Things To Do in York With Kids

If you’re planning a trip to Yorkshire with the family, read on to find out the best things to do in York with kids, with many attractions and activities to entertain the little ones and adults alike.

York is a lovely city in the north of England, but given how much of the city’s attractions are focused on history, it isn’t immediately clear how much there is to do with children when visiting.

The city was initially founded by the Romans almost 2000 years ago, so it is full of historical attractions, including medieval buildings and archaeological sites.

This history lends itself to several attractions that are ideal for children, from trying their own hand at archaeology to visiting a recreated Victorian street.

So, here are the best things to do in York as a family.

Things To Do in York With Children

York Minster

York Minster is the city’s most famous building and one of the most impressive cathedrals in the UK. The interior is beautiful, and any visitor to York should make a stop at the Minster.

Children can enter free with a paying adult, and there are free Little Explorer backpacks that you can borrow while in the cathedral with activities, colouring sheets and other items to help them explore York Minster.

Your ticket includes access to Undercroft Museum, which displays a variety of historical artefacts that relate to the history of York Minster since its earliest construction in the Middle Ages.

Whether you only have one day in York or several days to explore, don’t skip York Minster.

Jorvik Viking Centre

Jorvik (pronounced Yor-vick) is another very popular activity for families visiting York. It is built on top of a Viking archaeological site in the city centre. Your visit starts with a short talk about the remains of a Viking home, visible through a glass floor underneath you.

The visit continues with a ride through a recreated Viking village, including animatronic characters and an audio description of the scenes you pass by.

Finally, you enter a gallery with Viking artefacts and demonstrations of Viking crafts.

Teenagers may not be so entertained by Jorvik, but it is a good choice for younger children.

Make sure you book in advance – it is one of the city’s most popular attractions, so if you leave it until the day of your visit you may not be able to get a ticket.

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DIG

In a similar theme to Jorvik, DIG is an interactive attraction ideal for children aged 5-12. Visitors can learn about archaeology and try their hand at digging for artefacts.

There are 4 archaeology pits replicating real-life Roman, Viking, medieval and Victorian finds, and children can grab a trowel and start digging for finds themselves!

They can also listen to a short talk from an archaeologist and see some genuine archaeological finds from the area.

DIG also runs additional sessions during school holidays covering a variety of activities, such as pottery – these usually have an additional cost. Check the website to see what is on during your visit.

Cat Trail

If you are looking for budget options, this might be a good choice. You can download a free map or pick up a free physical copy at The Cat Gallery in the city centre. There are 21 cat models hidden around the city centre, and you can follow the map to try and spot them all.

Some are on rooftops, others are climbing up walls, and it’s a free and fun activity for children.

Depending on the age of your children, there is a shorter version of 9 models in a smaller area of the city, or hunt down all 21 with a longer walk.

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York Castle Museum

This museum in the city centre is a great choice when visiting York with kids. The museum has a wide range of exhibits, from fashion through the ages, a World War I area, and a section in the former prison cells about the use of the castle in the justice system.

One of the highlights of the museum is the recreation of a Victorian street, with a variety of shop windows to look into.

Throughout the museum, there are activities for children. There is a Victorian school room near the street, and a bunker they can crawl through in the war exhibit. An outdoor play area with traditional games will keep them entertained as well.

National Railway Museum

For children with an interest in machines, this free museum is a great choice. The museum has a variety of train carriages on display, from steam locomotives to a Japanese bullet train.

In addition to the actual trains, there is also a model railway to look at and a dedicated free play area for under-6s.

There is a paid area you can add to your free ticket called Wonderlab – this is a more hands-on children’s area, with various challenges and demonstrations for them to enjoy.

You do need to book a timed ticket online for general admission, but there is no cost to do this. At the online ticket checkout, you will be presented with options to buy either a ticket with a donation or a free ticket, so you can choose whether to donate.

Shambles

Shambles is York’s most famous street. It’s a narrow pedestrian-only street with a selection of buildings, some of which date back to the medieval ages.

There are several gift shops on Shambles, as well as two Harry Potter-themed shops, as the street is considered to be one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley.

The street gets very busy during the day – it’s both popular and not wide enough to fit lots of people! If you aren’t interested in the shops but just want to get photos of the street and building, try to get there early.

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York City Walls

If you want to take your kids on a walk, consider a wander along the city walls.

Although the walls are no longer one continuous loop, you can enter and exit them at various points in the city. In a rough circle around the city centre, you’ll find several gatehouses (called bars), and sections of medieval walls.

York has expanded (which were once a Roman construction before being rebuilt in stone centuries later), but the city centre is still marked by the walls.

You can find some fantastic city views from the walls.

Just be aware that some sections of the wall are quite narrow, and you can only get up to the walls on staircases, so isn’t suitable for visitors with pushchairs or wheelchairs.

York Dungeon

For older children who enjoy a spookier experience, head to York Dungeon.

Meet a Viking during the 866AD invasion, a doctor’s surgery from the 1551 plague, a stagecoach trying to avoid highwaymen and various other scenes.

The experience is designed to be both funny and slightly scary – and is recommended for ages 8+ (children under 5 are not allowed in).

This one does need some consideration before booking – there are flashing lights, including strobe effects, loud noises, jump scares and a few other aspects which mean it won’t be suitable for everyone.

They have a comprehensive accessibility section on the website to help you decide if it is a good choice for your family. Once inside, if you decide it isn’t for you, the tickets are non-refundable, so check the accessibility page first.

York Ghost Walks

If you have children who might be interested in a spooky story without York Dungeon’s special effects, consider one of the ghost walks on offer in York.

Again, these are generally suitable for children aged at least 8, but some of them may finish beyond the bedtime of children that age.

York’s Chocolate Story

York was once the centre of the UK’s confectionery industry, with Rowntree and Terry families setting up in the area.

The York Chocolate Story includes a replica of York’s early chocolate shops, information about how cocoa beans have been used since their first discovery, and a chocolate-making demonstration.

There is also an attached shop where you can buy a variety of locally made chocolates.

You can visit the shop without joining the tour, but if you do want to do the tour you’ll need to book in advance.

York Boat Trips

Find a different perspective of the city and its history. The River Ouse runs through the centre of York, and there are a few options for sightseeing river trips that you can join in. This one, for example, is a popular option.

There is live onboard commentary, pointing out local landmarks and telling stories about the local area.

Activities For The Family Near York

York Maze

You can find this attraction a short distance from the city, which has Europe’s largest maize maze.

In addition to the primary maze, you can also find themed ones, including a dinosaur-themed maze, an optical illusion maze and a musical maze. They also have play areas including an inflatable obstacle course and climbing areas.

If you want to get your children out of the city and running around, this is a good choice!

It is only open during the summer and has a limited number of tickets, so make sure you book in advance.

Go Ape Dalby Forest

Go Ape run treetop high rope courses in various locations around the country. Dalby Forest is on the edge of the North York Moors and this location has two options depending on age and height.

The primary Treetop Challenge is suitable for ages 10+ with a minimum height of 4’7″. It takes 2-3 hours with 5 zip lines, a few swings and other rope challenges.

Treetop Adventure is suitable for ages 4-10, with a minimum height of 3’3”. It has 24 obstacles including two ziplines.

Bear in mind that this is a high rope course – so if you or your children have a fear of heights, skip this option.

You’ll need a car to get to this one – it’s under an hour from York by car, but close to 3 hours on public transport.

Scarborough SEA LIFE Sanctuary

About a 1½hr drive from York is Scarborough, with a SEA Life centre. If you feel like a trip to the coast with an aquarium visit, this is one for you.

In addition to an aquarium tunnel and rock pools, you will also find a Seal hospital caring for injured seals until they can be released. There are also some otters, a play area and some penguins.

You can also add a round of pirate mini-golf to your main admission ticket.

There is also a beach at Scarborough, but remember it is in the north of England, so don’t expect bright yellow sand and water warm enough to swim in!

Piglets Adventure Farm

For children who love animals, Piglets Adventure Farm is a 20-minute drive to the north east of York.

In addition to the pigs and piglets in the name, you’ll also find ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, donkeys and more. Depending on the season of the year you may be able to bottle-feed lambs or head to the pumpkin patch.

The farm has indoor and outdoor play areas which include sand pits, climbing areas, miniature tractors and slides.

Visiting York With Children: Conclusion

York is a beautiful city and has many attractions to offer visitors of all ages. If you want to explore the north of England, York should be on your itinerary.

If you have a limited amount of time in the UK, you can even visit York as a day trip from London.

To explore further afield, explore the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Park. There is so much more to the UK than just London, and if you want to visit a city full of history and charm, York is one not to miss