Yorkshire· 1 min read
Things to Do in York with Kids — A Local's Honest Guide
Vikings, chocolate, and the best railway museum on the planet — how to do York with children without losing your mind or your budget.
York is one of the easiest city breaks in the country to do with kids — it's compact, walkable, and half the best things are free. Here's how we'd plan a day (or two).
Start free: the walls and the Shambles
Walk the city walls from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar — it takes about 40 minutes with children and feels like a castle adventure the whole way. Drop down into the Shambles before 10am to beat the crowds.
National Railway Museum
The best free museum in the north, full stop. Mallard, the Japanese bullet train, and a miniature railway outside in summer. You could genuinely spend four hours here.
JORVIK Viking Centre
The famous one. The ride through reconstructed Viking York (smells included) is short but memorable — kids talk about it for weeks. Pre-book a timeslot; walk-up queues in holidays are brutal.
Book JORVIK timed tickets →York's Chocolate Story
An hour of guided chocolate history with tastings throughout. Better for ages 6+ — younger ones mostly just want the tasting bits.
If you have a second day
- Castle Howard (25 minutes' drive) — the adventure playground is worth the trip alone.
- Web Adventure Park — a rainy-day banker on the ring road.
- York Maze (late July–September) — Europe's largest maize maze.
The budget maths
York with kids can be done on almost nothing (walls, NRM, parks along the Ouse) or can swallow £150 in a day of paid attractions. Our advice: pick one paid headline per day and pad the rest with the free stuff.
Enjoyed this guide?
Get one email a week with our best day-out ideas and a discount code.
Related guides
Yorkshire2 min read
Best Days Out in the Yorkshire Dales — 11 Ideas for All Weathers
Show caves, waterfalls, steam trains and the world's most famous viaduct — 11 brilliant Yorkshire Dales days out for families, walkers and rainy afternoons.
North West2 min read
Rainy Day Activities in Manchester — 12 Indoor Days Out
It rains in Manchester — a lot. Here are 12 genuinely good indoor days out for families, couples and groups, from free museums to trampoline parks.
West Midlands2 min read
Best Days Out Near Birmingham — 13 Ideas Within an Hour
Cadbury World, theme parks, castles and canals — 13 brilliant days out in and around Birmingham, all within about an hour of the city.