York's Chocolate Story

What it’s like

A guided tour through 4000 years of chocolate history, ending with truffle rolling and a lolly you get to decorate yourself.

This is a guided tour, not a wander-round-yourself museum, and that shapes the whole visit. You get taken through the history of chocolate stretching back 4000 years, with tasting samples handed out along the way, a live chocolatier demo, and a stop to roll your own truffles. Kids also get to decorate a chocolate lolly to take home, which is the bit they'll be talking about in the car afterwards.

It runs at about an hour and fifteen minutes, which feels right for the age range they're pitching at, 4 to 15. Younger than that and the history bits will likely wash over them; older teens might find some of it a bit slow, but the tasting and truffle rolling keep hands busy throughout.

The price is the thing to brace for. Full price is £21 for an adult and £19 for a child, though booking online knocks it down to £16.50 and £15, and a family of four comes to £70 at the door. Booking is essential either way, so this isn't a turn-up-and-see sort of place. There's a shop and café on site for afterwards, and if you're a York resident there's 30% off door admission on Sundays with proof of address.

Worth knowing before you go: pushchairs may get turned away on the tour if it's busy, so think about whether you actually need one for this trip. Wheelchair access is via lift, but they cap it at two per floor and if there are two wheelchair users one has to be ambulant, which is a bit of a faff if that affects your group. There's also a nut-present warning in the production areas, and a ground floor refurbishment planned for 21 September to 21 October 2026, though tours are still running with pre-booking during that stretch.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

4 to 15, with truffle rolling and tastings keeping hands busy throughout

Parking

Disabled badge holders can park on yellow lines on Goodramgate or Colliergate for max 3 hours

Food

Shop and café on site

Pushchairs

May not be permitted on tour at busy periods

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair access to Guided Tour floors via lift

Worth knowing

York residents receive 30% off door admission on Sundays with proof of residence

• Nuts may be present in the chocolate production environment
• There's a ground floor refurbishment from 21 September to 21 October 2026, with selected tours continuing on pre-booking
• York residents get 30% off door admission on Sundays with proof of residence
• Ask your guide if you need nut free, dairy free, gluten free or Halal options

Plan your visit

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