Planning a day trip to York with kids

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Hi I'm planning a day trip on train from Sheffield to York with my two DSs aged 6 and 12 on Sunday. We have been to the Castle museum and the Railway museum before. Do you think York Minster is a good idea or would they just be bored? Are there any other things we could do that won't cost too much? I think York Dungeons might be too scary for them but not sure. I did think taking them to Betty's tea rooms might be a nice treat but they will probably just scoff the cakes and not eat the savoury stuff as they're not keen on sandwiches! Any other ideas of where to take them for lunch? Any tips appreciated thanks

Oh and we've been to Viking museum before but the eldest thought it was 'too smelly'

We've also done the chocolate tasting experience before - I thought it was expensive and a bit of a rip off to be honest! Not enough nice chocolate except in the shop!

I think the Minster inspires awe in everyone from babies to the elderly . Walk round the walls as well.

Walk the walls for free. There are a couple of little museums in the Gate Houses, with medieval helmets to try on and stuff for kids.

There is a lot in York Minster - The Astronomical Clock, and The Bosses in the roof done as part of a Blue Peter competition years ago.

I also loved the Treasurers House.

There is also the Roman Baths pub, with a Roman Bath.

Isn't it coronavirus there right now? Three people in hospital, dunno.

Anyway there's nice boat trips but maybe a bit cold for that. The art gallery is good but spenny for what it is tbh. See much better at the tate for eg and that's free. Lots of things are spenny in York though. I think you can get into the minster for free if you say you're going to worship. I mean, it's a church, you're supposed to be able to pray in churches for free. Otherwise it's a tenner for adults, don't know about kids, extra if you want to go up (to the tower) or down (to the crypt) - again, spenny.

Dungeons would be too much for a six year old, for sure.

And there's loads of drunk people in York.

We went in October half term. It was fabulous. The train museum was brilliant as it was also free, but the exhibits were great.
We had afternoon and the cat shop.

Oh yeah and the chocolate shop experience is not very good at all. There's a few Harry Potter shops if you like Harry Potter. I don't really know why they have them because afaik Harry Potter never went to York anyway or lived there or anything.

Have you been to DIG? DC and I loved it. I may have been pretending I was on Time Team.

There is a Cats Trail where you find models or pictures of cats on the buildings. We got a leaflet from the Tourist Office.

My 8 year old loved York Minster - they have a very cool “treasure hunt” type thing - which he found really fun. So I would definitely go to the Minster.

Betty's is lovely. But you'll either have to queue with hungry kids (and pay through the nose) or book in advance (and pay even more). Look on groupon for afternoon tea deals in a nice hotel, maybe overlooking the River.

Walk the walls - good for a couple of hours unless it's icy

Boat trip

DIG

Railway museum - we've been loads

The tourist information centre is on the way into town from the train station, loads of good ideas in there

Ooooh oooh the ice trail might still be on?

Viking festival is on soon, loads to do then, plus the place is full of vikings😊

Just got back from York with kids. They really enjoyed DIG. Walking the walls was fun. They liked checking out the shops in The Shambles. We did do a cake at Betty’s ( if you are still there it was quiet at about 6pm) but you can also get cakes to takeaway. If you stay into the evening - the kids really enjoyed doing a ghost walk. We didn’t go into the Minster because it was quite expensive and we ran out of time.

The Potter shops are because the Diagon Alley film set was based on the Shambles. It really does look remarkably like it to foreigners, who don't have any other reference.

If your half term coincides with York’s, there is usually stuff going on in Piccadilly (main shopping street).
My kids love Clifford’s Tower, next to the Castle Museum.
Yes, walk the walls
On a nice day, boat trip from Lendall Bridge
There are many, many tea rooms and cafes in York, which do no have the huge queues that Betty’s has. My kids prefer PandaMami - all you can eat world cuisine buffet place (it’s the same as Cosmo in Sheffield).

The Bar Convent museum is really interesting and interactive for children - I was really surprised the first time I went there.

Cafe La Tazzina is my favourite little coffee shop/daytime eatery, Blossom St, top of Micklegate, still run by the Italian man who came here after the Second World War and his family.

Really nice with children, food is good and good value. It’s small though so try to book.

My other regular eatery is Burr on Lendall, again it’s small (and you can’t book) and you could have a wait but cakes/scones are much better than Bettys and the rest of the menu is great.

Took the DC (11, 9, and 6) for a day trip last year. We walked a short section of the walls, did the minster treasure hunt, had lunch at Pizza Express and then went to Clifford's Tower (free to EH members).

I was really disappointed to see that the Shambles has been overrun by Harry Potter shops.

The Cold War Bunker is fascinating and very different but it’s about a mile out of the city centre.

As a local I don’t bother with The Shambles much Toddler.

The HP stuff must be incredible for the local economy. Visitor numbers must be massive these days compared to when I was a teen.

It used to be dead in the winter, now it’s heaving all year round.

Walk the walls. Boat trip. My kids liked the Minster- surprisingly- but the younger was not allowed to go up on the roof- check the age limit.

Posted too soon- but he was allowed to be in charge of our little boat and loved it.

Christ @OldHarrysGameboy you're a miserable sod!

I was in York last Sunday, the ice trail was on which was good!

York Minster is great, very impressive! Quite expensive now but you could attend a service.

A walk around the walls is good!

The castle museum is great, I love it. It's fascinating taking a step back in time! You can spend a good while there!

Clifford tower is interesting too, my 5 year old nephew enjoyed how high up we were! The history is interesting (and very sad).

The Yorkshire museum in York is good. We went a year ago and fed a real dinosaur!

If you're interested in trains, the original Stephenson's Rocket engine is in the Railway Museum at the moment as well. We went on Saturday when we were there for the ice trail and it got us out of the biting wind for a bit.