Photo by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash
Visit York
York could be considered the ‘capital’ of Yorkshire, and there is plenty to do and see here that makes a day trip worthwhile. York is a genuinely beautiful city to explore, and there’s a number of famous attractions you might want to sample. First and foremost, there is the famous York Minster; a magnificent building that is worth the visit alone. In addition to this, it is worth considering a visit to Jorvik Viking Centre– truly a day trip worth making, especially if your kids love hands-on museums and activities. The life-size exhibits and dioramas make for a fantastic interactive experience that they will never forget, and may even help with their overall appreciation of history.
The centre of York is surrounded by a magnificent circuit of medieval stone walls, some of the best-preserved city walls in England. Walking along the walls is a great way to orientate yourself and get a sense of the city. It takes around two hours to cover the whole circuit, or you can just choose to walk along a section at a time, joining at one of the many gates along the way. There is a great view of the Minster from the section between the River Ouse and Mickelgate.
Once you have done exploring this beautiful city, you will have probably built up an appetite. Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic places to eat and drink, so have a look around for the York Restaurant of dreams.
Explore the Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is made up of some of the most stunning countrysides in the UK. Vast, sweeping landscapes of luscious rolling hills and valleys make for a wonderful rural expedition that is best explored on foot. If you want to do something more exciting and get the blood pumping in a way that only Yorkshire can, there are lots of activity centres in the region that offer canoeing, mountain biking, and all other forms of outdoor activities. Dangle from a gorge, slip through a ravine, squeeze through a cave and more with adventure activities that will forge wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
Castles built on fixed vantage points have stood the test of time and still command an impressive view on the skyline. Explore their secret tunnels, imagining what life was like being locked up in the dangerous or play king and queen as you venture around the ramparts and let your imagination run wild.
Visit Leeds
Leeds is a somewhat overlooked city, but it has plenty to offer a family looking for something fun and different to do. Considered to be one of the gems of the north, it has an array of Victorian buildings and modern architecture, providing the perfect contrast that most travellers don’t get the chance to see in one place. You could opt for indulging in fun paintball games at one of the local centres, or visit the National Coal Mining Museum for a fascinating – and educational – day trip that your kids will love. Leeds is a wonderful city when you spend a little time there, so it is definitely worth exploring should you have the opportunity to do so.
Walk to the Brimham Rocks
The Brimham Rocks are a fascinating natural feature found on the North York Moors, and they are well worth a visit. The walk to the rocks is manageable even for younger children, and when you get there, you will enjoy views from 300m above the rest of the landscape. The National Trust maintains the site, so you can be confident the surrounding areas are in good condition and well managed. The rocks themselves are a fascinating geological anomaly formed over millions of years, so there might even be a chance for education in this day trip too!
Visit the coastline
Yorkshire is a country of many faces. As well as the bustling towns and cities and the rolling hills of the dales, there are miles and miles of glorious coastline. One of the most unique things about the coastline in Yorkshire, is that it is littered with dinosaur fossils, hence the name given to it – the Dinosaur Coast. Whitby Museum holds evidence of the great sea creatures that formerly populated this region millions of years ago. Even today, as the sea inexorably erodes the soft shale rocks, fossil, and remarkable sea life, from small ammonites to giant plesiosaurs, are uncovered. The area around Scarborough is a fantastic place to go exploring with the kids, and they even run organized fossil hunting trips. There is a rocky, rugged headline and, if building sandcastles and taking a paddle in the sea is more your thing, there are miles of golden sand and traditional beach huts. Scarborough has plenty of other exciting attractions for families – the Sea Life Centre and Peasholm Park Japanese gardens are just two of them. You don’t even need a car to get around – The Victorian Central Tramway funicular train links the town centre with South Bay and its harbour, allowing you to hop on and off when you need to.
Yorkshire is undoubtedly a county that offers many benefits to those wishing to visit with family. If you choose the county for your next day trip, then you can be sure all will have a wonderful time.
This is a collaborative post.
