You can actually get a sense of what the British city of York was like during the Viking Age. Back in the tenth century, the city was known as Jorvik. One of the most popular attractions in York, and even the UK, is the Jorvik Viking Centre, named after this ancient moniker.

Since opening in 1984, more than 16 million people have explored York’s Viking history at the Jorvik Viking Centre. It offers a variety of engaging activities that cater to visitors of all ages.

As soon as you step into the Jorvik Viking Centre, you encounter Coppergate, an archaeological excavation site featuring artifacts that are over 1000 years old. These relics help explain how the Vikings lived and died. There are also several screens displaying videos and interactive documents that provide additional context.

The highlight of the visit, in my opinion, is exploring a recreated Viking town. Specifically, you get to see Jorvik, or York as it was several centuries ago. By riding in a car, you can travel through the main streets of Jorvik (a reproduction, of course). You get to see their lifestyle, how the people were, what they did, where the river was, and what activities they engaged in around the river.

The meticulous attention to detail in depicting Viking life makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. Special features like the houses, fabrics, animals, characters’ faces, and even the smells are incredibly authentic. For instance, if you pass by a house where food is being cooked, you can actually smell the stew!

This tour is well-explained, too. Each car is equipped with an audio system that offers narration in six different languages.

The last part of the tour is an exhibition showcasing objects from that era, human remains, and a few ‘real’ Vikings who demonstrate the work they used to do. There’s also an exhibition that explains how the Viking era ended in 1066.

The Jorvik Viking Centre is open year-round from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From November 4 to March 31, the last admission is at 4:00 PM. Tickets cost £10.25 for adults and £7.25 for children, with special offers available if you also visit other Jorvik group attractions like DIG or Barley Hall.