I am a massive chocolate fan and anyone that knows me knows chocolate is my Achilles heel. I love the stuff! So when planning a trip to York for some university training I knew I had to check out York’s Chocolate Story – a chance to take a guided tour through York’s chocolate history and of course taste some of the best chocolate!
Welcome to the City of Chocolate
York’s Chocolate Story is situated in the middle of Kings Square; the heart of York. It is easy to find and there are plenty of car parks located nearby. I visited on a busy weekend in December and the streets were bustling with tourists shopping and soaking up York’s historic atmosphere.
As you enter York’s Chocolate Story you can’t help but breathe in the scrumptious smell of all chocolate! As I waited for my3 pm tour I took a sneak peek at the chocolate Chocolate Café that’s next to the museum and contemplated what delights I would treat myself to later!
As the tour begins you are taken upstairs in a lift and greeted by your guide. Our guide was called Meg and she was super friendly and enthusiastic. She did well to entertain a group of about 5 of us including a large group of Chinese tourists who appeared to speak little English!
A Little Bit of Chocolate History
At first, you are taken through some beautifully decorated and interesting rooms where you are told about the history of chocolate making in York – the UK’s home of chocolate. There’s a really cool room where you watch animated screens and hear the stories from the main chocolatiers. There’s loads of brands you will recognise! You hear about how each of the famous chocolatiers chocolates became famous and the rivalries between the different companies – I found this really interesting as I love history and hearing about times gone by – even better when you are learning about one of your favourite things – chocolate!
As your tour is situated in York, Meg told us lots about the history of chocolate in the city and how much chocolate is produced and now sells worldwide. There are loads of interesting facts to be heard including the fact that 6 million Kit Kats are made in York per day – how mental is that! There were loads of other interesting and fun chocolate related facts to be heard but I won’t share them all here – you will have to go and visit to hear them for yourselves!
There are plenty of tasters along the way too and the chance to try different types of chocolate and taste the process from begging to end. I loved hearing about the cocoa beans and how chocolate is made – quite the process it seems!
Heading downstairs there are some cool interactive displays in which visitors get the chance to learn how chocolate is made and try out the interactive displays that detail the process. We also got more tasters and learnt how to check the quality of chocolate relating to its taste and shine. Normally I just gobble chocolate up as fast as I can so it was nice to have the opportunity to savour the chocolate a bit more and really think about its flavours and where’s it’s come from.
Giving Chocolate Making A Go
Next up was the chance to have a go at getting hands-on and making a chocolate lolly! As it was Christmas time our chocolatier gave us the choice of what festive themed chocolate lolly to make. We then had free reign on the choco decorations which included salted caramel curls, crispy chocolate nibbles and all sorts! I made what I think was a rather fetching white chocolate Christmas tree.
Finally, the end of the tour culminates with a chocolate making demonstration where we were able to see how chocolate truffles were made. The chocolatier made passion fruit and cherry flavoured truffles and the best bit was we could taste them and take a couple home with us too. They were just delicious with the passion fruit ones being my favourite for sure!
After the demonstration, I made sure to go back and have a look at the funky looking displays that detail loads more information about all things chocolate and its history in York. There was lots to look at and read which was awesome.
I really liked the feedback wall in which visitors can leave their compliments and comments on the tour on coloured sticky post its. There were so many praise-filled comments for the tour and the guides which were lovely to read – certainly some very happy customers!
Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate
I made my way back downstairs to the cafe as I understandably had chocolate on the brain as all the tasters had really whetted my appetite for more chocolate! I sat in the small café and enjoyed a salted caramel hot chocolate with all the toppings and a very tasty millionaires shortbread. Both were delicious and really filled me up. I do believe I experienced a chocolate-fuelled sugar high for sure!
Before leaving I just had to look around the chocolate shop which is stacked high with scrummy looking chocolate gifts and bits to treat yourself or others too.
I found it hard to decide what to treat myself too but ended up selecting a white chocolate heart covered in freeze-dried raspberry pieces. Yum! Of course, I also had to pick up a rubber and pencil to add to the collections! No trip would be complete without them, would it!
Visitor Information
Tickets to York’s Chocolate Story cost £10 for children and £12.50 for adults, with discounts for senior citizens and students. There’s the option to buy family tickets too. York residents can get a third off admission prices on Sundays, so if you live locally then be sure to make the most of this opportunity! Tours run daily at regular times between 10 am and 4 pm and last about an hour and a half. Find out more visitor information on the York’s Chocolate Story website. Be sure to check out the York’s Chocolate Story social media pages too including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more interesting chocolate facts, upcoming events and choco-tastic pictures.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my time at York’s Chocolate Story. I loved the mix of having a guided tour that as fun and informative but also having the opportunity to have a look round the static displays at my own pace too. The extra additions of the chocolate lolly workshop and chocolate making demonstration were awesome and really added to the overall experience. The tour was excellent too and I thought our tour guide Meg did a really great job. I would recommend a trip to York’s Chocolate story to all – I think it’s a great attraction for people of all ages and of course, it’s perfect for chocolate lovers like me!
***Entry to York’s Chocolate Story was provided to me on a complimentary basis in return for this honest review. All thoughts, pictures and opinions are entirely my own***
This looks so cool! I went to Mexico a few years ago and also was able to see how chocolate was made, and taste it lol
Oh wow that sounds cool, I would love that!
Oh my goodness, chocolate is my favorite thing in the world. I’d have to sample each and everything they have. What a fun place to go, I’m envious.
Haha me too! It was so much fun and there was so much chocolate!
Oh wow! Delicious! I am going to share this post with my best friend – I have never met someone who loves chocolate more than her. She will adore this!!
That’s awesome, hope she enjoys it!
Chocolate is my middle name! This place looks so good!
Haha it’s mine too!!
That would be such a dangerous place for me to visit. They’d have to drag me out of there at the end of the day!
Haha yes there is so much tasty chocolate to try and buy it was certainly tempting to stay all day!
oh i love chocolate, what a great place to go 🙂
Me too, perfect for chocolate lovers!
How fun is this?! I am totally with you. I just gobble up chocolate when I have it near (especially European chocolate because it is SO much better than what we get in the States). This would be a really fun experience! I’ll have to look into doing something like this near me!
It was such a fun experience if you are ever over in the UK be sure to check it out! Keep gobbling that chocolate!!
I have never wanted chocolate more than I do in this moment!! This looks like such a cool experience! I’d love to visit someday!
Haha oh dear, sorry about that! It is chocolate heaven for sure!
I like the sound of this guided tour. Looks like great fun.
It was lots of fun and really informative and interesting too which I appreciated!
It seems worth checking out with our girls. They love chocolate as much as I do!
Yes if your family love chocolate then be sure to check it out!
All things chocolate.. count me in! This sounds like an awesome place to visit. I’d love to bring my kids.
I’m glad your a fellow chocolate fan!
Oh my god! This looks heaven for the chocolate lovers and I am one of them. I will visit this place for sure. Thanks for sharing your experience with us
It really was chocolate heaven! Really interesting too, I really recommend!
Oh goodness, this is my idea of heaven, why oh why is it not near me (can feel a road trip coming on_
Oh no I hope you aren’t too far! Defo recommend taking a weekend trip to York and checking The Chocolate Story out!
I’m all about chocolate so this looks like tons of fun!
It was so good! I’m sure others would love it!
Its like a chocolate heaven for me.Definitely I am going to visit one day for sure!
I hope you get to visit. It’s a fun attraction for sure!
This is my kind of heaven! It looks like you had a lovely time.
I sure did, I was in my chocolate element!!
What a fun experience! I am a huge chocolate fan myself. Next time I’m in town, I will have to pop in there!
Yes make sure you do! It’s such a fun tour.
This place looks like so much fun! I’m sure my kids would love this place, because they love chocolate.
Yes if they love chocolate then they will love it! Especially the chocolate lolly making I bet!
Wow this is a great place to be if you are into chocolate. If I ever visit the UK this place has to be on my list to take my family
Yes both The Chocolate Story and York are great places to visit! I hope to go back soon too!
OMG I think I just gained 5 lbs reading this. LOL. Looks interesting and YUMMY.
Haha oh dear! Think I might have from all the tasty tasters!
Oh my gosh! I love chocolate too and this would be a one of a kind experience for me! I’m sure you had a great time there.
Such a great toy, great experience and great chocolate!
OMG! I am in love with the idea of this place!
It was awesome – go visit!
Just like my little kid sister who loves chocolate a whole lot, I do take it once in a while though. So tasty.
I could eat it all day everyday if I could!
We went to York on holiday a few years ago and I’m now gutted we didn’t go here! Perfect for chocoholics!
I loved York, great place to visit isn’t it – shame you missed going to The Chiockate Story – you’ll just have to go back!
Wow, this looks fabulous! Our family would love this experience.
It’s so great for families, there’s something for everyone!
Wow! This looks Wright up my street. I didn’t like chocolate until I got pregnant and craved it. Since then I can’t get enough of it!
No way, how odd! I’ve always loved it and think I always will!
This looks like it would be such an amazing experience. I definitely love everything chocolate.
It’s a really good tour with lots of added extras. The tour guide was great too.
Oh my goodness! This is heavenly. I will surely indulge here and be in a good mood. Entrance fees are reasonable. 😀
Yes I think the pieces are good given the guided tour and the extra bits where you can get involved. Chocolate heaven for sure!
I was there few days ago and I just love it specially the chocs. Amazing!
Oh awesome! Just divine aren’t they!
I am a chocolate lover too and this place is heaven to me. I actually been to few chocolate factory like the Hershey kisses in PA, Russel Stover in East TN and Ghirardelli in San Francisco.
Oh wow, I would love to visit the Hershey Kisses factory – they are too damn tasty!