Lucky Cat Trail

Cats have been considered good-luck omens in York for centuries, and cat statues were once placed on buildings throughout the city to ward off rats, mice, and the plague they were thought to carry. A mummified cat was even found concealed in the Mansion House. The original statues have now all long-since weathered away, but the concept was resurrected by a local architect in 1979. Since then, more and more buildings have added sculptures of cats clinging to walls or perched on balconies. Today, you can follow a trail around the old town in an attempt to find 22 cats, and spot plenty of landmarks while you're doing so.

outdoors

Getting there: start on the Shambles
Price: Download the trail map for free
Website: yorkluckycats.co.uk (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: York, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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