Things to do with children in York whilst shopping | Mum In The Madhouse

Things to do with children in York whilst shopping

I love York.  I want to live there.  I take every and any opportunity to visit York and this find us choosing York as a shopping venue over lots of more local towns.  The boys love York too, however, shoppping not so much!  So we have developed ways to break up the day without spending all day shopping or all day playing!  However if you want a city break in York, why not take a look at hotels in York .  It is a great place to spend a long weekend. Our favorite places for a short visit whilst in York are:

The Jorvic Viking Centre 

You get an annual pass for The Jorvic Viking  Centre for just £27 for a family of four and the centre is really central so perfect to spend an hour inside.  The boys adore it.  It isn’t large, but it is packed full of viking life, including a ride and the smell!

We find something new every time we visit and it is a firm family favorite to break up the day.

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Yorkshire Museum Gardens – Free

We always park in the long stay car park at Mary Gate, so take a trip though the Museum Gardens to get too and from the car.  We also often take sandwiches and enjoy a picnic lunch in the gardens.  The ten-acre botanical Museum Gardens, stretch from the River Ouse up to the back of York Art Galley.  The gardens were planted in the 1830s and you can download a guide if you are visiting to find your way round.  The boys love squirrel spotting and it also gives them some space to run off some energy.

York Observatory – Free

The observatory is open Thursdays and Saturdays, 11.30am – 2.30pm and is the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire.  It was built in 1832 and 1833 and its 4in refractor telescope was built by York man Thomas Cooke in 1850.

The National Railway Museum – Free

I have blogged many times about our love the the NRM and it is a great place to spend an hour with the children and unwind.

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