Anyone here from York?

[SiriusBlackAndHisHippogriff]

I'm visiting York with my four year old for a couple of days next week while DH is in the area for work. Travelling by train and staying in the city centre.

Any reccommendations of nice things to do while we're there? I've never been before. I know the railway museum is meant to be good so we'll definitely do that as he loves trains. We are there for two full days and one half day.

Any tips for lovely child friendly cafes or restaurants that aren't the usual chains?

The chocolate story is a nice thing to do.

We love ambiente tapas, always been fab with us and the kids. They have an app that often has special offers on including free bottle of wine if it’s your birthday.

How old is you son? Walking the walls is good but not with a Pram.

He's 4 and quite happy walking so the walls is a definite idea. Sadly the weather looks pretty shite.

Hadn't heard of the chocolate story, thank you!

If you walk the walls go to the tourist info place and see if they still do the free rubbing pack

chocolate story looks ACE, thanks for that tip!

If he hasn't had enough of museums or you need to get out of the rain, the Castle Museum is great, with a Victorian style street to walk along. Also, there's a new little shop on the Shambles that sells little ghost figures, which my nephew (5) loved. It's a bit of an experience as much as a shop, with little spy holes to peep into etc. When we were there the shopkeeper was spinning a great tale about the ghosts and what they get up to at night when the shop is closed

The walls are sometimes closed when it's wet because they get slippery, so while it's a great thing to do if available, you want a back-up! I know it's an obvious one, but the Minster really is terrific, and I think they do activity packs for kids so they can run off and look for the animals in the carvings and stained glass etc.

The railway museum is great for kids too, especially train-mad ones.

For some reason, the Shambles has been turned into a Harry Potter fest and there are several themed shops there now. I'm assuming from your username that you might want to check that out...?

York has plenty of child-friendly eateries which aren't chains. Try the whole Fossgate area for coffee shops that do cake. There's also Betty's if you want the full York experience, but it's expensive for what it is so I would personally recommend buying cakes to take away and eat back at your hotel or guesthouse. Gillygate also has lots of independent cafes and, as it's a little off the beaten track, you often find they're not heaving. Tbh, you're probably coming at the best time (weather notwithstanding), as it's not the height of the tourist season and the Christmas nonsense hasn't swung into gear yet. Enjoy the relative peace!

I am so 'incredibly lucky' to live in this city ...

Castle Museum
Yorkshire Museum
Chocolate Story
Bar Walls
Museum Gardens
Jorvik Viking Centre
York Minster
Railway Museum
The Shambles
Cat Trail - you wont believe this one!

Or just walk around ...
Yorks Wiki Entry

Yeah 'I do love it here ... does it show ?

Damn ... thought I had added this one ...

website with more info

Really sorry to slightly hi jack OP!

But @joolzfromyork could I ask a quick question? I'm going to the star inn the city with 20 people for dinner. Where would be good for drinks afterwards other than revolution?

I in turn am sorry to answer a question that wasn't directed at me, but I would recommend House of the Trembling Madness (the big one in Lendal). Revolution is not nice at all, especially not at the weekend - I suppose it depends when you're coming.

claustrophobicdarren

Sorry, I cant help help with that one because I'm old, past it and over the hill Town is much too like a youth club after 7pm for my taste.

Yes to pp castle museum. The jorvik experience has a small ride suitable for children where there are animatronic vikings in various scenes then small walk through museum. 4 might be a little too young to enjoy depending on maturity, i can imagine one of my nieces loving it at 4 however. The henry vii experience have some children interactive things, toys within and are reasonably priced entries. The richard experience has a full skeleton on display so depending on child's sensitivity on that one and a lot of stairs so wouldnt recommend that at 4 if im honest.

National Railway Museum - we lived in that place when my DCs were small.

There's a lovely smaller museum just off Stonegate called Barley Hall. They often have themed exhibitions with stuff for children (dress up in medieval costumes etc) so that might be worth a look.

YY to the Chocolate Story, you get to make your own chocolate lolly at the end.

Some of my favourite non-chain places to eat are: Cafe Concerto on Petergate; The Fossgate Social (Fossgate, funnily enough ), Bistro Guy on Gillygate, Mannions on Blake St - you sometimes have to queue at busy times here as they don't take bookings.

Enjoy, it's a lovely place.

Depending on how strong your son's nerves are, and how late he can stay up (I have no kids so I'm a bit hazy on those sorts of details!) there are Ghost Walks that you can do in the evenings. There are a few different ones but they mostly start at 7pm and last for about an hour. You just do a walking tour of supposedly "haunted" buildings and the guide tells you daft stories about the ghosts that have been seen there. It's all good fun but probably no use for easily frightened children - I was taken on one when I was definitely old enough to know better, and one of the "stops" on the tour was an old building that my mum worked in at the time. That put the frighteners on me for ages afterwards, because I was worried that the ghost might decide to tag along with her one day and it would end up in our bathroom or something I was an odd little thing as a child!

He's very sensitive - doubt the skeleton would phase him as he honestly has no concept of death yet, but I think a ghost walk would be too scary. I did one myself in Edinburgh a few years ago and nearly shat myself

You can hire a boat and rive it yourself - it’s fun!

Rive? Drive.

You can, but I'm not sure you'll be able to get to the jetty where you hire them by next week - that famous York flooding...

I think it'll be too cold for boats!

Lots of wonderful ideas for the OP here.

imclaustrophobicdarren there are lots of places to drink in York. Of all different varieties. What you are looking for totally depends on who you are (as a group I mean)

I dont often go out in York anymore, but I know lots of people love the Evil Eye down Goodramgate I think (sorry not very good with names)

Just ask the waiting staff where to go. Or you could ask anyone really. We're all pretty friendly from York.

I was born and bred in York and still visit family very regularly, but I've not lived there for nearly 8 years now so not too much use to anyone, but I'll try to help where I can.

The Evil Eye is on Stonegate. Lovely bar but I wouldn't necessarily recommend for large groups because they're painfully slow at getting your drinks - especially if it's 10+ cocktails! But definitely worth a shot if you're all on bottled drinks.

I've actually been to the evil eye, agree it's great but a big group of us would probably be a nightmare. Someone from the trembling madness place is calling me back, so hopefully I can book a room there (there will be 25 of us!) gulp.

They've got a lovely upstairs function room that you can book out - good luck, hope you enjoy it!

If there Fri morning www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/crafty-tales/