A dragon has landed at DIG: An Archaeological Adventure, and from today, visitors might want to keep an eye on the skies.
A brand-new exhibition, How to Train Your Dragon School, has launched in partnership with author Cressida Cowell and Hachette Children’s Group. Inspired by the new How to Train Your Dragon School book series, the interactive experience blends archaeology with fantasy in a fresh way that’s aimed squarely at families and fans of the popular franchise.
At the heart of the exhibition is a swooping dragon model flying above a Viking fishing boat, based on The Hopeful Puffin – a key feature in the book series, which follows young Viking Hiccup. The immersive space also includes original artwork, a giant map of the Isle of Berk, and digital elements like QR codes linking to video introductions from Cressida herself.
Gareth Henry, Director of Public Engagement at York Archaeology, said: “This is a brilliant new addition to DIG, and we are confident that our young visitors will absolutely love engaging with the fantastical version of the Viking world created by Cressida.”
In keeping with DIG’s hands-on approach, the new dragon-themed dig pit invites children to uncover items from the story using a trowel. There’s also a storytelling tent for quieter moments.
Cressida Cowell will be visiting DIG for a special event on Thursday 21 August 2025 to celebrate the launch. Tickets for the event, and general admission, are available now at digyork.co.uk.
Naomi Berwin, Marketing Director at Hachette Children’s Group, added: “How to Train Your Dragon is directly inspired by the Vikings in Britain, so DIG’s focus on giving children the opportunity literally to dig into York’s history makes them the perfect partner.”
Interest is expected to be high, especially with a live-action How to Train Your Dragon film currently in cinemas. The original book series also inspired the well-known animated DreamWorks trilogy.
DIG is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are £10.50 for adults, £9.50 for children, with family options available. Under-5s go free. Pre-booking is advised.
Visitors can also explore more Viking-themed attractions with the York Archaeology Passport, which includes entry to JORVIK Viking Centre and Barley Hall. For full details, visit digyork.co.uk/visit.
