Your York BID 
The Tempest
Your York BID
The Tempest
21st July - 4th September
The Tempest is a free family pop-up play space on Parliament Street, open between 9am and 6pm every day until Friday 4th September.
Parliament Street is home to The Tempest - a free family pop-up play space for little adventurers, brought to you by York BID.
The new free attraction has been inspired by Tempest Anderson, a York-born scientist and volcanologist.
It's open from 9am to 6pm every day and includes climbing and balancing equipment, sensory play features, bridges, interactive elements and accessible play equipment, as well as areas that introduce visitors to Tempest Anderson's remarkable life and work.
A Partnership Project
The Tempest has been delivered by York BID in partnership with Playscheme, Make It York, and Thors. York Civic Trust has worked with the project team to develop the educational elements, helping bring Tempest Anderson's story to life for a new generation.
The project has been made possible thanks to funding from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, through the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority's Vibrant & Sustainable High Streets Fund.
Tempest Anderson's photographs are courtesy of York Museums Trust: Public Domain.
Important Information for Parents & Carers
Use of this play area is at your own risk. York BID accepts no responsibility for misuse of equipment or failure to follow guidance.
- The Tempest is designed for children aged 4-12 years
- Opening hours: 9am-6pm daily
- Maximum capacity: 35 children at any one time. If the play area looks full, please wait until space becomes available.
Reporting & Contact Information
- In an emergency, call 999
- For non-emergencies, call York BID on 01904 282407
- Any damage to the play equipment should be promptly reported to info@theyorkbid.com
- CCTV is in operation for your safety and security
All About Tempest: Travel
Tempest was an intrepid explorer, travelling all over the world to document volcanic eruptions and their aftermath.
He didn’t get there by plane like we would today, he travelled by steamship and on foot. By 1900, he had photographed most of the volcanoes in Europe.
Capturing the Aftermath
It's not just volcanoes Tempest was interested in. He wanted to know how volcanic eruptions impacted the landscape and people that lived locally. What was it like to live next to a volcano, and how did life change after the volcano erupted?
Many of his photos featured landscapes and communities forever changed by lava. He recognised the importance of understanding volcanoes, not just in the pursuit of science, but for their real-world impact.
Discoveries
Tempest was a passionate and dedicated photographer. He documented everything, and it’s because of this that he became a world-leading volcanologist. When news broke that a volcano had erupted, Tempest would pick up his bags and his camera, and travel thousands of miles to see it for himself – not a mean feat in those days! Through this fieldwork, he spotted patterns, captured never before seen moments, and made several important discoveries that informed what we know about volcanoes today.
Volcano & York Expert
Tempest became a world-leading volcano expert. In 1902, he was asked to travel alongside Geologist, Dr John Flett, to the West Indies to study two major volcanic eruptions.
During their visit, Tempest discovered the fast‑moving clouds of hot ash and gas rushing down the volcano looked a lot like the avalanches he had seen in the Alps. He was one of the first to make this comparison - an idea that helped scientists understand how volcanoes behave.
Tempest was an important figure in York too. He helped plan how the city should grow, became Sheriff of York in 1894, and was even the first person in the city to have a telephone! In 1912, Tempest Anderson Hall was added to the Yorkshire Museum. It was built in memory of his sister and funded by Tempest.
