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. Also, we got details of everything that’s going on to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in York!
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!
Enjoy some Jubille themed fun at the National Railway Museum!
Make flags and bunting in the Royal Railway Activity Zone and test your maths skills in Pixel Puzzles to help create a royal railway track.
Find out more about the beautiful royal carriage collection in one of the Royal Talks and discover a new exhibition all about the Royals’ love of train travel.
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. Build a locomotive LEGO construction is £5 per person.
📅 Open 10am – 5pm during all of half term. Open Wed – Sun during term time.
📍 Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
From giant deckchairs and bunting to street parties and live music, there is plenty going on in and around York this May half term to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne!
Below are a few highlights, but there is SO MUCH going on, we have a huge guide with everything Jubilee in York listed! Check it out here!
👑 Make crafts in Dean’s Park at York Minster 2nd & 3rd June – FREE!
👑 Open-air screening of ‘The Queens Corgi’ in St Sampsons Square 2nd June, 1pm – FREE!
👑 Jubilee Outdoor Market, Carlton Towers 4th & 5th June – FREE!
👑 Platinum Jubilee Picnic in the Park, Glen Gardens, Heworth, 3 June 2.30-4.30pm – FREE!
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
There is a huge programme of events for the return of the Jorvik Viking Festival! A small selection of free events are detailed below!
🛡 28 May, Willow House Open Day: Located just off Walmgate Bar come and discover what is happening at this unique excavation site.
🛡 28 May – 1 June, Viking Encampment: On Parliament Street meet the Vikings and learn about their trades. 10.30am – 4,30pm daily.
🛡 28 May – 1 June, Viking Encampment: On Parliament Street meet the Vikings and learn about their trades. 10.30am – 4,30pm daily.
🛡 28 May – 1 June, Annual Strongest Viking Competition: On Parliament Street cheer on your favourite Viking! 11am-12pm
ℹ️ Find out more on the Jorvik Viking Festival website
💷 The events we have highlighted above are free – charges apply for some of the Jorvik Viking Festival Events.
📅 28 May – 1 June 2022
📍 Various locations in the city centre
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.
📅 O pen Wednesday – Sunday, from 11am to 5pm.
📍 Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW
The York City Knights Foundation will be delivering free activity sessions this May school holidays. Sessions are free of charge and aim to keep children entertained, active and fed with free snacks and a drink distributed at these events.
The activities on offer will comprise of inflatable sessions, specific Rugby sessions, as well as multi-sport sessions.
When: Monday 30th May
Where: New Earswick All Blacks. York, YO32 4AG
Session 1. Time 10:00am – 11:00am suitable for children in school years reception, years 1, 2 and 3.
Session 2. Time 11:00am -12:00noon suitable for children in school years 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Funded by Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust
When: Monday 30th May
Where: Stray Road Playing Fields, Heworth Without, YO31 0NE
Session 1. 1:00pm – 2:30pm Knights suitable for ages 5-9 years.
Session 2. 2:30pm- 4:00pm Knights suitable for ages 10 -14 years.
Funded by Heworth Without Heworth Without Ward and Heworth Without Parish Council.
Parish at Stray Road Playing Fields
When: Tuesday 31st May
Where: King George Field (off Dodsworth Avenue), York, Arran Place, YO31 8UA
Session 1. 1:00pm – 2:30pm Knights suitable for ages 5-9 years.
Session 2. 2:30pm- 4:00pm Knights suitable for ages 10 -14 years.
Funded by Heworth Ward Council
Wednesday 1st June
Where: York Acorn Rugby Club, Thanet Rd, York YO24 2NW
Session 1. Time 10:00am – 11:00am suitable for children in school years reception, years 1, 2 and 3.
Session 2. Time 11:00am -12:00noon suitable for children in school years 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Funded by Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust
Wednesday 1st June
King George Field (off Dodsworth Avenue), York, Arran Place, YO31 8UA
Session 1. 1:00pm – 2:30pm Knights suitable for ages 5-9 years.
Session 2. 2:30- 4:00pm Knights suitable for ages 10 -14 years.
Funded by Heworth Ward Council.
ℹ️ If you have any questions, please email or call the Knights office on 01904 670 880
💷 Free! No need to book, just turn up.
📅 Monday 30th May, Tuesday 31st May & Wednesday 1st June
📍 Various locations – see above
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 of 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
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 2022
