Your York BID 
Colour & Light
Your York BID
Colour & Light
Discover the Animals of York’s Past and Present with Colour & Light from Wednesday 12th February to Sunday 2nd March
Did you know a monkey once lived in York Museum Gardens? Or that York Minster is home to Peregrine Falcons? Colour & Light 25 celebrates the diverse animals that have called York home - from the vibrant Tansy Beetle to the legendary dragons carved into the Minster. Keep reading to uncover the fascinating stories featured in Colour & Light and scroll to the bottom to see the full show with commentary.
Here's everything you need to know about Colour & Light:
- When? Wednesday 12th February to Sunday 2nd March 2025, 6pm to 9pm, with projections on a 10-minute loop
- Where? York Minster’s South Transept
- Price? Free - no tickets are needed
- Accessibility features? The final hour of each evening features a quiet hour with reduced noise and crowd levels. There are benches available for those who need it
- Who? The event is proudly brought to you by York BID, in partnership with York Minster and Double Take Projections. Colour & Light 2025 is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, allocated by City of York Council, and highlighting the importance of investing in cultural initiatives to support local economies and enhance community well-being.
York Minster are committed to establish a pioneering, low carbon heritage estate with environmental sustainability integrated throughout all behaviours, business practices and building innovation. Click here to discover the Minster's exciting sustainability projects.
The City's Origins
Watch the distinctive Yew trunks climb their way up York Minster – the Celts referred to York as Eborakon, meaning ‘the place of the yew trees.’
A Glimpse into Roman York
Did you know there’s an ancient Roman mosaic hiding in the city’s history? It was found in Tanner Row in 1853 when drainage works were dug. Now on display at the Yorkshire Museum, this Four Seasons mosaic features a classic Greek meander pattern – the same intricate design you can spot winding its way up York’s Roman columns.
You can also see this red and gold pattern on the floor of York Minster.
Proud Peacocks of York
Some people think Alexander the Great was the one who first brought peacocks to England. These flashy birds weren’t just for show—back in Roman times, they symbolized immortality and resurrection. Fast forward to more recent history, and you might remember the peacocks that used to strut around York Museum Gardens until 2001.
Step into Viking York
Watch as the ancient runes and longboat transport you to the city’s Norse past.
In Norse mythology, thunder and lightning weren’t just weather – they were the roar of Thor himself! With every crack of lightning, they believed the mighty god was striking his hammer, Mjölnir, across the sky.
Keep you ears open for the call of the Viking horn! York Minster proudly houses the legendary Horn of Ulf – an intricately carved 1000 year-old elephant tusk. The horn acted as a land deed and was gifted to the Minster by the Viking lord Ulf.
Check out the Jorvik Viking Festival this February for even more Viking fun.
York's Curious Creatures
Believe it or not, there was once a bear, monkey, and golden eagle in York Museum Gardens! After the bear escaped from the menagerie and chased the curator around the garden, he was put on a coach to London Zoo.
From Pastures Past
Back in the Medieval era, pigs were much scruffier and leaner than today’s farm pigs. Traders once hearded them – and even cattle - through York’s narrow Snickelways, like Finkle Street, to reach Thursday Market at St Sampson’s Square. Next time you walk down a Snickelway, imagine what you would of seen, smelt, and heard!
A Window into York's History
Keep your eyes peeled for dragonflies, newts, fish, otters, ducks, minks, ladybirds, barn owls, and more.
Some of these creatures have been immortalised in the Minster’s intricate stained-glass windows, while others can be spotted in the city’s green spaces.
From Stone to Screen
York isn’t just home to ancient dragons carved into the stonework of York Minster – it also has a modern connection to these legendary beasts. The dragons from the hit TV series House of the Dragon were partially brought to life right here in York.
York is proudly a UNESCO City of Media Arts and continues to blend history and cutting-edge creativity in spectacular ways.
York's Railway Revolution
York’s thriving railway industry brought the city into the industrial age. Listen out for the trains and keep your eyes peeled for cats, mice, rats, and even the iconic Peregrine Falcons soaring overhead.
Did you know the Minster is home to a pair of Peregrine Falcons? They can often be seen perched on the central and north west bell towers, and are known for their distinctive black stripes across their chest and belly.
Little Details, Big Stories
Look closely, and you might just find a few tiny wooden mice. These carvings are the maker’s mark of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson, a craftsman whose tiny carved mice can be found throughout York Minster.
While mice and many other animals in this scene are often dismissed as vermin, have you ever wondered why? A lot of our modern day views on so-called "pests" are rooted in the Tudor Vermin Laws, introduced by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. These laws made it mandatory for every man, woman, and child to kill as many animals as possible from an official ‘vermin’ list—including not just rats and foxes but also kingfishers and water voles!
The Jewel of York
The jewel-like Tansy Beetle is a true York treasure! Named after its main food source, the Tansy plant, these rare, bright-green beetles are found in only three places in the world – including the banks of the river Ouse.
Keep an eye out for the bright yellow Tansy flowers and, if you’re lucky, you might just spot a Tansy Beetle.
Check out the video below to hear more on the flora and fauna celebrated in Colour & Light 25:
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