There’s nothing like saving the best till last is there, and York’s Chocolate Story was definitely a highlight from our weekend in York. I’ve shared posts with you all week about our trip to Diggerland, our stay at Travelodge York Central and even some free things to do in York but you cannot pass through this beautiful English city without popping into York’s Chocolate Story.
Chocolate has played an important role in English history and in shaping the city of York. There’s no better place to learn all about the Rowntree’s and Terry’s than York’s Chocolate Story, especially if you’re a die hard chocolate fan.
We had booked on the first tour of the day, at 10am when the attraction opened. This was purely strategic on my part, as I knew there was going to be a fair amount of chocolate tasting and our 3 year old would have the rest of the day to burn off all the chocolate energy she had consumed. It would power her up for a day’s sight seeing around the city and the National Railway Museum nicely.
The first tour of the day wasn’t too busy at all, and it was fine taking a 3 year old and a 1 year old in a pushchair around York’s Chocolate Story. Later tours seem like they are a little busier, so that be something you want to bear in mind when visiting.
The story of chocolate and how it improved lives for the poorest members of society is one that I have long been fascinated by. The founders of chocolate production in England were mainly Quakers, and they developed a product that not only sold well but dramatically improved the lives and well being of it’s work force.
Before it could do any of that though, we learnt about chocolates origins beginning in the rainforests of Central America and were treated to samples of how chocolate would have tasted back then. If dark chocolate is your thing, you might like these early tastes of exotic chocolate.
The guide was clearly passionate about York’s Chocolate Story and made the tour more interesting by asking questions and getting everyone to join in. As well as imparting his own knowledge, there was a film and interactive clips from famous chocolate makers throughout York’s history. This helped bring the story of chocolate to life.
A few of the clips and interactive parts of the tour, didn’t quite work, which was a shame. It didn’t spoil the overall enjoyment of the tour, but they seemed like things that could easily be fixed. I’d really love York’s Chocolate Story to improve these minor technical hitches, to make a seamless experience for visitors.
This was definitely Princess’s highlight and she got the biggest lolly of all! We decorated them in lots of lovely chocolate yumminess before they headed of to the fridge and we finished the tour learning how chocolate was made by hand, and why you should never keep it in the fridge.
Our favourite part was making the chocolate lollies. We found a bench outside York’s Chocolate Story in King’s Square and tucked into ours as we watched the first street entertainer of the day start his act. Boy it tasted good, and our 3 year old was very impressed. She also managed to walk all the way to the National Railway Museum without riding on Daddy’s shoulders! That’s chocolate power for you.
Adult tickets to York’s Chocolate Story are £10.50 each booked online. Under 4’s are free, and children cost £8.50.
We were provided with complimentary tickets to York’s Chocolate Story in exchange for this post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wowzas I bet Princess was in heaven, that lolly looks epic! Sounds like a fab experience, nice to learn something along the way too 🙂
Oh wow! That sounds like my sort of day out! All that chocolate! Yum!
It looks like you all had a great time 🙂
Can’t believe we’ve never visited here. It looks like the perfect place for a chocoholic like me!
This sounds like a great place for chocolate lovers to visit. I like the idea of tasting the chocolate as it would have been in the past. The lolly pops look like great fun to make! Glad you all enjoyed it. I think we all need some chocolate power sometimes 🙂
Oh wow!!! This looks amazing! What a great place, I love the idea of learning about chocolate related things and making a chocolate lolly! Yum!
Wow, this looks like a perfect day. I would love to be able to make lollies like this.
I’ve never been there, it sounds amazing! Great idea to go early. I worry about how much I’d end up spending in the shop!