A Guide to Exploring York with Kids

Things to do in York with kids
If you follow me over on IG or my YouTube channel you might have seen we just spent a couple of days over in York. Here’s a fun fact about me, I grew up in Humberside, Yorkshire (in Hull/Cottingham/Beverly area) from the age of 1-8. I love Yorkshire and the people there (and the accents!) so have been to York before but only as a child. I didn’t expect to feel so nostalgic about an area as I did when we were getting the train through familiar towns and cities and I was excited to explore again as an adult, twenty something years later!

We were invited by Novotel to stay at their York Centre hotel and it was just the excuse we needed to hop on the train and spend a few days with a change of scenery. 

The first thing we noted on our arrival was how immediately family-friendly the hotel was. The kids instinctively ran to the play area by reception and were building towers and reading books together within minutes. Such a good idea when you have children tired from a day of travel and you need to sort out checking in. Not only that but the receptionist wheeled out a cart of toys that the kids were able to pick, Wilf chose a funny straw and Mabli a turtle softie. Such a brilliant way of making them feel extra special.

We arrived at around 5 O Clock due to a late running train so we wanted a bit of a chilled evening. Luckily this hotel has a swimming pool so we were able to spend an hour splashing about before chilling out in our room and having an early night. We did intend on getting the kids to sleep then watching a bit of TV but as soon as the light were out we all fell asleep at eight, ha! Must have been the comfy beds.

The children area in the reception, there was also an area with a Playstation and Wii for older children as well as an electronic games table with games like Angry Birds (which Wilf is now obsessed with!). The kids areas reminded me so much of places I’d stayed with my family as a child, the games rooms I’d play board games with my brother with. Some of my fondest memories of trips were actually spent as the accommodation and I got such a sense of that here too. Wilf even made a little friend of his own and they chatted away over the electric table playing together. I love how kids can just do that so easily.

On on our first full day we headed to the York Castle Museum which was brilliant and something I’d definitely recommend if you are looking for things to do in york with kids. I actually didn’t know much about it before entering and didn’t realise that it covered SO many different topics, from fashion though the ages, a dedicated sixties exhibition, retro toys and play areas and an interactive World War section. The later was so moving that when we reached the end and found a room of messages from visitors I burst into tears. It’s so hard to explain to children (as best I could to Wilf) about the horrors these people went through and the bravery and sacrifice they gave. Wilf wrote ‘thanky for being brave’ and then I cried all over again.

We whiled away an entire morning there and then headed out to wonder the beautiful cobbled streets (passing Diagon Alley) and stopping at a really family friendly pub with a courtyard garden. The staff were just so friendly and jolly, we kept saying how nice people were there.

Afterwards we headed to the Castle Gardens which were just so so beautiful. I’d been there as a child and I felt so strongly nostalgic about it. The kids were climbing on the ruins (the ones that didn’t have keep off signs on don’t worry) and having so much fun. At one point Wilf held his sisters hand and said ‘don’t be scared Mabli I’ll help you’ and I think my heart just about burst. These kiddos of mine.

The hotel is right by a really beautiful canal which is how we walked from the station to the hotel (abut 15/20 minutes) its a lovely walk and you’re able to take in the gorgeous architecture along side it. I like to play the game ‘I think I’d live in that house’ whenever we go somewhere new.

I hope you enjoyed this post on things to do in york with kids. We loved visiting this city as a family so a big thank you to them for the invitation!
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