.The Mansion House, home to the Lord Mayors of York since 1732, will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Last year the building welcomed over 1,500 people who enjoyed its magnificent interior throughout the weekend. Residents will be able to see the Caps of Maintenance, worn by the Sword bearer on ceremonial occasions, including the one presented by the Queen during her 2012 visit, as well as a special display of the work of York Camera Club.

On Saturday at West Offices, author and railway historian Dr Bill Fawcett will tell the story of York’s first railway station in an illustrated presentation entitled ‘Still serving the people’. Bill has lectured and published extensively on railway and architectural history, twice receiving the David St. John Thomas award for best transport history book of the year. He has also assisted with the historical background to conservation development strategies for many railway buildings. He is editor of the journal York Historian and is a member of the Railway Heritage Trust advisory panel. His talk will be followed by a tour of the original station hotel, refreshment rooms and train shed canopy – now part of West Offices –and a look around the modern offices of City of York Council

At York Explore, residents can renew their YorkCards and will be able to see behind the scenes at the newly opened Archives and Local History service. They’ll be able to find out more about the service and delve inside the brand new strong room of archives, affectionately know as the ‘gold box’. The Community Collections and Outreach Archivist will also be asking visitors the question ‘What should York remember?’ to help inform the direction of future collecting policies and events.

York recently became the UK’s first UNESCO City of Media Arts and to celebrate this and find out more, residents are invited to the De Grey Rooms where they can find out more about the projects that York’s creative sector are involved in, from creating award-winning films to stunning digital art installations.

Booking Information

Dr Bill Fawcett will be speaking at West Offices on Saturday 31 January at 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm. Pre-book tickets in advance at West Offices Customer Centre or email westoffices.residentsevent@york.gov.uk for the talk and tour.

The Mansion House opens on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February from 11am to 3pm and booking is not required.

Archive tours must be booked in advance at any Explore Library, by emailing archives@exploreyork.org.uk or calling 01904 552800. Tours are on offer on Saturday 31 January, with places still available at 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm.

The UNESCO City of Media Arts Showcase takes place at De Grey Rooms, York Theatre Royal on Saturday 31 January from 10am to 4pm and no advance booking is required. For more information visit www.cityofmediaarts.com or follow @cityofmediaarts on Twitter.

Over 50 free attractions and events are on offer as part of the Residents’ Festival. Organised by Visit York in partnership with City of York Council and sponsored by First, the 2015 event is set to offer free entry to a host of York’s most celebrated attractions, one-off behind-the-scenes access to some of the city’s hidden gems, special events and some fantastic restaurant deals.

Throughout the weekend First will offer residents a £5 FirstDay Group ticket (discounted by a third for 4 people travelling and boarding together) which is available to purchase from the bus driver by residents with a valid YorkCard.

Further information about the Residents’ Festival 2015 is available at www.visityork.org