Discover the ultimate Yorkshire family holiday
The county of Yorkshire is one of the best destinations in the country for a fun holiday whether you’re looking to explore rich urban culture or the serene unspoiled countryside. Either way, you’ll find plenty for the whole family to do, so you don’t have to hesitate to bring your kids along for the trip. With so much to do both indoors and outdoors, it’s easy to diversify your itinerary and always have something to do in case the weather doesn’t go the way you planned. Discover the best activities for a Yorkshire family holiday, and create an unforgettable experience for your little ones.
Outdoor fun for family holidays in Yorkshire
When you’re looking for outdoor fun, you won’t have to look far. The Yorkshire countryside is downright breathtaking with much to offer the whole family. You’ll find plenty of nature trails to explore that are easy enough for beginner hikers and children. Additionally, the county is home to quite a few outdoor activities, some of which are targeted specifically towards children. Whether they’re interested in animals or theme parks, fun is never in short supply. Take a look at some of the best outdoor activities to enjoy on your Yorkshire family holiday.
1. Flamingo Land
At Flamingo Land, you and your family can enjoy an attraction that’s both a theme park and a zoo. You’ll find several roller coasters including high-speed rides for adults and older kids as well as rides specifically designed for younger children. Meanwhile, the zoo portion of this attraction boasts impressive animals like zebras, alpacas, salamanders and other exotic creatures. One of the most popular features is the reptile centre where a staff member brings out some creepy crawlies and impressive reptiles for a closer look.
2. York Maze
You’ve probably been to a corn maze before, but nothing is quite like York Maze. It has one of the largest mazes in Europe known as the Great Maize Maze, but that’s just the beginning. You and your kids can also enjoy special themed mazes including the Jurassic Maze with dinosaur sculptures and the Maze of Illusions with optical illusions and mind-bending images and puzzles to solve. Your smaller kids will certainly enjoy the Mineshaft Maze, which is a 3D labyrinth of crawl tunnels they can explore.
3. Yorkshire Dales National Park
Yorkshire Dales National Park offers some of the most iconic outdoor experiences in the county. You and your little ones will have a total of 860 square miles to explore here, so you can easily dedicate an entire day to this park and barely scratch the surface. Stunning ravines are present here like the Gordale Scar, but you may also want to explore fascinating cave systems like the Gaping Gill and the Malham Tarn. Families interested in serene beauty may want to stop by the Hardraw Force waterfall.
4. Stockeld Park
At Stockeld Park, you and your family can enjoy a relaxing day out taking in the sun surrounded by vibrant greenery. That’s just the beginning, however, as this park also features a host of activities your little ones will love. They include an outdoor roller rink and several playgrounds. You’ll even find an Inflatable Zone, which features bounce castles that your kids can jump around in. Don’t forget to check out the maze as well.
5. Brimham Rocks
The Brimham Rocks are massive rock formations that were carved hundreds of millions of years before even the dinosaurs evolved. Continental movements and ice created these rock formations that boast odd yet intriguing shapes you won’t want to miss out on. Strangely enough, they seem to resemble a dancing bear, a gorilla, an eagle and a turtle. Some of the rock formations can be seen as little as a 10-minute walk from the car park, so your kids won’t have to work very hard to see these impressive sights.
6. The Web Adventure Park
At The Web Adventure Park, you and your family can find virtually endless fun among the various activities available here. Among the most popular are the wired high ropes that will have participants testing their nerves as they try to conquer the obstacle course that’s 8 metres up from the ground. Additionally, you’ll find several adventure playgrounds here as well as general outdoor space giving your kids plenty of room to run around.
Explore indoor activities for family holidays in Yorkshire
While some adventurers may only want to head indoors if the weather makes it necessary, you’ll find that the indoor attractions throughout Yorkshire have plenty to offer in their own right. You can explore fascinating museums and special activities with many specifically catered to kids. The whole family will find fun here whether you’re looking for adventure or you want to dive into the fascinating local history. Discover the best indoor attractions around the Yorkshire area.
7. The York Dungeon
The York Dungeon may be the most entertaining way to explore the city’s dark history. Here, you’ll find a thrilling performance in which actors and special effects work together to make these history shows exciting for the whole family. There are 10 different shows available covering iconic moments in history including the lives of Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes and the Viking invasion. While Yorkshire’s history can be dark, the actual content of the performances here is family-friendly.
8. Eureka!
If you have kids who are 11 years of age or younger, Eureka! is one of the best destinations in the county to include on your holiday itinerary. Eureka! is the national children’s museum in Yorkshire and offers a wide variety of hands-on exhibits your little ones can enjoy that cover a wide variety of fascinating topics. You’ll find exhibits focused on the desert, human biology and the daily life skills kids will need when they’re older. In total, there are more than 100 exhibits here to explore.
9. Calypso Cove Waterpark
You don’t need a sunny day to enjoy a water park. At Calypso Cove Waterpark, you’ll find all the fun you’d expect from pools and slides situated indoors that offer a good time no matter what the weather is like. The park is remarkably family-friendly with an impressive variety of slides including some of the fastest in the country. When planning your visit, be sure to check their website as each slide has a bravery rating and speed rating. If your kids are young, opt for the ones with a low bravery rating. If you or your older kids are looking for adrenaline-pumping fun, keep an eye out for the faster options.
10. National Science and Media Museum
At the National Science and Media Museum, your little ones can explore the technology behind capturing and producing light and sound. Any budding photographers in your family will certainly enjoy the trip, but these fascinating exhibits can delight all sorts of visitors. The museum hosts exhibits focused on the origins of photography and others that showcase the latest developments that will change our world in the future. There’s also an IMAX cinema to enjoy.
11. Abbey House Museum
You can step back in time to the Victorian Era when you visit the Abbey House Museum. This fascinating attraction in Leeds offers your family the ability to walk along a Victorian Street with time-appropriate surroundings that offer valuable insight into what life was like all those centuries ago. Your kids will especially enjoy the childhood galleries that show off the wide range of toys and dolls that 19th-century kids had to play with. Some of the toys are more recent, however, with exhibits showcasing how they’ve changed throughout the decades.
12. Jorvik DIG
Before York was York, it was the city of Jorvik. At Jorvik DIG, your little ones can play the role of archaeologist and dig up artefacts from times past that shine a light on the rich history of this city. You’ll find 4 replica excavation pits your kids can explore with opportunities to dig up treasures from 4 different eras. These include the Roman, Viking, medieval and Victorian eras. Just to ensure historic authenticity, all the treasures here are based on real artefacts, offering valuable insight into what the past was like in this city.
13. The Deep
The Deep is a massive aquarium that offers valuable insight into the world’s oceans with a vast array of brilliant creatures on display. You’ll find more than 3,500 fish that make their home here, but that’s just the beginning. The Deep also features rays, sharks, turtles and even a colony of gentoo penguins. If you’re looking to see everything this aquarium has to offer, expect your tour to take about 2 to 3 hours. For some extra fun, your kids can opt for a Junior Experience Day in which they’ll work alongside the crew and learn about these animals in a more hands-on way.
14. Snozone
Skiing and snowboarding may not sound like popular summer activities, but they can be when you visit Snozone. At this indoor ski slope, you’ll find the perfect conditions all year long letting you enjoy a thrilling winter wonderland even if it’s the middle of July. Keep in mind that the slopes here aren’t too intense, so young kids and beginners can have plenty of fun. Snozone even has lessons available if you’re just starting out. You can always opt for sledging as well, a fun family activity that parents and kids can enjoy together.
15. Jorvik Viking Centre
The Vikings had a massive role in York’s history, and your family can explore it all at the Jorvik Viking Centre. When you visit, you’ll find yourself met with reconstructed Viking streets that let you experience what it was like to live here 1,000 years ago. Additionally, you’ll find interactive displays and educational exhibits showcasing local history and the artefacts that were found here as well as information about their excavation. It’s as much fun as it is educational, so it’s the ultimate destination for any family holiday in Yorkshire.