Browse our directory of parks and gardens in and around York. Enjoy fresh air, green spaces and beautiful plants and flowers throughout the seasons. If you want to visit a free and local park or play area instead, then you can find those listed in our guide to parks and playareas in York here.
The award-winning farm shop and café specialises in locally grown produce, including fruits, vegetables, and rare breed meat. Their in-house bakery provides homemade scones, cakes & traybakes, with their chefs providing a range of delicious meals, sandwiches and seasonal specialties for the café – in late November and early December, enjoy a delicious home cooked Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. Let’s get festive!
The Balloon Tree is a great day out for all of the family – entertain the children in the play area, situated in the securely fenced café garden, so you can enjoy a cup of coffee & homemade cake, whilst they burn off some energy.
You can even come and find your perfect locally sourced Christmas Tree (available from late November 2024). Plus lots of great gifts for the whole family from sweet treats & stocking fillers to scented candles and locally produced gins & beers. Or why not ‘Pick your own’ contents for a beautiful tailored hamper.
Open seven days a week with seasonal variation on opening times. Make sure you check the website for all up-to-date information or email them with any questions.
💜 Baby Change
💜 Pram Space at tables
💜 High Chairs
💜 Kids Activity Colouring Sheet & Play Area
💜 Kids Menu
🐶 Dog Friendly (Outside Seating Only)
🕑 Open Mon-Wed 9-5pm Thurs-Sun 9-5.30pm
📍Stamford Bridge Road (A166), Gate Helmsley, YO41 1NB (One mile west of Stamford Bridge)
Located in the Yorkshire countryside between York and Harrogate, this National Trust estate is a popular place for families to explore and relax together.
First stop for many is the wilderness play area, all ages can swing from heights with traditional and bucket swings on offer. Test your nerve on the clamber stacks and pick which slide suits your size.
If you prefer creating your own adventures the den zone is prepped to get building and the only limitation is your imagination. Build a den is just one of the ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ – tick off many more from the popular play list when you visit.
During the holidays try a nature or play themed trails and other hands-on activities to help fill those days away from school. There’s space on the south lawn for ball games, flying a kite or watching the clouds go by, and don’t forget to check on the fishpond!
Head in the hall to see the latest exhibition with hands-on ways to get involved or wander the hall spotting faces and animals in the carvings and tapestries.
Free entry to National Trust and RHS members and under-fives.
Café Bar: We’ve crafted our Café Bar menu to showcase a delightful array of quality offerings. Indulge in our freshly made wraps and a variety of bread bun sandwiches featuring sausages, eggs, and other delicious options, all prepared on-site. Additionally, we offer a specials board. Our aim is to provide unique and tasty choices that elevate the typical café experience.
Our commitment to gluten-free options extends to our café, with gluten-free bread choices available. Rijo coffee is also available, ensuring high-quality coffee for our guests, whilst our ice cream comes from Northern Bloc in Leeds, known for its exceptional taste and quality.
⏰ Open 9am-4pm every day
🐶 Dog Treats Available from The Riverfront Cafe Bar
Dog friendly Ice Cream: various flavours of our Northern Bloc Ice cream range formulated especially for dogs!
We also offer a Puppaccino which is a whipped cream and vanilla syrup treat!
Children’s Play Area: Children can enjoy endless adventures in our play area, crafted with care and ingenuity by local company, Playscheme. This enchanting play space is more than just visually stunning; it’s a hub of learning and joy where little ones can burn off some steam while you relax close-by.
It’s made from Robinia, a naturally renewable hardwood timber which is sustainably sourced from an FSC certified supplier. Every twist and curve of the timber adds a touch of magic, ensuring a unique and captivating experience for young adventurers.
A day out with the kids at Castle Howard is full of adventure and intrigue.
For centuries the Skelves have inhabited a secret world, over the water from Castle Howard, causing mischief and mayhem high up in the trees, interacting with birds and protecting wildlife. They’re curious about humans too and want to explore and play with them. Join them in the treetops of Yorkshire’s most magical adventure playground, Skelf Island.
Ingenious treetop nest structures connected by rope bridges, slides, nets, and climbing equipment will allow the Skelves to take young visitors on an adventure like no other.
Skelf Island is included in a gardens ticket.
Read the Mumbler Review HERE
Wild meadows, ornamental trees, colourful flower beds and a themed summer bedding display. This well-maintained park is popular for picnics. There is a large play area and a pop-up cafe and plant sales.
Managed by Joseph Rowntree Foundation it has entrances on Water End (YO30 6WP) and Shipton Road (YO30 5RE).
Here’s what Mumblers say:
“Awesome morning at Homestead Park, such a lovely space! Had a lovely morning reading library books on the grass and watching their new display taking shape.”
FH, June 2019
“I took my son to the homestead and practiced [cycling without stabilisers] at the very end where the kids normally play football it’s on a slight slope downwards so helped to get started”
AW, May 2020
40 Water End, York YO30 6WP
Read our guide on Nature Reserves near York
Visit one of the local Nature Reserves in York and explore meadows, wetlands, moorland or ancient woodlands.
Nature reserves are specific areas where plants, animals and wildlife are protected to allow everything to thrive and great places to visit whatever the weather and time of year.
We listed some great nature reserves in York and also activities you can do with children when you visit – whatever the season!
See our guide to Nature Reserves in York here.
Read our guide on Parks & Play Areas in York
We’ve compiled an A-Z list of 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. Our guide includes over 35 parks, play areas and green spaces in York for you and your family to enjoy.
See our guide to parks & playareas in York here.
Why not walk from Rowntree park to Homestead park?
Download the map here: Childrens Walking Map which has things for children to spot on the way.
The walk takes approximately 1 ½ hours. The last section is not suitable for wheelchairs or large buggies, but an alternative route is suggested.
Join us again on the farm for heaps of fun and play!
What will you do first?
Visit our wonderful animals in the animal barn, the Piglets Maternity Ward is a must see to get up close and watch the new born piglets nestling into mum!
Help our animal handlers feed our pet lambs in the Lambing tent at sessions running every day (book on arrival).
Jump for joy on the bouncy pillows, we have a dedicated bouncy pillow just for the under 5’s that all toddlers love!
Splash around on the beach and look for fairies and trolls in our Fairy Tale Trail.
Take a tractor and trailer ride up to our super Indoor Play Barn. Adults can grab a coffee and a snack whilst the children get to play on our fabulous farm themed play equipment. The Indoor Play Barn is perfect for when the weather is a little chilly. Scramble over our Olym-Pig Assault Course or take a swing at mini golf. For all the budding little farmers there is the tractor driving area and Dig and Play sand construction zone.
Don’t forget to look out for our special events during the school holidays also!
Book online www.pigletsadventurefarm.com
Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, Strensall YO32 9ST
Rowntree Park is a large park with a riverside location that offers a range of facilities including a Reading Cafe, children’s play areas, lakes with ducks, wildlife area and ponds, carpark, and sporting facilities such as basketball court, skatepark, table tennis and tennis courts. The park is managed by York Council, but the Friends of Rowntree Park help maintain and improve the park, as well as running a range of community events and projects. Regular events include:
Weekly Friday Forest School sessions for approx 2-5 years 10-11.30am, runs throughout the year in 6 week blocks.
Monthly ‘Very Young Friends’ meet ups (Nature based crafts, stories and play for 1-5 year olds) – first Tuesday of each month 10-11am.
Monthly ‘Family Forest School’ for children of all ages , Saturdays 10-11.30am
‘Wild Ones’ Nature group for older girls, 10-16 years. Wednesdays 6-7.30-pm. Bushcraft, survival, campfire cooking and chat!
‘Make Space for Girls’ in Rowntree Park -an ongoing project that includes a month-long programme of free events for 10-18 year olds in June.
Also there is a range of ‘Young Friends’ seasonal events throughout the year including Easter, Halloween and Christmas specials– keep an eye on our social media and website for details!
Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ
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.
Back Lane, Fangfoss, East Yorkshire, YO41 5QH
Explore the beautiful grounds, gardens, historic museum, and Wildlife World zoo. Perfect for a family day out all year round with a packed calendar of events, exhibitions, and activities for everyone to enjoy. A great value membership package is available and includes entry to most events.
Distance from York: 15 miles
Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds LS25 3EBT: 0113 378 2959
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
Distance from York: 13 miles
Outdoor play area with cafe and ice cream. Good spot for a picnic.
Thorp Arch Trading Estate, Thorp Arch Estate, Wetherby LS23 7BJ
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).
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
Multi-Award-winning Adventure Play, Birthday Party & Campsite venue overlooking the Yorkshire Wolds. Kids love our play-scape, jumping streams, navigating bridges, climbing trees, making sand & water creations, den building & more, outside & in! Plus, grown-ups can join in too, whatever the weather. Award-winning homemade food, drink & ice cream.
William’s Den, Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave, East Riding Of Yorkshire, HU15 2LS.
T: 01430 472230
Now open with children’s facilities and great food options to choose from, activities such as outdoor slides/climbing frames for kids of all ages.
Baby Change
Pram Space at tables
High Chairs
Kids Activity (Colouring Sheet on Menu)
Kids Menu
Dog Friendly
Open Daily 9-4pm
Willow Farm Cafe, Wigginton Rd, York, YO32 2RH
T: 07399 959220
York FootGolf, Shipton Road, York, YO30 1XW
Created from over one million living, growing maize plants, York Maze is the largest maze in the UK.
With over 20 different rides, attractions and shows, we offer an amazing fun-filled full family day out.
Tickets must be pre booked online.
🐶 Dogs allowed in most areas on a lead.
Dunnington Lodge, Elvington Lane, North Yorkshire, York. YO19 5LT
T: 01904 608000
