Calling all witches, wizards and magical creatures! One of York’s most enchanting family experiences has returned, and this year there’s even more reason to visit. The Grand, York has relaunched its much-loved Wizarding Afternoon Tea, inviting families to step into a world of spells, potions and magical surprises in one of the city’s most beautiful hotels.

A magical afternoon awaits

Once a grand railway hotel, The Grand tells the story of a long-forgotten magical tradition hidden within its historic walls. As the Wizarding Afternoon Tea returns, the hotel’s ancient enchantment has been awakened once again, inviting every young witch and wizard to discover the magic for themselves.

From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in a spellbinding experience where imagination takes centre stage. Alongside a delicious afternoon tea inspired by the wizarding world, children will enjoy magical moments, enchanting surprises and plenty of opportunities to let their imaginations run wild.

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a special family day out or simply looking for something a little different this summer, it’s a wonderfully memorable experience and one we can wholeheartedly recommend having visited with our family.

Win a Wizarding Afternoon Tea school trip!

This year, The Grand has also launched a magical competition for young potion makers. Children are invited to design their own magical potion bottle, give their potion a name, explain what magical powers it has and reveal the mysterious ingredients hidden inside.

The Grand’s resident witches and wizards will choose the most magical entries, with the winners receiving an unforgettable Wizarding Afternoon Tea experience for their entire class and teachers!

Even better, every child who enters will receive 50% off a Wizarding Afternoon Tea booking when visiting with a paying adult.

How to enter

✨ Design your own magical potion bottle – find the print-out here

✨ Name your potion.

✨ Describe its magical powers.

✨ List the mystical ingredients.

Entries can be emailed to marketing@thegrandyork.co.uk, posted to The Grand, York, Station Rise, York YO1 6GD, or handed in at the hotel’s front desk. The competition closes at the end of August, so there’s plenty of time to get creative over the summer holidays.

WIN a Wizarding Afternoon Tea for a family of four

We’ve teamed up with The Grand, York to give one lucky Little Vikings family the chance to enjoy the Wizarding Afternoon Tea for two adults and two children. You can enter in any or all of the following ways:

– Follow Little Vikings on Instagram and follow the instructions about how to enter this giveaway. For an extra entry, share to your stories.

– Visit our Facebook page, like the post about this competition and comment ‘win’. You’ll need to like/follow the Little Vikings page to be eligible to win, too.

– Visit our Facebook group and comment ‘win’ on the post about this competition

– Email hello@little-vikings.co.uk with your name and postcode

The competition closes at midnight on 31 July 2026 and the winner will be notified shortly thereafter.