20+ Things to Do in York with Kids

Looking for things to do in York with kids this spring?

Race Across The World: The Experience is the official live experience of the award-winning hit TV show, brought to life in a high-stakes adventure across York.

Your little ones will need to be able to walk for 2 to 3 hours (but don’t worry, there are breaks along the way!) and it’s worth it for the adventure you’ll have.

Budget, strategise, and work together as you enjoy some puzzle-solving and visiting some iconic and lesser-known York landmarks along the way. Kids under 10 play for free!

Important Info: You must be 18+ to purchase tickets. The experience is designed to be accessible and inclusive. See FAQs for details.

Where? Central York

Second on our list the best things to do in York with kids, a classic family adventure with plenty of twists and turns.

Treasure hunts like these will have you and the little ones searching high and low to unlock York’s hidden secrets. 

It’s a simple enough concept: follow clues sent to your phones that lead you to historical gems and lesser-known nooks, interact with York’s walls, sculptures, plaques and unassuming street furniture and learn plenty of new, cool stuff along the way!

Practical information: Available daily. Tickets can be purchased online.

Where? Dreamery Gardens

Do you remember how magical your back garden or local park felt when you were growing up? Well take that memory, times it by about a million and you’ll have a fair picture of what Dreamery Gardens is like.

These “enchanted” woodlands are abuzz with all things magical: you’ll find dragon nests, bridge trolls, mermaids, giants’ swords and fairy houses twinkling between the trees. There’s also a gorgeous Fairy Museum to explore and, if you can keep a secret, remember to open the wardrobe door inside the museum!

Accessibility and facilities: Most easily accessed by car, beware that the driveway can be a bit bumpy but there is ample parking. Facilities include baby-changing areas and designated picnic zones for a family feast near the fairies!

Practical information: Open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during spring and summer.

Where: Various start/end locations

The last thing most kids want to do during the holidays or over the weekend is have another history lesson - but the good news for them (and you) is that these learning experiences aren’t anything like what they’ve experienced at school. 

Forget about dates and faceless leaders with complicated names - these self-guided walking tours take a gamified approach to learning and exploring. 

Discover York at your own pace and using your powers of deduction using nothing but each other’s wit and a phone for help!

Practical information: Start your experience whenever it's convenient for you! (check individual trails for suitability).

Where? York Dungeons

Want to find things to do in York with kids who don’t mind a bit of spooky, gory, historical content? This is for you.

A great day out for all the family, The York Dungeon offers interactive experiences that give you a spine-chilling glimpse into York’s past. Delve a bit deeper into iconic eras from Vikings to plague-ridden York, get goosebumps from the actors’ incredible performances and enjoy some gripping storytelling that will have older kids thoroughly spooked and spellbound.

Practical information: Open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Ticket prices vary.

Where? National Railway Museum

Why be bored when you can “board” a journey back in time at the National Railway Museum?

My bad jokes aside, The National Railway Museum is the perfect place to bring kids who can’t get enough of Thomas the Tank Engine, any kind of transport or anything that toots, beeps or billows steam!

Take a look around the many old trains, peek into carriages used by former monarchs, and don’t forget to take a ride on the road train that takes you from the museum back to the Minster!

Accessibility and facilities: Fully accessible, with parking available and well-serviced by local bus routes (the railway station isn’t a long walk away either). Facilities include baby-changing areas and public loos.

Practical information: Admission is free. Open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Suitable for all ages.

Where? York City Centre

If you’re looking for things to do in York that give your kids a break from watching screens all day, give this a try.

This themed outdoor escape room adventure is all about interacting with York’s incredible legends and lore, but instead of passively watching events unfold, the whole family will be at the epicentre of the action.

Reveal the city’s mythical beings and magical corners that spark the imagination, give the kids the opportunity to solve a few puzzles and mysteries themselves and see York from a totally new and different perspective!

Practical information: Play at any time. Prices vary; check the website for details. Suitable for children aged 7 and up.

Where? Jórvík Viking Museum

Not your usual museum visit, I think it's fair to say!

Come face-to-face with the largest fossilised human poo ever discovered as well as plenty of Norse mythology and Viking history at Jórvík Viking Centre! 

I’ve picked this quirky exhibit as a headline because it was all the kids would talk about after we pointed it out (oops), but we all had a big laugh about it and, between you and me, it really is massive. 

Everyone also loved the interactive and immersive ride through the Viking village re-creations (complete with accompanying smells) and, if you have a childish sense of humour like me, you can’t go wrong.

Practical information: Tickets prices vary. Open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Most suitable for children aged 5 and above.

Where? DIG, Jorvik Centre, York

Weird confession: one thing that’s stayed with me since I was a child is the dream of digging in my back garden and finding a Roman villa stashed away beneath the shed or something. 

And I don’t think I’m alone. We’re spoiled rotten in the UK by the incredible finds that pop up seemingly out of nowhere, but as “real” finds are still relatively rare, why not give the little ones a chance to learn some archaeological experience for themselves? 

DIG offers a hands-on archaeological adventure where children can unearth replicas of ancient artefacts and learn all about them themselves. It’s a great way to make history tangible and thrilling, and adults can give it a crack, too!

Practical information: Ticket prices and opening hours vary; check the website. Recommended for children aged 4 to 12.

Where? York City Centre

York’s ghost scene is nationally (and even internationally) famous, and that suits my family just fine (we love a bit of paranormal investigating). 

If you’re looking for things to do in York with kids that involve a bit of ghost hunting but don't require walking around with a bunch of strangers in the dark, check this out.

This self-guided ghost walk takes you on a winding journey around York’s shadowy streets and introduces you to some of its unhappily trapped souls, including Roman legionnaires, a woman accused of witchcraft, a money-obsessed mogul, a drunken monk and a Viking who met a vicious ending. 

It’ll be up to you and your family to reset the balance between the two worlds and put these long-lost souls at peace (and, of course, learn all about York’s haunted spots at the same time).

Practical information: Available to start at any time after dusk, but if you want to play in the dark, make sure you bring a torch. Best suited for tweens and teens due to some slightly disturbing historical content and themes - check the website to check suitability. 

Where? York Chocolate Story

Fancy doing something tasty as a family? Indulge in the decadent and delicious history of York’s famed chocolate industry at York Chocolate Story.

This interactive experience offers a journey through the origins of chocolate, its arrival in York, and the city’s confectionery masters who transformed it into an art. A superb insight into how everyone’s favourite treat put York on the map, this activity is ideal for kids of all ages (and parents with a sweet tooth!). 

Practical information: Opens daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Ticket prices vary.
Suitable for all ages, with special workshops available for children.

Where? The Yorkshire Museum

There’s more to York’s history than just Vikings and Romans, y’know. 

If we go even further back to the Jurassic era, you’d find some mega monsters trampling all over your kids’ schools, your local supermarket and, if you’re local, maybe even your house. 

Luckily, the remains of these incredible and vast creatures have been carefully curated into an exhibition at The Yorkshire Museum, a stone’s throw away from York’s iconic ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.

Discover fossils and life-size models that illustrate the prehistoric landscapes of Yorkshire, and find out how these creatures lived thousands of years ago.

Practical information: Open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Best enjoyed by children aged 4 and up, there are educational activities that cater specifically to young, aspiring palaeontologists!

Where? York City Centre

Delve into a real historical whodunit with 'A Fatal Feud', an urban exploration game that’s perfect for parents looking for things to do in York with older kids or teenagers. 

This family-friendly game challenges you to solve a historical murder through interactive puzzles, cryptic clues and characters based on real life 15th-century Yorkies. 

Starting from the legendary landmark that is Clifford’s Tower, as a team you’ll make your way around the city, visiting places related to this centuries’ old mystery. Do you have what it takes to catch the culprit? Only one way to find out! 

Accessibility and facilities: Recommended rest stops are included along the way.

Practical information: Check the website for further details and suitability. Ideal for families with children aged 12 and older. Price is £15 per person.

Where? Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park

Don’t be fooled by the size of this zoo: it is small but mighty! 

If you’re looking for things to do in York with kids who can’t get enough of David Attenborough documentaries (and, let’s be honest, that includes adults as well), head to Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park.

It’s worth saying off the bat: this isn’t anywhere near as big or famous as Chester Zoo or Yorkshire Wildlife park - but that’s why we like it. 

Although it’s only open on weekends and during school holidays, this lovely little zoo has plenty of diverse species for your little ones to visit and, importantly, the animals have plenty of space for themselves.

Practical information: Open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekends and during school holidays.

Where? York Bird of Prey Centre

This one’s pretty self-explanatory but personally, I feel like this place gets much less attention than it deserves.

York Bird of Prey Centre is where poorly or rare birds of prey come to be rehabilitated and looked after, and it’s also where you and the kids can get to learn about their incredible lives and see them up close!

I’d recommend this to parents with kids older than 6 or 7, mostly because the educational demonstrations are fairly lengthy and use some specialist terminology that might go over little ones’ heads, but you’re never too young or old to gasp when you see eagles, owls or falcons soar overhead. 

PSST: If you or your kids are Harry Potter fans, this is the perfect place to be introduced to your letter-bearing friend (and they also hold themed events occasionally, so keep an eye out on their website).

Practical information: Open daily from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. 

Where? Close to Walmgate Bar

A quick and easy activity to do with the kids in York, if you’re in the area. 

Dick Turpin has gone down in history as one of the most infamous highwaymen of his time, and his name lives on thanks to TV programmes like Horrible Histories. This site offers a glimpse into the city’s past and the legendary figure’s notorious life and death.

Practical information: Accessible at all times. No admission fee. Suitable for older children and adults interested in historical figures and local lore.

Where? Anywhere you like!

When we’re truly stuck for ideas of what to do as a family in York I always revert back to a bike ride. Why? It’s easy, good for us, the environment, and the kids love it.

There are loads of cycle tracks within York city centre and even the surrounding countryside to explore, and if you don’t have your own bikes, you can hire them in town at Get Cycling. 

Practical information: Trails are open year-round. Suitable for families with children who can ride bikes or ride in child seats.

Where? York Art Gallery

If you’re looking for things to do in York with kids when it’s raining cats and dogs, here’s an easy (but fun) activity idea: pack some sketch pads, colouring pencils, and a rubber and take the family off to York Art Gallery.

While you’re there, take a wander around the interactive exhibits focusing on everything from classic paintings to contemporary art and then get the kids to create something themselves. 

Have a look at what’s on in advance - there are often workshops or special exhibitions that are well-worth a visit.

Practical information: Open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is £7 for adults; children £4.20. Workshops and special exhibitions may have additional charges. 

Where? The Potions Cauldron
We’ve all seen these viral potion-making classes making the rounds on social media, but when you come to check the prices you realise you need a second mortgage to take part – well, luckily, that’s not the case at The Potions Cauldron.

This is where you and your family come to brew, concoct and manifest incredible beverages guided by a charismatic and funny host. There are a number of “potions” you can make (we opted for the Family Cauldron Experience) and grown-up wizards can decide to add some “poison” (alcohol!) to their brew if they fancy it.

Practical information: Sessions must be booked in advance. Prices vary per potion experience. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.