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20 sparkling pictures from a fantastic York Ice Trail 2020

by | Entertainment

Ice work… at Middleton's Hotel. Photographs: Richard McDougall

Thousands of people traversed York searching for fantastical characters this weekend.

Crowds flocked in for the York Ice Trail 2020, eager to track down all 40 sculptures on the Fantastical Fiction and Fairy Tales theme.

The free trail, organised by Make It York and sponsored by The York BID, is the biggest of its kind in Britain.

Some of the sculptures were interactive – like the Pillories by York Dungeon, where you could pose as if you were about to have your head chopped off.


You could dig out free chocolate from the ice at Middletons Hotel, or get a cold drink delivered direct from a dragon in St Sampson’s Square.

And the sculptures, created by Glacial Art, were as dazzling as ever – as our gallery shows.

Same time next year?

Ice Trail Gallery

Stephenson’s Rocket by the National Railway Museum

Harry Potter by Middleton’s Hotel
Crystal Fox by York BID


Grotesque by York Minster – and two young admirers

Pillories by the York Dungeon
Sonic by the Coppergate Centre
Viking helmet by Little Vikings
Sword In The Stone by Ancestral Name

Hedwig by the Judge’s Lodging
The Gruffalo by Eboracum Security
Pocket Watch by Bradleys Jewellers
Gingerbread man by Bettys

Oscar the Grouch by Forge Recycling
Sunflower by St Leonard’s Hospice
Azuma by LNER

Live carving in St Sampson’s Square
Spongebob Squarepants by City Cruises
Dragon Luge by Cut & Craft
Repotted by The Botanist