York

[BrianM]

Heading to York for 5 days in the April holidays.
I’ve got a 12 year old boy and 4 year old boy.
Any must do’s or recommendations
Also anyone know a good Italian.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The Yorvik Centre is the obvious one.

Are yours a different generation for Harry Potter? If not, The Shambles is very Diagon Alley

The minster is impressive but not for kids to be fair.

The Drift In cafe is fun, the Cosy Club is good as well (neither are Italians I should add)

It is very much a wander around sort of place, lots of little streets to go down, endless eating places.

If you want some retail therapy there is an outlet place to the south of the city, McArthur Glen brand but it is titled York Outlet. It's very nicely done, some smashing brands and a good food court.

If you want to get out, just outside York is a twee village called Easingwold. Go to The Curious Coffee Shop in the square. Cakes and snacks that make your eyes pop out .

If you have not been before, York is not car friendly, it just isn't built for them. If you are on the outskirts, get in by bus, park and ride etc. Car parking is expensive, tricky to find and you just sit in traffic.

My daughter is at university there, loves it, but I only know it through grown up eyes. We never took our kids there when we were small. Hopefully some others can add some things more suitable for a 4yr old.

Edit, 5 days is a long time in a UK city. Perhaps worth a trip out to Whitby one day, the deer park at Ripley Castle (near Harrogate), Newby Hall?

 

[IanM]

Play Ganton, lock kids in car.

Gianfranco Zola.

 

[GB72]

The Yorvik Centre is the obvious one.

Are yours a different generation for Harry Potter? If not, The Shambles is very Diagon Alley

The minster is impressive but not for kids to be fair.

The Drift In cafe is fun, the Cosy Club is good as well (neither are Italians I should add)

It is very much a wander around sort of place, lots of little streets to go down, endless eating places.

If you want some retail therapy there is an outlet place to the south of the city, McArthur Glen brand but it is titled York Outlet. It's very nicely done, some smashing brands and a good food court.

If you want to get out, just outside York is a twee village called Easingwold. Go to The Curious Coffee Shop in the square. Cakes and snacks that make your eyes pop out .

If you have not been before, York is not car friendly, it just isn't built for them. If you are on the outskirts, get in by bus, park and ride etc. Car parking is expensive, tricky to find and you just sit in traffic.

My daughter is at university there, loves it, but I only know it through grown up eyes. We never took our kids there when we were small. Hopefully some others can add some things more suitable for a 4yr old.

Edit, 5 days is a long time in a UK city. Perhaps worth a trip out to Whitby one day, the deer park at Ripley Castle (near Harrogate), Newby Hall?

That pretty much covers it. I go there most years as I lived there for a year when I went to law school.

 

[BrianM]

We are getting the LNER Train, first time in a long time we’ve taken the train anywhere, normally just drive.
Thanks for all the recommendations, I’m sure the Wife will love MacArthur Glen, Im not a shopping person myself

 

[Neilds]

Kids will love the Jorvik Viking Centre - have a look onlin efo rthe York Tourist pass which will give discounts, available as 1, 3, 5 day (or similar). Also, the train museum is great for kids and grown ups.

We went to York last year and went to Caesars Italian, used to go there in mid 90s when my wife was at Uni in York and it is still very good. Gets busy though so should think about booking.

 

[BrianM]

Kids will love the Jorvik Viking Centre - have a look onlin efo rthe York Tourist pass which will give discounts, available as 1, 3, 5 day (or similar). Also, the train museum is great for kids and grown ups.

We went to York last year and went to Caesars Italian, used to go there in mid 90s when my wife was at Uni in York and it is still very good. Gets busy though so should think about booking.

We are doing the Viking Centre, will look at the train museum and restaurant also

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Kids will love the Jorvik Viking Centre - have a look onlin efo rthe York Tourist pass which will give discounts, available as 1, 3, 5 day (or similar). Also, the train museum is great for kids and grown ups.

We went to York last year and went to Caesars Italian, used to go there in mid 90s when my wife was at Uni in York and it is still very good. Gets busy though so should think about booking.

How could I forget the train museum, doh. They used to have Thomas the Tank Engine days which were great fun. Worth looking out for.

 

[GB72]

We are getting the LNER Train, first time in a long time we’ve taken the train anywhere, normally just drive.
Thanks for all the recommendations, I’m sure the Wife will love MacArthur Glen, Im not a shopping person myself

Train museum is great if that appeals. Right next to the station.

 

[patricks148]

The gates and walls are great fun to explore, one of the gates has Richard iii museum, though I can't remember which one, possibly michelgate . York minster is interesting. Even just a walk around the streets is fun. Used to go there quite often with the history society the wife and I were members of. Guild Hall is also worth a visit.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Flamingo Land

 

[rulefan]

I’m sure the Wife will love MacArthur Glen, Im not a shopping person myself

It'd a good few miles away but there is a Park 'n' Ride there. Just do it in reverse. I'm sure your wife would also really enjoy the main Bettys (not Little Bettys). But there are likely to be Qs.
Second the Jorvik Centre and National Railway Museum. York Castle Museum is very good.
Also, if the weather is good, take a boat trip down the Ouse.

 

[Big85]

Don’t forget the shambles aswell!!

 

[Hobbit]

Castle museum.

Mmm, 4yr old might be a little young but the comedy ghost walk is hilarious.

 

[chellie]

Buy the York Pass. Saved us a fortune.

 

[BrianM]

Well just home after a few days in York.
Bought the York Passes, saved us a small fortune.
Stayed at the Grand Hotel, supposed to be 5 star, but not really in my eyes (Compared to what I’ve had in the past), had to book swimming slots with the kids but you could only get mainly mid day times, they squeezed us in twice at 9am for the inconvenience.
A large Macallan 12 year old, a gin and tonic and 2 apple juices - £50
Got the above drinks for nothing as after been out since 9am until 17:30, we came back to our room door open with no one on site, not particularly happy as I normally take a nice watch with me, luckily I never this time.
Door men very nice and helpful with any questions.

Did the Ghost Bus, Red Bus tour, Viking Museum, Army Museum, Castle Museum, Train Museum, York Dungeons and made a potion (drink) in the Harry Potter place, shambles market / Diagonal alley area.

Museums all excellent, Potion making a rip off for what it was, kids still enjoyed it though which is what it’s all about.

One of the highlights though was seeing the King and Camilla, just on way to train station and a police officer on a bike stopped beside us and said the King will be passing in a couple of minutes, we duly waited with a dozen or so other people and as they came me and the boys gave a wave and they waved straight back, got a nice wee video of it as well.

Never really ate in the independent restaurants, just with the kids, ended up in hotel restaurant, pizza express and Malmaison, Malmaison wasn’t great but rest ok, we had bites to eat and drink at various other places with no complaints.

Highly recommend it for a City Break.

Need to book a holiday after all that