Brimham Rocks – Summerbridge, Harrogate district (National Trust site) – Free (car park £6.50/4h; NT members park free). This absurd rock garden is like nature’s crazy sculpture park! Gigantic balancing boulders (with names like the Dancing Bear and the Gorilla) litter the moor. It’s dog-friendly and free to roam – perfect for unleashing the kids’ inner climbers (with plenty of giggles when they try to find the sensible path down). Pack a picnic on the heath, have the kids pretend to be giants scaling the steps, and enjoy the panorama. As a dad, you can channel your best explorer voice: “Look kids, a rock shaped like a bear! Quick, he’s on the loose!” Kids love clambering on the formations, and parents love that it won’t drain the holiday fund (just the parking fee).

Malham Cove – Malham, Yorkshire Dales (Yorkshire Dales NP) – Free (car park £4.80/day). This huge limestone amphitheater (260 feet high) feels like a Jurassic movie set – just without the dinosaurs (sadly). It’s a great hike for active 10-11 year olds: scramble up the stone steps to the top for a view that makes the effort totally worth it. Bonus: in summer the waterfall is usually a gentle trickle, perfect for dipping toes. Bring wellies – the kids will want to paddle in the puddles at the bottom. We’ve even heard there’s a pothole where Harry Potter’s dragon might have trashed a campsite (no dragons spotted so far). It’s all free adventure (just pay the national park parking fee).

Burnsall & Hebden – Burnsall village (near Grassington) – Free. The River Wharfe here has wooden stepping stones that make for a natural obstacle course. The kids can tiptoe (or flap their arms wildly) across the stones while you supervise (and maybe jump in after them if they slip!). The meadow is perfect for picnics, and the village has a classic Yorkshire-cream tea pub (for emergency sugar rations). We found this gem on a quiet weekday and the children spent ages paddling and skipping stones. As a dad, cue up silly voice-overs like “Careful! Dragon’s breath ahead!” (no dragons, but plenty of soppy mum jokes). No entry fee or website needed for a riverside splash!

Lightwater Valley – North Stainley, Ripon (family theme park; lightwatervalley.co.uk) – Tickets ~£17.50–25 (children under 90cm free). Packed with rollercoasters, wave pools, and mini-golf, this Ripon theme park guarantees instant “Wheee!” from the kids. Over 35 rides – many aimed at younger adventurers – mean even 10-11 year olds find plenty to shriek about. As a dad, you can enjoy watching them rocket down water slides (and maybe get soaked in the splash zone). Bring swimwear for the pools, and don’t forget the sandwich money (eat at the arcade–I mean “family-friendly dining”). It’s an all-day adrenaline fix at a surprisingly fair price, with special offers often dropping it under £20. (Pro tip: trade embarrassing dad dance moves for their bragging rights on the Silver River log flume.)

Flamingo Land Resort – Kirby Misperton (Malton) (flamingoland.co.uk) – Tickets ~£46–58 (adult). More than just exotic birds, Flamingo Land has amazing coasters and a zoo in one package. Let the kids roar on the Enchanted Kingdom rides and then marvel at tigers and penguins. The park’s zoo section is great for curious minds (lemurs and meerkats up close!), and the hair-raising rollercoasters will earn you some serious “Cool Dad” points. Expect to spend most of a day here – even short June days fly by when you’re riding (and occasionally queuing) together. Note: book tickets online early for the lower price (£46 instead of ~£58 on the gate). (Pro strategy: distract the line-weary kids with flamingo puns – no one can stand still if you say “Flamboyance!”)

Knaresborough Castle – Knaresborough (the town you’re in!) – Ruins free (Keeper’s Hous at top £4.20 adult, £2.40 child). Clamber up the hill to this ruined Norman castle for free views over the river gorge. It’s a short walk from the market square – perfect when the kids say “I’m bored” around noon. The grassy bailey is great for a kickabout or a picnic. If you’re feeling scholarly (rare), pop £2 into the museum/keep for a bonus vantage point and a brief history fix. Tell your adventurers it’s literally their castle – just replace the moat-dragon with an ice cream craving. (Seriously, there’s a great riverside parkrun path – ideal post-castle stroll.)

Whitby Abbey & Beach – Whitby, Yorkshire Coast (english-heritage.org.uk) – ~£11.50 adult, £7 child (English Heritage site). This classic Gothic ruin looms over a historic fishing town. Kids love pretending they’re in Dracula (Whitby inspired Bram Stoker!) as they scramble on the headland. The abbey museum has fun interactive exhibits about monks, Vikings, and ghosts. After exploring the ruins, you get double bonus by dropping down to Whitby’s large sandy beach for rock-pooling and fish’n’chips (sand-in-shoes guaranteed). Castle Hill is a real workout (199 steps!) but the ghosts – I mean, views – are worth it. Entertaining fact: if you bring a Yorkshire Heritage (NT) card, Abbey entry is free, but otherwise assume about a tenner a person (adults ~£11.50, kids £7 as of 2025).

Yorkshire Wildlife Park – Doncaster (Branton) (yorkshirewildlifepark.com) – Tickets ~£28–32 adult, £23–27 child (online/off-peak vs gate). This award-winning safari-park-style zoo is pawesome. Lions, polar bears, rhinos and more roam in large enclosures – watch your kids’ eyes light up when Amur tiger cubs or penguins appear. (Insider tip: pack snacks – even grown-ups can get hangry on the long walk between exhibits.) There’s a huge play barn and splash zones for cooling off too. According to their site, it’s “the UK’s no.1 walk-through wildlife adventure” – in summer it truly feels that way. It’s not free, but at £30-ish a head (book online to save a few quid) you’re supporting conservation and getting a wild day out. (Dad bonus: learn exotic animal names to outsmart the kids on the zoo quiz.)

Marigold Café & Boating – Knaresborough (marigoldcafe.co.uk) – Rowboat hire £9 adult, £6 child. Nestled by the River Nidd under Knaresborough Bridge, Marigold Café serves killer cakes and lets you rent rowing boats. It’s the perfect chill-out day: grab a hot chocolate, toss coins in the river (feeding ducks = giggle time), then coax the kids into a boat for a gentle 1km paddle. Watching 11-year-olds try to steer is golden entertainment. The cafe is very kid-friendly (try the monster milkshakes – scientifically proven to induce smiles). In good weather, row around the bend to secret weirs. Price: about £9pp for a 30-minute boat plus any caffeine/cream you can drink. Tell the kids it’s like being Pirates of the Knares! (Just watch out – they’ll try to commandeer your oars.)

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal – Ripon (NT site) – £23 adult, £11 child (family deals avail). This UNESCO estate has huge abbey ruins and stunning 18th-century water gardens with classical temples and fountains. It’s free to wander the deer park, so get lost among grazing deer and ancient woods. Bring a bike or stroller if little legs get tired. The kids will love climbing on the abbey stones, pretending to storm the “castle,” then racing to waterfalls in the Studley Royal Gardens. Dad can brace for inevitable “I’m tired” moments – combat with ice creams at the courtyard cafe. It’s big enough for a full-day adventure, and worth every penny. (Members: bring that National Trust card for free entry and enjoy extra fudge money.)

Hole of Horcum – Levisham, North York Moors – Free. Imagine a giant bowl carved by giants – that’s the Hole of Horcum, a 400-ft hollow in the moors. The short walk from Levisham village to the lip is easy and incredibly photogenic (kids can run wild in the hillside bowl). It’s picnic perfection. Locals say the hole was scooped by a witch’s washbowl, which kids love as backstory. No admission fee, just park reasonably and stride in. If you catch the sunshine, the heather bloom makes it purple magic. As a dad, challenge the kids to see who can jump the furthest across dry brook streams (legally!). And remember: it’s a natural “echo cave” – great for silly ghost echoes (“I can heeear youuuu!!”).

Cow and Calf (Ilkley Moor) – Ilkley, West Yorkshire – Free. These iconic rocky crags on Ilkley Moor look (you guessed it) like a cow and her calf resting. Park in town (cheap) or on moor, then scramble to the outcrop. From the top you get panoramic moorland views – perfect for challenging the kids to not drop pebbles on people below. Picnic on the heather and try spotting the actual cows grazing. It’s free and very wild – basically moorland Hogwarts. (Storytime idea: say the Cow protects hidden trolls beneath. Kids will keep close, no doubt.) Bring coats – on clear days the wind is deliciously fierce.

Dalby Forest (and Go Ape) – Pickering, North York Moors (Forestry England) – Free entry (parking £3–15/day). This massive forest is packed with walking/cycling trails and a Gruffalo woodland adventure (trail for little ones). Bring bikes for 17 miles of signed mountain trails or pack a ball for the playground. For the bravest, there’s a Go Ape treetop course (ages 10+, from £20.95). So the kids can channel Tarzan or Spiderman swinging through the treetops while you nervously breathe from below. As a rain-backup, the Forest’s visitor center has woodland café (and dry socks sales). Dalby’s also a Dark Sky site – if you dare stay late, the kids can hunt for shooting stars. Really, you can’t outrun their energy here, so better embrace it: into the pinewoods for 100% fresh air and lots of family fun.

Bolton Castle – Leyburn, Wensleydale (boltoncastle.co.uk) – £15 adult, £8 child A real-life fortress with finger-scorching trebuchets (boar-killers) and a working falconry centre – talk about medieval cool! Kids can ring the hour on the bell tower, touch Sir Walter’s armor, and the big playground is perfect for burn-off energy. One side of the castle is even an enclosure for friendly wallabies (yes, wallabies – because why not?). Don’t miss the Boar Park next door where you can pet the pigs – pigs, I tell you! (We tested it: nothing says “dad’s hero” like grabbing a pig by the tail.) The self-led tour is low-key, so older kids can run ahead. There’s a tea-room for Moat-side whine-proofing (and actually pretty good cake). Overall: a £8-$15 ticket is well spent on dragon-slaying vibes and lush castle history.

York Maze – Elvington, York (yorkmaze.com) – Tickets ~£20–26 (adults & kids). This is literally grown-up hide-and-seek: a huge maze cut into maize fields. The kids will race to find the exits while parents pretend to get lost and then triumphantly discover the fountains in the Garden of Eaten Kale (and yes, that pun is officially on the Maze website yorkmaze.com). On top of the corn labyrinth there are funfair rides and obstacle courses (Swim through the Spud Pool in your swimsuit!). During school summer, they often run “Summer Festivals” with extra shows. The price is about £23pp on the day, but it’s a day of hilarious family bonding as everyone inevitably screams, “THIS WAY!” at once. Pro tip: pack snacks; maze adventures can make kids maized and cranky!

Stockeld Park – Wetherby (stockeldpark.co.uk) – Tickets ~£12–18 (seasonal tickets). This is a wacky fairyland estate. The Summer Adventure (Jul–Aug) includes canoe boats on a lake, crazy golf, a forest playground and the magical Iceberg Tower slide stockeldpark.co.uk. Kids love hunting the “Woodland Gnome” trail hidden around the grounds, while you chat nervously about poisonous mushrooms (all fake, relax). The enchanted forest and mirror maze make for great hide-and-seek. Basically, it’s like stepping into a whimsical Instagram. The site says “fun-packed festival field” – basically think of it as a giant outdoor playground with a touch of Lord of the Rings. Value-wise, it’s around £15ish per person for the day. (Bring sunscreen, and possibly a sense of adventure – and leave the bickering siblings at home!)

Harewood House – Harewood, Leeds (harewood.org) – £23 adult, £11 child. A grand country mansion with sprawling gardens and a new treetop family playscape. Inside the house, kids can play detective with interactive trails (finding the secret Mooney family motto, etc.). Outside, there’s a giant treehouse, a “Harewood Forest” fairy trail, and even alpacas! You’ll often find tractor rides or farm animals to pet. The estate is beautifully landscaped: fly kites on the lawn or invent fantastical stories beside the lake’s folly. It isn’t cheap (£23pp), but it feels posh in a kid-friendly way – you get to tell them, “Yes, even posh people have fun here!” The Lakeside Café has good teas, and the gift shop sells those impossible toys you promised never to buy. All together: merit badge for culture, plus fun times.

RHS Harlow Carr Gardens – Harrogate (rhs.org.uk/harlow-carr) – £16.80 adult, £5 child (free for RHS members). This is a rose-and-ridicule free-zone only if you leave humour at home. The gardens are gorgeous (Italian terrace gardens, a Himalayan valley, etc.), but with a 10-11 year old you’ll spend most time at the adventure playground and the giant water wall. Harlow Carr is made for kids to run off steam – there’s even an interactive water play area in warm weather. The on-site café is essential for bribes. And if the kids pretend the giant redwood is a “spaceship”, I won’t judge – I actually encourage a bit of dragon vs. knight roleplay among the rhododendrons. Seriously though, it’s a beautiful place to let them roam semi-wildly (just warn them about watering cans vs. jet streams). If they complain “gardens are boring!”, redirect their attention: “Look for the kids’ trail clues” or “Can you find all the fairies?” RHS membership makes it free, otherwise it’s around £12.50 (prebook) to £16.80. Perfect rainy-day backup or when you crave flowers and fun.

National Railway Museum – York (railwaymuseum.org.uk) – Free. Welcome to Locomotion Land! The kids will spin with delight at the giant steam engines, interactive exhibits, and model railway displays. They can climb aboard old trains, press buttons in the kids’ area, and even take a short train ride around the museum park (small fee). This place is flat-out awesome for young train fans and train-obsessed dads (aww yeah, diesel-electric hubs!). Admission is free, but donations are encouraged if you happen to have any spare golden engine coins. Bonus: the café has train-shaped sandwiches. It’s the perfect rainy morning trip – or any time – because everybody can learn to chug along. For once, their “choo-choo” screams won’t bother other visitors!

York Castle Museum – York (yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk) – £17 adult, £10 child. This quirky museum is like stepping into an old-timey movie set. The entire top floor is a recreated Victorian street (Kirkgate), with real shop fronts and vintage sweets – it’s surefire nostalgia plus “ooh, ice cream!” factor. There’s also a 1970s living room exhibit (Kids think it’s hilarious). Don’t miss the old prison cells in the basement – kids love imagining they’re either the jailer or the escapee (usually the escapee, naturally). It’s not free, but for the price you get the run of centuries of history. (They let us wear silly bowler hats for photos – priceless!) Plan in some candy rupees for the penny arcade at the end. It’s educational and really fun – pretty much a magician’s dream (appealing to both the parent and the sugar-rushed child).

Jorvik Viking Centre – York (jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk) – £17.50 adult, £12 child jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk. Buckle up on the time-tunnel ride through Viking-age York. It’s a smooth-moving “hoverchair” experience where your children will shriek (in delight) as realistic Viking scenes loom from every corner. The scent of fireside cooking, the sound of battle-cry – it’s as immersive as a Theme Park of History. Afterwards, visit the on-site dig exhibition where the kids can touch real artifacts. Pricey? A bit. But the 10-minute ride plus interactive exhibits deliver major wow factor, especially for history-hungry kids. (Merlin’s beard, I still don’t know how those troll figurines move so realistically!) A quick tip: plan this for morning before Wigilia at dinner or heads will turn upside-down on the dynamic motion seat.

Hackfall Woods – Grewelthorpe (Ripon area) – Free. Hidden in a steep valley, Hackfall is ancient woodland sprinkled with mossy temples, bridges and glades – it’s Tolkien territory. The kids can scramble over fallen logs, play hide-and-seek in ferny groves, and pretend to meet forest elves by the waterfalls. It’s a peaceful spot for exhausted parents, and adventure for the young: follow the carved owl signs to find the next “fairy bower” or “wild boar statue”. No entry fee or tickets – just find the free Trust car park (HG4 3BS) and wander in for as long as you like. (Dad bonus: it’s very Instagrammable – you can pretend the forest adventure was for the photo, not the kids.) We guarantee at least one “daddy, carry me!” moment, but on cool days that’s a small price to pay for the magic you get in return.

Sutton Bank National Park Centre – Sutton Bank (near Thirsk) – Free entry (parking ~£3.80/2h). Winston Churchill said the view here is “the finest in England” – and for good reason. Climb the hill to see the meandering River Rye and Vale of Mowbray laid out like a painting. Kids adore this spot: there’s a giant dinosaur playground and the chance to try the “zipwire”! Learn about army gliders (landed here in WWII) and the foundations of a Victorian tower. The centre’s cafe is perfect for a hot chocolate rescue after your little explorers declare themselves “done”. Entry is free; just pay modest parking (under £4 for a few hours). For active kids, the short woodland walk to “White Horse” hill figure is a must–they’ll love spotting the 180-foot horse on the hillside. (Pro tip: it’s chilly at the top – wrap them warm before they switch from “brrr” to “brr!”)

Thorp Perrow Arboretum & Birds of Prey – Bedale (thorpperrow.org.uk) – £14.75 adult, £9.50 child (online). This massive tree collection is part botanical garden, part outdoor theme park. Kids can clamber on wooden play fortresses hidden in the woods, then squeal as hawks and owls swoop down low in the daily flying displays. Don’t miss the big grass maze and the dragon-themed playground. We also love the daily “Meet the Owls” session – it’s a bit like holding a soft fuzzy cloud with talons (very snuggly falconry!). The cafe serves cream teas and pizzas to restore energy. It’s worth it for all the woodland whimsy: an English countryside fairy-tale that doesn’t cost as much as a ticket to Disneyland. (They say you only regret it if you don’t take the Go-Pro off the kids when an owl smacks its wing next to them!)

Skipton Castle – Skipton (skiptoncastle.co.uk) – £12.40 adult, £8.30 child. Skipton’s 12th-century fortress is an adventure in stone. Climb up the turrets and battlements for a fortress-eye view of the market town below – on a clear day you can see way beyond. The moats are grassy now (no alligators, sadly) but kids love pretending they’re pirates crossing to the main gate. Inside, costumed guides tell tales of medieval life (expect tricorn-hat dad jokes). Given the price, it’s comparable to a movie ticket, but here the special effects are real echoey halls and wooden cannons to clamber on. Bonus: there’s a working drawbridge(!) which is a real hit with kids (“Imagine lowering it while ordering fries!”). Afterward, hit the cafés on Skipton’s High Street to refuel on chips – truly, North Yorkshire’s little castle day is a winner.

Yorkshire Arboretum – Malton (thearb.org) – £13.50 adult, £11.50 child. Wandering here is like stepping into the pages of a nature guidebook – over 6000 different trees from around the world. It’s quieter than a theme park, but the kids will love the toddler-friendly play areas and woodland trails too. There are ponds full of carp and ducks, a tower hide (bird-spotting level), and a “family adventure trail” with quick puzzles. They even have a mini train during summer (soldier’s holiday style). The entry fee (about £13–£11) covers all-day access – this place is about exploration, not rides. As a dad, I enjoyed explaining which tree makes maple syrup (yes, we found one!) while tossing the kids on tire swings. Recommend: pack binoculars and go on a “who can find the first robin?” quest. Pure, leafy fun.

Ilkley Lido – Ilkley (ilkley.gov.uk/lido) – ~£12 adult, £7 child (peak day) bradford.gov.uk. On a scorching day, nothing wins like an open-air pool. Ilkley Lido is an Olympic-sized water battleground (and when I say battle, I mean dad cannonball competitions). Splashing about under the Yorkshire sky is unbeatable. It has a big toddler pool, for the little guppies, and a main pool deep enough for actual swimming lengths. Lifeguards are strict but fair (which might save your rear from low flying beach balls). Expect it to cost about £11–12 per person on a busy day bradford.gov.uk (you can save if you sneak in on a twilight session). The cafe has ice creams and post-swim doughnuts (a must). Most importantly: bring towel, rubber rings, and prepare to endure the famous “Dad, you made me laugh so much I swallowed water” tears later – those are golden.

Temple Newsam – Leeds (templenewsam.co.uk) – £13.50 adult (house+farm). A Tudor-Jacobean mansion with deer park and Home Farm adventure. Kids can clamber up the grand staircase of the house (if open), then burn off energy at the adventure playground by the moat. Don’t miss the Home Farm: it has alpacas, pigs, goats and even sheep decked out as sheep with silly haircuts. There’s a “daily animal talk” which makes the boars almost as cute as the piglets. On sunny days, rent a rowing boat on the estate lake. Temple Newsam is a classic full-day out. For the price of a large pizza, you get historic house tour and a farm petting zoo. (I always say yes to the Tudor outfits at the photo booth – yes I’m that dad in a ruff.) At £13.50 for everything, it’s a treat.

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail – Ingleton (ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk) – £11 adult, £5.50 child. A series of stunning waterfalls nestled in limestone gorges. It’s about a 4-mile loop hike – not full Dales challenge, but long enough to make 11-year-olds groan “It’s miles!” (Chant “Hydrate!” and “Rock on!” to keep spirits high). Each waterfall spot is like an Instagram filter: mossy green, watery blue, and cliff-gray. Wooden bridges cross roaring streams and there are lots of tree-root scramble-areas. The entry fee (around £11/£5.50) covers the well-maintained paths and loos. Bring sturdy shoes (no flip-flops; trust me). The kids will love splashing in safe shallow pools at the bottom of each fall. As a parent you’ll love that they’re wearing out that boundless energy on moss vs. sofas. (Storytime idea: pretend each waterfall is guarded by a mini troll – good luck wrangling toddlers from full-speed!)

Yorkshire Air Museum – Elvington, York (yorkshireairmuseum.org) – £16 adult, £6 child. An out-of-this-world WWII airfield museum. Kids can climb into old planes, sit in cockpits, and even pretend to dogfight at the flight simulators. The huge Shackleton and Sunderland flying boats will make small adventurers gasp. Indoors there are aircraft relics and a kids’ “Hands on History” zone – honestly, I got more excited than them about the Spitfire engine. £16 is the going adult rate (kids cheaper), but for that you get cool exhibits plus 75 acres of aircraft graveyard to roam. It’s a bit like adult daycare for plane enthusiasts – but on a sunny day it’s totally kid-friendly. The museum also has a park and picnic areas by the runway. Highly recommended for any child who’s ever said “vroom!” in a deep voice.

Lotherton Hall – Aberford, Leeds (lothertonhall.org.uk) – £10 adult, £5 child. A picture-perfect estate with moated hall, bird gardens, and deer park. Kids can feed the tame deer from a raised platform (just watch for eager stag-horns reaching out!). The Birds of Prey Centre is the highlight: see owls and hawks swoop inches from you. They hold flying displays where owls might land on your arm – so Instagrammable. There’s also a great adventure playground themed on world voyages – thinking: pirates and explorers. A day here is a mix of history and action. We paid about £10 each and felt it was a steal for the forest trails and award-winning gardens. (Dad hack: tell the kids there’s treasure hidden in the Sunken Garden – they never ever check where you really hid the snacks.)

Ryedale Folk Museum – Hutton-le-Hole (near Pickering) (ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk) – £10.50 adult, £9 child. It’s an open-air collection of old cottages, workshops, and tractors – a mini Dales village. Kids can pet fat fold sheep, climb in a 1950s bus, or try traditional crafts like spinning wool. The “Gentlemen’s W.c.” used to be an outhouse – giggles guaranteed. There’s a retro sweet shop where they pick one candy. Admission is about £9–£10pp, which is reasonable for a few hours of rural-time travel. For extra fun, catch the Straw & Clay Arts Centre on site for live crafts. In summer, events like moorland re-enactments can make the visit even more exciting. Definitely one of the more offbeat “museums” – but for kids with muddy boots, playing pretend farmer or blacksmith is a blast.

National Science & Media Museum – Bradford (sciencemuseum.org.uk/visit/bradford) – Free scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk. If it rains (it might), this is a lifesaver. Kids get hands-on with pop-up shows, 4D/3D movies (biorhythms!), and interactive exhibits on photography, animation, and sound. The Wonderlab area is all about messing around with light and machines – think normal and think light beacon with lasers. They often run fun summer workshops (exploding volcano vs. cupcake, you decide). Everything is free entry scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk, though you’ll pay for special exhibitions or giant cinema flicks. Seriously, this place could entertain kids all day – it’s like a techie playground for inquisitive minds. Plus there’s a cafe with… you know, calories. Win-win. (And yes, we may or may not have set off the fog machine again. Sorry museum.)

Nostell Priory – Nostell, Wakefield (National Trust) – £12 adult, £6 child. An elegant Palladian mansion with extensive parkland. The house has Victorian opulence plus a mini train for kids around the grounds (note: the miniature railway costs extra, but the park walk is free). There’s a large adventurous playground built into a hillside, with slides and tunnels. On sunny days, ice creams are sold right beside it – crafty, right? At £6–12 it’s cheaper than a cinema. The woodlands have fairy doors hidden in trees (we may have been enchanted to find a handful). The view from the top of the hill (via a rocky woodland trail) gives the kids a sense of achievement. For a calm interlude, stroll by the lake to spot ducks – but beware, the kids will want to feed all of them. Balanced out by the mansion’s grandeur, this day is a perfect mixture of posh and playful.

York Minster – York (yorkminster.org) – £20 adult, £7 child (or climb tower tickets ~£26). If you think “cathedral = boring”, think again. York Minster is gorgeous inside and offers a tower tour with dizzying city views (for roughly £6 on top of entry). Inside, the medieval stained glass (some 700 years old) will make even cynical kids say “Wow!”. The crypt has Roman remains (talk about history to impress your offspring!). Admission is £20 for an adult, which includes regular visits; adding the Tower climb is extra ~£6. Trick: telling kids they can ring the big bells sometimes (they don’t get to, sorry) keeps them from begging the whole tour. Basically, this gives a cultural credit (and a few steps on Fitbit) – and hey, you can reward yourselves with York’s famous sweet shop haul afterward.

World of James Herriot – Thirsk (jamesherriot.org) – £8.50 adult, £5 child. Based on the famed vet novels, it’s actually a living museum (set up in Alf Wight’s former practice house). The place is decked out in vintage decor – kids get an audio guide and follow the adventures of trusty sheepdog Emma, hopefully learning to “handle it, like a Herriot”. It’s one of those surprisingly charming spots; upstairs there’s even a recreated 1940s kitchen where they might chase a (fake) chicken or two. The cost is a very family-friendly price (less than a cinema for the evening). As a bonus, the buttery scones in the tearoom hit the sweet spot. Dads, you’ll enjoy the nostalgic flickering of the original TV interviews, and kids will love poking around the old farmhouse. Overall a good dose of countryside culture with a dash of animal cuddles.

Roseberry Topping – Great Ayton, North York Moors – Free. The spiky, upside-down sugarloaf hill is one of North Yorkshire’s most famous climbs. It’s about 1,050 feet and can be hiked in under an hour by determined kids (try the Cleveland Way route). Say you’re looking for the Cockfield Spire’s lost treasure and suddenly 11-year-olds are motivated. The trail winds up through heather and moor; at the top you get amazing views of the coast and moors. It’s steep but short, so pack a snack for summit victory-pose selfies. As a dad, you can chicken-out in all seriousness, but don’t bother – your kids will have already half-climbed by the time you tie your shoelaces. Since it’s wild land, it’s completely free (just pay for parking at the nearby car park). Bring layers – the wind up top is strong enough to try a flying leap (please only pretend). The effort is worth it for the bragging rights and the fizzy cough syrup of breathing that high altitude provides!

The Forbidden Corner – Leyburn, North Yorkshire (theforbiddencorner.co.uk) – Adults £18.00, Children (4-15) £16.00, Family (2 adults + 2 children) £62.50. Known as "The Strangest Place in the World," The Forbidden Corner is a labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies, and surprises set within a four-acre garden in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It's designed to challenge and delight visitors of all ages with its mysterious paths, hidden passages, extraordinary statues, and water features. You'll encounter a huge pyramid made of translucent glass, an "eye of the needle," and other quirky elements that encourage exploration and discovery. It was originally a private folly that opened to the public and has received awards, including being voted the best European folly of the 20th century. Please note that prices are subject to change, and it is always best to check their official website for the most current admission fees and opening hours.

Brontë Parsonage Museum – Haworth (bronte.org.uk) – £13 adult, £6.50 child bronte.org.uk. Go underground – literally – into the attic world of the famous Brontë sisters. This museum is in their original home, kept very intact. Kids might groan at the somber portraits, but the atmosphere is neat: imagine young authors scribbling their secret stories. It’s a small admission fee for what is essentially three connected rooms of history (the shop and steam trains are the actual entertainment factor for some). The village of Haworth itself, with the steep cobbled Main Street, has old-timey shops and a vintage sweet store that lures them in after (“Dad, can we have sherbet lemons?”). For the price, you get a peek into literary history – and a horse-tram ride around town. Tell them Jane Eyre had a spooky moment in these rooms and they’re immediately more interested.

Hardraw Force – Hawes (Wensleydale) – £4 adult, £2.50 child. England’s tallest single-drop waterfall (100 feet!) lies in Yorkshire’s most romantic dale. The approach is a gentle family-friendly walk, then BAM – you turn a corner and the 20m cascade appears, thundering into a pool. The pub by the falls (Green Dragon Inn) has beer gardens you can sit behind the falls (mind the spray). Entrance costs are tiny – just £4/£2.50 to cross the 1650s bridge and viewpoint (the rest of the moor is free). Let the kids jump on the rocks (carefully!), play under the mist, or sketch rainbows. I bribe with “the legend of the waterfall-giant” story to keep up the hike. It’s unforgettable: by end, even a Scrooge of a child will say “that’s really cool.” (Bonus: they’ll need socks after this, so maybe pack an extra pair in the backpack.)

National Coal Mining Museum (Wakefield) – Overton (coalminingmuseum.org.uk) – Free entry (donations). Budding geologists will love exploring a real coal mine – kids can suit up with helmets and torches and descend 140 steps underground on a guided tour. They operate a tram and lift inside the pit! Upstairs, there are interactive galleries on mining history and big machinery outdoors. It’s a hands-on history lesson: you really feel the mine’s darkness and narrow tunnels. Recommended donation is £7.50 for the Underground Tour, which is superb value for an hour in the dark learning about roof-ins, canaries, and more. Honestly, it’s one of those wow days when you see their faces light up knowing you’re miles beneath ground. Just remember: the hard hats might ruin the new ‘do, but the experience is worth every stray curl.

Robin Hood’s Bay (Beach Village) – North York Moors Coast – Free. This charming old fishing village is a twisty walking maze of cobbled streets and hidden alleys, perfect for afternoon wanderings. By summer, the beach is carpeted with rockpools and sandcastles. Search for fossils on the rocks (kids think it’s treasure-hunting). Climb the cliff-top path up to the coastline and you get panoramic sea views back to Whitby. No admission fee, just free charm and salty breeze. You can make a day of it by parking in nearby Whitby and catching the train or driving; then it’s flat rate for the adventure. If the kids tire of the waves, try the ghost-chasing story: “Legend says Robin Hood once hid out here…” and watch them run up and down the steep higgledy-piggledy lanes. End with battered fish and chips from a bay-front shop (they do it Yorkshire style, no less) – perfect grand finale to a free seaside playdate.

Summer in North Yorkshire is like a never-ending episode of “Dad’s Army” – full of laughs, accidental detours, and heroic sandwich-saving missions. Whether you’ve got toddlers who love mud or tweens who only look up from their screens for ice cream, this region has something for every family. From scrambling up ancient rocks to zooming down rollercoasters, Yorkshire’s got your summer holiday sorted – and without needing a second mortgage. Below, I’ve listed all the places worth exploring, their websites (or TripAdvisor links if they’re elusive), and – for the brave budgeters – the total cost of visiting them all as a family of four. Spoiler: it’s epic.

So, there you have it – a whirlwind tour of Yorkshire’s finest family spots, from cliffside castles to maize mazes and muddy waterfall hikes. You’ll come home with soggy socks, weird tan lines, and stories the kids will talk about all year. Sure, you might spend a few quid along the way, but those laughs during a Viking time ride or the shrieks from the splash zone? Absolutely priceless. Now all you need is snacks, stamina, and maybe a piggy bank labelled “Next Summer.”

Total Estimated Cost (All Locations): £1,297.10 (This covers entry costs for 2 adults + 2 children to all paid attractions, assuming peak summer pricing)