Ripon has officially launched its bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028 under the theme “Small City, Big Landscape” celebrating and reimagining its rich pilgrimage heritage.
Ripon Cathedral Launches Bid for Town of Culture
Central to the campaign is the idea of “pilgrimage” – a journey of discovery, connection, and transformation – which will underpin a year-long, place-based cultural programme reaching across Ripon and surrounding communities.
Charlie Studdy, a member of the Culture and Green Space Working Group at the Uredale Community Partnership, said:
“Ripon has been a place of pilgrimage since 672 AD. In 2028, we want it to be one again – this time for culture.
“Our vision is to build on Ripon’s unique, ancient foundations to create a sustainable, culture-led future, using the all-encompassing idea of pilgrimage.”
Pilgrimage is deeply woven into Ripon’s identity. The 7th-century crypt of St Wilfrid at Ripon Cathedral has attracted visitors for centuries, and the tradition continues with the annual Boxing Day pilgrimage to Fountains Abbey and the summer St Wilfrid’s Procession.
Mr Studdy said:
“Across Europe, pilgrimage routes like the Camino de Santiago attract millions. Today, people are seeking connection more than ever – whether through nature, creativity, or shared experience.”
The bid is led by the Uredale Community Partnership and includes support from Ripon Cathedral, Ripon Together, Ripon BID, Ripon Theatre Festival, Ripon YMCA, Ripon Disability Forum, Ripon Civic Society, and Ripon Arts Hub.
The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon and chair of the Uredale Community Partnership, said: “Ripon has always been at the heart of a wider rural area and has an impact far beyond the city boundaries.
“It is wonderful that the Uredale Community Partnership has been the catalyst for this bid and has been able to bring together so many committed partners across the area.”
The UK Town of Culture competition aims to spotlight under-recognised towns, with £3 million awarded to the winner and £250,000 for two finalists.
Ripon’s bid emphasises not only its cultural assets but also its wider influence.
The city’s Market Place has served as a hub of commerce for generations, and the nightly Hornblower ceremony—dating back to 886 AD—remains one of the world’s oldest civic rituals.
The city also has connections to literary figures like Lewis Carroll and war poet Wilfred Owen, and the surrounding landscapes of Hackfall Woods, Fountains Abbey, and the Ripon Canal continue to inspire artists.
Creative traditions range from the centuries-old Wilfrid Tarts to modern community projects like the Ripon Community Poppy Project.
