York has been on my UK bucket list for quite some time, but it took me a while to get there. To be honest with you, pre-pandemic, UK destinations just got put to the bottom of the list in favour of sunnier climes and more exotic locations. But during the peak-COVID years, I managed to get around to exploring cities closer to home. And this year, that meant we finally visited York, a historic city in Northeast England.
We went up for my birthday weekend and spent a couple of days exploring, with our 3 year old in tow. And I have to say, this would be a bloody fantastic city to visit without kids… Y’know, like cosy pubs and cool bars – it has a lot going for it as a couple’s destination or somewhere you go with friends. But, even if you visit with kids, it still has a lot to do. I’ll list out all my recommendations below, but I wanted to put it out there that even without kids it’s a must-visit location for your very own UK bucket list.
Visiting York with Kids
Where To Stay
For our weekend away, we decided to go for a hotel. Until now we’d always opted for Airbnbs because we had a younger baby/toddler and felt like we needed to be able to make her meals or warm up milk, etc. But at 3 years old, we figured a hotel would be easier – no clean-up, all in the same room, easy peasy. And we weren’t wrong.
We stayed at The Churchill Hotel and couldn’t recommend it more. It’s really good value-for-money – lots of the hotels in the city are quite spenny, but this place was really affordable, whilst still being fancy enough for a birthday stay. It’s a short walk to the city walls so fine for pushing a pram or for little legs. For a winter stay, it has cute little pods in the beer garden with heaters, where they serve pretty decent pizza. And they also have big family rooms and offer room service, so if like us you need to get back for the bedtime, pizza and wine in the room is still pretty dreamy.
Where To Eat in York with Kids
There are a few places I’d really recommend going for a bite to eat in York when you have kids along for the ride. I’m sure there are way nicer places, but I think all parents appreciate somewhere that serves food their kids will actually eat! So here are my top picks.
Brunch at Brew & Brownie
This coffee shop and breakfast spot has clearly been made with families in mind. It is normally quite tricky to find a brunch spot that has both wonderful food and is great for babies/toddlers, but Brew & Brownie ticks all the boxes. Highchairs are available, they serve kids’ portions of pancakes, it has lovely insta-worthy decor, and crucially, serves great coffee. Try the dreamy sweetcorn fritters, they are A+.
Burgers at SoLita
I know burgers aren’t exactly the dreamy local pub lunch you are probably craving in the north of England, but when you find somewhere with a decent kids menu, you gotta grab it with both hands. We actually went into this burger joint with low expectations as it didn’t have great reviews online, but it was ideal. Good burgers, delicious cocktails on a 2 for 1 offer for the adults, a nice selection for kids to choose from, crayons for le bambinos, and they even have a shuffle board out the front.
Street Food from Shambles Market
Shambles Market is a tourist location in its own right in York. It’s an outdoor market with lots of street vans to choose from, as well as market stalls and souvenir stops. A lot of the food options aren’t really for kids, especially if they’re on the fussier side. But there’s a decent hotdog stand most kids would be happy with and there’s a lot for the adults to choose from – from Pad Thai to Greek Souvlaki, so there’s something for everyone.
What To Do in York With Kids
I’ll be honest, most of “what we did” in York was exploring on foot, ducking into pubs to get out of the rain and eating our way around the city (hello Yorkshire Pudding wraps). But there are actually a lot of family-friendly options in York. And if you’ve arrived onto this blog post, I figured you would like to know about them.
- National Rail Museum York – If you’ve got a kid that likes trains, this is the absolute jackpot. If we had more time in the city, this is definitely the thing we would have fit in. Even better, it’s free entry.
- Jorvik Viking Centre – This place was recommended a lot to us but it felt like our daughter was a tad too young for it. Kids can learn all about the Vikings here, complete with a new ride experience.
- York’s Chocolate Story – That’s right it’s a museum all about chocolate! I use the term “museum” loosely as it seems from the outside this is just a bit shop with a little tour included. But it at least means it’s accessible as it’s right in the centre of the city. Kids can make their own chocolate lollies and learn about York’s finest chocolate-based exports (KitKat say what).
Is York a Good Destination for Families?
Absolutely. Sure there are cosy pubs just sitting there and you will think, damn, why didn’t I come here before I had kids? (I jest.) But seriously, it’s also fab with children. There’s lots to do and see and they enjoy exploring the little shops on the Shambles with you. Plus, there’s a helluva lot of family-friendly activities to enjoy. What are you waiting for?
Anywhere I missed? Let me know in the comments, lads.
