Which area/town in Yorkshire to stay in?

[Fredflinstoneswife1]

Hi,

We are going to have a week after staying for a week near Ulverston, Cumbria, and we have decided on the yorkshire area, but I am looking for suggestions for which towns in yorkshire would be worth staying in or near? I do love a pretty English town! And what there would be to do for children (6 and 4) in that area?

I have been looking around Hebden Bridge. But if anyone thinks there is somewhere better/nicer, I am all ears 👂. Or would we be far better doing Whitby?Also wondering, if we do stay in the HB area, would the viking museum be worth the trip at York for young boys? And are there any must visit towns?

We are coming from Northern Ireland. The boys love a theme park, but I don't think there is anything in that area? I love antique shops and good independent shops, visiting national trust houses, nice scenic walks, rivers for paddling. I would value any input. I've been to Haworth once, I'll probably visit the bronte homeplace again.

Thank you so much!!

I’d stay in York itself, or maybe Harrogate. Both within easy distance by car or train to the coast, cities, countryside. There is so much to do in York centre for kids and it’s a beautiful place to mooch around for a few days.

York, went there recently and really enjoyed it.

Agree with York if you've never been - in terms of theme parks there is lightwater valley and flamingoland that are relatively close by.

York would be my suggestion.
There isn't much to do in Hebden Bridge really
For theme parks look at Flamingoland

Ps Lightwater Valley and Flamingo Land are theme parks around 30 mins from York. The Jorvik Viking centre and the dungeons are fab for kids that age (educational too!)

Whitby is great. I'd also recommend visiting Scarborough, and there is Flamingoland not too far away if you want a theme park. You can get the steam train from Whitby up to Pickering and back and it's a lovely journey. Whitby itself has amusement arcades and boat rides that your kids will like and lots of nice little independent shops and places to eat. Scarborough has a water park and Peasholm park is worth a visit. If you did want to stay in Whitby make sure your accommodation has private parking facilities as it gets rammed in the summer and parking in town is an issue.

Lightwater valley is a theme park for under 12s, near Ripon.

If you choose one of the small towns around the north of York you’d be in a great place to visit York, Scarborough and Whitby on the coast and the theme parks at either Flamingo Land or Lightwater Valley. There is also The Forbidden Corner at Leyburn. It’s very original and entertaining….not a conventional theme park but great fun.

Robin Hood’s Bay is magical.

OK, thank you all so far.

Can any locals or people who have been to both possibly tell me whether to go for Harrogate/Knaresborough area or York itself? I see they around 40mins apart. Would york have a lot more to see and do nearby or would there be plenty in the Harrogate area? I don't want to have to be driving too much.
I'd love to do whitby but I think it would be too far for us coming from Cumbria and with a baby.

The National Railway Museum in York is great, it’s free (but they recommend a donation).

York, more for the dc there

York Harrogate or Richmond - all fantastic in different ways

Skipton

Skipton, Haworth, Hebden Bridge all lovely but probably not much left to do after 2 or 3 days at the most, not without travelling. I live very close. Probably best looking at York if you want activities for the week.

I would go for York itself
Young kids will love the railway museum, the city walls, the castle museum, Yorvik, Dig, the viking place out at Murton.
if you want a theme park then yes go for Lightwater valley just up from Ripon, or there is Piglets which isn’t really a theme park park but loads of great stuff for kids to do.

Robin Hoods Bay

I live in Yorkshire and would definitely stay in York, there’s loads to do there and with a train station it’s easy to access other places. Harrogate won’t keep you amused for more than a day at most, pretty as it is. I would definitely spend a day driving into the Dales. Grassington and Malham are my “go to” for an impromptu walk in the hills and pub lunch.

I thought lightwater valley had shut down? Might be wrong. There's flamingo land though. Also Web adventure park which has some rides, a petting zoo and a good soft play, and piglets, both of which are ideal for those ages.

If you wanted seaside, Scarborough is probably the most easily accessible but Whitby is more than doable for a day trip too.

York is the obvious choice of you want to base yourself somewhere with lots for the kids to do with not too much driving and is very pretty - it is a relatively small city though so if you're after something more rural, I'd suggest Pickering or Malton, closer to the coast (and the moors), still within easy striking district of York (although the A64 can be a bugger in summertime) and you could get the steam train to Whitby, and flamingo land is nearby.

Do York, knaresborough is lovely for a wander but you'll struggle to fill days thrre and around harrogate unless you want to head out into the dales.

york is lovely but soooo busy in the summer. But that bit of the world is fab - with children that age I think I’d do castles; lots of them to visit - many of which are either in or near small towns.

At 4 and 6 the children would be terrified in York Dungeons. That is too young.

@Fredflinstoneswife1
I live in York, definitely come to York.

Loads to do for DC, Railway Museum, Museum Gardens, Bar Walls, Harry Potter shop, Jorvic centre, boat rides down the river, Castle Museum.

I could probably think of more but I'm getting ready for work 😀

You can get a bus to Harrogate, Whitby or to Flamingo Land from York, it's a lovely trip over the Moors to Whitby.

Definitely come to York

What time of year? I’d suggest Ilkley. River, outdoor pool, Betty’s. The stepping stones at Bolton Abbey up the road. Saltaire nearby which is amazing. Day trips to York and the Science and Media museum in Bradford which children love.

York 100% for kids its great. Free train museum, Yorvick viking experience