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Walk the Chocolate Trail on a Chocolate Tour of York
York Chocolate Trail, York
Follow the Chocolate Trail to take yourself on a York chocolate tour. The delicious walk will lead you through York’s rich and colourful history of chocolate and all things sweet. It’s where many of our best-loved brands such as Smarties, Terry’s Chocolate Orange and Kit-Kit were created.
Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate in York
The best way to get your teeth into York’s chocolate history, is to do your own chocolate tour by walking York’s Chocolate Trail. It’s a stroll through centuries of confectionery-making with chances to taste along the way.
The Chocolate City
While other northern centres made their wealth from wool, cotton and steel, York became a centre for chocolate in the 19th century. Its rivers brought in the vital ingredients needed to make chocolate – cocoa and sugar – and its railways transported the final products at speed around the country. Firms including Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s achieved great prosperity and created some of Britain’s best-loved confectionery brands. Their chocolate and sweets were transported to markets worldwide, enabling their businesses to grow into global empires.
The Chocolate Trail
Start by collecting a Chocolate Trail map at the Visitor Information Centre or download it to your phone. The trail is easy to follow and provides plenty of opportunities to spend time in the fantastic chocolate cafés dotted around the city and indulge in chocolate tasting, so it’s guaranteed to make chocoholics very happy.
Highlights of York’s Chocolate Trail
Highlights of the York chocolate tour include Bettys Café Tea Rooms which opened in 1937 with its art deco Belmont room, York Cocoa House where you can pop in and make your own chocolate lollipop, York’s Chocolate Story, an attraction aimed at families and Rowntree Park which was set up as a memorial to the cocoa workers who fell during the First World War. Slightly further out of the city, you’ll find Goddards House and Gardens, now a National Trust property, but formerly the home of Noel Terry of York’s chocolate firm. Designed in Arts and Crafts style, the house is complemented by beautiful gardens.
- Buy a York Pass to save money if you plan to visit several of York’s attractions
- Visit in September to enjoy 10 days of culinary heaven at the York Food & Drink Festival, the biggest food and drink festival in England. There’s also a mini festival in June.
- Need a chocolate gift? Get ideas from the 60 Best Gifts For Chocolate Lovers
Mr Hendricks says, “Great one to take me on. I won’t be allowed inside all the places on the trail but I’d love to run around Rowntree Park.”
How to Find the Start of the York Chocolate Trail
York Information Centre, 1 Museum St, York YO1 7DT
York Information Centre
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.
York Chocolate Trail
- Discover York’s chocolate history
- Visit York’s chocolate landmarks & businesses
- Eat chocolate along the way
Save Money With a York Pass
- Free entry to 30 top attractions in historic York
- Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour
- Beat the queue
- Highlights include York Minster, Castle Howard, Jorvik Centre and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
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