The Little Vikings Awards 2025 winners announced!
What better way to kick off the new year than celebrating the very best that York has to offer for families? Once again, you voted in your thousands (thank you!) and now we’re delighted to reveal the Little Vikings Awards winners 2025, sponsored by The Mount School.
Now in its 10th year, the Little Vikings Awards is the only awards scheme to reward the very best of family-friendly York, from the best family-friendly attractions in York to the best days out, tours, birthday parties, classes and places to eat. We’ve long been convinced that York is the most family-friendly city in the UK, and if you take a look at the impressive list of finalists – and now our winners – you’ll see why.
Thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to nominate and vote for your favourites. As always, the winners represent YOUR best of family-friendly York, so if you seek out a winner during 2025, you’re following the recommendation of thousands of other parents. Why not make a New Year’s resolution to give them a try? Without further ado, here are this year’s winners of the Little Vikings Awards 2025. Congratulations to you all, and to all the finalists!
Huge thanks to this year’s headline sponsor, The Mount School, and to our category sponsors: En Pointe Dance School, Middletons Hotel and York’s Chocolate Story.
THE 2025 WINNERS
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD – Sponsored by Middletons Hotel
Cain North with the OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity has worked tirelessly to support the children and families impacted by brain tumours despite having a brain tumour himself.
BEST ATTRACTIONS
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION IN YORK
National Railway Museum
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (YORKSHIRE COAST)
Sea Life Scarborough
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (YORKSHIRE DALES)
The Forbidden Corner
BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION (NORTH YORK MOORS)
Dalby Forest
BEST EXPERIENCES
BEST RAINY DAY EXPERIENCE
National Railway Museum
BEST CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE
York’s Chocolate Story
BEST SPOOKY EXPERIENCE
Ghosts After Dark in York Museum Gardens
BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL
JORVIK Viking Festival
BEST CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
Christmas at Castle Howard
BEST MAGICAL EXPERIENCE
Mother Shipton’s
BEST TOUR OF YORK
The Wizard Walk of York
BEST CLASSES FOR KIDS IN YORK – Sponsored by En Pointe Dance School
BEST BABY/TODDLER SWIMMING CLASS
Puddle Ducks
BEST SWIMMING CLASS (4+)
York Sport
BEST ACTIVE CLASS
Gymnastics at The Little Gym
BEST DRAMA CLASS
York Stage School
BEST DANCE CLASS
En Pointe Dance School
BEST PREGNANCY CLASS
Puddle Ducks aquanatal
BEST MUSIC CLASS
My Baby Can Dance York
BEST CREATIVE CLASS
PQA York
BEST HOLIDAY CLUB OR CAMP
PQA York – Show in a Week
BEST ACTIVITY FOR 10 – 13 YEAR-OLDS
Red Goat Climbing
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY PROVIDER
The Web Adventure Park
BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINER
The Wizard Walk of York
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST CINEMA
Vue
BEST THEATRE
York Theatre Royal
BEST SHOP
The Potions Cauldron
PLACES TO STAY – Sponsored by York’s Chocolate Story
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
The Grand, York
BEST CAMPING/GLAMPING
Allerthorpe Lakeland Park
EATING OUT
BEST BREAKFAST
The Balloon Tree
BEST LUNCH
Spark:York
BEST SUNDAY ROAST
The Balloon Tree
BEST ICE CREAM
Curlew Fields Dairies
BEST DATE NIGHT DESTINATION
Ambiente Tapas
BEST STREET FOOD
Shambles Kitchen
BEST CAFE
Brew & Brownie
CHILDCARE
BEST NURSERY
Little Green Rascals
BEST CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
Blossom Family Dental Care
