York is a city of stories told in stone. Here you can experience Roman walls, Viking artifacts, and medieval alleyways. But it’s becoming a place of stories told through entertainment, too.
In 2024, York welcomed around 9.4 million visitors, generating some £2.01 billion in revenue, up by 5.4% on 2023. That’s more than just sightseeing: people are coming for food, drink, and history. And games.
In this article, you’ll discover how the Roxy Ball Room at The Stonebow captures York’s evolving social spirit, how the city’s culture nourishes immersive and interactive experiences, and why games (digital or analog) are more central than ever in the vibrant nights of this town.
The Roxy – where play meets party
As you step into the Roxy in York’s city center, leaving behind the echoing footfalls along the Shambles, you’ll enter two floors of laughter, friendly rivalry, and lively games. That’s what Roxy Ball Room offers. It bills itself as the “home of booze and ball games in York”, and with good reason.
Here, you’ll find:
- Game selection: duck pin bowling, tech darts, great pool games, ping-pong, shuffleboard, ice-free curling, karaoke, and a batting cage. Crazy Pool (a mash-up of crazy golf + pool) is a Roxy-exclusive twist.
- Atmosphere and food/drink: The Roxy offers more than just games. The bar has draught beers, cocktails, mocktails, no/low-alcohol options, pizzas and side dishes. “Eat, Drink & Play” offers make it possible to combine a meal with games time. Student discounts and package deals make it all affordable.
- Spaces and events: Two karaoke rooms and private spaces (Gallery, Atrium, Tournament Area) are available for groups or parties. Live sport shown on big screens makes this a gathering place, not just a games venue.
What makes the Roxy special is how it blends socialising with active engagement. It’s not just about watching or consuming, but about activity and doing.
York beyond the Roxy
While the Roxy is a playground for games and fun, York’s roots run deep. Part of the appeal of the city is that this playful energy sits among centuries-old culture, with many immersive or interactive experiences available:
- Historic landmarks: York Minster, the City Walls, the Shambles – these are must-visits for anyone visiting York. Walking the streets, hearing stories and imagining past eras is interactive in its own way.
- Hands-on museums and interactive exhibitions: For families or curious solo travellers, places like DIG: An Archaeological Adventure (where visitors can simulate excavations, and handle replica and real artefacts while exploring various periods of York’s history) add different dimensions to the past.
- Art and immersive media: The Van Gogh Immersive Experience shows how digital projection and art combine to transform space, engage emotions and transport you into another realm. It’s the kind of experience that people rave about on social media, and rightly so.
- Odd, unusual finds: York has virtual-reality dinosaur experiences in its museums, immersive ghost walks and craft galleries, Snickelways to explore, micro-theatres and pop-ups that surprise when you least expect them.
The rise of interactive games
Games are no longer “just for kids” or “just consoles”. They’re everywhere, and York reflects the wider UK trends. For example, among children aged 8–17, 97% play online games and 53% of them spend money within those games. This shows how integrated gaming is in social lives and entertainment.
What does “interactive games” mean in York today?
- Physical social games: the Roxy is the perfect venue for these, but also other places where people play darts, pool, shuffleboard, karaoke, or take part in escape rooms, immersive theatre or VR experiences.
- Digital interactive: this includes mobile games, gaming subscriptions, projection art shows and VR/immersive exhibitions. These influence what people expect from social evenings: instant feedback, competition and novelty.
- Hybrid models: enjoy “gamified” heritage tours, apps that overlay history on walking routes, and museums that encourage hands-on touch and interaction, with some offering an AR experience.
Interactive gaming taps into that deep social desire and often provides more memorable experiences than passive entertainment. York is capitalising on these desires beautifully.
How regulated online entertainment links to offline play
When people go to places like the Roxy, try an interactive heritage tour or visit immersive exhibitions, there’s an underlying link to online games and entertainment. Trust and safety are paramount, especially in the digital sphere where people expect secure payment methods, clear rules and transparent terms.
One example in online entertainment is Visa-accepting casino sites, which allow users to use their Visa cards for deposits and withdrawals. The importance of such payment options is that they build trust: if you’re spending money (even small amounts) in a game, you want security. The same is true offline, from the cleanliness of equipment to fairness (eg in arcade or bar games), age-restrictions and transparent costs. This expectation is rising, and that’s reshaping how both digital and physical interactive experiences are run.
Tips to make the most of York’s interactive pleasures
To enjoy York in full, especially if you’re a games-lover, here are some suggestions:
- Time it well: Evenings at the Roxy are busiest on Thursday through to Saturday, so visiting earlier in the week or after peak times offers a more relaxed vibe. Many immersive exhibitions or festivals are seasonally timed.
- Combine experiences smartly: Start with history (York Minster or Museum Gardens), lunch locally, then enjoy a hands-on museum or immersive show in the afternoon. Then you can round it all off with dinner and games at the Roxy or a VR bar.
- Group vs solo: Solo visitors or couples will enjoy immersive art, museums and walking tours. For larger groups, Roxy’s private areas, party packages or the karaoke rooms deliver extra fun.
- Budget and booking: York is a busy city, and many venues require booking in advance. Check pricing for peak vs off-peak slots, group deals and student offers. Make sure your phone is fully charged, especially if using AR or digital features of exhibitions.
- Accessibility and comfort: York’s old streets are either steep or cobbled, so wear your comfortable shoes. If visiting interactive exhibitions, check for accessibility. At the Roxy, both floors have lift access and accessible toilets.
Conclusion
York is neither frozen in its medieval past nor simply resting on its historic laurels, but is very much alive. Here, you can enjoy the chatter of friends at the Roxy, relive history while walking the city walls, or gaze in awe at the glow of projection art. Interactive games are not sideshow extras but central threads of making memories in York.
So, next time you visit, don’t just come to see. Come to play. Explore our beautiful town with all your senses, whether you’re battling it out at Roxy Ball Room, walking the Snickelways or stepping into an exhibition where art moves and history breathes. You’ll leave not just with photos, but with stories and new friends!
