If meeting Santa isn’t your thing, or you just fancy a festive family trip with a bit of added sparkle, there are lots of Christmas light trails in Yorkshire to enjoy. It’s the perfect excuse to wrap up warm and head out after dark – always exciting, especially when you’re young – and see some […]

Since the posters featuring Tracy Beaker’s smiling face started popping up across York, our youngest has been counting down to the opening of this year’s Grand Opera House pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. Not only was she excited about seeing one of her CBBC favourites in real life, but she’s also a huge fan of […]

Christmas has come early for families in York! As big fans of travelling by train with kids, we’re excited to tell you that rail journeys from York have just had a major upgrade for families thanks to the brand new York Station family lounge. With no traffic jams, no ‘are we nearly there yet?’ moments […]

The Little Vikings Awards 2025 shortlists announced! Voting is now open Drumroll, please… We’re thrilled to unveil the Little Vikings Awards 2025 shortlists, proudly presented by The Mount School! A huge shoutout to our other amazing sponsors, En Pointe Dance School, York’s Chocolate Story, and Middletons Hotel, for their support. Celebrating its 10th year, the […]

Jingle bells! Christmas in York will be here before we know it, and it’s looking good for a sparkling festive season. As always, there’s plenty of choice of family-friendly Christmas events in and around York for children of all ages, from meetings with Father Christmas to pantomimes and days out with added twinkle. Here’s our […]

Planning a magical Christmas break with your family? A veritable winter wonderland, York is the perfect place to stay with kids, whether you’re planning a weekend break or holiday. Not only is it a city that looks incredible when it’s decked out in festive finery, but it’s brimming with family-friendly things to do, places to […]

Silent night? Not likely. Head along to one of these Christmas shows for full-throttle festive entertainment for the whole family, or head to York Minster for a lovely traditional start to your celebrations. Keep checking back here for our pick of the best pantomimes and Christmas shows in York this year, and the all-important details […]

If you’re trying to decide whether to see Aladdin at York Theatre Royal, here’s the short answer from our 10-year-old: ‘it’s the best panto I’ve ever seen’. She laughed and danced all the way through it, and pretty much danced all the way home. Oh, and that’s after seeing it for the second time in […]

We’ve been lucky enough to try many of York’s Santa experiences over the years, but somehow we’d never hopped on board to check out the only one that takes place on water: the City Cruises Santa Cruise. So when we were invited to try it this Christmas, we jumped at the chance, and we’re pleased […]

If you’re looking for a lovely walk in York or the surrounding Yorkshire countryside with your children, look no further. There’s a lot to love about going on a family walk: it’s great exercise, gets everyone off their screens and gives you a great chance to chat and connect. There are lots of great walks […]

The hugely popular Sewerby Winter Woodland is back again this year, running from Friday 6th to Sunday 22nd December 2024! An all-new spectacular display of lights, sounds and special effects will bring the grounds to life for a great evening out this festive season. This year’s Sewerby Winter Woodland will include new light installations including […]

If you’re planning to visit York this Christmas with your kids, we’ve got an idea that will put you at the top of the Nice List for a lifetime: booking the Santa’s Grotto bedroom at Moxy York, arguably the most fun hotel in the city. We were invited along with two of our elves (aged […]

If you’re looking for afternoon tea in York with a twist, The Potions Academy has brewed up something special. Tucked away at the back of the iconic Shambles, this new Wizard Afternoon Tea is set to become a must-visit experience for families seeking delicious treats and magical memories. Here’s why this quirky afternoon tea sounds […]

Castle Howard’s award-winning Christmas experience is back, and this year’s theme is Alice’s Christmas Wonderland! Alice is planning a huge Christmas party, and you’re invited. In fact, you can enter our competition and might just win a family ticket! Read on for details. We went along to the preview of this year’s Christmas at Castle […]

Experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas at York Castle Museum! There’s nowhere quite like it in York, and it really is a unique experience where a warm, festive feeling is guaranteed. From November 16th 2024 to January 5th 2025, immerse yourselves in the joy of a beautifully decorated Christmas on Kirkgate, the recreated Victorian […]

When it comes to creating festive family memories, Mother Shipton’s Christmas Experience over in Knaresborough is in a league of its own. After a few years away, we returned this year with our youngest and her friend and we were all enchanted. This much-loved outdoor attraction has mastered Christmas magic, offering a joyful, high-quality experience […]

Nothing gets the magic flowing quite like meeting Santa himself, and he’s going to be popping up all over York this Christmas. Whether you’d like to meet him on a boat with City Cruises York, in the Christmas Village at Mother Shipton’s or in the woods at Northwood Trail, find out where to meet Santa […]

Calling all musical lovers! With the highly anticipated releases of Wicked and Moana 2, we’ve got a fabulous competition for you, courtesy of PQA York. You could win a family voucher to Cineworld and experience the magic of these amazing musicals on the big screen! As a proud home of PQA York’s cinema screenings, Cineworld is where our talented students get to […]

Did you know that York has its very own wildlife park? Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park is bursting with amazing animals to discover. In fact, over 100 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates call it home! From playful otters and cheeky goats to colourful parrots and slithery snakes, bats, meerkats and […]

Jingle Jump Pass – 5 Holiday bounces for only £30 saving you over 53% Get ready to bounce your way through the Christmas holidays with Oxygen’s Jingle Jump Pass! For just £30, (an epic saving of 53%*), you’ll unlock 5 epic jump sessions. That’s loads of high-flying fun, festive flips, and laughter to be had […]