Summer holiday activities in North Yorkshire

From Land's End to John O'Groats, from Colwyn Bay to Whitby, the people of England, Wales and Scotland rejoice: summer is officially here.

Time to shake off those spring showers and overcast skies and soak in the sunlight on long, dreamy days. Time to get off the sofa and grab life by the horns. Time, in short, to seize the season.

But if there are kids in the equation, you might be wondering where to take them and what to do. Those school summer holidays can feel like a long, long six weeks when the little ones are constantly pestering you for entertainment.

We're here to help. We've put together this guide to family-friendly activities in North Yorkshire this summer – from museums to beaches, from fossil digs to festivals. We hope it gives you some inspiration.

1. Museums

Finding a museum that suits all the family isn't always easy. Luckily, North Yorkshire has plenty of options for you to choose from.

The  JORVIK Viking Centre    in York is a firm family favourite for a reason. It brings to life 10th-century York through an immersive recreation of Viking life.

Visitors get to step into the past and explore houses, workshops, backyards and more. Plus, there's a gallery bursting with fascinating Viking artefacts.

Of course, spending a day in a Viking settlement is one thing. But stay there long enough and you'd be sure to miss modern amenities and inventions – chocolate, for one.

A mere four minutes' walk away is  York's Chocolate Story .    This visitor attraction and museum takes you on a whistle-stop tour of chocolate-making in the Chocolate City.

Chocolate is to York what champagne is to France. It was here that beloved brands like Terry's and Rowntree's started working their magic.


Like all good museums, the JORVIK Centre and Chocolate Story both educate and entertain. This is also true of  Wonderlab , the interactive children's museum based in the Railway Museum.

Wonderlab is all about the science behind railways, from aerodynamics to different fuels. But it's all grounded in experiential learning, as visitors get to explore a human wind tunnel, launch a rocket and more. 

2. Go outdoors

North Yorkshire is home to quaint villages, bustling cities and everything in between. Culture vultures, fine diners and nightclubbers alike will find plenty to enjoy. But the truth is, you could probably spend a whole summer in the area just exploring the outdoors.

Take the  Dales Way . This 78.5-mile long-distance footpath runs from Ilkley in West Yorkshire all the way to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria.

Along the way, it passes the picturesque ruins of Bolton Abbey and the cosy, welcoming pubs and cottages of Burnsall and Grassington.

So, if you want to ensure your children get some fresh air in their lungs this summer, an amble along the Dales Way could be just what the doctor ordered. (Not all of it at once, though – of course.)

About half an hour's drive from Grassington is  Malham Cove  – an impressive ancient limestone pavement that offers stunning views of the Dales.

The pavement itself is an almost lunar landscape, with deep ruts cut into the limestone. It's as popular with climbers and photographers as it is with hikers and those in search of a pretty view.

Then there's  Scarborough Beach . Explore the bustling cafes, shops and venues in South Bay or the waves and rock pools at North Bay.It's a part of the world you won't forget in a hurry.



3. Kid-friendly festivals

 Looking for an outdoor adventure to blow away the cobwebs?  Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival , running from 9 to 17 August, could be just what you need.
Expect gorgeous scenery, weird and wonderful scarecrows and tasty scran. This year, Look North presenter Amanda Harper will be judging the raggedy entries. 
In search of something more dramatic? This August Bank Holiday, the English country house of Castle Howard is hosting the  Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta .

The centrepiece of the event is the mass launch of hot air balloons from all across Europe. On top of that, there's family entertainment, food and drink and live performances from Ella Henderson, Sister Sledge and many more.

For 362 days a year, Baldersby Park is an undulating landscape park with an 18th-century house, a temple, two obelisks and a whole lot of nature.

But from 25 to 28 July, this peaceful park transforms into a hubbub of cultural activity –  Deer Shed Festival . It is, as the organisers put it, "a three-day wonderland of music, comedy, arts, science, theatre and sport".

We don't have space to cover all the acts, but suffice to say there's something for everyone – and that includes the kids.

4. Stump Cross Caverns

Here at Stump Cross Caverns, we're proud to be the custodians of some seriously magical prehistoric caves.

The caves themselves are a great place to cool off in the summer. But we're not content to rest on our limestone laurels. As well as welcoming visitors all through the summer months, we also host a varied and family-friendly calendar of events.

We hold regular Fossil Discovery Digs , where kids can play as palaeontologists for the day. One of our expert instructors will guide participants through an indoor fossil dig, using clean, safe sand to mimic soil. Best of all, no one goes home empty-handed. Every child gets an educational pack and a fossil bag.

Then there's Crystal Wonders , held in our cosy cinema space. Kids learn all about crystals and then get to grow their own. As with the fossil digs, every child gets to take a souvenir home.

Our fossil digs and Crystal Wonders are scheduled throughout the summer, with SEN-friendly experiences on selected dates. On 23 July, however, we have a special one-off event.
Join Mark Kemp, AKA The Yorkshire Fossil Hunter , as he leads you on a 90-minute session exploring the fossil-filled landscape around Stump Cross.


So, if you're looking for a fun, family-friendly activity this summer, look no further. Get tickets for a fun, family-friendly activity at Stump Cross Caverns today.