Calling all musical lovers! With the highly anticipated releases of Wicked and Moana 2, we’ve got a fabulous competition for you, courtesy of PQA York. You could win a family voucher to Cineworld and experience the magic of these amazing musicals on the big screen! As a proud home of PQA York’s cinema screenings, Cineworld is where our talented students get to […]

Did you know that York has its very own wildlife park? Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park is bursting with amazing animals to discover. In fact, over 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates call it home! From playful otters and cheeky goats to colourful parrots and slithery snakes, bats, meerkats and […]

Jingle bells! Christmas in York will be here before we know it, and it’s looking good for a sparkling festive season. As always, there’s plenty of choice of family-friendly Christmas events in and around York for children of all ages, from meetings with Father Christmas to pantomimes and days out with added twinkle. Here’s our […]

Get ready to step into a world where reality twists and turns! Launching in January 2025, York’s newest attraction, The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring, will open its doors to families, school groups, and curious explorers of all ages. Right in the heart of York city centre (Merchantgate), this immersive experience promises a journey through […]

Jingle Jump Pass – 5 Holiday bounces for only £30 saving you over 53% Get ready to bounce your way through the Christmas holidays with Oxygen’s Jingle Jump Pass! For just £30, (an epic saving of 53%*), you’ll unlock 5 epic jump sessions. That’s loads of high-flying fun, festive flips, and laughter to be had […]

The Little Vikings Awards 2025 shortlists announced! Voting is now open Drumroll, please… We’re thrilled to unveil the Little Vikings Awards 2025 shortlists, proudly presented by The Mount School! A huge shoutout to our other amazing sponsors, En Pointe Dance School, York’s Chocolate Story, and Middletons Hotel, for their support. Celebrating its 10th year, the […]

This winter, experience AD 975 like never before! For the first time in 40 years, JORVIK Viking Centre is embracing the chill with an immersive winter makeover. Step into the icy world of the Vikings and discover how they braved the cold, kept themselves and their animals warm, what they ate and how they entertained themselves during […]

To celebrate the forthcoming release of Paddington in Peru, there’s a trail of Paddington benches popping up across the UK and Ireland, and York has been lucky enough to get one! We were part of Paddington’s welcoming committee at the official unveiling, and it was so lovely to see the sculpture in real life – […]

Kick off the holiday season with York’s 2024 Nutcracker Trail! It’s one of the best things to do in York at Christmas with kids, and it’s totally free. This year’s theme, Christmas Around the World, showcases ten uniquely designed nutcrackers, each inspired by a different country and adorned with colours and landmarks reflecting its national […]

Silent night? Not likely. Head along to one of these Christmas shows for full-throttle festive entertainment for the whole family, or head to York Minster for a lovely traditional start to your celebrations. Keep checking back here for our pick of the best pantomimes and Christmas shows in York this year, and the all-important details […]

Nothing gets the Christmas magic flowing quite like meeting Santa himself, and he’s going to be popping up all over York this festive season. Whether you’d like to meet him on a boat with City Cruises York, in the Christmas Village at Mother Shipton’s or in the woods at Northwood Trail, find out where to […]

The most enchanting pantomime of all time, Beauty & The Beast, comes to the Grand Opera House York this Christmas! Join Belle, The Beast, Fairy Bon Bon, the exuberant Polly La Plonk and her cheeky chappy son, Louis La Plonk, as they are transported to a cursed castle, under the spell of an evil enchantress. Can […]

Head to York Theatre Royal this Christmas for a spectacular family pantomime! Cbeebies and CBBC superstar, Evie Pickerill, will bring her sparkle as Spirit of the Ring! York favourite, Robin Simpson (Dame Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk) is returning for another sensational show. Paul Hawkyard (Captain Hook in All New Adventures of Peter) will be back for his third pantomime […]

York’s a great place to visit with kids, and it’s bursting with fun things to do that are free or cheap. Children are easily pleased, so you really don’t need to spend a fortune in York to have a good time – in fact there are lots of things to do that are free or […]

Breakfast is a parent’s dream, isn’t it? It’s the one mealtime that’s usually stress-free, especially when you’re out and about. After all, who can be grumpy when there are pancakes on the menu? Start your day in York right by heading to one of these fantastic breakfast and brunch spots. York’s food scene is booming, […]

Experience the magic of Christmas with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s Santa Special, running on selected dates from 30th November to 24th December 2024. Start your festive adventure at Pickering Station, beautifully adorned with twinkling lights, real Christmas trees, and the sounds of Christmas music. Capture the moment with a Christmas selfie, enjoy a treat […]

Excellent festive news for those of you who love a spin around the rink at Christmas: Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland is back at York Designer Outlet for 2024 with 975 sq m of real ice to glide, slide and wobble around.  Presented by HARIBO, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, with its glistening outdoor ice rink, thrilling funfair, magical […]

Experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas at York Castle Museum! There’s nowhere quite like it in York, and it really is a unique experience where a warm, festive feeling is guaranteed. From November 16th 2024 to January 5th 2025, immerse yourselves in the joy of a beautifully decorated Christmas on Kirkgate, the recreated Victorian […]

While we might disagree on what constitutes a sensible meal, a nice outfit or a reasonable bedtime, there’s one thing parents and kids can generally agree on: freshly baked goods make life a little bit brighter. York’s bakery scene is booming, so whether you fancy a tasty local breakfast, trying a local delicacy or need […]

It’s that time of year again when many schools open their doors to welcome prospective parents to have a look around. Details of all the open events for state schools in York can be found here (primary schools) and here (secondary schools) – there are too many for us to list! As for the independent […]