After the expense of the summer holidays, Heritage Open Days 2024 couldn’t come at a better time. The event takes place from 6th to 15th September, but dates for free entry vary so do check online. As always, there are lots of lovely places to explore around York free of charge, and these are our […]

York’s food scene is booming, with excellent French, Thai, and Indian options, as well as Chinese, Nepalese, and Japanese. When it comes to eating out in York with kids though, one cuisine beats them all: Italian. Pizza, to be precise. It can’t just be our kids who disagree on almost everything except their favourite dining out […]

We know, we know! The sun’s shining and the ice cream requests are loud and frequent, but we’re talking about Christmas. Forgive us, but we know that some of you like to plan, so we’re doing our duty and letting you know the big news about this year’s Christmas theme at Castle Howard. For the […]

Inflatables at the ready! There’s a brand new family lake at Pool Bridge Farm, the best place for wild swimming near York. Here’s what you need to know. Now open, the Q Lake is a brand new lake that’s for families and paddleboarders. It’s larger than the other three put together, with plenty of space […]

If there’s one thing that most children adore, whatever their age, it’s splashing about in the water. Whether they’re a toddler dipping their toes in the water or a slide-loving tween, swimming and paddling are one of those activities that everyone usually enjoys. There are lots of places in York and nearby where you can […]

Summer in York is wonderful, with so many things to do with kids. It’s a long time to keep children entertained, but there are lots of things going on in and around York this summer. As always, we’ve handpicked the very best events and activities, with plenty of ideas for every budget and weather condition […]

Much as we love the summer holidays, we’re less keen on six weeks of sorting out almost every meal and snack for the whole family. Not only can it feel like you’re a human vending machine, it can also get expensive, especially if you’re going out. Picnics are great to save money, but sometimes it’s […]

The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it be? They certainly don’t expect to see a big, stripy tiger at the door! The best children’s book ever (in our humble opinion) comes to the Grand Opera House York this summer (Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st […]

We LOVE the Summer Reading Challenge. There’s no better way to get and keep kids reading over the summer than joining this annual celebration of all things book-related, and it’s FREE! This year’s theme is Marvellous Makers and it’s all about creativity. From dance to drawing, junk modelling to music, there’s something for everyone. The […]

We’re big fans of Barley Hall, one of York’s hidden gems, and now there’s a new reason to visit: a brand new exhibition that’s open in time for the summer holidays. Beasts At Barley Hall is the latest creation from York Archaeology’s exhibition and interpretations team, showcasing some of the weird and wonderful animal-related finds […]

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 here for a day, a weekend, a week or a lifetime, it’s no secret that there are lots of fun things to do in York 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 […]

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 […]