You nominated in your thousands, and we’re delighted to reveal the finalists of this year’s Little Vikings Awards, as chosen by you! It’s the only awards scheme that rewards the businesses and places in York that go the extra mile for families. Voting has now closed, and we will be announcing the winners in the new year. Thanks to all who voted!
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Alison Goodwin “For giving parents pre & post natal a safe, welcoming & encouraging space to share their experiences & helping us do some yoga on the way”- York Artistic Sports Club (Heworth Gym Club) “Great teachers, many of whom are volunteers. They’re amazing!”
- GoGet Riding “For working with children and adults of all ages and abilities. For their inclusive approach towards an active lifestyle and their ability to make everyone feel they can achieve whatever they try their hardest with”
- Explore York Libraries “An invaluable service for the families of York”
ATTRACTIONS & EXPERIENCES
Best attraction
- DIG – An Archaeological Adventure
- York Castle Museum
- Piglets Adventure Farm
- Beningbrough Hall
- York Minster
Best chocolate experience
- York’s Chocolate Story
- Goddards
- York Cocoa House
Best gory experience
- York Dungeon
- York’s Chocolate Story Trick or Treat Walking Tour
- The Bloody Tour of York
- Haunted Hall, Barley Hall
Best festival for kids
- Deer Shed
- JORVIK Viking Festival
- Eboracum Roman Festival
- Great Yorkshire Fringe
Best rainy day destination
- Rainbows Ceramics
- National Railway Museum
- The Web Adventure Park/Creepy Crawlies
- Energi Trampoline Park
- The Deep, Hull
Best Christmas experience (including Santa’s grotto)
- Santa’s Sleigh Ride at Piglets Adventure Farm
- Christmas at York Castle Museum
- Narnia at The Rock Church
- Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland
- Father Christmas at Castle Howard
DAYS OUT
Best day out with…an adventure playground
- Beningbrough Hall
- Castle Howard
- William’s Den
- Piglets Adventure Farm
- Dalby Forest
Best day out with…rides
- Flamingo Land
- Lightwater Valley
- Piglets Adventure Farm
- Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland
Best day out with…animals
- Flamingo Land
- Monk Park Farm
- Askham Bryan Wildlife Park
- Beetle Bank Farm
- Piglets Adventure Farm
CLASSES
Best baby/toddler swimming class
- York Sport
- Waterbabies
- Puddle Ducks
- Turtle Tots
Best swimming class (aged 4+)
- Brightwater Swim School
- York Sport
- Swimming at Energise
- Swimming with Linzi
Best active class (not swimming)
- Toddler Sense
- Tatty Bumpkin
- Heworth Gym Club
- Rugbytots
- Wild Things Family Forest School
Best drama class
- York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre
- Hoglets
- PQA
- Helen O’Grady Drama Academy
Best pregnancy class
- Pregnancy yoga at The Stables
- Aquanatal with Puddle Ducks
- Aquanatal with Turtle Tots
- NCT York
Best music class
- Song Box
- IMPs (Inclusive Music Project)
- My Baby Can Dance
- Tiny Toes
Best dance class
- En Pointe
- Baby Ballet
- Lisa Marie Performing Arts
- Katie Ventress School of Dance
- Jazzy J’s Dance Academy
Best cookery class for kids
- Little Bites Cookery School
- Clare’s Kitchen
Best STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) class for kids
- York Maker Hub
- Technology in Play
- Monster Maths
Best holiday club or workshop
- Total Sports
- York Theatre Royal Youth Theatre – Play in a Week
- PQA York – Show in a week
- York City Football Club Foundation
- Kings Camp
OUT & ABOUT
Best shop for families
- Fenwick
- Jojo Maman Bebe
- Waterstones
- The Shop That Must Not be Named
Best shoe shop for kids
- Hopscotch
- Watkinsons
- Footloose (Pocklington)
- Schuh
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Best birthday party provider
- Woodland Adventure Co (Bushbabies)
- Rainbows Ceramics
- York’s Chocolate Story
- Energi Trampoline Park
- DIG – An Archaeological adventure
Best birthday party entertainer
- Josh Benson, JB Entertainment
- Adam Dove, The Woodland Adventure Co.
- The Magic Hatter
- Helen Leigh, Rainbows Ceramics
ENTERTAINMENT
Best cinema
- City Screen – kids’ club
- City Screen – Big Scream
- Vue
Best theatre
- York Theatre Royal
- Grand Opera House
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre
FOOD & DRINK
Best family-friendly breakfast
- The Pig & Pastry
- Brew & Brownie
- The Balloon Tree
- The Curious Coffee Company, Haxby
- Bettys
Best family-friendly lunch
- Rowntree Park Reading Café
- The Pig & Pastry
- Cut & Chase
- Trinacria
- The Balloon Tree
Best family-friendly dinner
- Pizza Express
- Wagamama
- Joe’s Kitchen
- Cosmo
- The Rise at The Grand Hotel & Spa
Best Sunday roast
- Hotel du Vin
- The Rattle Owl
- The Woodman, Bishopthorpe
- Cut & Chase
- Bistro Guy
Best ice cream
- Trinacria
- LICC
- Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato
- Two Hoots ice cream boat
Best hot chocolate
- Wild Things Family Forest School
- York’s Chocolate Story
- York Cocoa House
- Bettys
Best date night destination
- Pairings
- Ambiente
- Cut & Chase
- Rustique
- Vaqueiros
CHILDCARE
Best nursery
- York Childcare nurseries
- Little Green Rascals nurseries
- York Montessori nurseries
- Muddyboots
ACCOMMODATION
Best family-friendly self-catering accommodation (including camping and glamping)
- The Hideaway at Baxby Manor
- Jollydays
- The Lawrance
- Goosewood Holiday Park
Best family-friendly B&B
- Carlton House
- Monkgate Guest House
Best family-friendly hotel
- The Grand Hotel & Spa
- Premier Inn
- The Principal
- Novotel
