Free things to do in York with kids

Free things to do in York with kids. We all know that city breaks with kids can get expensive. Especially if you opt for a central hotel to make it easier on little legs! When we visited York between Christmas and New Year I was keen to keep the activities on the cheaper side. I was so surprised that some of the best attractions we visited are actually free. And those we paid for were actually not that expensive either.  The best bit is that many of these free things to do in York with kids are actually inside. Which is also a bonus with the good British weather. 

READ MORE – Things to do in York with Kids – 3 Day Itinerary

Free things to do in York with kids

The National Railway Museum

This is by far the best attraction we visited during our visit. If you don’t do any of the others then make sure you do this. In fact, we only left a couple of hours in our plan and regretted it when we left at closing time. The Museum is actually part of the same trust as the Science Museum in London. And you can tell it’s brilliant. There are several different areas where you can see some of the most historic trains in the UK. Including Stephen’s Rocket which is the first steam locomotive and The Mallard. Which still holds the record for the fastest Steam Train in the world. For better weather, there is an outside place area. Find out more on the National Railway Museum website. You must book your time slot in advance unsurprisingly it is very popular.

READ MORE – Review The National Railway Museum 

Walk the Walls

It is not possible to walk the entire length of the walls. And you can only access them at certain points. So bear this in mind. The photo of the map below will give you more information on where you can access them. We picked the walls up at Monk Bar which meant that we got to see the back of York Minster. It gave us some incredible views. You do need to climb steps that are quite narrow at various points so probably not easy to do with a buggy. More information is available from the York Walls website. 

The Shambles 

The Shambles are great for children of a certain age. Especially those who are Harry Potter fans. In theory, being the inspiration for Diagon Alley you can see why with the overhanging Medieval houses.  It is popular so get there early or late if you are revisiting when it is light into the evenings. The Harry Potter shop doesn’t open until 10 am so anytime before this is a good idea if you don’t want to be nagged for spending money. There is also a market behind The Shambles which you can wander around. 

READ MORE – Our Harry Potter inspired trip to York

York Art Gallery

Although the gallery dies have regular exhibits which need to be paid for. There is a large amount to see for free. They also regularly run activities for kids. From their website, you can download free colouring sheets and activities to take with you on your visit. They do also offer an activity pack which costs £6.99 if you are so inclined. Find out more on the families section of their website. Unfortunately when we visited York the gallery was closed. But we intend on returning at a future date and had added this to our list. 

Yorkshire Museum and Gardens

Unfortunately, this was also shut. We did not time our visit well! Part of the same Museum Trust as the Art Gallery. With interactive displays and activity areas in each of the galleries, there is plenty to keep the kids occupied. Buggies are allowed and you can find a map on their website, along with super helpful information on where to park etc. The gardens are a great place to stop for a picnic and let the kids run around away from the bustle of the city. Plus you will find the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey to explore. You can find out more information including opening times and what’s on for families on the York Museum & Gardens website. 

York Civic Trust – Blue Plaque Trails

Harry is a bit young but if you have older children then the York Civic Trust Blue Plaque Trails would make a great way to explore the city.  There are four different trails each is free to download from their website. Either to print or to use with your smartphone. The four options are Literacy York, Scientific York, Artistic York and Radical York. Each includes a map and gives you a rough idea of how long it will take. 

The York Cat Trail

A walking trail for younger kids there is s York Cat Trail.  Statues of cats have been placed on buildings around York for almost two hundred years. Although they do think that some which have been replaced date back to medieval times. The question is can you find all 22 of them? You can download the walking tour directly from the York Lucky Cats website. 

What are your favourite free things to do in York with kids? I would love to hear about your experiences, please let me know in the comments below. 

Visiting York?

These other posts may be of interest:

Things to do in York with Kids – 3 Day Itinerary

Visting York Minster with Kids

Our Harry Potter inspired trip to York

Wizard Golf in York a Review of Hole in the Wand

Jorvik Archeology is the triple ticket worth it?

Review The National Railway Museum 

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