The Last Stop before Kirkgate to open at York Castle Museum

Novo Theatre is delighted to be commissioned by York Castle Museum to create a brand new installation, opening on Saturday 31 January 2026.

Opening in the final week of January, York Castle Museum, in collaboration with Novo Theatre, will revitalise how visitors enter Kirkgate, the famous Victorian street. Experience Kirkgate like never before with the brand-new installation, The Last Stop Before Kirkgate, immersing you into the sounds and stories of Victorian York within a recreated coaching inn. There were many coaching inns in York during the nineteenth century including the famous ‘Black Swan’ and ‘The George’ inns located on Coney Street. ‘The Last Stop Inn’ in York Castle Museum gives visitors a flavour of what these coaching inns might have been like for those travelling to York over 200 years ago! 

From 31 January until 22 February, the bespoke installation will reveal the voices of several different characters who are all travelling to York for their own unique reasons, such as Lucy, a seamstress travelling to Hardcastle’s, the pawnbrokers, to raise money to buy a ticket to Edinburgh. The Last Stop Before Kirkgate runs for a limited time only, so don’t miss out on this amazing experience perfect for the whole family to enjoy and imagine their own Victorian tale of Yorkshire travel inside ‘The Last Stop Inn.’ 

Joe Hufton, CEO and Artistic Director at Novo Theatre commented; “We are really excited to be working with York Castle Museum. The incredible team of designers, writers, actors and illustrators here at Novo Theatre are delighted to have developed new stories as part of 'The Last Stop Before Kirkgate' experience. York Castle Museum is an innovative museum full of immersive stories that have evolved over the last eight decades of its history. This project is an exciting way to add to that and help frame the visitor journey when inside the museum.” 

 There’s plenty more activity to explore as Carla Starkey, Immersive Interpretation Producer at York Castle Museum highlights, “Throughout the week there will be regular demonstrations in the Castle Kitchen, showcasing traditional food from coaching inns during the nineteenth century. Demonstrations of classic soup dishes, lemon blancmange and spotted dick puddings will take place throughout the day on Saturday 14, Monday 16, Thursday 19 and Saturday 21 February 2026.’ 

‘Head down to Kirkgate, via Novo Theatre’s introduction, to see more of recreated Victorian York, complete with large park drag (coach), mounting steps for alighting the carriage or horses, and curved archways for the coaches to pass comfortably through. See if you can spot the sign for the Black Swan coaching inn, acquired from the inn’s Coney Street premises upon its closure in 1939, which now resides on Kirkgate and be sure to explore shop fronts and step inside some nineteenth century stores, all of which are based on genuine York businesses operating from 1870-1901.” 

Visitors can also enjoy the Creative Studio and sketch out a dream Victorian outfit using the fabrics, hats, shoes and dresses on display as inspiration. The studio is located just off the Secrets of Dress exhibition and is open daily in line with museum opening hours for visitors to explore at their leisure. In February half term, a Creative Families session on Friday 20 February will provide the opportunity to get involved with a guided craft session with artist Lendita, inspired by York Castle Museum’s Victorian collection.  

The popular Sunday Sounds will be taking place on Sunday 15 and Sunday 22 February, with live performances of historical tunes throughout the day. Visitors can also listen to insightful talks, running daily, on the history of York Castle Prison and Kirkgate, led by the knowledgeable Visitor Experience Team. There is also the Time Travellers Trail, free to collect from the admissions desk, which explores some of the objects you might see on your visit and reveals more wonderous history waiting to be discovered. 

All activities and experiences at York Castle Museum over February Half Term are included in your general admission ticket, as well as giving access to the incredible Period Rooms, World War One, Sixties Street and admission to York Castle Prison cells, where famous highwayman Dick Turpin was once held. There’s so much to see and do at York Castle Museum this February Half Term, you won’t want to miss out!  

General admission tickets for York Castle Museum are annual and allow unlimited free revisits for 12 months, visit now and return again for Easter, Summer and even Christmas 2026. As a registered charity, ticket sales help York Museums Trust to care for its significant and varied collections and buildings. 

To view the full programme for February Half Term at York Castle Museum, visit the website www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk