Below are all of the playgroups in York that run on a Monday. These tend to be informal groups in venues like church halls and community centres. There is usually no need to pre-book and you can just turn up (check before travelling) They tend to be less structured and you’re welcome to come along so your baby or toddler can play and you can chat to other parents.
If you’re looking for a more structured group like dancing, singing or sensory groups, for example, then check out the 0-5 Classes page here.
Boddlers runs from Wigginton Recreation hall Monday- Thursday 9.30-11am. It is for babies and toddlers between the ages of 0-3 years.
The cost of the session is £3.50 for children under 12 months and £5 for children over 12 months – 3yrs. This is paid half termly.
Each week the sessions are themed and there are craft activities as well as tea and coffee for the parents. There is also baby weighing scales to use during each session.
The Boddler session provides parents and carers with the opportunity of meeting others in a warm and friendly atmosphere, providing opportunity to form new friendships through the shared experience of caring for children. Our Boddler sessions run four times a week; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am-11am at Wigginton Recreation Hall. Looking after and caring for children is extremely rewarding but can also be a time when we appreciate having others around us who understand some of the challenges of the job, whether as a parent, grandparent, childminder or anyone else responsible for a child. Parents/carers remain with and are responsible for their children throughout the session.
Parents and carers are greeted by staff that are happy to see you and your child/children. The environment is planned to cater for the developmental needs of children and our staff are available to chat about any issues involved with caring for children, so please feel free to make use of their experience and knowledge of children.
Visit our dedicated libraries pages for details of our 15 Libraries in York, including information on their Regular weekly sessions, special events and the Reading Cafes.
Acomb Babies is a group run by Gateway Church for non-mobile babies and their parents/carers. Join us for an opportunity to meet and connect with other new parents.
The group is at the Gateway Centre on Monday mornings from 10.30-11.30am. No booking is necessary.
We are looking forward to meeting you and your baby!
The Gateway Centre, Front Street, York, YO24 3BZ
T: 01904 781983
10 – 11.30am Mondays in termtime.
Free to drop in at any time. For children age 0-5 and their grown ups.
Includes free play time, snack for kids and hot drink for adults, and finishes with a Bible story.
Run by York Evangelical Church and held at 60 South Bank Avenue, York, YO23 1DP.
Mondays & Fridays (termtime): 10.00am to 11.30am
A drop in session for parents/carers to stay and play with their 0-3 year olds.
£5 for children 12 months and over, £3 for children under 12 months and £1.50 for each additional child.
Tea/coffee for the adults; communal snack time for the children.
Bishopthorpe Village Hall, Main Street, Bishopthorpe.
T: 07926 573100 (Carol)
A friendly, welcoming and fun Stay and Play group on Monday and Wednesdays 9:45am to 11:15am term time. We offer toys, crafts, getting messy, a healthy snack and, of course, singing! Baby weighing scales available.
£3.00 adult and child if registered and paid in advance. Drop-in £4. Siblings extra £1.00
Copmanthorpe Methodist Church. Main Street, Copmanthorpe YO23 3ST
T: 07743 848541
Mondays 9.30 – 11am at Crayke Sports Club and Village Hall. Usually term time only, but Facebook can be checked for any extra sessions we decide to run.
£3 per session per family, including tea/coffee for the adults and snack for the kids.
Crayke Sports Club and Village Hall, Easingwold Road, Crayke, York, YO61 4TZ
T: 07969 062622
A stay and play group that welcomes families from pregnancy to school age.
Every Monday from 9.30am – 11am (termtime only).
It’s a drop in group so feel free to come along whenever!
Suggested donation: £2 per family (inclusive of refreshments).
The Super Sustainable Centre, Derwenthorpe, York YO31 0RW
T: 07552 030107
We offer a large safe space in a purely play environment (i.e. no drinks/snacks) for parents/carers to play with their children (babies to school age) and meet and chat. Singing and storytime. Ample parking and an area for pushchairs.
£1 per week. Mondays 1.30 – 2.45pm (Term Time Only). Facebook group “Heworth Christ Church Toddlers”.
Christ Church, Stockton Lane, YO31 1JG
T: 07503172294 (Anne), 07910156755 (Rosemary)
10am – 12pm, Acomb Explore Cafe.
Free Entry. Group for parents and carers of under 3’s to sit and have a knit and chat (or crochet, sew, card making, whatever your chosen craft is!). Yummy coffee and cakes available from the library cafe. Bring a toy or two to share, and your knitting.
Acomb Explore, Front Street, Acomb YO24 3BZ
T: 01904 552651
💜 FREE GROUP 💜
An outdoor group for age 0 – 4, meeting every Monday at 10 am in the fenced area of Poppleton Millennium Green.
Please note: in colder months we meet at Poppleton Community Centre – please check our facebook page for updates.
£2 per family; bring a snack to share. Parking outside the church.
Poppleton Millennium Green, Church Ln, York YO26 6LF
T: 07523 497704
A new friendly community group meeting every Monday morning at 10am whatever the weather! For children age 0-4. We’ll spend time in nature, playing games, making crafts, singing songs and sharing stories!
£1 per family to cover basic equipment. Prebooking is required. Please join our facebook group for more info and booking system details.
Mondays (Term Time) – 10-11.30am £1/child
A baby and toddler group led by volunteers. Lots of activities in various rooms. Tea/Coffee, juice and biscuits for children and adults. All are welcome. The building is fully accessible.
Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church, The Village, Haxby, York, YO32 2JJ
T: 01904 760592 (Sarah)
💜 ONLY £1 PER CHILD 💜
💜 TOP TIP: we understand that this is a popular group and, as at Spring 2023, it does have restricted numbers so can fill up quite quickly. There is a WhatsApp group you can join where they send out an alert as soon as the group gets full for the day to save wasted journeys.
Monday at 9:15pm to 11:00am (term time only), small donations welcome. A group for parents, carers, babies and toddlers (0-4). We offer space to play, talk, sing songs, enjoy a drink/snack and end with a prayer.
We also have regular Pebbles+ Events on some Saturdays (Pebbles4Dads, Pebbles parties etc). Check the facebook page for details.
Clifton Methodist Church, 44 Clifton, York, YO30 6ALT: 07931154561
💜 FREE GROUP – SMALL DONATIONS WELCOME IF YOU CAN 💜
Join us at Wilberfoss St John the Baptist C of E Church on Mondays 1.15 – 2.45pm (term time only) for play, storytime, songs, tea and biscuits for 0-5 year olds. Free (donations welcome). Further details or contact us via the “St John the Baptist Church Wilberfoss” facebook page.
Church address: Beckside, Wilberfoss, York YO41 4NS (off the A1079).
Skelton Toddler Group, run by Galtres Church. All under 5s welcome.
10 – 11.30am Monday mornings at Skelton Village Hall.
Suggested donation £1. Includes snacks, hot drinks for parents and songs.
Contact Sarah on 07954 076998 for any questions.
Skelton Village Hall, YO30 1YB.
Mondays (termtime) 9.15 – 11.30am from 20 February 2023.
Held at St Luke’s Church Hall. The charge is £1.00 per adult 50 pence per child ( max £2.00).
Parish Church of St. Luke the Evangelist, Burton Stone Lane, York YO30 7BE
St Paul’s Toddler Group 9:30-11am term time only. Suitable from birth to 4 years.
It’s a friendly drop in group run by volunteers. There are lots of toys for the children to play with and a great opportunity for the adults to meet.
£1 entry, hot drink and snack included.
St Paul’s Church, Holgate Road YO24 4BF
T: 01904 658820
We are a group for 0-5 year olds and their grown ups.
We are free of charge, our sessions run from 10-1130am on a Monday morning during term time. We finish each week with child friendly worship in the church.
Please call/text for more info or if you feel a bit nervous coming for the first time: 07890 307379
Holy Redeemer Church, 108 Boroughbridge Road, York YO26 6AB.
💜 FREE GROUP 💜
Explore York Libraries and Archives offer under 5 story times. There are free and on a drop-in basis. Find out the time and day of the week at your local library and all the up-to-date information here https://exploreyork.org.uk/children/storytimes/
For more details about the sessions and libraries below see our post HERE
💜 FREE GROUPS 💜
Daily Mon-Fri from 9.30-11.30am and a Wednesday session from 1.30-3.30pm.
Welcoming children up to 3 ½ and their families. Enriching free play, seasonal crafts, puppet show/story and singing together in an all natural nurturing environment, supporting your child and you.
£9 per session – first session free! Please book early as often oversubscribed.
The York Steiner School, Danesmead, Fulford Cross, Fulford, York, YO10 4PB
T: 01904 654983
