Recommendations for local toddler /play groups please...

[Deborini]

Hi I've only been in York for a few months and would be grateful for any recommendations you have for toddler groups / playgroups in York. I have a 22 month old ds so it would be good to have a few more options to try.
Also does anyone use any of the Children's centres? We used to go to our local one in London and there were quite a few classes and "stay and play" sessions which my ds really enjoyed. Do you have to be in a particular catchment area or can you access any of the centres?
We're living close to the city centre near the Groves area.

Many thanks

I haven't been (though plan to go) to the mothers and toddlers at the Methodist church on Monkgate (run by City Church) - it looks lovely. Thursdays 10-11.30am. My neighbour takes her grandson to some kind of play session at St Thomas's in the Groves and highly recommends it.

The Salvation Army on Gillygate used to run a popular group. Don't know if they still do but worth a look. I don't know about the childrens centres but have you tried asking the health visitors? They should know.

I think Haxby road would be your closest children's centre - have a look on the council website for a list of their activities. You can access any activities across the centres though.

There is a good group on Friday mornings 10-12 in a church hall (Belfrey Hall) off Stonegate. And an Arty Time group on Monday mornings on Walmgate (at Space 109). There is a church group called Global that do a fantastic toddler group on Mon, Thurs and Fri Mornings - though it is a bit far from you to walk - on Boroughbridge Road.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for those tips everyone. Will hopefully get my act together soon to try a couple of the groups you've suggested! :)

Good to know we can access any of the children's centres too.
Thanks again.

Hello,
I have just moved to Heworth in York, and would like to join some baby groups.We have a year old, who goes to nursery on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, so ideally, the playgroups would be at these times, as I can then go along with only our 2 year old. Unless you guys know of any groups which happily accept 4 year olds too?
Many thanks

sorry, that should be 4 year old who goes to nursery! Have just done some digging, and found that our local children's centre is The Avenues and that they run a group on tuesdays for under-fives. However, I would still love info on other bay/play groups too. Many thanks

Hi lykke. Not sure if you'll come back to this thread but I live in Heworth too. There's a nice playgroup at christchurch on stockton lane on mondays. I think it starts at 1.30. I haven't been for a while as was working on mondays, but it takes newborns up to pre schoolers.

There's also a really good music group called mini musicians on Fri mornings. Again, its for babies up to pre schoolers. It takes place at the Methodist church next to boots / mairs deli.

Hth!