It’s that time of year again – a chance to send some love to the family-friendly places and people in around York. Now in its 8th year, the Little Vikings Awards is the only awards scheme that rewards the very best of York (and beyond) for kids, and we’d love you to take a few […]

Everyone knows that the Yorkshire coast is an amazing place for a day by the sea, from the twinkling lights of Scarborough’s South Bay to the simplicity of Hunmnanby, Filey and Fraisthorpe. There are attractions galore – Whitby Abbey, Sewerby Hall and Scarborough Castle to name a few – but we’ve discovered a new place […]

The happiness that Tiger Woods feels when he gets a hole-in-one is nothing compared to the buzz of a parent who’s finally discovered an activity that makes a hard-to-please older child happy. This summer, we’ve found it: FootGolf. York FootGolf, to be precise: a 15-hole course at Skelton, just a 10-minute drive from York. We […]

From scouring the menu for something they’ll eat to checking there’s a highchair and then expecting them to sit in it for more than a minute, eating out with children isn’t always the most relaxing of experiences. Thankfully there are plenty of family-friendly places to eat in York where things are more likely to be stacked […]

You’ve just dropped your bags at your hotel or apartment, or you’ve spilt out of the train or car into York city centre, kids in tow, but there’s no time to rest. There’s a whole city to explore, but where to start? Look up, and there’s your answer: York Minster. No visit to York is […]

If the thought of taking your children for afternoon tea fills you with dread – the noise! the crumbs!  – consider this: a child is never quieter than in the presence of cake. So imagine just how compliant they are when they’re faced with three tiers of baked goodies! We’re big fans of taking children […]

With so many things to do in York with kids, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you’re not here for long. Let’s save you a bit of time by recommending the National Railway Museum, as one of York’s must-see attractions for family visitors. We visited again recently to check that […]

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to attractions and museums in York, with wizards, Vikings and Victorians all waiting to meet you. Whatever your children are into, there’s somewhere for them, from the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre to one of the best railway museums in the world, the National Railway Museum. Some of them are […]

Did you know that there’s a beach in York? And we don’t mean that scruffy patch of sand under Ouse Bridge, home to the city’s goose population who are clearly dreaming of more tropical climes. Nope, we’re talking about the much loved but surprisingly little known beach on the Beningbrough river walk. Since we discovered […]

One of York’s newest family attractions, The Wizard Walk of York, has been showered with five-star reviews since it launched early in 2022. In fact, it’s even won the Little Vikings Award 2023 for Best Tour of York, as voted for by our wonderful audience! Unlike the various ghost tours, river tours and bus tours […]

York’s bursting with so many things to do with kids that it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you’re short on time. One place that always makes it into our top picks for families – and a favourite with Little Vikings readers- is York Castle Museum, a place that ticks plenty […]

Passports away, bikinis on! It’s time to splash about in the sunshine without leaving the county. Yep, we’re talking about one of North Yorkshire’s best kept secrets: Helmsley Open Air Pool. If you see families walking about the pretty market town with towels under their arm and large inflatable flamingos trailing behind them, you can […]

No family trip to Bridlington is complete without a trip to Sewerby Hall and Gardens, a clifftop haven for kids that’s so much fun you might just forget to head down to the beachfront for fish and chips. We’ve visited many times and always enjoy ourselves. Our children, who can never remember the names of […]

So you’ve ticked off the museums, explored the forests, galavanted around the gardens and pottered around North Yorkshire’s towns and cities. What’s left? The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, that’s what! Nestled in one of the prettiest corners of the county, the NYMR is one of the world’s greatest railway experiences and one of the most […]

From tantrum-prone toddlers to tired teens, there’s one thing guaranteed to raise a smile: contact with a furry creature or two. Throw in an adventure playground, and it’s a recipe for a successful family trip. One of our favourite days out with animals is Beetle Bank Farm in Murton, a very short drive from York. […]

When did you last go to Harewood? Just over half an hour from York, and with a huge amount to do and see, it’s perfect for a family day trip. The last time we went, our youngest was nose-to-snout with the pigs. Now she’s a sweet seven-year-old, it was high time we ventured back to […]

If there’s one museum in York that you’ll hear locals talk about but never find in the guidebooks, it’s The Dinosaur Museum. Obsessively adored by local children, The Dinosaur Museum is in fact better – and more boringly – known among grown-ups as The Yorkshire Museum. Nestled in York’s Museum Gardens, it has finally reopened […]

With the Yorkshire Moors, Coast and Dales on the doorstep, there’s no shortage of options for family day trips from York. One of our favourites is Lotherton, an easy 20 minute drive from home and guaranteed to please our whole family. We visited again on a sunny spring Sunday to see if it still ticked […]

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy delicious ice cream, and that’s almost the same thing. We’ve indulged in scoops and sprinkles to test out the many and various ice cream offerings in York so we can bring you the very best. Whether you’re picking up a cone to lick while you wander the […]

With over 800 years of history and boasting one of the best views in the city, Clifford’s Tower has long been one of the best places to visit in York. It hasn’t, though, always been the most enjoyable of places to go, especially with children. We can’t be the only ones who’ve shimmied around the […]