Jorvik Centre gift shop reopens as Vikings bounce back from the floods

With their formidable reputation as warriors, farmers, craftsmen and builders, it was going to take more than a drop of water to keep York’s Vikings down.

And to prove it the gift shop at Jorvik Viking Centre re-opened on Tuesday (January 5) after power was restored to the flood-hit venue.

It will be some time before the world-famous underground attraction re-opens. An assessment of the flood damage is still ongoing, but the centre’s operator, York Archaeological Trust (YAT), was keen to demonstrate that York remains open for business.

“Out of York’s many world-class attractions, only a very small number remain closed as they repair damage,” said the trust’s director of attractions, Sarah Maltby.

“It will take us some time to reopen the attraction itself, but by opening the street-level gift shop, there will still be a taste of Viking York for visitors to Coppergate.”

Fundraising going well

York Archaeological Trust relies upon the income from its five attractions and shops to support its research and archaeological digs in the city and beyond.

Sarah said:

The other four attractions within the Jorvik Group – Barley Hall, DIG, The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar and The Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar – continue to operate as normal.

Alternative workshops and activities, including Viking visits, are being organised for education groups who had booked visits to Jorvik in January.