Where to go for a week's holiday in Yorkshire?

[MumNeedsTea]

As the title suggests, I'm looking to book a week's holiday in Yorkshire, but I have no idea where to stay. This will be over the October half term break and we are a family of 4 with 2 DSs (almost 5 and 9 years old).
I would like to stay close to the national parks, with the option of having a day trip to the coast if the weather looks good. I do realise that given this will be in October, we may not get any good beach days.

I cannot decide whether to stay close to the North York Moors or the Yorkshire Dales. We will be driving from Kent if that matters. We're looking for self catering cottages/apartments.

Also, if you have tips on things to do and places to visit, that would be very helpful. We have never been to Yorkshire and as such have no idea where to start. I just want a break from our usual New Forest/Cornwall/Devon holidays

Thanks!!

I would suggest maybe near York, lots to do for your dc around the area and not a million miles from Scarbrough or Whitby for a coast day for rock pooling etc

Robin Hood's Bay is also lovely

Whitby!

According to a recent thread... Bradford!
Highest city above sea level in England too (just in case those European floods make it across the sea).
It was about a week to ten days ago, v v long with loads of suggestions of what to do there.

Oops sorry didn't read it properly...you don't want to stay on the coast (I'd still stay in Whitby though)

For your dc there is:

flamingo land
Eden Camp (for your older dc)
creepy crawlies play area (one of the best indoor/outdoor soft plays I've ever been to)

York City itself is beautiful, in the city centre itself there is the Jorvick viking museum, York Castle museum, or walk the city walls

North York moors railway for a steam train ride

Thres Aplamare swimming pool at Scarborough. Brilliant heated outdoor infinity pool looking out to sea. Indoor wave pool and splash water play

Wherever you go, you'll be spoilt for choice and it's likely that this could be the start of several holidays up this way. You could come every year for a decade and not scratch the surface.

NY Moors is a good shout, as nearer to coast, also York (National Railway Museum). Dalby Forest is good for mountain biking, Go Ape etc. The North York Moors steam railway goes from from Pickering to Whitby.

@AnoymousCoward

According to a recent thread... Bradford! Highest city above sea level in England too (just in case those European floods make it across the sea). It was about a week to ten days ago, v v long with loads of suggestions of what to do there.

That would be when the OP comes back next year and stays in West Yorkshire for the Sculpture Park, Eureka, National Media Museum, Hebden Bridget etc etc.

Then you have South Yorkshire and the Peak District, including Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

The train museum!!

We’re also going to York from Kent, although at a different time! My first visit since a child. Unfortunately where we’re staying is booked up (presuming half term is last week of October - if not message me and I’ll forward you the details).

On my Internary
York railway museum
York minster
York - city of
Castle Howard

visit York site

You could stay in Pickering - big enough for shops/cafes/pubs, NYM railway, close enough to coast and Danby Forest. Or Malton. If you were going to the Dales I think Skipton's a nice place to stay, or Ilkley, but that's a bit far from the coast.

Dalby Forest

Filey. Beautiful beach. You can take a train to York for a day there.
It’s gorgeous.

Scarborough has to be the best all rounder.
Is it still cheaper than Whitby?

Some of our favourite things to do in Yorkshire... (which is an absolutely massive place, we have lived in West, South and North Yorkshire!)

Yorkshire wildlife park (South Yorkshire)
Lightwater Valley (theme park, Ripon, North Yorkshire)
Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (West Yorkshire, i think October half-term is a dinosaur week)
National Coal Mining museum (near Huddersfield, a lot more interesting than it might sound, you can go on a mine tour for example)

Thank you all for the lovely suggestions!! I'll have a look at these places tonight.. I really need to get on and book something!

@BarbaraofSeville I'm already looking forward to years of coming back to Yorkshire

Skipton is good for the west coast - Blackpool, Southport, Morecambe, St Anne's.
It has a great castle.
And you can drive to Windermere in under an hour through lovely countryside instead of the coast.

Ripon might be worth a look - Lightwater Valley theme park, treetop nets, Go ape, Fountains Abbey. Newby Hall is not far and good for children. Sleek double decker bus to Leeds or Harrogate.
Access to Dales and moors, York is an hour away.
Lots of castles not too far in the north part of the Dales, in Leyburn or Richmond.

Not as easy to the coast as York,

Richmond, Hawes (Wensleydale dairy is a must, so many free cheese samples), Settle, around those areas are beautiful.

Not being funny but there are literally loads of really helpful threads about places to go in Yorkshire ! It’s that kind of place ! One thing’s for sure it’s a huge area geographically so you’re best concentrating on one main area rather trying to do loads.
Take account of the weather too. Autumn can be changeable to say the least

@MumNeedsTea pickering is lovely, easy drive to the coast or to York, place to eat and drink, some lovely bakeries and the steam trains. Dalby forest is on your door step for mountain bilking, walking or GO Ape.

The Yorkshire Dales is beautiful Buckden /Grassington /Kettlewell and well kept but its not big on activities or infrastructure its literally pristine national Park, lovely.

Go for tea at Betty's in Harrogate (although you will have to book), and then visit House which isn't too far away . The house is lovely, but your DC will really enjoy the adventure playground. There's a fantastic bird garden and great pool to watch the penguins.

Sorry - that should say and then visit Harewood House

I think staying near York is a good option as there will be things to do if the weather is bad. Plus, the drive from Kent is more straightforward. M25, A1, A64.

We stayed in an amazing self catering cottage in Grosmont. They have a train station with all the steam trains and a train shed with model railway and an engine shed where they keep the steam engines. My DC loved it, we had to see the trains everyday. You can catch them into Whitby. Also visit the train museum in York.

My kids like trains, obviously yours may not. 😂