Rowntree Park Reading Café is one of those easy, reliable spots families return to again and again. Overlooking one of York’s loveliest green spaces, it’s perfectly placed for a park-and-play kind of day.

Inside, you’ll find shelves packed with children’s books, relaxed seating and a menu with plenty of child-friendly options alongside good coffee, cakes and light lunches for grown-ups. There’s space for buggies, baby-changing facilities and both indoor and outdoor seating, so it works in every season.

Step outside and you’re right in the heart of the action. The play areas are moments away, along with the lake, tennis courts, skate park and basketball court. The River Ouse runs alongside the park too, making it easy to turn a café stop into a riverside stroll. It’s a simple, stress-free place to refuel before heading back out for more adventures.

Rowntree Park Reading Cafe, Rowntree Park Lodge, Richardson Street, York YO23 1JU