From the cobbled charm of The Shambles to potion workshops and wizard mini golf, York is the ultimate city for families who love magic (so that’s all of us, right?). Whether your kids are budding witches and wizards or just love exploring somewhere that feels straight out of a storybook, York’s bound to cast a spell over you.
Voted the UK’s best place to live (and one of the most magical to visit), York’s mix of ancient streets, quirky shops and spellbinding experiences makes it the perfect destination for families all year round. Here are our highlights, all tried and tested by a local family.
RECOMMENDED
💰 The best free and cheap things to do in York
🛌 The best places to stay in York with kids
🤪 The best unusual things to do in York
👶 The best things to do in York with a baby/toddler
📗 Read the Little Vikings Family Guide to York
😎 The best things to do with older kids and teens in York
Why York Feels Like Diagon Alley
The cobbled streets and crooked buildings of York look so much like something from the wizarding world that it’s easy to see why many believe York’s Shambles inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. With its higgledy-piggledy shopfronts, hanging signs and narrow lanes, it’s a brilliant place to spark children’s imaginations. Even if J.K. Rowling has never confirmed the connection, we like to believe this beautiful place inspired one of the most famous fictitious streets in history. Formerly a street of butchers’ shops adorned with hanging meat and with raw sewage running along it, it’s certainly a street that could tell a story or two!
The Top Harry Potter-Themed Things to Do in York with Kids
1. Visit The Shop That Must Not Be Named
A must-visit for any fan of the wizarding world, The Shop That Must Not Be Named on The Shambles is packed with official merchandise, wands and robes. It’s beautifully themed and full of photo opportunities, although it can get busy, especially at weekends and school holidays. It’s the ideal place to pick up a new wand or replace your old cloak.
📍 The Shop That Must Not Be Named, 30 The Shambles, York YO1 7LX
🌐 www.theshopthatmustnotbenamed.co.uk
2. Mix a potion at The Potions Academy
Step inside a magical wizard school and try a family-friendly potion-making class! From fizzing elixirs to magical secret, it’s a fun, half-hour experience for kids aged 5+ where they’ll graduate from Potions Class and even receive one to take home (read our review here).
📍 The Potions Academy, 1st Floor (entrance to rear, 37-38 Shambles, York YO1 7LX)
🌐 www.thepotionscauldron.com
3. Pick up a butterbeer (or a magical souvenir) from The Potions Cauldron
Although it retains its original charm, the modern-day Shambles is a sweet-smelling experience with many a treat for Potter fans. Visit The Potions Cauldron at No. 9 ¾ (of course) to experience their magical apothecary, pick up a TikTok-famous butterbeer or grab some souvenirs to take home.
📍The Potions Cauldron, 9¾ The Shambles, York YO1 7LZ
🌐 www.thepotionscauldron.com
⭐️ Special offer – Use your Little Vikings Family Card to pick up a FREE chocolate frog! ⭐️
4. Play wizard-themed golf at The Hole in Wand
The Hole in Wand is a marvellously magical world of mini-golf, based in Coppergate near the JORVIK Viking Centre. It’s a really fun thing to do with children aged 3+ (although better suited to 6+ if they want a fighting chance of getting a hole in one!) and ideal if you’d like an alternative to the museums. The attention to detail is excellent, it’s good value and you can even just pop in for a drink or something to eat. There are restorative potions and brews on offer, and snacks too. It’s a great option for rainy days, birthday treats or just something a bit different. Expect nine holes of family-friendly fun, and maybe a Butterbeer afterwards. Hole in Wand website for the latest information.
📍 The Hole in Wand, 14-16 Coppergate Walk, York YO1 9NT
🌐 www.theholeinwand.com
⭐️ Special offer – Use your FREE Little Vikings Family Card to enjoy a FREE VIP upgrade! ⭐️
5. Go on a wizard walk
The Magic Hatter brings his award-winning entertainment to the streets with The Wizard Walk of York – the most magical ticket in town and a multi-award-winning experience! Join The Wizard of York on a quest to find magical creatures as you wand-er the snickelways of our enchanting city. It’s a wonderfully whimsical tour that wizard fans will go Potty for! The charismatic wizard guide makes it a highlight for kids aged around 5+.
📍 Starts at The Shambles, York
🌐 www.wizardwalkofyork.com
⭐️ Special offer – Use your Little Vikings Family Card to receive a FREE golden dragon coin! ⭐️
6. Explore York’s magical streets
Wander down Stonegate, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate and York’s other silly streets and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook. The best way to explore is to pick up or download the Little Vikings Snickelways and Silly Street Names Trail. Download the Snickelways map here.
6. Visit York Railway Station to cross the King’s Cross bridge
Apparently, the bridge that Harry and Hagrid cross is at York Station! There’s some debate about it, but why not take a pilgrimage to York’s main transport hub and watch out for steam trains that are Hogwarts-bound…There’s also another outlet of The Potions Cauldron at the station, too.
York Railway Station, Station Road, York YO24 1AB
7. Head to Hogsmeade (AKA Goathland Station) and climb aboard!
A short drive from York is the North York Moors, one of the most stunning parts of the country. The North York Moors Railway is one of the top visitor attractions, not least because of its connection to the Harry Potter films. Goathland Railway Station was transformed into Hogsmeade, welcoming Harry Potter and his friends to their new term at Hogwarts. While you’re there, we’d really recommend riding the North York Moors Railway for the full experience – it’s a truly magical thing to do, and one of our top recommendations for family days out in the North York Moors. Goathland Station, Cow Wath Bank, Goathland, Whitby YO22 5NF – Visit the North York Moors Railway website
8. Explore Malham Cove
Have courage, channel your inner Dumbledore and head out to Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales where you’ll see one of the settings for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, where Harry and Hermione hide from Lord Voldemort. There are numerous walking routes for children who are old enough to embark on a hike (or babies who are happy in a carrier) and it’s an absolutely stunning place to go. If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to stay in Malham, we’d recommend The Lister Arms, which has very comfortable family rooms. Malham, Skipton BD23 4DJ
Free & Budget-Friendly Magic in York
You don’t need to spend a Galleon to have a magical time in York. Here are some enchanting activities that don’t cost a forrtune.
- Walk the City Walls – They’re free to explore and have amazing views.
- Visit the National Railway Museum – Not striuctly wizard-themed but guaranteed to impress any train-mad child (and it’s free). There are a few Potter-related bits and pieces in the museum, so keep your eye out.
- Sneak Down York’s Secret Snickelways – Those narrow little alleys are straight out of a fantasy storybook and the perfect way to explore York with kids. Find out more about the Snickelways and Silly Street Names Trail here.
Magical places to stay in York with kids
York has plenty of lovely family-friendly places to stay, from excellent chain hotels to unique self-catering apartments. For an extra sprinkle of magic, look for themed rooms or historic properties with a bit of character, like this one:
101 House at the End
Award-winning self-catering house, 101 House at the End, is a unique house of witchcraft and wizardry. Located a short walk or drive from York city centre, next to York Racecourse, it’s like spending a night in the Potter film set! Snooze in the iconic Emerald bedchamber, snuggle up on the sofa in the Victorian Reading Room and indulge in a bubble bath in the stunning bathroom. 101 Sutherland Street, York – Book via Airbnb or other booking sites
When to visit York
York’s magic shines year-round, with something to recommend every season.
- Spring – WizardFest is York’s only festival dedicated to all things magical, and it takes place during May half term.
- Summer – Great for walking tours and outdoor photos.
- Autumn – York in cosy season has the perfect atmosphere for spooky half-term adventures.
- Christmas – The Shambles looks incredible during the festive season.
Weekdays and early mornings are quieter, if you’d rather avoid the crowds.
When to visit York
York really is the perfect place to visit if you’ve got Harry Potter fans in the house (or anyone who loves a sprinkling of enchantment). Book ahead for the activities above, as they can get very busy, and don’t forget that lots of the best things to do are totally free. And when you’ve finished your wizarding adventure, why not try one of the Little Vikings walking trail? Our I Spy Trail was recommended by The Sunday TImes, and we’ve recently launched the brand-new Snickelways & Silly Street Names Trail.
There’s a lot for Harry Potter fans to love about a trip to Yorkshire, from York’s Shambles to the North Yorkshire Moors for Hogsmeade and the Yorkshire Dales too. Happy wizarding!
This guide was written by the Little Vikings editorial team. Little Vikings is an award-winning, independent guide to family-friendly activities in and around York, run by a local family with an in-depth knowledge of the best things to do and places to go.
About Little Vikings – York for Kids
Little Vikings is York’s award-winning family guide, run by a local family who know the city inside out. We explore, review and recommend the best things to do, see, eat and experience with kids in York and beyond.
