A Date with History

Join Penny Bickle of the University of York for a demonstration on how to make prehistoric cheese and discover why archaeologists are so interested in the history of food.

Work with historians and coders to use medieval documents and modern technology to peer into the past, then show off your discoveries and win prizes fit for a Lady or Lord of the Manor.

Join author and historian John Callow as he explores the remarkable tale of the Bideford Witches and its lasting impact.

Biochemist Andrew Doig provides an eye-opening portrait of death throughout history, looking at particular causes, who they affected and how they were overcome.

Historian Katherine Harvey reveals the surprisingly familiar sex lives of ordinary medieval people.

Work with historians and coders to use medieval documents and modern technology to peer into the past, then show off your discoveries and win prizes fit for a Lady or Lord of the Manor.

Shakespeare professor and bestselling novelist Mary Bly - who writes as Eloisa James - discusses the power and appeal of Regency romance fiction in the 21st century.

Explore the history and evolution of the British monarchy from 1066 to the present day with historian and author Tracy Borman.

Join the creative team of INNovating: Audio drama and their project partner Explore York to hear about the making of their immersive audio experience, inspired by the history of York’s coaching inns.

Mudlarker Malcolm Russell uncovers the hidden (hi)stories of ordinary people in Britain from prehistory to today, based on 200 rare objects discovered on the foreshore of the River Thames.

Embark upon an ancient ghost hunt as you explore the origins, power and meaning of ghosts and ghost stories with British Museum curator Irving Finkel.

Join Francesca Killoran and Charlotte Goodge of the Universities of York and Kent for a talk and zine-making workshop on body positivity and body acceptance from the early 18th century to the present day.

Delve into York’s medieval past with archaeologist Barry Crump, who explains why knowing how York’s city walls were really used and what they meant is vital for our understanding of the medieval city.

Susanne Wedlich leads us on a scientific journey through the 3-billion-year history of slime, from its part in the evolution of life on Earth to how it might feature in the post-human future.

Join Professor Helen Smith of the University of York for a fun and fast-paced tour of chapters past, present and future.

Mathematician Scott Carson of the University of York introduces you to ancient and medieval arithmetical puzzles.

Enjoy a series of short, engaging talks about the remarkable lives of the lesser-known figures involved in Yorkshire’s 18th-century print trade.

Join Emma Smith from the University of Oxford to discover when, why and how the book acquired its particular hold over us.

Discover the history and mythic origins of Thebes with acclaimed historian Paul Cartledge, and learn how the city is central to understanding not only the ancient Greeks but our own civilization.

Cultural historian Hannah Rose Woods provides us with a timely and enlightening interrogation of national character, emotion, identity and myth-making in a country that keeps longing for ‘the good old days’.

Join tattoo artist researcher and historian Allison Hawn to learn about tattoo artistry’s colourful past and discover its bold future.

Join cultural historian, museum researcher and storyteller Angela Stienne as she explores curious, unsettling and controversial cases of mummies - an investigation that questions the essence of what makes us human.

Louise Hampson will discuss the many meanings of ‘sanctuary’ today, share some fascinating stories from the past and offer you a chance to be the judge in several medieval cases.

Join historian Steve Hindle as he explores the case of the village stonemason.

Join ancient history expert Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones as he unveils the authentic, definitive new history of the Persian Empire, the world’s first superpower.

Chemist and author Kathryn Harkup turns her discerning scientific eye to the Bard and the varied and creative ways his characters die.

Join journalist Brian Groom in conversation with Gweno Williams of the University of York to learn about the fascinating past, present and future of Northern England and its people.

Paul Gambino, collector of the macabre, unravels the often gruesome history of skulls, how they are acquired by collectors and what makes them so highly prized.

Hear the story of the 14-acre estate of Fulford Grange, once the grand Italianate home of merchants, bankers and mayors.

Celebrate the 252nd birthday of Holgate Windmill at this exhibition exploring the history and recent restoration of the oldest five-sailed mill in the country.

Join Cordula van Wyhe and Susan Vincent from the Digital Museum of Dress Accessories in this hands-on workshop to take a look at the beautiful and sometimes mystifying objects that were once fashionable.

Join author and documentary producer Richard van Emden for a truly insightful investigation into the topic of children and war.

Let archaeologist David Wengrow transform your understanding of the human past and help you imagine new forms of freedom and new ways of organising society.

Join historian, screenwriter and broadcaster Alex von Tunzelmann to learn about one of the most visible and controversial forms of historical storytelling, and why history is not erased but made when statues are pulled down.

Internationally renowned historian and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff shows how people facing tragedies and crises have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience.

Join acclaimed historian, writer and broadcaster William Dalrymple as he reflects upon over three decades of scholarship on India, and its relationship with the East India Company and the Mughals.

Explore the lyrics of the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album and learn about the group’s enduring legacy with Colin Campbell of the University of York.

Join us for an unusual and entertaining performance celebrating Pipe and Tabor, the essential instrument for medieval professional musicians to accompany dancers.

Join historian and archaeologist John Blair to discover how regionally diverse the built environment of the Anglo-Saxons truly was.

Celebrate the 252nd birthday of Holgate Windmill at this exhibition exploring the history and recent restoration of the oldest five-sailed mill in the country.

Join journalist and writer James Vincent for a revelatory and vibrant (hi)story of measurement that will make you look at the world around you anew.

Hear the spellbinding story of Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor queen, as told by bestselling author and historian Alison Weir.

Magician and historian Ian Keable tells the engrossing stories of 18th-century hoaxes and those who were duped by them.

Robin Dunbar from the University of Oxford provides a fascinating and far-reaching analysis of religion and the quintessentially human impulse to believe.

Medievalist Eleanor Parker offers a fresh take on the Norman Conquest by exploring the lives of those children who found themselves uprooted by the dramatic events of 1066.

Archaeological detectives Pierre Tallet and Mark Lehner discuss the extraordinary discovery of the world’s oldest surviving written documents, which provide new insights into the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Join archaeologist Martin Carver to learn about the amazing discovery and reconstruction of a seventh-century ship that will soon travel down the rivers of England to explore life at the time.

Explore the magical roots of the language you’re reading right now with writer and blogger Hana Videen, who takes you on a journey through Old English words and customs.

Join leading film and TV writer Graham McCann to learn more about the life and career of one of Britain’s best loved entertainers, York-born comedy legend Frankie Howerd.

Explore the history of humans and their germs with Kyle Harper, who weaves together a grand narrative of global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics.

Join writer, critic and scholar Anna Della Subin to learn about man-gods and the persistent impulse towards deification.

Discover the hidden stories of the Rowntree family, their famous chocolate company and their work of social reform.

Climate campaigner Alice Bell tells the stories of the scientists who helped build our modern understanding of climate change, and delivers a hopeful message for the future.

Experts from the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies discuss the recently discovered diary of Jane Ewbank, who recorded her busy life in York.

Come and explore the hidden heritage of Coney Street, courtesy of the StreetLife project.

Travel back in time with historian and writer Tessa Dunlop and war veteran Barbara to find out what it meant to be young, female and at war.