Once upon a time, the words ‘stately home’ wouldn’t necessarily have conjured up images of a child-friendly day out. All together now, ‘IT’S BORING!’. But things have changed, and there must be barely a grand house in the country that doesn’t also have an adventure playground and a children’s offering in the cafe. We’re spoiled […]

We’re always on the lookout for new places for a family walk near York and, after some late-night research, it sounded as though RSPB Fairburn Ings would tick all the boxes. A short drive from York, located between Leeds, York and Wakefield, the site of a former coal face is now a brilliant wildlife site […]

Activities just got more exciting for young children in York with the launch of Toddlers World soft play at York Leisure Centre at Monks Cross. After months of delay – thanks to you-know-what – it’s finally up and running and is a fun, active thing to do in York with children from 6 months to […]

Birthday parties are back! Not Zoom parties or little gatherings at home, but big celebrations where someone else provides the entertainment and tidies up the mess. And York has loads of choice for birthday parties. We’re all for keeping it simple and budget-friendly, but after spending so much time at home, there’s definitely something to […]

Tempting as it is to hide under the duvet to avoid unsettling news updates, we’d recommend doing something joyful instead. When we were invited along to try out festive afternoon tea at The Grand, York – the city’s only five star hotel – it sounded like the perfect escape from reality. We’ve been lucky enough […]

The secret’s out! There’s a new family attraction in town and it’s magic! Tucked away at the back of The Potions Cauldron at 9¾ Shambles – one of York’s most famous streets – is a hidden chamber where potions experiences are now on offer, and we went along to try it before it opened. We […]

If you want to spread a little love as you work down your Christmas shopping list, shop local. It’s been another topsy turvy year for local businesses, so put away your phone, turn off your tablet and enjoy a shopping trip around York (go early or late if you’re not a fan of crowds). Enjoy […]

Having heard the rumour of the opening of a new Bluebird Bakery cafe and bakery in Acomb, we watched the transformation of the old Bathstore shop with greedy anticipation during the summer months. After giving it a polite week or so after the grand opening for the manic queues to calm down (it’s fair to […]

There’s no birthday that our children look forward to quite as much as their tenth. Not because they’re finally in double figures or they’re edging towards the end of primary school, but because they can finally go to York’s only cat cafe, The Cat’s Whiskers on Goodramgate.  Our eldest anticipated his 10th birthday with the […]

York Ice Trail is back for 2022, cheering us all up at the coldest time of year. Expect an array of sculptures on a secret theme, with plenty of interactive elements to enjoy. Look out for more details of the sculptures and trail as they’re announced closer to the time. It’s always a lovely event […]

From Vikings to Victorians, chocolate-makers to history-shapers, York is a city like no other, and it’s the perfect place for family adventures. Where else can you take a ride through a Viking village, climb aboard a famous locomotive, make a chocolate lolly, captain your own boat and stroll down a street that’s straight out of […]

Swimming lessons are a must. Whatever your kids are keen to try – from ballet to basketball, gymnastics to German, forest schools to French, STEM to stirring (well, cooking), we’d put money on the fact that there’s a class in York for them (take a look at our selection of the best classes in York […]

Eden Camp is an award-winning modern history museum based just outside Malton. If the word ‘museum’ conjures up visions of large brick-built buildings with shiny ticket offices, light-filled atriums and glossy galleries, then Eden Camp couldn’t be more different. In fact, it’s a family-owned attraction housed in a former WW2 Prisoner of War camp! We […]

It really says something about the year we’ve had when a 10-minute car ride from home to the village of Copmanthorpe has an air of excitement about it. But there was a definite sense of excitement as we packed up the car with blankets, snacks and the odd emergency wet-weather item and headed to the […]

There are plenty of ways to explore York: the top deck of a tour bus, cruising on a riverboat, getting on your bike or even by electric scooter. But there’s no doubt that one of the best ways to discover the city is on foot. York’s one of the most walkable cities in the UK, […]

If there’s one family-friendly place in York that’s guaranteed to be a hit with under 11s, it’s The Web Adventure Park (locally known as Creepy Crawlies). With indoor and outdoor fun covered, it’s a great option whatever the weather. They’re always adding new activities, too, so there’s usually something different to try. We were invited […]

CONSIDERING MOVING TO TO YORK? Home to Vikings, Victorians, chocolate-makers and innovators, and now – just maybe – you and your family! Excellent schools, great quality of life, enviable commuting options and housing stock and tons of things to do: those of us lucky enough to call York home have long known that it’s an amazing […]

Just when we thought the choice of things to do in York with kids couldn’t get any better – Viking villages! Amazing trains! Victorian sweet shops! A whole attraction dedicated to chocolate! – it has. The whole country went into lockdown at the start of the year, and by the time we were allowed out […]

Cuddly, creepy, friendly and fierce, there’s a host of creatures waiting to meet your family over at Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park, from the everyday to the exotic. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, located on the campus of Askham Bryan College, but it’s well worth a visit. We went again after lockdown […]

Instead of letting the kids climb the walls at home this morning, we took them along to try the new Clip’N Climb Arena at York Leisure Centre at the York Stadium complex (Monks Cross) and they loved it. It’s an impressive new facility with a range of fun and challenging climbing walls for all ages […]