Easter school holidays in York 2026 – Easter in York takes place from 27th March to 13th April 2026
Spring is in the air, and Easter in York is bursting with fun things to do. Whether you’re searching for the biggest and best Easter egg hunts in York, excited to meet newborn lambs or want to get out into nature, there’s something for everyone. From chocolate-related activities to themed days out, York is the perfect place for an Easter holiday with kids.
With so many egg-citing events happening across the city and beyond, we’ve rounded up the very best things to do in York this Easter. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for daily inspiration too!
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The best things to do around York this Easter for families
Dragon Egg Hunt at The Hole in Wand York
Calling all witches and wizards! An apprentice sorcerer has muddled an Easter spell and cursed 6 dragon eggs! Find the 6 dragon eggs, collect the letter and uncover the hex to win a chocolatey prize which you can collect from The Hole In Wand. Book now before the magic fades!
📍 14-16 Coppergate Walk, York YO1 9NT
🗓 28th March to 19th April 2026
ℹ️ holeinwand.co.uk
Chocolatey Easter Fun for the Whole Family!
Celebrate Easter with a guided tour at York’s Chocolate Story, uncovering the fascinating origins of chocolate and York’s rich confectionery heritage. Get hands-on with an Easter truffle-rolling experience, or for the ultimate treat, join a Chocolate Masterclass, where expert chocolatiers will help you craft and personalise delicious treats to take home. Find out more about the Easter experiences today!
📍 York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
🗓 Open daily
ℹ️ yorkschocolatestory.com
Easter at Mother Shipton’s
EGG-splore the enchanting woodland at Mother Shipton’s and see it transformed into a springtime dream with EGG-stravagant Easter scenes inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Join the Mad Hatter at his wonderfully silly immersive Tea Party, where mischief and madness are always on the menu.
📍 Mother Shipton’s, High Bridge, Knaresborough, HG5 8DD
🗓 28th March to 13th April 2026
ℹ️ mothershiptons.co.uk
Visit the National Railway Museum
See the engines, get hands on and enjoy everything that the Railway Museum has to offer. Admission’s free, and it’s one of the best museums in the city. Don’t miss the wonderful Wonderlab interactive while you’re there (extra charge applies).
📍 National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
🗓 Open daily
ℹ️ railwaymuseum.org.uk
Discover York Minster this Easter
York Minster is open throughout the Easter holidays for Holy Week and Easter worship and sightseeing. From 6 to 11 April, visit for Love to LEGO! Join LEGO® artist Warren Elsmore and help recreate the medieval shrine of St William of York. Build your own section from LEGO® bricks and see it added to the growing masterpiece.
📍 York Minster, Deangate, York YO1 7HH
📅 Open daily
🎟️ Kids go free with a paying adult
ℹ️ Visit the website
Making Waves at York Art Gallery
Over 100 beautiful Japanese woodblock prints have arrived at York Art Gallery, including Hokusai’s famous Great Wave. Expect bold landscapes, legendary characters and a glimpse into Japan’s ‘floating world’, plus kimonos, armour and even a chance to make your own print to take home!
📅 27 February to 30 August 2026
📍 York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York
🎟️ Included with general admission
🌐 yorkartgallery.org.uk
The Rowntree Park Legendary Easter Trail
The Rowntree Park Easter Trail is much loved by local families. You’ll search the park for clues to help the Easter Bunny solve a mystery and earn a reward for all your help. Bring a picnic and make a full day of it! Wednesday April 1st 2026 – book here – www.rowntreepark.org.uk/events/booking
A Medieval Easter at the Bar Convent
See the spectacular Arma Christi medieval scroll on special display at the Bar Convent this Easter. Discover how this remarkable scroll was used to mark Easter 500 years ago, then create your own artwork inspired by its striking imagery in the crafts corner. Closed Sundays and the Easter Bank Holiday.
📍 Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, 17 Blossom St, York YO24 1AQ
📅 28 March – 11 April 2026
🌐 https://barconvent.co.uk/
Easter at Murton Park
Head to Murton Park for a packed Easter programme of family fun, including:
• Easter trail with a chocolate egg prize
• Crafts and storytelling
• Easter Bunny visits
• Traditional games and sports sessions
• DVLR train rides
• Living history reenactments
📅 28 March – 12 April
📍 Murton Park, Murton Lane, York YO19 5UF
🌐 murtonpark.co.uk
Easter Adventure Quest at Whitby Abbey
Enjoy a cracking adventure quest at Whitby Abbey this Easter. Hunt for clues in the grounds, track down the Easter eggs and get rewarded with a tasty chocolate treat. You can take on the quest every day of the school holidays, and it costs just £2 to take part in addition to admission. There’s no need to book, and you can pay when you arrive at the site. Book online and save 15% on your entry ticket.
📍 Whitby Abbey, Abbey Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JT
🗓 Saturday 28th March to Sunday 19th April 2026
ℹ️ english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey
Take a river cruise or hire a self-drive boat
Ahoy there! For a fun and memorable family experience in York, look to the river. Choose from a relaxed cruise along the Ouse with commentary from your captain, or brave the waters with a self-drive hire boat. We’ve done both and loved them equally. Use your Little Vikings Family Card for a discount on self-drive hires. Visit the City Cruises York website for more details
Experience Viking-age York
Travel back in time this Easter and meet the Vikings. Starting on the glass floor, you’ll be introduced to the history of Viking-age York and the dig that took place under your feet. Next, hop on the ride and take a trip through a reconstruction of Jorvik and see what life was like for its residents. Finally, see artefacts up close, visit the Viking house and chat to the Vikings for even more information.
📍 JORVIK Viking Centre, 19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT
🗓 Open daily
ℹ️ jorvikviking.co.uk
Dig into some archaeological fun
DIG is a hands-on archaeological adventure that gives kids the chance to become trainee ‘diggers’ and discover the most exciting artefacts from 2000 years of York’s history!
Four special indoor excavation pits based on real-life digs in the city and filled with replica Roman, Viking, medieval, and Victorian finds allow children to grab a trowel and explore how people lived in these times. Your experience includes a talk from an archaeologist and seeing real archaeological artefacts! DIG is a great experience for ages 5-12, with a fun play area for under 5s.
📅 Open daily
📍 DIG: An Archaeological Adventure, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN
🔗 Visit the DIG York website
Piglets Easter Egg-stravaganza
There’s lots to enjoy at Piglets Adventure Farm this Easter, from the Great Easter Egg Hunt to indoor play, lambing live, entertaining live shows, baby animals and much more. The Beach will be open too!
📍 Piglets Adventure Farm, Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, York YO32 9ST
🗓 Opening times vary seasonally (check online before you visit)
ℹ️ pigletsadventurefarm.com
Easter at Dreamery Gardens
Spring is the most beautiful time in the woods and it is a real pleasure to watch everything waking up and beginning to grow. Head to Dreamery Gardens for Easter celebrations and the hunt for the Golden Hare….
📍 Dreamery Gardens (Northwood), Buttercrambe Moor Road, York YO41 1AP
🗓 Opening times vary (check online before you visit)
ℹ️ dreamerygardens.co.uk
Do the Little Vikings I Spy Trail
Recommended by The Sunday Times, the free Little Vikings I Spy Trail is one of the best ways to explore York on foot with children.Collect a map from the Visit York Information Centre or click here to download it from our website.
York Chocolate Festival
et ready to indulge as York transforms into a chocoholic’s dream from 1st to 5th April 2026! York Chocolate Festival returns and it’s a celebration of all things chocolate. You won’t want to miss out on the fun activities lined up and many are free. Find all the highlights here.
Go for a spring walk
Spring is the perfect time for a family walk: see the flowers in bloom, keep an eye out for butterflies and enjoy some fresh Yorkshire air. Take a look at our guide to the best places for a family walk in and around York for inspiration for all ages and abilities.
Step back in time at Barley Hall
Step back in time and discover this Hidden Gem of York! Barley Hall is a medieval townhouse, restored to its former glory after being rediscovered in the 1980s. You’ll also find Beasts at Barley Hall, which tells the stories of animals in medieval life, from domestic pets (and pests) and livestock to lions, bears and even dragons, using artefacts found in and around the city of York.
📍 Barley Hall, Coffee Yard, off Stonegate, York YO1 8AR
🗓 Open daily (opening times vary)
ℹ️ barleyhall.co.uk
Do something active
From clip’n’climb to aqua parks, soft play and swimming, you’ll find a selection of some of the most fun activities in York on our website. Take a look here for our pick of the best.
