Set sail on a summer adventure like no other at Mother Shipton’s Cave! From 20th July to 1st September 2024, embark on a journey to Finding Neverland, inspired by the timeless tale of Peter Pan. Immerse yourself in the magic of Neverland with enchanting themed displays, featuring the mischievous Tinkerbell, mysterious shipwrecks, and swashbuckling pirate hideouts. […]

Free hands-on activities for the summer holidays – Kids go free! Come and enjoy world-famous film locations at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) plus FREE kids’ activities, and best of all – kids go FREE!  NYMR has launched an all-new film trail which is available for families to enjoy from 1st July 2024. It […]

York’s newest attraction is opening soon, and we’ve teamed up with the wizards to give you an exclusive opportunity to try it for FREE! Read on to find out how… The Potions Academy will open officially at its home in York’s famous Shambles in September 2024 and be made up of The Potions Class and […]

Much as we love the summer holidays – no pack-ups to make, uniforms to iron or PE kits to remember – they are LONG. The majority of parents will need, or want, a holiday club or camp for a few days or more so they can work or get stuff done without little people in […]

Whether you’re in York for a day, a weekend, a week or a lifetime, it’s no secret that there’s plenty of things to do with kids. As locals ourselves, we’ve gone beyond the guidebooks to pick some of the most interesting and inspiring things to do and places to go, whatever the age of your […]

There aren’t many places that we’d brave the A64 for on the hottest day of the year, but Falling Foss near Whitby is one of them. If you’re looking for a really pretty walk that isn’t too taxing for younger children (and has the prospect of caffeine en route), then look no further. It’s not […]

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark maze…This year’s York Maze theme has been revealed, and it’s a great one: the Gruffalo! Despite his terrible tusks and poisonous wart, Julia Donaldson’s creation is much loved by families and he’ll be re-created in maize plants this summer. Marking 25 years of the picture book, […]

Exciting news, Gruffalo fans! Everyone’s favourite fearsome woodland creature is coming to Dalby Forest this summer! Dalby’s new Gruffalo Birthday Trail is already one of our top picks for the summer, but for the ultimate Gruffalo experience, head to the forest on Saturday 10th August 2024 to meet the legend himself. Throughout the day, you […]

Remember the days when you had to nag, drag or downright bribe your children to go shopping with you? Well, those days are over. When they find out what’s on at York Designer Outlet, they’ll be nagging you to go (and we’re speaking from experience as that’s exactly what happened in our family last summer). […]

Visit Castle Howard this summer and make lifelong memories, with its incredible architecture, rich history and breathtaking landscapes as your backdrop. Summer is the perfect time to immerse yourself in Castle Howard’s contemporary sculpture exhibition and visit the house, gardens and award-winning Skelf Island adventure playground. Here are some summer highlights. Tony Cragg See a […]

How’s your summer going? Been anywhere nice? We’ve been to India, Italy, the USA and Japan without even leaving the city, thanks to York Theatre Royal’s summer show. Around the World in 80 Days-ish is, unsurprisingly, based on the famous Jules Verne novel (although don’t expect to see any hot air balloons). The fictional tale […]

York is THE place to be with kids this summer! Bursting with family-friendly attractions and with a packed calendar of fun events for children, there’s something for every age, weather and budget (take a look at our guide to the summer holidays in York here). One of our top picks for kids is Piglets Adventure […]

Ready to soak up the sun and have a blast at the beach? We’ve teamed up with the good folk at Yolk Farm to bring you an amazing chance to WIN money can’t buy tickets to the grand opening party of the Beach at Yolk Farm! This sizzling summer spot is launching on 20th July, […]

Welcome to Little Vikings Great Yorkshire Family Escapes, a whole year of inspiration for anyone looking for a family break in Yorkshire. Over the next few months, we’ll introduce you to the best family hotels in Yorkshire, with places to stay on the Yorkshire Coast, in the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and the towns […]

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 North York Moors is brimming with amazing things to do with children, and lots of them are free. Enjoy a day packed with adventures without spending a penny: explore family-friendly walking trails, see majestic waterfalls and ancient ruins, keep an eye out for wildlife and visit villages that are straight out of the storybooks. […]

Well, this is exciting! As if we weren’t already spoilt for choice for things to do with kids in York, a brand new escape room has opened and it sounds fab. Candy Chaos at Star Street Escapes is the brainchild of the team behind the fantastic Star Street Salon, York’s only dedicated hairdressers for children, […]

Don’t let rain stop play! There are plenty of things to do in and around York when the weather turns northern, and these are some of the best things to do on rainy days in York with kids, whether you fancy visiting an attraction, losing yourselves in a movie or getting creative and making something […]

It’s that time of year again when those of us lucky enough to have our dads around (or someone who does those fatherly things for us) scrabble to find a way to thank them for what they do for us. While there’s a lot to be said for keeping it simple (and nothing says I […]

York Festival of Ideas is back for 2024 and promises to spark children’s imaginations with lots of FREE and fun hands-on activities (including the Little Vikings I Spy Trail as a recommended free family activity!). The Festival continues to inspire and nurture young people’s creativity and curiosity with events ranging from nature activities to an […]