HOTELS and tourist attractions in York are enjoying an ‘exceptionally busy’ Easter, boosted by the Jorvik Viking Centre’s reopening and the city’s Easter Family Festival.

Tourism bosses at Visit York say there has been a ‘surge of interest’ caused by the relaunch of Jorvik last weekend, some 16 months after it was severely flooded, with people queuing to get their first glimpse of the new look attraction.

Sarah Maltby, director of attractions at Jorvik, said pre-booked tickets had almost sold out for the Easter weekend, although there would still be plenty available for walk-up visits.

Hotel rooms are heavily booked for tonight, with Bookings.com saying yesterday its rooms at the Principal, Hilton and Marriott were sold out, and Travelodge’s website quoting rooms at the firm’s budget hotel in Micklegate from £139.

A Visit York spokeswoman said the city’s visitor attractions had already been reporting a strong March.

“Dig, York Merchant Adventurer’s Hall and Richard III Museum, for example, have all reported an increase in visits so far year on year for March.”

She said the indications were that Easter was going to be very busy, with hotel occupancy and visits to attractions figures predicted to be up on 2016. The tourist information centre booking line had been very busy and 1,500 visited the centre last Saturday alone.

“Staff in the centre are seeing lots of couples visiting as well as more families coming into the centre from York and Yorkshire for help and advice, lots of exchange students, from Germany, China and France, and visitors from all across the UK.”

Sally Greenaway, head of Visit York, said: “We’re anticipating an exceptionally busy Easter. There’s a lot happening right now, including the York Easter Family Festival, new exhibitions at the National Railway Museum, York Art Gallery and York’s Chocolate Story and of course the Easter services at York Minster.

“We know Easter is an especially popular time to visit York and the bank holiday weekend gives people the chance to explore a bit further afield too, taking day trips out to the coast, Yorkshire Air Museum, or Castle Howard for example. We’re confident it’s going to be a very successful Easter.”

Attractions in Parliament Street include a children’s petting zoo with pygmy goats and their kids, guinea pigs, a miniature donkey, a Shetland pony, alpacas, lambs, chickens and rabbits, and a Little Vikings Easter Activity Tent, featuring face painting, Easter crafts, drama classes, storytelling, dance classes, computer coding and sand art activities.