If you want to know even more about what’s going in during May Half Term in York, then the York Mumbler website has it all! There is a full list of everything for families in York to do over May Half Term in York here. From lots of fabulous days out to holiday clubs, if you need childcare.
Below we’ve rounded up a list of great things you can do as a family in York for free (or very cheap!). If you want even more ideas of things to do in York for free, then visit our year-round section, crammed full of ideas to have fun for free in York!
Saturday Mornings at York Minster: Saturday 27 May, 10.00am
Join the session for families and celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with games, worship, songs and cake.
Peter and the Wolf: Wednesday 31 May & Thursday 1 June, 7.30pm
Peter and the Wolf will be played on York Minster’s newly-refurbished Grand Organ. Young listeners will be guided through the sounds of this magnificent instrument. The perfect introduction to classical music.
Majesty: Monarchy & York Minster: Every day
Try on regal robes, cuddle a soft-toy corgi and pose for a majestic photograph in our exhibition exploring York Minster’s royal collections and connections.
Follow the Dragon Quest Trail or borrow a Little Explorer Backpack: Every day
Legendary knight, St George, needs your help to find dragons in York Minster! Follow clues to discover the fascinating fiery creatures and complete your noble quest. Or borrow a backpack, packed with gadgets including a map, binoculars, and magnifying glass and explore!
ℹ️ Find out more on the York Minster website.
💷 Free if York resident with proof of address
📅 Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 4pm & Sun: 12.45pm – 3.15pm
📍 York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
Charity Football FunDay at Millthorpe SchoolA charity fun day to be held at Millthorpe School as part of a wider 24 hour charity 6-a-side football tournament – featuring bouncy castle, face painting, pizza, gin, cakes and refreshments, kids’ football and tennis training sessions (various sessions 1-4pm, see poster for details), and a raffle.
The 24 hour charity fundraiser to be held at Millthorpe School Sports Hall, to raise money for cancer treatment for Adam Gray – proceeds will pay for cancer treatment which is no longer available on the NHS.
ℹ️ Find out more information here
💷 The football and tennis training sessions are free but a donation would be much appreciated
📅 Friday 2 June from 6pm until Saturday 3 June until 6pm
📍 Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
Dragon Week at Waterstones, YorkVisit Waterstones for Dragon Week at May Half Term with lots of activities to enjoy!
All week: treasure hunt in the Children’s Section.
Sunday 28 May 11am: Storytime and Activity – “How to Grow A Dragon”.
Tuesday 30 May 3pm: Storytime – “Pet Potato”.
Thursday 1 June 3pm: Storytime and Activity “Franklin’s Flying Bookshop”.
All activities are FREE and suitable for children age 4+.
ℹ️ Find out more information here
💷 All activities are FREE and suitable for children age 4+.
📅 Saturday 27 May – Sunday 4 June 2023
📍 15 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL
Rowntree Park is hosting a month of events in June to inspire and empower girls. From sports and fitness classes to art and craft workshops, music and dance performances, and nature-related activities. It’s time to reclaim the public space, try new things, meet like-minded individuals – and most of all, have fun!
Find out even more information on our blog about it here!
For more information see the Rowntree Park website.
Cost? Most are FREE, but some need booking in advance as spaces are limited
When? Various dates in June
Where? Rowntree Park
York Pride 2023York Pride day gets off to a fabulous start with our Parade March from York Minster, through the streets of York city centre to our Festival site on the Knavesmire.
The Parade assembles in Duncombe Place, outside York Minster, at 11.30am ready to start at 12 noon.
It makes its way through the streets York city centre and along Bishopthorpe Road to our Festival site on the Knavesmire, arriving between 1pm and 1.30pm. There is a funfair, live music, food, drink & more at the Knavesmire.
For more information see the York Pride website.
Cost? York Pride is a free, family-friendly event! Whilst there is no entry fee, donations are welcome to ensure that the event can continue in the future.
When? Sat 3 Jun
Where? York City Centre & York Knavesmire
York RLFC Foundation are offering free, turn-up-and-play inflatable and multi-sports sessions at various York venues for children aged 5+.
Tuesday 30 May:
10am – 12pm at York Acorn Rugby Club, YO24 2NW
1:30pm – 3:30pm at Strensall Green, Northfields Park, YO32 5XW
Wednesday 31 May:
10am – 12pm at Strensall Green, Northfields Park, YO32 5XW
1:30pm – 3:30pm atWoodthorpe Green, YO24 2RX
Thursday 1 June:
1:30pm – 3:30pm at Heworth ARLFC, YO31 1DX
Friday 2 June:
10am – 12pm at Strensall Green, Northfields Park, YO32 5XW
1:30pm – 3:30pm at Acomb Green, YO26 5BS
For more information see the York RLFC website.
Cost? FREE
When? Tues 30 May, Wed 31 May, Thur 1 Jun & Fri 2 Jun
Where? Various locations – see above. Please note sessions are outdoor and therefore weather dependent!
27 May – 4th June 2023: Activities and competitions
Fenwicks are running the following competitions (collect your competition forms from the Toy Department Till):
There will also be FREE face painting on 1st and 2nd June!
Cost? Free
When? Sat 27 May – Sun 4 Jun
Where? Fenwicks, Coppergate Centre, York
There are always plenty of great (and often free) events at your local library.
Or just drop in and enjoy reading or choosing some books together!
For more information see the York Explore Events section.
Cost? Free, unless otherwise stated
When? Open all half term
Where? Various Explore Libraries
Going on a trail or treasure hunt is a great way to get together on a family walk. In and around York there are lots of free trails, so many in fact we have written a whole guide about them which you can read here!
🗺 Of course, there is our very own Mythical Creature Quest – collect your free trail sheet for Visit York or download it here!
🗺 We also love the Squirrel Trail in the Museum Gardens!
🗺 Plus there are lots of indoor trails if the weather isn’t great!
🗺 Or why not enjoy one of our Scavenger Hunts around one of the lovely Nature Reserves in York?
ℹ️ For more information see York Mumbler
💷 The majority of the trails in our guide are free
📅 Year-round
📍 Various locations in and around York
York Art Gallery is very family-friendly and there are some brilliant fact sheets and colouring sheets you can download and print for free before you visit to keep the kids engaged and entertained on the way round.
Activity bags are also available to buy from the shop for £6.99. A reusable tote bag full of coloured pencils, an activity guide, a kaleidoscope and a colour wheel. You can take it around the gallery with you and complete all the activities.
After visiting the gallery you can walk down into the Artists Garden and the Edible Wood before exploring the rest of the beautiful York Museum Gardens.
ℹ️ Find out more on Mumbler here
💷 Entry to York Art Gallery is free, although charges do apply for any special exhibitions.
📅 Open Wednesday – Sunday, from 11am to 5pm.
📍 Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW
Free Rhythm Time taster sessionFree taster sessions at Clifton Parish Church on Saturday 27th May!
Come and try Rhythm Time for free as they launch their newest venue and spread the word about the joy of Rhythm Time!
Two mixed-age sessions running at 10am and 11am.
ℹ️ For more information see the Rhythm Time website.
💷 Free
📅 Sat 27 May, 10am & 11am
📍 Clifton Parish Church
Poppleton Children’s Sports DayPoppleton Children’s Sports Day is coming for 2023! With children’s sports, May Queen, fancy dress parade (theme: Science & Nature), maypole dancing, handicrafts, brass band, and much more!
Follow “Poppleton Children’s Sports Day” on Facebook for more info (including the event timetable for the day) and updates.
ℹ️ For more information see their Facebook page.
💷 Free
📅 Mon 29 May, 12.30 – 5.30pm
📍 The Green, Upper Poppleton
If the sun is shining, it is the perfect time to go on a family picnic! We’ve rounded up some great picnic spots in York for you to discover!
Plus if you are all out of ideas as to what to pack for your picnic and fed up with sandwiches, then we’ve got some great food ideas too!
You could also visit one of the many parks and play areas in York for a picnic and play – we’ve got 25 of the best parks & play areas listed here!
ℹ️ For more information see York Mumbler
💷 Free – well just the cost of your food!
📅 Year-round
📍 Various locations
“Branching Out” – Free family story-making workshopWhat do trees mean to you?
Enjoy a free, fun workshop using drawing, crafting and creative writing to make your story about trees in Rowntree Park. Most suited to age 8+, but younger can attend. Run by Loughborough University.
ℹ️ Book your FREE place via the Friends of Rowntree Park website.
💷 Free!
📅 Thursday 1 June, 11am – 1pm & 2-4pm (2 sessions)
📍 Various locations
York Festival of Ideas promises to spark children’s imaginations with lots of FREE and fun hands-on activities. Explore space in virtual reality, learn about nature, join an indoor dig, and more.
Enjoy some crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun at the Discovery Zone (3 June) and Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon (10 June), join the Pride parade and festival (3 June), and explore Coney Street through exhibitions and activities for all ages (throughout the Festival).
Have your favourite toy turned into a fully-animated movie star (3 and 4 June), attend a magical children’s opera (10 June) and try out something new as you participate in a Brazilian dance and percussion workshop (17 June).
And don’t miss acclaimed children’s author Michael Morpurgo, who will read an abridged version of his bestselling novel War Horse, accompanied by Ben Murray, with music and songs from the National Theatre production (4 June).
ℹ️ Find out more here
💷 Free!
📅 Friday 2 – Thursday 15 June
📍 Various locations across York City Centre and the University of York
Discover the history of the railways with star objects like Stephenson’s Rocket and the world’s fastest steam locomotive, Mallard.
Admire the splendour of royal travel including Queen Victoria’s ‘palace on wheels’, and marvel at the power and innovation of the Japanese Bullet Train.
ℹ️ Find out more on the National Railway Museum website
💷 Free, but booking ahead is recommended and can be done on the day of arrival.
📅 Open 10am – 5pm during all of half term. Open Wed – Sun during term time.
📍 Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
If you want even more ideas of things to do in York for free, then visit our year-round section, crammed full of ideas to have fun for free in York! You can have such a fun day out in York for free, that we even made a video about it to inspire you! 💜
Watch our video to plan your perfect free day out in York with kids!
☀️We hope you have a great May Half Term in York and that the sun shines all week long ☀️
Last updated May 2023
