The award-winning farm shop and newly expanded café specialises in home-grown fruit, veg, and local and rare breed meats, plus the finest homemade food including quiches, scones, soups and seasonal dishes. Pick your own in the summer. A great day out for all the family – entertain the children in the brand new play area and visit the animal corner with feeding platform, while you relax in the cafe garden.
Our superfresh homegrown asparagus crop is now ready. The asparagus crop thrives in our sandy soil, being a mediterranean crop, and the quality and taste of the yield benefit tremendously from this. Watch out for the asparagus specialities in the cafe and on the deli in the farmshop.
Our excellent delicatessen serves a wide range of delicious hot and cold goodies. The bakery and deli ovens are also on display so you can see the cakes being baked in all their glory. There is also a sandwich station where superfresh sandwiches will be made to order in front of the customers. We are making it easier for customers to eat on the go with take away tea and coffees from the deli, and a good choice of easy lunches with hot and cold sandwiches and pies to suit busy lifestyles.
Opening Times: Open seven days a week, Farmshop 9am-5.30pm, Cafe 9am – 4.30pm.
Not only is the food in the cafe excellent and service lovely; the outdoor play area with tractor/digger themes is perfect for my vehicle-obsessed toddler. Two goats to pet too, plus pick your own fruit in season, and a Hallowe’en pumpkin patch. The produce in the farm shop is wonderful too (although I always spend a fortune in the shop on lovely stuff!), and plenty of parking.
FB Jan 19
My son loves the playground as you can sit in the cafe and watch them play. As well as the pick your own being really good in the picking seasons and the farm shop and cafe food is lovely.
JW Jan 19
Stamford Bridge Road (A166), Gate Helmsley
YO41 1NB (One mile west of Stamford Bridge)
T: 01759 373023
E: info@theballoontree.co.uk
Just eight miles north of York is beautiful Beningbrough with its glorious gardens, sprawling parkland and hands-on art galleries.
Whether it’s swinging from heights or climbing the wall up the pyramid tower in the popular wilderness play area, fun and games on the lawn, borrowing a bike to ride around the gardens or dressing up as royalty in the hall, Beningbrough is a fantastic family day out.
Pick up a free explorer backpack and go hunting for bugs, bird watching or navigating the gardens with a compass. Or, head inside. The hall can be enjoyed all year round. Get creative in the interactive galleries or let your littlest one amuse themselves in the pre-school playroom.
During school holidays, there are plenty of organised activities to enjoy from the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ playlist as well as artrageous workshops and interactive trails.
Children’s picnic boxes and delicious meals made from home grown and locally sourced produce are available from the restaurant. Plus ice creams, sandwiches, snacks and drinks from the Brew House during school holidays and on weekends.
“We had a fantastic day at Beningbrough this week. They now let dogs into most of the gardens (just not in the childrens play area and walled garden bit) and there is a place you can sit and have a coffee just close to the adventure playground. My girls loved building the dens and climbing the trees. A fabulous day out. And the for was lovely too!”
Mumbler EP, Jul 18
“My 2 love the adventure play area.”
Mumbler JC, Jan 18
Beningbrough, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 1DD
T: 01904 472027
E: beningbrough@nationaltrust.org.uk
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
Distance from York: 29 miles
Nestled just below the Iconic Brimham Rocks on the southern fringe of the Nidderdale AONB, is Brimham Rocks Adventure Farm.
A real working farm which allows people through the farm gate to learn about all things farming and countryside.
Although the farm has only been open to visitors a short while it’s not a new venture for the farming couple behind it; it’s an extension of their commitment to connecting farming and education.
On site we offer spacious indoor and outdoor play areas, a café serving home cooked food and delicious cakes, outdoor viewing areas to see the animals and an indoor petting barn with a large variety of friendly animals.
We are open Wednesday to Sunday term time in accordance with NYCC dates and 7 days during the school holidays.
We offer term time weekly “Little Farmer” Sessions on Wednesdays and Thursday mornings from 10.30am -12.30pm designed for toddlers, allowing them to meet the animals, do a craft, have story time, snack and more.
We have themed fun educational activities each half term. This can be anything from sowing and growing your own fruit and flowers to wild bird feed making.
It’s always worth checking our Facebook page for up to date information.
“We have just been to Brimham Rocks and I can highly recommend it. Loads for the children to do and the staff are very welcoming. Clearly this is a fairly new venture but if they carry on as they are it will be around for a long time! It also helped they were giving away free ice cream and the kids dug for gems which they could keep. It was well worth the drive out. “
MS, Sept 18
“going to brimham rocks the other day and spent just over an hour waking round and quick play in the park”
SK, May 18
Fiddlers Green, Brimham Rocks Road, Hartwith, Harrogate HG3 3HB
T: 01423 779759
Rethink your next family day out at Energi Trampoline Park York.
Whatever the weather, our gigantic air conditioned, indoor arena will put huge smiles on your kids faces – treat them to an experience they’ll be talking about for days.
With trampolines, reflex games, basketball hoops, dodgeball arena, foampits, balance and agility challenges and a giant airbag to bounce onto, you cannot fail to impress the whole family.
“I have older kids so I like the Energi trampoline park – it’s age appropriate for them, a cool place to meet their friends, and parents can sit and have a cuppa.”
AG, Nov 2018
“Energi trampoline park is great for parties. My daughter had hers there in march and loved it.“
JN, July 2018
Book your slot on our WEBSITE
Distance from York: 15 miles
**See below for Mumbler offer on pre-booked tickets**
Embrace the fresh Yorkshire air and time together in this magical setting. Stockeld Park opens its beautiful parkland throughout the school holidays with fun for all the family including February, Easter, Spring, Summer, Halloween and Christmas events.
Take a walk in the Enchanted Forest and let the children (and adults!) burn off some energy in the Adventure Playgrounds. Whizz around the forest on Electric Scooters! Get lost in the big Yew Tree Maze or try out your skills on the ice/roller skating rink – now under cover so you can get your skates on whatever the weather! (Ice/Roller – season dependant). There is Interactive Play, a huge Yew-Tree Maze and a Woodland Laser Tag arena too!
Fabulous events such as the Circus, Concerts, and Interactive Themed Workshops take place throughout the year, suitable for kids of all ages. Finish off your visit to the delicious café and gift shop.
“We had an amazing day at stockeld on sunday! Inflatables inside, crafts, ice skating and all the parks! Was great! A full day out. (Referring to Feb half term 18 events).”
Mumbler SR, Feb 18
“Stockheld Park is brilliant and you don’t need t book. It’s got loads for little ones to do too, that’s where we will be off x”
Mumbler LMB, Feb 18
Stockeld Park, off the A661 Wetherby Road, Yorkshire, LS22 4AN
If you don’t mind travelling that little bit further then don’t forget the Out of York page for Day’s out ideas that little bit further afield.
Have you visited a great park or playground in or around York? If yes, please tell us about it here so we can add it to the list.
We’ve compiled a list of ten great parks and play areas in York so you can add some variety to your days out and enjoy even more of the many beautiful green spaces that York has hidden away.
Distance from York: 14 miles
“We went to allerthorpe lake at the weekend and kids really enjoyed it. Bit muddy in places but should have dried out after this week. I paid £4 for me, a 3 year old and a 2year old. Nice little cafe, walk round the lake, a sandpit (that was full of water when we went) and a park. I’m 38 weeks pregnant and it was ideal.”
HT, April 18
“Allerthorpe Lakeland Park, it’s lovely.. there’s a cordoned off bit for you to have a little paddle in (not deep and no fish!) also water sports to enjoy from paddle boats to stand boards, it’s a lovely day out especially in this weather! Xx”
HG, June 18
Park re-opens on February 5th 2019
Open Tues – Fri 10am – 4pm & Sat – Sun 9am – 5pm
Open Bank Holiday Mondays & during school holidays
Melbourne Road, Allerthorpe, Pocklington, York YO42 4RL
T: 01759 301444
Distance from York: 16 miles
Burnby hall in pocklington is lovely
SM, Oct 2018
Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington. Lots of woodland walks around a lake, can feed the fish, there’s a play park and a tea room.
CD, April 2018
Distance from York: 15 miles
Castle Howard is a magnificent historic house in the north of England, the 18th century residence is set within 1,000 acres of breathtaking landscape just outside York. The grounds include lakes, fountains, temples and woodland as well as formal walled garden and children’s adventure playground making Castle Howard the perfect family day out.
“Castle howard lovely gardens and woods to walk round childrens play area at the bottom next to boathouse cafe toilets with changing room for 1yo”
TB, Aug 18
“Castle Howard for a lovely day”
RW, Jan 19
T: 01653 648333
Managed by Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The park stretches across the corner from Water End (postcode YO30 6WP) to Shipton Road (postcode YO30 5RE), with an entrance on both roads.
Avenues and groups of ornamental trees give spring and autumn colour. This well-maintained park is a popular place for picnics. There is a large play area and rumours of a cafe opening in 2016 so watch this space!
Park Facebook Page is HERE
I like homestead park in the summer time. They do loverly tasting ice cream their an nice green area to run around. An i remember going to that park as a child myself. X
KF, Nov 2018
I took my 15 month old yesterday and had flashbacks to when I used to go as a child 30+ years ago (I’m ancient) – some of the equipment is still the same (I don’t mean this as a criticism of the park – I was pleased that a couple of my childhood favourites had stood the test of time!)
FB, Nov 2018
40 Water End, York YO30 6WP
T: 01904 629241
Jubilee Park is a community green space which has been developed through the efforts of local residents, with financial and other support from many sources. Development work at the park is now complete and the work of the Jubilee Park Company is to raise money for its maintenance and further improvements.
“Jubilee Park at Fangfoss is lovely”
MC, July 18
“Jubilee Park in Fangfoss is so amazing. My five year old says it’s his favourite park ever!”
LDG, May 18
Back Lane, Fangfoss, East Yorkshire, YO41 5QH
Distance from York: 15 miles
Lotherton is a very popular place attracting over 3/4 of a million visitors each year
(Wildlife World, House and Chapel, Grounds and Gardens, Outdoor Play, Indoor Play)
” Lotherton was fab, lots to do“
LE, Sept 18
” Lotherton hall, not so many activities but we had a picnic there the other day and it was raining but they have gazebos x“
EM, Aug 18
Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds LS25 3EB
T: 0113 378 2959
Aptly named an adventure farm, scramble up the Truffles Farmhouse & Barn, tackle the Olym-Pig Assault course, race friends on pedal Go Karts, bounce high on Big Pigs Pillows and jump aboard the Trailer Ride or pink Barrel Train. Not forgetting the Giant Sandpit, Bale Play Baaarn, Crazy Farm Golf and explore the Farmyard Trails.
Open 10am until 5.30pm daily (closed Dec-Jan but open exclusively in December for their Magical Christmas event).
“We like Piglets for a special treat as there is so much to do there, you could never get bored.”
OP, Nov 2018
Piglets Adventure Farm Park, Towthorpe Grange, York, YO32 9ST
T: 01904 499700
Some 2000 trees and 1,500 woodland shrubs were planted during the establishment of the Country Park. Developing woodland includes willow, birch and pine with oak and ash. Hawthorn, blackthorn and dog rose thickets give nesting cover and food for an increasing range of birds. The climbing boulder is open for use by the public all day, every day and is free of charge.
Facilities: Country Park office/classroom, children’s play area, toilets at Park and Ride
“Recommended a walk around the pond (lake) at Rawcliffe Country Park”
GH, Jan 19
“We have just been round Rawcliffe lake this morn with scooters, its tarmac all the way so it is nice, flat and safe for bikes and scooters”
KH, Jan 19
Rawcliffe Bar Country Park, A1237, York YO30 5RR
T: 01904 883991
Rowntree Park has a river-side location to the south of the city centre. The fantastic park offers a great Reading Cafe, children’s play areas and sporting facilities such as bowling, mini-golf, tennis courts, basketball court and skateboarding area as well as a duck pond (often filled with geese!) Because of the low-lying nature of the land, when the Ouse floods, Rowntree Park fills up with water, and Park users have to wait for the Park to drain, partly by gravity (through one-way valves in the flood walls) and partly by pumps. The Friends aim to keep the public aware of this, as much as possible, via their Facebook page.
“Rowntree is great”
ES, Nov 18
“Rowntree Park is great as you can buy a little bag of duck food from the café close by.”
LR, Feb 18
See the Park Website for more details.
Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ
Distance from York: 13 miles
“Thorp arch outside play area, take a picnic or go to the cafe opposite, also does ice creams”
Mumbler RS, May 17
Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby LS23 7BJ
Distance from York: 22 miles
A 17-acre English Heritage Grade II listed garden, including: children’s playground, skate park, paddling pool (seasonal, games in parks including tennis, pitch and putt and crazy golf, café, toilets & a children’s boating pool
” We just had a cracking day out at Valley Gardens love. Got the train over, kids loved it. “
CM, May 18
“The valley gardens in Harrogate has water in it now – They tend to fill it on the second May bank holiday for the summer”
Cornwall Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SZ
A 16-acre park in the middle of Holgate, about 30 minutes walk west from the centre of York.
(woodland walk and tree trails, meadow picnic area, rose terraces and pergola walk, two bowling greens, basketball court, toilets, two children’s play areas – for under 11 years and over 11 years old)
“West bank park Holgate – good open spaces with grass to path.”
KP, Oct 18
There is a car park for park users off James Backhouse Place, behind the park. On-street parking is available on New Lane or Hamilton Drive.
West Bank Park, Holgate, York.YO24 4NS
Distance from York – 27 Miles
” I think it will be good my daugther love it. Got indoor and outdoor. Sand area and water thingd.lots of climbing bits. And the restaurant is great“
FM, April 18
“My lb loved it, he’s just 3 on Feb and I literally had to drag him away! He could have stayed a LOT longer!! We will definitely be going back xx”
LT, April 18
William’s Den , Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave, East Riding Of Yorkshire, HU15 2LS.
T: 01430 472230
Willow farm cafe get my vote as a grandma. Our grandaughter loves it there foods scrummy and well priced and she loves musical moo and the craft table which is free to use.
WV Jan 19
brilliant free children’s facilities and amazing food options. There is loads for the kids to do of all ages from covered smaller play items like ball pools and kitchens cars etc to outdoor slide/ climbing frames, sand section and a bouncy castle in the summer the variety keeps them entertained for hours the wonderful free crafts table inside means we always take a memory home with us x
LM Jan 19
Willow Farm Cafe, Wigginton Rd, York, YO32 2RH
T: 01904 766822
Adventure Playground
Will you ride down the slide? Crawl through the tunnel? Or scale the cargo net? Our adventure playground is open all day to children aged between three and six years old, located outside the East entrance. Food outlets and toilets available inside the designer outlet
St. Nicholas Avenue, Fulford, York, YO19 4TA
T: 01904 682700
Created from over one million living, growing maize plants, York Maze is not just the largest maze in the UK it’s an award winning fun filled, day out in the country.
With over 20 different rides, attractions and shows to enjoy York Maze offers an amazing fun-filled full family day out. York Maze is open from July – September (2018 dates tbc).
“York Maze is beautiful.”
LM, July 18
“York Maze are great for all ages. If you book in advance online its cheaper. “
KH, June 18
Dunnington Lodge, Elvington Lane, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 5LT
T: 01904 607341
