YORK’S tourism bosses are looking ahead to a blockbuster year in 2014, when visitors will have a host of reasons to head for the city.

Top of the bill, of course, is the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in July, when the eyes of the world will be on York.

But linked to this are plans for a 100-day Cultural Festival to run from March 27 until the Depart on July 6, showcasing the wealth of culture on offer.

Other key events in 2014 include:

• The 30th anniversary of York’s Viking invasion – or at least of the annual Jorvik Viking Festival. Highlights will include a Viking Banquet at York Minster on Friday, February 21, and a Strongest Viking competition on Saturday, February 22.

• Roger McGough appearing as a headline act at the 2014 York Literature Festival, which will feature about 40 events over 11 days, including workshops, performances, theatre, story-telling and author events.

• The return of the York Mystery Plays, performed in the open air by the York Guilds and Companies on pageant wagons at playing stations across the city.

• A major new exhibition at the Castle Museum called 1914: When the World Changed Forever, which will mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and allow viisitors to experience the recruitment office and to travel via train to the horrors of the frontline – “from rats to foot rot, shell shock to gas warfare”.

Kate McMullen, head of Visit York, said: “York has an exciting year ahead and the programme of events, festivals and new exhibition openings will provide a whole host of new reasons for people from across the UK and overseas to visit the city in 2014.”

She said all the events would provide Visit York with the opportunity to market the city to new audiences, as well as loyal repeat visitors.

“Our successful bid to host the Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference in York also gives us a great opportunity to showcase the city to the conference and business events sector,” she said.

“We are fortunate that businesses continually develop new exhibitions and events to help us in our marketing of the city and Visit York is looking forward to launching a brand new marketing campaign in January for the coming year.”