Located in the Yorkshire countryside between York and Harrogate, this National Trust estate is a popular place for families to explore and relax together.
First stop for many is the wilderness play area, all ages can swing from heights with traditional and bucket swings on offer. Test your nerve on the clamber stacks and pick which slide suits your size.
If you prefer creating your own adventures the den zone is prepped to get building and the only limitation is your imagination. Build a den is just one of the ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ – tick off many more from the popular play list when you visit.
During the holidays try a nature or play themed trails and other hands-on activities to help fill those days away from school. There’s space on the south lawn for ball games, flying a kite or watching the clouds go by, and don’t forget to check on the fishpond!
Head in the hall to see the latest exhibition with hands-on ways to get involved or wander the hall spotting faces and animals in the carvings and tapestries.
Free entry to National Trust and RHS members and under-fives.
Take part in your biggest ever game of hide and seek on your visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Hide in all corners of the large abbey ruins before following the river to the water garden. Race around the moon ponds, see the swans swimming and discover the winding dark tunnel. Emerge from the tunnel to find three fun buildings called follies along this woodland path. With acres of space to explore, hidden places to discover and lots of sniffs to sniff, Fountains Abbey is the perfect place to bring your four-legged friends. Dogs are welcome in all the outdoor spaces and in the Visitor Centre Restaurant too.
Be sure to have a playground adventure. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on…you’ll find a wooden abbey, a woodland house, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman’s poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire for the most daring adventurers of all.
Have a well-earned sit down with a seasonal meal in the Visitor Centre Restaurant, tuck into tea and cake with a lakeside view at Studley Tea Room or a sweet treat at Mill Café.
If there’s still oodles of energy left visit the deer park. Admire the views down to Ripon Cathedral and see if you can spot the deer. There are three different types from small fallow deer to the largest of them all: red deer.
There’s lots to do but don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in this time – we’ll be here another day! Become a member on your first visit and come back for free as many times as you like. Plus, get the feel-goods about it as every time you scan your membership card, you’re contributing towards the essential conservation work we do.
The Harrogate Bus Company operates buses in and around the city of Harrogate and across north Yorkshire. In particular, it runs the award-winning line 36, which connects Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds with buses every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Our signature style and attention to detail is all about giving you, our customer, a relaxed, enjoyable and great value journey – and, as a research-led business, with all our decisions handled quickly and locally, we always welcome your feedback about everything we do.
With regular buses running to Leeds, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough and throughout Harrogate catching the bus is the perfect way to start your family day out.
All fares are no more than £2.
For little ones we have our own free to join Bright Sparks Club .
Join today and you’ll get your Bright Spark’s Club bus pass in the post within a few weeks!
Billy-Bob’s Parlour combines an awesome ice cream parlour and 1950’s American diner with amazing play adventures for diners up to 15 years old. You can drop-in for an ice cream, or come for a full meal and a play – the choice is yours! Be sure to check out our website before you come
Billy-Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour
Calm Slate Farm
Bolton Abbey
BD23 6EU
T: 01756 711826
This is a great place if you like walking with the kids. We only did a small part of it, but there is also a riverside walk. Its free entry for RHS to the gardens, or £5 for the gardens, but plenty to do outside the grounds too. There is a small play area and tea rooms
Just off Otley Road.
An excellent place to take energetic toddlers!
Individual membership by direct debit is £49.99 (otherwise £67) which includes:
Book to visit all 5 RHS Gardens for the member and a family guest or 2 children
Monthly subscription to The Garden magazine, worth £4.95 a month
Unlimited, personalised RHS gardening advice
Regular emails with exclusive member content
Free entry to over 200 Partner Gardens for the member
Savings on tickets to RHS Shows
Children age 5-16 are chargeable, under 5s free’
There are always seasonal/ school holiday activities so check out our school holidays pages here for the most up to date information
Marigold Café and Boating is situated in Knaresborough on the banks of the River Nidd, one of Yorkshire’s most picturesque settings.
Marigold in Knaresborough enjoys an enviable riverside location at the bottom of the Nidd Gorge. And here’s a thought: how often is it the case that, after travelling far and wide, we realise that true happiness is to be found in our own backyard?
So if you’re popping in for a bite to eat, chilling with a nice brew, trying out your rowing skills or indulging in a luxury ice-cream – Marigold offers a delightful spot in a beautiful town.
Open every day from 9.30am
16 Waterside, KnaresboroughYorkshire HG5 8DET
01423 869 773
Facilities:Sun Parlour Cafe, Childrens Play Area, Maze, Football pitch, 3 Tennis courts, Flat Green Bowling, 18 hole Putting and 9 hole Crazy Golf.
The premier play park in Harrogate! The equipment is fantastic here with loads to do for all ages including a zip wire, fortress, plane, paddling pool as well as the usual slides, swings etc. There is also the recently completed skate park for the older kids.
There is a new kiosk selling ice creams and light refreshments in the play area and further down the gardens there is a café which sells Ripley ice-cream as well as a boating pond and bandstand.
The park also offers pitch and put, crazy gold, Frisbee gold and tennis courts.
At the top of the Gardens lie the Pine Woods.
Signposted off the A59 after Bolton Abbey but before Skipton.
This place has a great (free) outdoor play area and brilliant 1950’s style parlour serving sundaes, breakfasts, burgers and hotdogs, coffees, cakes & all sorts!
