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 […]

For the best part of a decade, our mission has been to connect families to the very best things to do in and around York, pointing them in the direction of the places where they’ll be warmly welcomed and have a positive experience. We make those connections through our school holiday guides, annual Family Guide […]

The North York Moors National Park is on York’s doorstep, and it’s one of the most stunning areas of the country. It’s amazing walking country for families with children old enough to enjoy exploring, and there are some lovely family-friendly attractions too. Hop on a steam train, count the butterflies at a lavender farm, embark […]

If there were ever two words guaranteed to divide the generations, it’s these: soft play. Toddlers, pre-schoolers and older kids love it, parents tolerate it, hoping that it’ll keep their children happy, dry and occupied for a couple of hours while they have a quiet cup of something hot (dream on). Whether soft play conjures […]

Here are six words guaranteed to bring joy to any child’s heart: ‘Feel free to lick the spoon!’ Especially when that spoon happens to be covered in warm, sweet, freshly melted chocolate made at York Cocoa Works. With Easter fast approaching, we were invited along to the only place in York that makes its own […]

Just a short drive from York, Allerthorpe Lakeland Park is the ideal destination to take energetic children. Set in 53 acres of grounds, it’s THE place to visit for watersports near York. Even if your little ones are too young to enjoy the pleasures of falling off a paddleboard, there’s still plenty for them to […]

The Yorkshire Dales is one of the most spectacular areas of the country to walk in, but unless you’re a seasoned walker with good knowledge of the area it can be hard to know where to start and what will suit your family’s ability. And let’s not talk about how easy it is to get […]

Hold onto your pointy hats! York’s cauldron is overflowing with experiences for young wizards on a trip to York, from potion making to wizard minigolf. Put your cloaks on, grab your wands and enjoy some fantastically enchanting things to do with children that you’ll only find in York. 1. Discover Diagon Alley (aka Shambles) Popular […]

When it comes to choosing somewhere to stay in York, there’s a lot to consider. Do you want to be a stone’s throw from the attractions? Would you like an interconnecting room, rather than all squeezing into one space (and having an argument about who gets the sofa bed)? And – a big one – […]

What a year it’s been! Throughout all the ups and downs, York has remained one of the very best places for families to live and visit. From incredible attractions to an amazing array of children’s classes, birthday parties and places to eat and drink, we’re spoiled for choice. This year’s Little Vikings Awards represents the […]

Once upon a time, the words ‘stately home’ wouldn’t necessarily have conjured up images of a child-friendly day out. All together now, ‘IT’S BORING!’. But things have changed, and there must be barely a grand house in the country that doesn’t also have an adventure playground and a children’s offering in the cafe. We’re spoiled […]

We’re always on the lookout for new places for a family walk near York and, after some late-night research, it sounded as though RSPB Fairburn Ings would tick all the boxes. A short drive from York, located between Leeds, York and Wakefield, the site of a former coal face is now a brilliant wildlife site […]