Just eight miles north of York is beautiful Beningbrough with its glorious gardens, sprawling parkland and hands-on art galleries.
Whether it’s swinging from heights or climbing the wall up the pyramid tower in the popular wilderness play area, fun and games on the lawn, borrowing a bike to ride around the gardens or dressing up as royalty in the hall, Beningbrough is a fantastic family day out.
Pick up a free explorer backpack and go hunting for bugs, bird watching or navigating the gardens with a compass. Or, head inside. The hall can be enjoyed all year round. Get creative in the interactive galleries or let your littlest one amuse themselves in the pre-school playroom.
During school holidays, there are plenty of organised activities to enjoy from the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ playlist as well as artrageous workshops and interactive trails.
Children’s picnic boxes and delicious meals made from home grown and locally sourced produce are available from the restaurant. Plus ice creams, sandwiches, snacks and drinks from the Brew House during school holidays and on weekends.
“We had a fantastic day at Beningbrough this week. They now let dogs into most of the gardens (just not in the childrens play area and walled garden bit) and there is a place you can sit and have a coffee just close to the adventure playground. My girls loved building the dens and climbing the trees. A fabulous day out. And the for was lovely too!”
Mumbler EP, Jul 18
“My 2 love the adventure play area.”
Mumbler JC, Jan 18
Beningbrough, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 1DD
There’s always lots for families to do at Harrogate Museums and Gallery! Games, dressing up, trails, art materials and children’s books are just some of the activities available.
Our Family Explorer Pass gets you free entry to both museums (the art gallery is always free) for just £30 a year for 2 adults and 3 children over 5 (under 5s are free). Other passes are available to suit your family.
At the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate smell the stinky sulphur water that was drunk by hundreds of people each morning, back when Harrogate was the place for health and happiness visited by the rich and famous. See and smell the original wells on a tour, discover the spa treatments, beautiful clothes, toys and household objects from the people of Harrogate past. Enjoy further back in time with our Ancient Egyptian displays.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 10am until 4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm
Royal Pump Room Museum, Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RY | 01423 556188 | museums@harrogate.gov.uk
At Knaresborough Castle and Museum take in the beautiful views and discover the dungeon, ancient graffiti and special secret underground tunnel. It may seem peaceful now, but the castle was once a mighty stronghold of medieval kings. Inside the museum you’ll find tales of local characters including Blind Jack, Guy Fawkes and Mother Shipton. You’ll also find the rare, original Tudor court room where suspected criminals faced public trial as well as family activities.
Open daily 11am to 4pm until 11 September and then weekends until 2 October
Knaresborough Castle and Museum, Castle Yard, Knaresborough, HG5 8AS | 01423 556188 | museums@harrogate.gov.uk
The Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate is a relaxed, welcoming art space with changing exhibitions to suit everyone. Our art trolley is always full of art materials to give the whole family a chance to get creative.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 10am until 4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm
Swan Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SA, 01423 556188 | museums@harrogate.gov.uk
For full details of our museums and gallery visit www.harrogate.gov.uk/museums
Updated September 2020
Admission includes: Adventure Playground, Mother Shipton’s Cave, Petrifying Well, Wishing Well, Museum and Gift Shop.
Admissions must be booked online. Please arrive promptly for your booked arrival time and leave by the end of your session.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
£25 per car (max 5 people per car) or £8 per pedestrian term-time weekdays
£30 per car (max 5 people per car) or £10 per pedestrian weekends and school holidays
Additional car passenger tickets can be purchased for cars with more than 5 people. Please note that motorhomes will not be allowed.
Children under 3 years are free.
Picnics are welcome, ice creams and drinks are also available to purchase within the attraction. Dogs are welcome everywhere except the adventure playground and must be kept on a lead.
There are three sets of steps in the attraction which are not wheelchair accessible and pushchairs must be parked at the bottom of these steps – we recommend bringing a sling.
Face Coverings must be worn in the Museum & Gift Shop and when ordering food or drink at the catering kiosks by all visitors over the age of 11 unless medically exempt.
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@mothershipton.co.uk
Take part in your biggest ever game of hide and seek on your visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Hide in all corners of the large abbey ruins before following the river to the water garden. Race around the moon ponds, see the swans swimming and discover the winding dark tunnel. Emerge from the tunnel to find three fun buildings called follies along this woodland path.
Be sure to have a playground adventure. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on…you’ll find a wooden abbey, a woodland house, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman’s poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire for the most daring adventurers of all.
Have a well-earned sit down with a seasonal meal in the newly refurbished restaurant, tuck into tea and cake with a lakeside view at Studley tea room or a sweet treat at Mill Café.
If there’s still oodles of energy left visit the deer park. Admire the views down to Ripon Cathedral and see if you can spot the deer. There are three different types from small fallow deer to the largest of them all: red deer.
There’s lots to do but don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in this time – we’ll be here another day! Become a member on your first visit and come back for free as many times as you like. Plus, get the feel-goods about it as every time you scan your membership card, you’re contributing towards the essential conservation work we do.
Fountains, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3DY
Click here to visit the website.
Photos by Chris Lacey
Spa Gardens is a beautiful park right in the heart of Ripon. It’s been recognised for its high-quality maintenance and facilities and has been awarded Green Flag status.
In the centre of the park is a splendid Victorian bandstand, where band concerts take place on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. For birdwatchers, carefully sited nesting boxes have encouraged many varieties to make a home in the gardens. There’s also a cafe serving home cooked food and cakes, and you can enjoy a round of crazy golf or try playing bowls.
Tree sculpture
The newest addition to Spa Gardens is a series of tree sculptures depicting characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Carroll spent time as choirboy at Ripon Cathedral and is said to have been inspired to create the characters by the cathedral’s animal carvings.
“Chainsaw Mick” was commissioned to create the carvings using the trunks of a cypress tree. As well as a very lifelike Alice, these garden sculptures include the Caterpillar, Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit.
Restoration
In 2011, the Friends of Spa Gardens worked with us to secure funding for the restoration of the war memorial and the Marquess of Ripon statue.
The war memorial, at the entrance to Spa Gardens, has been named the best war memorial in the town class several times in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards.
Facilities include:
Click here to read more.
Embrace the fresh Yorkshire air and time together in this magical setting. Stockeld Park opens its beautiful parkland throughout the school holidays with fun for all the family including February, Easter, Spring, Summer, Halloween and Christmas events.Take a walk in the Enchanted Forest and let the children (and adults!) burn off some energy in the Adventure Playgrounds. Whizz around the forest on Electric Scooters! Get lost in the big Yew Tree Maze or try out your skills on the ice/roller skating rink – now under cover so you can get your skates on whatever the weather! (Ice/Roller – season dependant). There is Interactive Play, a huge Yew-Tree Maze and a Woodland Laser Tag arena too!
Fabulous events such as the Circus, Concerts, and Interactive Themed Workshops take place throughout the year, suitable for kids of all ages. Finish off your visit to the delicious café and gift shop.
“We had an amazing day at Stockeld on Sunday! Inflatables inside, crafts, ice skating and all the parks! Was great! A full day out. (Referring to Feb half term 18 events).” Mumbler SR, Feb 18
“Stockeld Park is brilliant and you don’t need to book. It’s got loads for little ones to do too, that’s where we will be off ” Mumbler LMB, Feb 18
Stockeld Park, off the A661 Wetherby Road, Yorkshire, LS22 4AN. Tel: 01937 586333
Open daily 10am – 6pm (last entry 5pm), closed 24th/25th December.
Located in Hull, The Deep is an award-winning aquarium that is home to almost 3,500 fish including green sawfish, sharks and tropical fish. Not forgetting an array of invertebrates, amphibians, turtles and a colony of Gentoo penguins!
Journey through the story of the world’s oceans travelling through a unique blend of spectacular marine life from warm tropical waters to the cold Antarctic seas. Enjoy the fun and educational interactive and audio-visual presentations on your voyage of discovery.
Highlights include the daily dive show, touchpool sessions, twice-daily penguin feeds, the underwater tunnel and bubble lift through the 10m Endless Oceans exhibit. Details of feeding times and all other info is on their website here.
The Deep has its own café serving a range of homemade hot/cold meals, snacks, drinks and excellent children’s boxes, plus a snack bar that is open in during peak times inside the attraction. There are also indoor and outdoor picnic areas for those who wish to bring their own food.
The Deep is fully accessible for people with disabilities or accessibility requirements and can provide and range of things to help visitors enjoy a more pleasant visit.
Save 10% by booking your tickets on their website before you visit. The Deep also accepts Tesco Days Out vouchers, which form part of the Tesco Clubcard scheme.
Don’t forget to sign up to the Day Plus Pass scheme which allows FREE return visits to The Deep for 12 months (this is included in the normal price of a ticket, T&C’s on their website).
During the school holidays there are also arts, crafts at Craft Corner, see their website for details of the next events.
Tower Street, Hull, HU1 4DP (Sat Nav HU9 1TU). 01482 381000.
“Fountains Abbey is a definite favourite for our 5 year old daughter. She loves to explore the ruins, especially what she calls the ‘Princess Tower’ through the tunnel. It’s a really great place to let her imagination shine. She especially likes the hands on experience of grinding wheat to make flour in the old mill and she loves to ring the bell. There is a now a new addition of a great obstacle course and zip slide which can keep our daughter entertained for a very long time. If we’re feeling energetic, we like to walk right through to the deer park at the other side and if she’s wearing her wellies she enjoys wading through the fords under the mini bridges.”
Ali ~ with kids aged 5 and 1
Located 1 mile from car park in centre of Boroughbridge.
Aldborough was the ‘capital’ of the Romanised Brigantes, the largest tribe in Britain at that time. One corner of these Yorkshire defences is laid out amid a Victorian arboretum, and two mosaic pavements can be viewed in their original positions. The site’s fascinating museum has an outstanding collection of Roman finds.
Don’t Miss
For more details on opening times and cost visit the website.
Things to do/see: Walk the beautiful grounds, enjoy a picnic on the banks of the river, attempt the famous stepping stones in front of the abbey, explore the Welly Walk (which runs through the summer months and into autumn). It might be a good idea to dress the kids in old clothes as the Welly Walk can get a bit muddy especially through the tunnels section! You can relax at the end of a day of exploring in one of the local tearooms.
Location: Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6EX
Opening Times: Open every day at 9pm
Cost: £10 per car in the car park
01756 718 009
“We loved walking here, even in the rain! We managed to scramble down to the waterfall (follow signs for The Valley of Desolation) which the kids loved. They also have fun scrambling around in the tunnels and on the Welly Walk sections. We warmed up in the tearoom after our walk with a huge hot chocolate! I highly recommend a trip here. Be warned if you have a pushchair though that you might have difficulty getting up some of the hills with it. There are flat areas to walk.”
Alyson, with children aged 8 and 5
Things to do/see: Ride a steam train!! Well-behaved dogs allowed (though not on seats). Whole ride takes about 1hr. With a wait at the station you travel to about 15-20 mins long included in this time. If you purchase a ‘day rover’ ticket you can get off the train to explore the area around the station and get another train back. The Abbey is a 1.5 mile walk from the train station.
Location: Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AF
Opening Times: Trains run every Sunday throughout the year, most Saturdays and up to 5 days a week in the summer.
Cost: Family (2+2) £25, Adults £10, Concessions £9, Children (3-15 years) £5, Children (0-2 years) free of charge, Platform tickets £1.
01756 710614
“Harlow Carr is one of our favourite places to visit. The Logness Monster Slide and Tree House are always very entertaining for our 5 year old. We always find time to have a treat from the Betty’s kiosk in the gardens too. There are usually little activity trail maps for the children too. There is also an Easter Lindt Gold Bunny hunt. The gift shop has a lovely range of great books, presents and a small selection of toys to treat yourselves”
Claire ~ with kids aged 5 and 6 months
Things to do/see: In the Spring and Summer months there are wild flowers galore surrounding the abbey ruins. Tearooms (delicious cakes here!!) and a small caravan site,
Location: Park House, Jervaulx, Ripon HG4 4PH
Opening Times: Abbey – Dusk to Dawn year round Tea Rooms – February – November 10am – 4.30pm
Cost: Honesty box system at entrance
01677 460391
Things to do/see: Adventure playground!! (This is a great place for the kids and includes a water play area and pedalo boats), gardens, house, miniature steam railway (for an additional charge), teddy bear and dolls house exhibitions.
Location: Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, HG4 5AE (SAT NAV HG4 5AJ).
Opening times: Gates open at – 11am, last admission – 5pm, garden cleared – 5.30pm. Reopens for the 2018 season: 30th March
Cost: Family ticket (2 adults 2 children) for house and gardens £57
Things to do/see: Local history exhibits, information and displays about life and work in the area through the ages. The interactive Victorian school classroom set up is a draw for children.
Location: The Old Workhouse, King Street, Pateley Bridge, HG3 5AT
Things to do/see: Well preserved castle (not in ruins) to explore. Tickets come with tour sheet to guide you around and provide information along the way. Plus tearooms, gift shop, picnic area.
Location: Skipton Castle, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1AW
Opening Times: Daily 10am (Sundays 11am) Last admission 5pm (October – March 4pm) Closed 23-25th December
Cost: Adults – £7.80, Over 60s – £6.80 Children 5-18 £4.90 Under 5s – FREE
| 01756 792442 |
Swinton Park Birds of Prey Centre offers a wide range of falconry experiences for families, groups and individuals.
Open to both hotel guests and non-residents.
Beautiful gardens with nature trails, a children’s trail, a large lake, picnic area and children’s play area. Includes bird of prey centre.
Opening Times
November weekdays: 10am – 3pm November weekends: 10am – 4pm
December weekedays: 10am – 3pm December weekends: 9.45am – 4.30pm
Closed Christmas Day. Check website for holiday details.
January weekdays: 10am – 3pm January weekends: 10am – 4pm
From February 10th onwards: 10am to 5pm
| Adults Concession* Child (4-16) Family (2 + 2) Family (2 + 3) | £8.90 £7.90 £5.60 £27.90 £33.50 |
Things to do/see: Walk-ways and trampolines suspended between trees. Safely surrounded by netting creating tunnels and meaning no harnesses are required. Also includes bouldering walls (like low climbing walls).
Location: Lightwater Valley, Ripon, Yorkshire, HG4 3HT
Opening times: 10am – 6pm. Last safety brief starts at 4pm to ensure full 2 hour session.
Cost: Children 3-4 £12.50, Children 5+ £20.00, Adults £20.00, Adults supervising children under 7 £12.50. Each session is 2 hours long. Ticket price does not include Lightwater Valley Theme Park.
