Where to buy food to eat outdoors in York’s parks and gardens Picnics are officially ON and, after the year we’ve all had, you’d be justified in splashing out on some delicious provisions made by somebody else. Now we’ve nothing against a homemade cheese and pickle or peanut butter and jam (our kids’ sandwich option […]

It's been a long time coming, but we're really excited to let you know about the opening of The Little Gym York at the York Stadium site. It's not just for little ones (they cater for children up to 12), not just for big ones (babies from 4 months are welcome) and they run birthday parties and holiday camps too!

The past twelve months have seen families around the country embracing walks with their kids (let’s face it – there’s not been a lot else to do), and there’s no reason why really little ones should miss out on the fun. There’s a new parent and baby group in York that helps parents of little […]

If there’s one good thing to come out of the endless lockdowns and restrictions on where we can go and what we can do, it’s that more families are discovering the joys of walking with their children. And Yorkshire is the perfect place to do it, from short but inspiring city walks around York to […]

While there were many challenges during lockdown (nobody mention homeschooling…), one of the joys for our family was rediscovering cycling. In normal times we might dust off our bikes once a month, in lockdown we found ourselves going out on two wheels a few times a week. The usual traffic stresses all but disappeared, leaving […]

You’ve probably seen the pretty pictures of York Minster and you might even have visited the JORVIK Viking Centre on a school trip, but there’s a lot more to York than just heritage and tourism. If you’d like to know more, click here to read the new Little Vikings Guide to Moving to York for […]

Whether you’ve got a baby in a buggy or a big kid who’s surgically attached to a screen, it’s good to have a few ideas for getting them outside and active (whether they want to or not!). If they’re anything like ours, they’ll probably complain at the suggestion of going for a walk, but one […]

We’ve all learned to love (or at least tolerate) spending more time at home recently, but a walk does wonders for everyone’s moods. Even if the weather’s uninspiring, getting outside and letting the little ones run free is the perfect antidote to too much sofa time (for them or the grown-ups). Whether they’re tiny or […]

Maybe it’s because we thought our children weren’t old enough for it, or perhaps it’s because our trips to the Dales usually involve a walk rather than an attraction, but The Forbidden Corner is one of the few attractions we hadn’t visited. But with the threat of another lockdown looming – and with it, the […]

If there’s one place in Yorkshire that’s truly out of this world, it’s Brimham Rocks. What began as a large mountain range millions of years ago has been transformed into what we see today through powerful forces – erosion, incredible winds and maybe a bit of good old-fashioned Yorkshire magic. This weird and wonderful spot […]

Whether it’s because we’re all appreciating nature a bit more, or that we just want to hide in the countryside to escape from the news, camping has been more popular than ever this year. Not only is the outdoors the safest place to be in terms of the old corona, but camping is also a […]

The question of whether York’s famous medieval street, the Shambles, inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley or not is more complicated than the rules of Quidditch, but there’s no doubt that it’s magical. And one of the most magical spots on this magical street is The Potions Cauldron, a wizard-themed emporium selling concoctions of every colour […]

Yorkshire Sculpture Park has long been one of our favourite places for a day trip from York. With 500 acres of parkland and world-class sculptures – not to mention a fantastic cafe, plenty of wildlife and amazing indoor exhibitions – it’s a recipe for an inspiring day out. And because it’s so much of an […]

Fresh air, endangered species and a bit of a treasure hunt: if it’s a unique York family experience that you’re after, hunting for tansy beetles is high on the list. Not only is it a great free thing to do in York, but it’s screen-free too and will encourage kids to engage with nature and […]

Where do you go when one child wants to see animals, the other wants to go to the park to play on the swings, and the last one just wants to run about? For us, the answer to that conundrum one sunny Sunday was Murton Park, or the Yorkshire Museum of Farming as it’s also […]

The good folk of Yorkshire are never short of a grand claim or two, from the size and magnificence of the county to our Olympic medal record and the life-changing properties of a properly made Yorkshire pudding and a carefully crafted cup of Yorkshire Tea. So perhaps it should be no surprise that God’s Own […]

Judging by visits to our website to find inspiration for family walks in and around York, we’re not the only ones in the mood for a stomp around the countryside. We all know that the Yorkshire Dales is an amazing place for walking, but most parents will be familiar with the look of horror on […]

When a child-free lunch opportunity arose unexpectedly, it was the perfect opportunity to check out the new premises of Barbakan, the much-loved Polish restaurant. A promising sign that independent, family-run eateries can flourish in York, Barbakan has relocated its restaurant to the old Blue Bicycle building, just up the road in Fossgate.  It prompted a […]

Put that passport away: if it’s beautiful beaches and seaside activities you’re after, look no further than the stunning Yorkshire coast. From the winding streets of Whitby to the wide expanses of sand at Hunmanby Gap, there’s a huge variety of places to go and adventures to be had for families with children of all […]