Best UK city for families revealed with Harry Potter-style street, award-winning attractions and very famous tea room
FROM haunted hikes and a Harry Potter-style street to a chocolate attraction rivalling the likes of Cadbury World, York has been named the best UK city for families.
Travel guide creator Peter Naldrett, who has visited all 76 cities in the UK, raved about York, calling it the best for families.
Peter, who wrote the book Bright Lights, Big Cities, told Sun Online Travel: “York is the best UK city for families because it has so many captivating activities and attractions.
“There’s enough in York to keep both junior and secondary school children entertained, from the Viking Museum to York Chocolate Story and Harry Potter-style streets and a cold war bunker.
“The Viking Museum has interactive activities for children, the Castle Museum has recreated Victorian Streets and there’s also the Shambles, the inspiration behind JK Rowling‘s Diagon Alley.”
“There’s so much to keep kids busy in York, families will be spoilt for choice.”
York Minster is one of the city’s top attractions, but away from the famed cathedral there are plenty of attractions to keep families entertained, especially in the run-up to Halloween.
Halloween Haunts
With over 500 hauntings within the city walls, the International Ghost Research Foundation has previously named York as Europe’s most haunted city.
York is home to the world’s first official ghost walk, called the Original Ghost Walk of York.
Established in 1973, the haunted walks start at the King’s Arms Pub and last around 90 minutes.
Tours start at 8pm and cost £10 for a full-paying adult and £6 for children.
Families with younger children will want to stick to less haunting attractions like some of York’s award-winning museums.
Award-winning museums
The National Railway Museum is the biggest museum of its kind in the world.
Housed in a series of old railway sheds, there are over 100 locomotives inside the free museum, including the world-famous Flying Scotsman.
Built around Viking settlements that were unearthed in the 1970s, the JORVIK Viking Centre is also an award winner.
It’s home to a reconstructed village that visitors pass through on a monorail and an interactive experience where kids can hunt for buried treasure called Dig.
Entry tickets cost £16.50 for a full-paying adult and £11 for children.
York’s Castle Museum is another TripAdvisor‘s Travellers Choice Award Winner with a recreated Victorian Street, and an old prison bed where visitors can imagine what life was like for the notorious Highwayman, Dick Turpin.
Tickets for adults cost £17, with tickets for kids slightly cheaper costing £11 per person.
Chocolate attractions
York has its own chocolate attraction rivalling the likes of Birmingham’s Cadbury World.
If you ever wondered how Yorkie bars got their name, ponder no more — they were created in York.
York’s Chocolate Story tells the story of the Rowntree’s factory that was founded in York in 1862.
The guided tour takes guests through the timeline of chocolate, from its start in Mexico up to the 21st century, while also letting you sample favourites like Aero and Kit Kat.
You also get to make your own chocolate creation at the end.
The museum runs seasonal activities throughout the year, including the Trick or Treat Trek that takes visitors on a chocolate tour through York.
Rumoured to be the inspiration behind JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley, the Shambles are worth a visit in their own right, with sweet shops, boutiques and plenty of shops for budding young witches and wizards.
There’s also the TikTok-famous York Ghost Merchants selling small ceramic ghost figures, with no online shop queues to enter, which can take up to 40 minutes.
For older children and teens, there’s also the York Cold War Bunker, operated by English Heritage.
Described as the most spine-chilling of its properties, visitors will be able to enter the blast-proof bunker on a guided tour.
Constructed in the 1960s as part of Britain’s defence against a nuclear strike, with visitors given an insight into the preparations that were made.
For a slightly different perspective, sightseeing cruises run along the River Ouse where visitors will learn more about York’s history.
Food and drink
Even though York has been named as the best UK city for families to visit, there are still plenty of pubs where adults can sink a pint – and kids are welcome.
Y Old Starre Inne, built in 1644, is possibly the city’s oldest public house, and it was used as a hospital during the Civil War, but these days you can head there for classics like steak and ale pie, chicken kiev and fish and chips.
Another boozer with a different kind of history is the Eagle And Child, a Grade II* listed timber framed pub, that was built in 1640, where the Rolling Stones hung out in the 1960s.
For a bite to eat there’s the Shambles Food Court, serving everything from Chinese dumplings and falafel to Mexican tacos and pizzas.
There’s also the famous Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms, serving sandwiches, cakes, patisseries, a range of scones and their famous Fat Rascal cookie-scone hybrid.
Last week, Peter explained why Brits should visit Salford – tiny cultural powerhouse on the outskirts of Greater Manchester.
And we’ve recently revealed our favourite spots for a September break.
What's it like to visit York?
SENIOR Feature Writer Alex Lloyd visited York back in 2023, here’s what she thought.
“The Rowntree and Terry families started their empires here. While only the former remains – under the guise of Nestle – both have left their mark.
“A good starting point to find out more is York Chocolate Story, a small and interactive museum where our tour guide introduced us to the failed Chocolate Apple and the history of the KitKat.
“We also made a stop at Goddards, the beautiful home of the Terry clan, now a regional HQ of the National Trust. It has pristine gardens and terrific views across the racecourse towards the red-brick art deco Terry’s factory, with its majestic clock tower.
“As keen foodies, we wanted to get a taste of York’s present as well as past.
“We really were spoilt for choice, from fine dining to delis with heaving cheese counters. There is even a food festival every September.
“The city has a Michelin-starred restaurant, Roots, although we opted for the more budget-friendly Partisan, which is spread over two floors and serves inventive brunch dishes.
Spark, a foodie hub made of shipping containers, is a mecca for affordable street grub, including the moreish Clucking Oinks fried chicken.”