On the hunt to find the best things to do with your kids in York? The beautiful walled city of York has a proud history of Roman and Viking origin. York is full of ancient cobbled streets, glorious architecture, fantastic museums and galleries to discover.
Its compact centre makes it easy to explore with little ones. In addition, there are plenty of cafes and tearooms to stop in when you need a rest. Families visiting York are spoiled when it comes to outdoor activities and wonderful scenery – the beautiful city has plenty of pretty green parks, as well as being surrounded by the wild beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Lots of fresh air and being close to nature is the perfect recipe to keep kids and parents happy.
Therefore BabyBreaks has done the hard work for you, and researched the Top Fun Things to Do in York with your Kids.
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1. JORVIK Viking Centre
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Step back in time at one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Discover the Viking history of York through amazingly scenes showing the life in the city, 1,000 years ago. Created by York Archaeological Trust, the JORVIK Viking Centre is built on the site of the ancient city. You will explore the site through a fantastic ride. That is to say, one of the most famous discoveries of modern archaeology. Visitors will therefore get to see the houses, workshops and backyards of the people who lived there. In conclusion, a truly immersive spectacle that needs to be pre-booked in advance.
Opening Hours: Open daily 10am – 4/5pm (Winter / Summer)
Price: From £13.50/adult and £9/50/child aged 5-16. FREE for children under 5
2. LockedIN Escape Room
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Escape Rooms are flourishing in touristic destinations and York has a lot of them to choose from. We’ve tried one of them called LockedIN which is located in the centre of York on Museum Street. Not all games are suitable for children so make sure you ask which room is suitable for a family. We escaped successfully the Caught in the Act room in 55 min and had a such fantastic time.
📍 Club Chambers, Museum St, York YO1 7DN
Opening Hours: vary depending of the time slot you book. Usually between 10am and 830pm
Price: From £17/person
3. York’s Chocolate Story
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Learn all about York’s 300 year history of chocolate making. How it became the home of so many well-loved brands, from Kit Kat to Terry’s Chocolate Orange. The kids will certainly love the hands on exhibitions, chocolate making demonstrations and free samples, yum! Don’t forget to pick up some delicious treats in the shop on your way out too. On our last visit, the guide was such a great guy who was fun, informative and never stop asking questions to the audience, especially the kids. Loved every minute of it and you take back home a chocolate lollipop too!
📍 3-4 Kings Square, York YO1 7LD
Opening Hours: Open daily 10am-5pm
Price: From £15.50/adult and £12.50/child. Family packages are available. FREE for children under 4
4. York Castle Museum
Here is another museum where you can learn about 400 years of York history. The venue has recreated for instance how a Victorian Street looked like in the past. You will also visit the York Castle Prison with its famous inmates. You can also experience and touch lots of objects that bring back to live the World War 1. A lot of exhibitions are available to walk through at your own pace. Expect to spend 90min to 2 hours in the museum depending how your children will be captivated by the different exhibitions.
You can pre-book your ticket here.
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11am until 4pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Price: From £13/adult and £11.70/child. FREE for children under 5
5. National Railway Museum
This hugely popular museum is featuring loads of real and model trains. Children will love the fact they can climb into the cabin to pretend to drive a steam train, or ride on the miniature railway line. Moreover, the Interactive Learning Centre lets them build their own model trains, control the signals and how to build a bridge. Entry is free for all ages. In short, you will be guaranteed one the nest Fun Things to do in York.
Opening Hours: Open daily 10am – 5pm / 6 pm (winter / summer)
Price: FREE / Donations are more than welcome
6. The Shop That Must Not Be Named
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Located in the historical street of Shambles, this shop is absolutely amazing if you are a fan on Harry Potter or Fantastic Beats. The range of artefacts and objects to bring back home is huge. Beware that your kids will want everything from this shop and that you wallet will probably be severely used too! So which wand will you pick to add to your collection?
Opening Hours: everyday 10am until 6pm
Price: FREE entry (it is a shop after all but expect to queue outside on busy days)
7. York Theatre Royal
The UK’s oldest theatre outside London has recently undergone a £6 million refurbishment. Bringing a prestigious and historic venue into the 21st century. Most importantly, it is home to one of the largest youth theatre groups in the country, and shows lots of family-friendly performances. For example, The Secret Garden and Madagascar The Musical. The annual pantomime is legendary too. That is to say, a must-visit if you’re staying in York around Christmas time.
📍 St Leonard’s Pl, York YO1 7HD
Opening Hours: Opening hours and performance times vary, check the website for up to date information
Price: vary depending of the performance
8. The York Ghost Merchants
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Shambles has another souvenir shop to visit which is The York Ghost Merchants. We were quite intrigued at first to see so many people queuing outside on Saturday to enter a tiny little shop. Once you are inside, you are greeted with lovely people all dressed up that you will guide through their huge collection of ghosts to take back as a souvenir in a beautiful paper box. A little ghost will cost you £9 and the original ghost £17. Such an original shop that is unique in the world and only available in York.
Opening Hours: Monday to Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday from 10am until 5.30pm and Sunday from 10am until 4pm. CLOSED on Wednesday until further notice. CLOSED between 25th December and 3rd January.
Price: FREE entry to the shop but you buy at least one ghost for sure. Beware you might need to queue a bit outside on busy days and peak times. We didn’t queue much on Sunday morning at opening time though and it was August
9. The Yorkshire Museum
Opened in 1830, this museum showcases all the treasures of the north. From geology and biology to astronomy and archaeology. Dino-mad youngsters will certainly love the current “Jurassic World” exhibition. Opened by Sir David Attenborough in March 2018, which brings the amazing creatures to life using ancient fossils alongside high tech wizardry.
📍 Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York YO1 7FR
Opening Hours: Currently CLOSED until Spring 2022. Usually Open daily 10am – 5pm
Price: From £8/adult and £4/child. FREE for children under 5
10. DIG
Owned by the same operator of the JORVIK Viking centre, DIG is perfect introduction to archeology to your children. This hands on activity is one of the great family day out where you assume the role of trainee ‘diggers’. You will explore four different excavation pits from different times of York history. This is a fun thing to do in York with children over 5 for sure.
You must pre-book your tickets here.
📍 DIG St Saviour Church, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN
Opening Hours: vary depending of the month. check opening times here
Price: From £8/adult and £7.5/child. Family packages are available.
Still need some inspiration on the best things to do in York with Kids? Let’s look at the rest of our list…
11. River Ouse Cruise
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See the historic sights of York from a different perspective – a cruise boat on the tranquil River Ouse. Take in the city’s landmarks as your knowledgeable guide teaches you about their history – a fully stocked bar is available for drinks and snacks, plus indoor and outdoor seating. If you prefer a more private affair, choose to hire your own boat for a memorable family day out.
Book your Shared Cruise or Book your Self Drive Boat
Opening Hours: cruise lasts about 45min
Price: From £12.50/person for shared cruise and £45/private self drive boat
12. Barley Hall
Part of the JORVIK group, this medieval townhouse was hidden behind a facade and was re-discovered in the 80s. Now this renovated house can be visited with staged rooms where you can immerse yourself as a character in the medieval age. This is a great way to learn about the history of York since Barley Hall was also home of Priors of Nostell and the Lord Mayor of York.
Opening Hours: usually 10am until 3pm but check updates here
Price: From £7.5/adult and £4.5/child. Family Packages are available and cheaper ticket if bought in conjunction with JORVIK and/or DIG admission entries
13. York Museum Gardens
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This is a wonderful, quiet spot to escape the hubub of the city for an hour or two, or enjoy a picnic on a sunny day. The former grounds of medieval St Mary’s Abbey, whose remains are still standing, feature beautiful botanic displays and over 40 species of birds. Kids will love the recent addition of a geocache garden too – happy hunting in York!
Opening Hours: Open daily 7:30 am – 6pm / 8pm (winter / summer)
Price: FREE but donations are very much welcome
14. Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park
Part of the Askham Bryan College, this wildlife animal park is an educational attraction that will please both adults and children. Visitors usually spent 2 to 3 hours in the park to see different animals such as otters, goats or wallabies. There is also a café where you can have a quick lunch or tea/coffee break with snacks.
Price: From £6.95/adult and £5.95/child. FREE for children under 3. Family packages are available
15. Walk the City Walls
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Walking the city walls must be on your list to do when visiting York. Stretching for 3.5 km, these are the longest medieval town walls in England, and offer amazing views of the city and beyond. The entire walk should take around two hours and some parts are quite steep, but there are plenty of places to stop along the way for refreshments if you get tired.
Price: FREE
16. Piglets Adventure Farm
If you are looking for a fun day out outside the busy streets of York, head out to Piglets Adventure Farm. You will enjoy watching your kids playing in different areas of the farm such as rides, Go Karts, Mini Golf among other activities you can do there. The prime attraction is of course the Piglet Maternity Ward where some of you might be lucky enough to see newborn piggies. One of the best outdoor things to do in York with kids for sure.
📍 Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Ln, Towthorpe, York YO32 9ST
Price: vary depending of the day
17. York Maze
Please note that this activity is currently CLOSED and re-open on 13th July 2024
This huge maze attracts thousands of visitors each year, when each summer it reveals a different design, created from over one million living, growing maize plants. Past themes include Star Wars, Doctor Who and Thunderbirds… what will it be this year? As well as getting lost in the maze, kids can enjoy a funhouse, adventure activities and pig racing. A ‘must do- on your trip to York with kids!
18. Beetle Bank Open Farm
Here is another idea to spend a day out near York in a farm with plenty of space to let your kids go wild. But also learn about animals such as sheeps, turkeys or goats. There is an adventure playground too with slides, tractors, sand pits and more. Last but not least, you can have a lunch or snack at the café and maybe get some local produces from the shop to bring back home or your holiday letting.
📍 Moor Ln, Murton, York YO19 5XD
Price: From £7.5/person. FREE for children under 2. Family packages available.
19. Castle Howard
One of the UK’s finest stately homes, Castle Howard lies just 15 miles north of York and is well worth a day trip. The magnificent estate encompasses meticulously landscaped gardens, woodland trails and an Adventure Playground complete with swings, slides, towers and bridges. Enjoy lunch at the Boathouse Café or bring your own picnic to enjoy in the grounds.
*Please note: Pushchairs are not allowed inside the House but can be stored and exchanged for ‘hip-seats’ to assist in carrying children.
📍 Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA
Opening Hours: Opening hours for the house and gardens vary according to the season, check the website for more details.
Price:
20. The Ghost Bus Tour
Why not spending 1h15 on a Bus with a great guide that will take you on a original tour of York. You will pass York Minster, The Shambles, Clifford’s Tower and many more sights. The tour starts just outside York train station. Beware, you host might be a bit cheesy and definitely funny. If you are looking for a serious and exhaustive tour of York, it might not be it!
📍 Station Rd, Bus stop RE, York YO24 1AA
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday. CLOSED on Monday. Tours usually start at 6pm or 7.30pm
Price: From £18/person Family packages are available
…7 more things to do in York with Kids…we nearly come to the end of our list
21. The Hole in Wand
Fancy a game of golf on a rainy day in York? No problem. The Hole in Wand is an indoor mini golf with 9 holes. This attraction is very popular with families. A group of 6 ‘wizards’ can play together a round of golf (minimum age is 3 years old). Make sure you pre-book your playing slot, especially on the weekend.
📍 14-16 Coppergate Walk, York YO1 9NT
Opening Hours: vary depending of the day. Usually booking slots start at 9am and finish around 6pm
Price: From £6.99/person/round of golf
22. Rowntree Park
Rowntree Park is a 30 acres park located south of the city centre. It has different playgrounds, a basketball court, 6 tennis courts, a beautiful lake with geese and swans and even a skate park. A good outdoor option on a sunny day in York. And you can also have a snack or coffee/tea at the Rowntree Park Readying Cafe.
Price: FREE
So there you have it. Let’s hope that this guide of the best things to do in York with kids would be usually to plan your next holiday. You might obviously find this list useful whilst you are already there too. Feel free to share the list to your friends and family. We hope you will spend a fantastic time in York with your family and enjoy our great selection of Fun Things to Do with your Kids in York.
23. York FootGolf Centre
Here is an alternative way to play gold and be outdoor on your visit to York. York FootGolf Centre allows you play holes with your footballs and requires no traditional golf equipment. You just need your foot and your competitive mindset to get the ball in the hole! A fun activity for every member of the family to do in York!
📍 Skelton Park Golf Course, Shipton Rd, York YO30 1XW
24. The Derwent Valley Light Railway
If you are a train aficionado, don’t miss out on visiting the Derwent Valley Light Railway. This family friendly attraction allows you to see old trains and locomotives that usually run on Sundays and certain bank holidays. The Railway can be accessed through Murton Park or the Yorkshire Museum of Farming.
📍 Murton Ln, Murton, York YO19 5UF
25. The Web Adventure Park
If you are a looking for a fun day out during your family friendly holiday in York, you can’t go wrong by spending a day at The Web Adventure Park. This theme park will please every member of your family with rides suitable across all ages. You can find a massive indoor soft play area for young children and also a nice café to get your favourite hot drink and snacks. Outdoor activities include a climbing web, a sandpit, a splash water zone. And there is animal little farm where your little ones can get close to ponies, goats or rabbits. The Web Adventure Park is a fantastic site for families looking for things to do in York with kids.
📍 Clifton Gate Business Park, Wigginton Rd, York YO32 2RH
26. Mindlock Escape Rooms
Running out of ideas to keep your children entertained during your visit in York? Why not booking one of the escape rooms available at Mindlock. Games can be played from 2 players and the recommended starting age is 8 years old. Our favourite room is around the ‘Cluedo’ game so we wonder if you would win it under 1-hour to solve all the mysteries inside the room.
📍 9 & 10 Tower St, York Y01 9SA
27. Murton Park
Last but not least, Murton Park is a great place to visit if you want to educate your children on agriculture, livestock and more. The park has a very nice playground where your kids can ride tractors and play with swings, climbing wall and slides. There is also a picnic area close by so pefect if you have brought your lunch with you on sunny day in York. Check their website to explore the different events happening during the year.
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