The Little Vikings Awards 2026 shortlists announced! Voting is now open
Drumroll, please… We’re thrilled to unveil the Little Vikings Awards 2026 shortlists, proudly sponsored by Indie York! Huge thanks to our sponsors Indie York, The York Proms, Stockeld Park, Mint Sauce Media, The Bloody Tour of York, Stonegate Medical Clinic, Yorkshire Foundry and Caramel Cottage The Bay Filey.
Celebrating its 11th year, the Little Vikings Awards remains York’s only award dedicated to rewarding the very best in family-friendly experiences across the city and North Yorkshire. From top attractions and exciting days out to unforgettable tours, birthday party venues, classes, and family-friendly places to eat and stay, our awards spotlight the places that make York fantastic for families.
This year, as always, we handed the decision-making over to the experts – you! Thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate your favourites; we’ve received more nominations this year than ever before, which is incredible. Those with the most nominations have made it to the finals, so read on to see who’s in the running.
Now, it’s back to you to choose the winners. Voting closes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and we’ll reveal York’s family favourites in January. Let the voting begin!
THE 2026 FINALISTS
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Sponsored by Stockeld Park
These are the people and places that have been nominated by you for going the extra mile this year.
- – Louise at Coral Magson Swim School goes above & beyond to support her swimmers & their families as much as she can.
- – PQA – an amazing organisation! It has helped increase my daughter’s confidence loads!
- – 1st Holgate Scouts for the dedication and time they give to so many children to have exciting opportunities and adventures
- – Katie Atkin at Dinky Groves Nursery for her never-ending commitment and enthusiasm for the children she looks after and her innovations with the outdoor classroom
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTIONS – Sponsored by The Bloody Tour of York
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION IN YORK
Piglets Adventure Farm
National Railway Museum
JORVIK Viking Centre
York Castle Museum
York Maze
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (YORKSHIRE COAST)
Sea Life Scarborough
Sewerby Hall
Whitby Abbey
The Deep
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (YORKSHIRE DALES)
The Forbidden Corner
Fountains Abbey
Mother Shipton’s
Stump Cross Caverns
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (NORTH YORK MOORS)
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Dalby Forest
Castle Howard
William’s Den
Eden Camp
BEST FAMILY EXPERIENCES IN YORK
BEST RAINY DAY EXPERIENCE
National Railway Museum
The Web Adventure Park
York Castle Museum
Oxygen York
Rainbows Ceramics
BEST CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE
York’s Chocolate Story
York Cocoa Works lollipop making
Chocolate & Co.
Chocolate cup at Monk Bar Chocolatiers
BEST SPOOKY EXPERIENCE
The Bloody Tour of York
The York Dungeon
York Dungeon walking tours
Hallowtween at York Maze
BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL
Baby Band Festival
Deer Shed
WizardFest
JORVIK Viking Festival
BEST CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
Piglets Santa’s Sleigh Ride
Christmas at Castle Howard
North Yorkshire Moors Railway – Santa Express
Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park
Winter Adventure at JORVIK Viking Centre
BEST MAGICAL EXPERIENCE
The Wizard Walk of York
Potions Class at The Potions Academy
The Hole in Wand
Mother Shipton’s
The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring
BEST TOUR OF YORK
The Wizard Walk of York
City Cruises
Deathly Dark Tours
The Bloody Tour of York
City Sightseeing bus tour
BEST CLASSES FOR KIDS IN YORK – Sponsored by The Yorkshire Foundry
BEST BABY/TODDLER SWIMMING CLASS
Water Babies
Puddle Ducks
Swimming with Linzi
Pure Swim Yorkshire
York Sport
BEST SWIMMING CLASS (4+)
Brightwater Swim School
York Sport
Coral Magson Swim School
Bootham Swim School
York Swimming Academy
BEST ACTIVE CLASS
Gymnastics at The Little Gym
Kixx
Clip’n’climb at York Leisure Centre
Flying Ducks Gymnastics
BEST DRAMA CLASS
Story Craft Theatre
York Stage School
York Theatre Royal youth theatre
PQA York
Creative Coliseum
BEST DANCE CLASS
En Pointe
Yorkshire Rose Academy of Dance
The Little Yorkshire Dance Academy
York Stage School
Lisa Marie Performing Arts
BEST PREGNANCY CLASS
For Modern Mothers – Pregnancy yoga
For Modern Mothers – Hypnobirthing
Lucy Corbally yoga
Puddle Ducks aquanatal
BEST MUSIC CLASS
My Baby Can Dance York
York Stage School – Yorkie Puds
Baby Band
Bloom Baby
BEST CREATIVE CLASS
PQA York
Wild Things Forest School
York Stage School
Story Craft Theatre
Creative Coliseum
BEST HOLIDAY CLUB OR CAMP
Creative Coliseum
United Adventures
Camp QE
Total Sports
York City Football Club Foundation
BEST ACTIVITY FOR 10-13 YEAR OLDS
Lisa Marie Performing Arts
X Martial Arts
Junior Triathlon at York Sport
Freeklimb
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY PROVIDER
The Web Adventure Park
Lush
York Sport
Rainbows Ceramics
Oxygen York
BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINER
The Wizard Walk of York
Janet & Cassie, Story Craft Theatre
The team at Rainbows Ceramics
Adam from The Woodland Adventure Company
BEST CULTURE & LEISURE – Sponsored by The York Proms
BEST CINEMA
Vue
Everyman
City Screen
Cineworld
BEST THEATRE
York Theatre Royal
Grand Opera House York
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Friargate Theatre
BEST SHOP
Waterstones
The Shop That Must Not be Named
York Ghost Merchants
Totally Awesome
The Little Apple Book Shop
BEST INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
Avocado Events
Dinky Groves Nursery
Wild Things Forest School
Curious Coffee, Haxby
PLACES TO STAY – Sponsored by Caramel Cottage, Filey
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
Novotel York
The Milner
Delta by Marriott
The Grand, York
BEST SELF-CATERING
Hollins Farm Lodge Holidays
YHA York
The Riverfront, York
The Lawrance
BEST CAMPING/GLAMPING
Baxby Manor
Humblebee Farm
The Riverfront, York
Allerthorpe Lakeland Park
EATING OUT – Sponsored by Mint Sauce Media
BEST BREAKFAST
The Balloon Tree
The Dark Horse
Robinsons
The Pig & Pastry
BEST LUNCH
The Balloon Tree
Cresci Pizzeria
Ambiente
Spark York
BEST SUNDAY ROAST
The Old Liquor Store
Bosuns
The Balloon Tree
Guy Fawkes Inn
BEST ICE CREAM
Loopy Scoops
Trinacria
Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato
Curlew Fields Dairy
BEST DATE NIGHT DESTINATION
Pairings
Skosh
Sora, Malmaison
Ate O’Clock
BEST STREET FOOD
Goldee’s Bagels, Shambles Market
Yuzu Street Food
Shambles Kitchen
Krep (Shambles Market)
BEST CAFE
Brew & Brownie
Chocolate & Co.
Bruks
But First, Bishopthorpe
The Dark Horse
BEST CHILDCARE
BEST NURSERY
York Campus Nursery
Dinky Groves Nursery
The Mount Pre-School
Bootham Junior School
Queen’s Kindergarten and Chapter House Nursery
BEST FAMILY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER – Sponsored by Stonegate Medical Clinic
Blossom Family Dental Care
Athletica Health Physiotherapy
Stonegate Medical Clinic
Dr Mafalda, The York Dental Suite
Rae & Rae Opticians
