal parts comfy and hilarious.
Honestly, they’re the sort of thing that practically beg for a selfie. Expect to see your social media feed full of people sitting on or next to these green creatures over the next few months.
Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, summed it up nicely:
“The summer seating and grass animals have become a real favourite with locals and visitors. They add 400 additional places to sit in the city, lots of colour, character and even more fun to the city centre – plus they invite people to slow down and enjoy what York has to offer.”
Buzzing about the bumblebee friendly planters
If all that wasn’t enough, York BID is also bringing back their bumblebee-friendly planters. These little pockets of flowers aren’t just pretty — they actually help the local bee population do its thing. You’ll find them dotted around the city centre, brightening things up and making York a bit more eco-friendly at the same time.
Imagine walking along, coffee in hand, and being hit with a burst of colour and the gentle hum of happy bees. It’s small stuff, but it makes a big difference to how welcoming the city feels.
Get ready for Tommy Treebark’s Wild Adventure
Coming later this month (yep, still more to come), York BID is launching a brand-new family trail: Tommy Treebark’s Wild Adventure. It’s going to be a free, colourful hunt across the city, featuring benches with bright animal illustrations. Sounds like the sort of thing that could turn a boring afternoon into a bit of an adventure, right?
It’s designed to be fun, free, and family-friendly — basically, something you could easily squeeze in between lunch and a museum visit without needing a second mortgage. Stay tuned because the full details are dropping soon!
Why York BID is doing all this
All these little touches — from grass animals to new seats to bumblebee planters — are part of York BID‘s bigger plan to make York not just lovely to look at, but properly enjoyable to visit. They’re big on creating spaces that feel welcoming, helping local businesses thrive, and making sure there’s always something going on to keep both locals and tourists smiling.
And just so you know, York’s not new to this kind of thing. It’s actually a Purple Flag city — a fancy accreditation that basically means it’s safe, welcoming, and lively in the evenings too. Thanks to projects like Colour & Light, Street Rangers, and Taxi Marshals, York’s evening scene is buzzing without feeling dodgy.
If you want to snoop more about what York BID has planned for summer (or check out their other projects), have a look here: theyorkbid.com.
