Days Out

Free Days Out

There are some fantastic places to take children on our doorstep and a short journey away.

These are some suggestions for free days out nearby. If you have any other suggestions for a day out that you have enjoyed, or want to feature your attraction, please contact us here 

All Parks & Play Areas

Find a list of good, local parks and play areas on Mumbler here.

Baysgarth Park & Baysgarth House Museum

Baysgarth Park is a safe environment for families and visitors of all ages to enjoy and appreciate its natural beauty. It has lots of green open spaces for family picnics and playing games, as well as a children’s play area which is well equipped for children of all ages.

On site you will also find Baysgarth House Museum which is a Georgian house on the edge of Barton. Staffed mainly by a team of dedicated volunteers, Baysgarth House Museum celebrates the lives of local people through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The surrounding Baysgarth Park has facilities for all the family and is the setting for summer events and plays. Free admission and parking.

Check opening days/times.

Caistor Road, Barton-upon-Humber, DN18 5QP. 01652 633297

Beverley Minster

Walk around the beautiful Beverley Minster, which has been a place of prayer for over 1300 years.  You can walk around yourself admiring the architecture, or alternatively for a fee, floor and roof tours are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from April onward (booking essential). The guides are very experienced and great with children, they will guide you around the history of the Minster, and show you amazing things normally hidden from public view.

Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm, Sundays 12-4pm.

Minster Yard North, Beverley, HU17 0DP.  For more information about the tours call 01482 868540.

East Coast Beaches

We are lucky to have some fantastic coastline in our region and a walk on the beach or cliff tops is a great day out all year round, here’s a list from north to south along our East Coast:

Please note some beaches have restrictions on dogs during the summer months, but most welcome dogs.

Saltburn

Wide open beach to play, run and walk. Lifeguard on duty. Lovely pier and there is a lift down the cliff to the beach, plus there’s even a miniature railway! There are some arcades, a few cafés and some little shops. Dog friendly. Port Mulgrave is a perfect beach for sand and finding fossils as it combines sandy and rocky.


Staithes

Really quaint with golden sands. Only a few shops and cafés. Fishing village with nice harbour area but not much beach to walk on. Do check the tide times before going. It is very hilly.


Runswick Bay

Robin Hoods Bay

Believed to have been the busiest smuggling community on the coast in the 18th century – this historic fishing village is known for worldwide for its steep main street leading visitors down through a tangle of alleyways and side streets packed with quirky shops including the Dinosaur Museum, cafes and pubs to a family-friendly beach complete with rock pools. Beware it is very hilly down to the beach. Make sure you check the tide times!


Ravenscar

One of the most intriguing places on the Yorkshire Coast for those interested in history, the spectacular clifftop. Ravenscar was once an important part of the British dyeing industry: the peak alum works is now a National Trust site. Like many of the other towns and villages on the Jurassic Coast, it’s a magnet for fossil hunters.


Sandsend

Hidden gem just a couple of miles north of Whitby. Lovely beach in a cove that provides a lagoon for children to play in with their boats and body boards. Lifeguards throughout the peak season. Lovely local pub and café for food….and lots of ice cream! 5 minutes from Whitby for fish and chips. Perfect place for a lovely family day out. Like most places, Sandsend has been very busy in 2020.


Whitby

Whitby offers year round fun with its Blue Flag beaches and myriad attractions, including the world-famous steam-powered North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Whitby is steeped in history: fishing, whaling, the jet industry, Captain Cook, the glorious Abbey, Bram Stoker’s Dracula was inspired by the town and Goth Festival that draws visitors from around the globe. West Cliff includes other children’s activities including bumper boats, trampolines, pitch and putt, and crazy golf. There is also a tourist shop selling buckets and spades and ice creams. The large west cliff car park is near the Whitby Leisure centre. Lovely sheltered sandy beach in the centre of Whitby with easy access that is perfect for all ages. The East Cliff stands above a very rocky coast full of fossils (check the tides before venturing down though, it comes back very fast).


Scarborough

Scarborough has stunning scenery, glorious beaches and loads to do! North Bay is a big open beach with cafés & a few shops. This long stretch of golden sandy shores is perfect for a sandcastle competition, and when you’re done, why not take off your shoes and go for a quick dip in the sea? There’s bright beach huts behind it, the ruins of an 11th century castle, and you could even go rock pooling here – phew! it is a Life guarded beach. South Bay is arcades, cafes etc together with access to a sandy beach. Donkeys are normally in situ in summer. Walk towards the Spa and further where the crowds tend to thin. It is possible to walk between the two, North and South Bay.


Hayburn Wyke

It is a rocky beach that is perfect for a family adventure, and that’s great for little explorers. Once you emerge from the coastpath, you’ll come out next to not one, but two spectacular waterfalls! Hiding in the rocks, keep your eyes peeled out for little creatures hidden among the rocks and boulders, plus it’s a great spot for some fossil hunting. Dog friendly.


Cayton Bay

Wide sweeping bay, dog-friendly beach, affordable parking and great facilities. Lucy’s Beach Shack sells snacks, sandwiches and a vast array of beach toys. Cayton Bay is popular with holidaymakers and a beautiful place to explore, no matter what time of the year you decide to visit. A favourite with surfers, bird watchers, fun-seekers and fossil hunters, or those who just want to relax and unwind. Great rock pools and some fantastic fossils to be found. Parking is £5 in the car park or free on the road. Toilets near the surf shop. It is quite a steep path to and from the beach.


Filey

A beautiful stretch of beach, one of the longest in the UK – its rarely crowded, however busy it is. Take a walk, paddle in the sea or build a sandcastle. The Brigg is great for a long walk, loads of rock pools to play in and explore. Be careful when you walk past the cliff end, it can be very windy. Before setting off, check the tide times, its further than you think! With its glorious sweep of soft golden sand, Filey beach is one of the best in the country for families! If you take your dog, there are parts of the beach which are designated dog free zones. Children love the Cobble Landing where they can see the fishing boats being taken out to see with the tractors or visit the Lifeboat, inshore and outshore.  Interesting fact….Filey coble landing is named after the coble fishing boats. Visit Paul at Barnes Ice Cream or try the fish and chips from the Cobble Landing Fish Bar, I think they are the best. The Amusements and the Fair have been entertaining children for years. You can park at the Country Park (great play area here) with a slight hill to the beach at the back of the Sailing Club. Glen Gardens also has a great play area and the boating lake is always fun. Car park up here too, with access to the beach.


Hunmanby Gap

Great with kids as it’s never packed with people so kids have loads of room to play without the worry of them being lost in a crowd. However, this has been busier in 2020 than in previous years.
£5 for parking all day.


Thornwick Bay

Thornwick Bay is excellent for rock-pooling, has several small caves and a magnificent sea arch. This beautiful rocky bay is on the north coast of Flamborough Head and is well worth a look. This is not suitable for a pushchair


North Landing. Flamborough

Car park at the top with toilets (open). Costs £1.80 for over 2 hours. Steep enough walk down to the beach but level so pram is possible as long as you are feeling strong on the way home!

Pebbly / rocky beach with lots to explore including, rock pools, an arch and caves. Puffins, razorbills and gulls can be seen on the cliffs. Be careful of the tide as you can get cut off quickly.


Flamborough

Flamborough’s famous white cliffs enclose a dramatic bay with caves and chalk arches, and boasting a fabulous lighthouse! It has two – one active, and one dating to 1674, making it the oldest surviving complete lighthouse in England. You can climb the 119 steps of the Flamborough Lighthouse to see the magnificent views. The village is just a couple of miles from Bempton, one of the UK’s most famous RSPB reserves, hosting gannets and puffins amongst other sea birds. The Living Seas Centre on South Sea Road (South),  Flamborough,  YO15 1AE has information and education facilities.


Danes Dyke, Bridlington

Jutting out miles into the North Sea, the headland has in the past been effectively cut off by the construction, in the Iron Age, of the erroneously named Danes’ Dyke, which encloses five square miles of the peninsula. The end of the Dyke is a deep ravine on the south side of the Headland, where it exits into Bridlington Bay There are a number of nature trails in the Dyke which can be accessed easily from the car park off the main Bridlington to Flamborough Road. Danes Dyke, Flamborough Head, Flamborough, East Yorkshire YO15 1AG


Bridlington

Bridlington has lovely wide promenades, glorious beaches, an historic harbour and a fascinating, arty Old Town with galleries and antique shops. Bridlington Spa has a variety of acts to suit all tastes and ages. Bridlington leisure centre is great for a rainy day complete with climbing wall and health suite! The Land Train operates in summer from the park an ride to Sewerby. The beaches are really accessible, sandy and you can walk for miles from South Bay.


Fraisthorpe

Situated just down from Bridlington. Its a lovely beach where you park in a field and just pop onto the beach. Lots of space to run and play. Dog and child friendly. There is also The Cow Shed near the car park which is a lovely cafe serving food and drinks. No lifeguards. Parking is £5 for the day in summer.


Wilsthorpe beach

Wide sandy beach is revealed when the tide goes out making it good for the kids and the dog to run around and let off some steam. No lifeguarding service and no facilities.


Barmston Beach

This quiet beach is a popular fishing spot and well worth a visit for a peaceful stroll. It’s also a great place to watch sand martins which nest in the cliffs from April to September. Barmston beach is six miles south of Bridlington and well worth a visit during summer.


Hornsea

Hornsea marks the end of the TransPennine Trail and is more of a classic seaside resort with a blue flag beach and an extensive stretch of sand and shingle. There are some nice gardens alongside a long promenade and plenty of parking with accessible town facilities accompany the beach.


Mappleton

An excellent beach for fossil hunters; Mappleton’s eroding cliffs reveal Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks including corals, molluscs ammonites and belemnites. Great place to discover a hidden treasure! Take care near the cliff edge as it is eroding into the sea and collapses unpredictably.


Withernsea

The traditional seaside resort is a family destination, with a sand and shingle beach backed by large rocks (sea defenses). If you climb the 144 steps to the top of Withernsea’s famous inland lighthouse – now a museum – you can take in breathtaking views of its long promenade and Blue Flag Beach.


Spurn Head

The beach consists of a three-mile stretch of sand and shingle which runs around a narrow patch of land at the beginning of the Humber Estuary. It has excellent water quality and is a brilliant place for bird watching and fossil hunting. Check for ticks after visiting they can latch on!

East Hull Community Farm

Community farm in East Hull. Sell seasonal fruit, veg and eggs daily plus gifts and refreshments. Also:

  • We offer a chance to meet and greet our friendly farm animals every Monday 10am-11am and 1pm-2pm. You’ll have the unique experience of getting up close and personal with some of our small animal’s, chicken, guinea pig and a rabbit. There is a small fee of £2.
  • Preschool children sessions every Tuesday and Thursday (term time only) from 930am-10.30am. There is a small fee of £2 per child, payable on the day. We have 12 spaces, so it’s essential to book via Michelle@ehcfarm.org

Barham Road, Bilton Grange, Hull, HU9 4EE (next to Andrew Marvell Business College).  01482 783990.

East Park Hull

Hull’s largest park, there’s something for everyone – 130 acres of parkland, play areas and animal education centre, at the Pavilion is a cafe and library. For summer splash boat, swans and rowing boat on the lake. Also a small skate park near to Woodford Leisure Centre. Dogs welcome, but restricted in the children’s play areas.

Holderness Road, Hull, HU8 8JU

Ferens Art Gallery

Free art gallery in Hull city centre. Explore a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures, plus there is a regular program of temporary exhibitions and events. Includes a very good children’s area to play in and get creative and a good child friendly cafe (Cafe Venue Hull). They hold regular children’s activities and events – Mini Masterpieces are sessions for the under 5s and sessions are available for older children during school holidays.

Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3RA. 01482 300300.

Hull Marina and Fruit Market

Hull Marina is a beautiful place to visit, not only are there hundreds of boats to see, if you’re lucky you might see the opening of the lock gates as the boats come and go.  It’s a lovely area for a stroll near the Humber Estuary, with lots of clean open space for the children to run around.  Just near the Marina is the Fruit Market, located on Humber Street, which is a vibrant area full of things to see and do, including free art galleries, family friendly cafes such as Nibble to grab a bite to eat; it’s also often the location for festivals and celebrations during the summer months.

Humber Street, HU1 1UU.

Hull Maritime – Free Guided Tours

Learn more about the city’s heritage and Hull Maritime’s future with our White Badge accredited volunteers.

Starting at the Museum Quarter, outside Hull and East Riding Museum on High Street, every Thursday and Saturday at 10.30am and Sunday at 11.30am (long tour), plus Sunday at 1.30pm (short tour). Morning tours last 2.5 hours. Sunday afternoon tour lasts 1.5 hours.
Suitable for families with children ages 11+. Walk up bookings usually available, or book your place in advance here.

Hull Minster

Hull’s most historic church, very friendly and welcoming and open most days to have a look around inside. Hull Minster is located in the heart of the Old Town Hull. They regularly run the following for families:

  • Saturday activities
  • Regular events of music, arts, performance and markets.
  • Children’s trails
  • A Midweek Toddler Group
  • Sunday Groups

A cafe is available onsite and entry is free for all to enter. General opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

Parish Centre, 10a-11 King Street, Kingston upon Hull HU1 2JJ

Hull Train Station

Hull Paragon Interchange combines the Hull rail and bus station.

If you’re in town, why not take the kids to the station where they can watch the trains coming in and out or, for a small fare, catch the train for a ride to Cottingham or Beverley station.

Hull’s Museums

All of Hull’s museums are free – Streetlife, East Riding Museum, Arctic Corsair, Maritime Museum, Hands on History Museum.

See Museums section for details

Libraries

A trip to the library to choose and take out children’s books is a great activity to do for free.  Below is a list of all the libraries in our area. Many libraries run Toddler Times, see Weekly Classes for listings.

Hull:

  • Anlaby Park Library – The Greenway, Anlaby High Road, HU4 6XH. 01482 614483
  • Avenues Library – 76 Chanterlands Avenue, HU5 3TS. 01482 331280
  • Bransholme Library – North Point Shopping Centre, Goodhart Road, HU7 4EF. 01482 331234
  • Central Library – Albion Street, HU1 3TF. 01482 210000
  • East Park Library – East Park (next to the cafe), Holderness Road, Hull. Open Mon 10:30am-5pm,Wed 2pm-6pm, Fri 10.30-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 01482 318830
  • Fred Moore Library – Wold Road, HU5 5UN. 01482 331239
  • Freedom Centre Library – The Freedom Centre, 95 Preston Road, HU9 3QB. 01482 710100
  • Gipsyville Library – 728-730 Hessle High Road, HU4 6JA. 01482 616973
  • Greenwood Avenue Library – 220 Grenwood Avenue, HU6 9RU. 01482 331257
  • Holderness Road Library at the Holderness Road Customer Service Centre – 1 The Mount, HU9 2AH. 01482 318830
  • Ings Library – Savoy Road, HU8 0TY. 01482 331250
  • Longhill Library – St Margaret’s Church, Shannon Road, HU8 9PD. 01482 331530
  • Waudby Library – Waudby Centre, Hull, HU9 5LD. 01482 331 264
  • Western Library – 254 Boulevard, HU3 3ED. 01482 331217

East Riding:

  • Anlaby Library at the East Riding Leisure Centre (Haltemprice) – 120 Springfield Way, Anlaby, HU10 6QJ. 0845 1225000
  • Beverley Library – Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE
  • Brough Library at the East Riding Petuaria Centre – Centurian Way, Brough, HU15 1DF. 0845 1225000
  • Cottingham Library – Market Green, Cottingham, HU16 5QG. 01482 392762
  • Driffield Library – Driffield Centre Cross Hill, Driffield, YO25 6RQ
  • Hedon Library –31 St Augustine’s Gate, Hedon, HU12 8EY. 01482 897651
  • Hessle Library at the Hessle Centre – Southgate, Hessle, HU13 0RB. 0845 1225000
  • Hornsea Library – 77 Newbiggin, Hornsea, HU18 1PA. 01964 532561
  • Market Weighton Library at the Wicstun Centre – 14 Beverley Road, Market Weighton, YO43 3JP. 0845 1225000
  • North Ferriby Library – 11 Church Road, North Ferriby, HU14 3DA. 01482 632227
  • South Cave Library – 97 Church Street, South Cave, HU15 2EP. 01430 422901
  • Swanland Library – Swanland Village Hall, Main Street, Swanland, HU14 3QR. 01482 634896
  • Willerby Library – 50 Main Street, Willerby, HU10 6BZ. 01482 658007

National Coal Mining Museum

Museum about the heritage of coal mining, including tours 140 metres below ground into one of Britain’s oldest working coal mines. Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am. Underground tours can be pre-booked on the website and require a £5 deposit per person, which can then be donated to the museum.

Dogs are welcome on a lead in the outdoor grounds of the museum, however only service/guide dogs are permitted inside.

New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH. 01924 848806

North Yorkshire Water Park

One of the largest natural sports lakes in North Yorkshire, we offer a range of fun, relaxing and exciting activities for everyone to enjoy.

Activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, open water swimming, pedalos. Also a 2.5km all-terrain walking and cycle track around the lake (FREE to use). Finish off your day with a blast on our ever popular Aquapark, with some of the largest inflatable slides, climbing walls and trampolines in the region.

Family friendly cafe on site offering a selection of hot and cold food and drink. Enjoy the view and a cup of tea even if not partaking in any activities. All welcome. Please book your tickets in advance.

Dogs welcome but must be kept on a short lead.

Wykeham Lakes, Long Causeway Road, Scarborough, YO13 9QU. 01723 865052.

Oasis Hub Hull & World of Wonder

The Oasis Hub opens their doors, welcoming everyone. An open, inclusive, local church on Newland Avenue with lots of family activties and groups. Home to the amazing World of Wonder – magical rooms with various imagination play equipment including a play kitchen, a faraway tree, a hobbit hole, sensory room and narnia props.

Please note that only families can use the world of wonder room but anyone can come in and use the rest of the facilities. Please check times and sessions with them prior to going, different sessions on in school holidays. For more information email hello@oasishull.org

Hull Community Church, 310 Newland Avenue, Hull, HU5 2NB

Royal Armouries Museum Leeds

History brought to life with live combat demonstrations, dramatic performances, talks and tours throughout the exhibition. Explore arms and armour from across the world and through time over five floors of stunning displays. Pre-booking tickets is recommended.

Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is free.

Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10 1LT

Seven Seas Fish Trail

Pick up a Seven Seas Fish Trail leaflet from Hull’s tourist information centre and follow a unique pavement of fish swimming around Hull’s Old Town and down to the beautiful riverfront. From shrimps to sharks, young and old will enjoy exploring the city and seeking out the fish.  If you find all 41 fish you will receive a certificate on completion. The trail starts from Queen Victoria Square, and ends on Whitefriargate.

Tourist Information, 1 Paragon Street, Hull, HU1 3NA.

Spurn Lightship

Closed – The Spurn Lightship is being refurbished and re-homed.

It’s free to climb aboard Hull Marina’s iconic boat – The Spurn Lightship – which guided ships safely through the treacherous River Humber for almost 50 years. Discover how it was used as a navigational aid and find out what life was like on board.

Treasure House & Beverley Art Gallery

Temporarily closed for refurbishment.

Heritage centre and museum with plenty of activities for children, including hands on interactive exhibits, historical costumes to try on, and colouring sheets. Also a great view of Beverley from the tower. Beverley Library is also in the same building. Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am, admission is free.

Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE. 01482 392780

Walks & The Great Outdoors

We have lots of great outdoor spaces and places to visit, most of which are free. Find a full list of those on Mumbler here.

What Was Here?

‘What Was Here?’, Your Window on the Past.

Get this FREE app and discover the past of the East Yorkshire region with historical photos & maps, brought to you by East Riding Archives. Use the base map to find historical photos that were taken near your location and compare the past with the present using your phone or tablet.

  • Explore your immediate surroundings to see ‘what was here’, or simply browse the content at home, anytime, anywhere. With the ‘What was here?’ app you can:
  • ‘View map’ for self-directed exploration of historical photos & maps.
  •  ‘View trails’ to be guided on step-by-step heritage tours.
  •  Buy prints of selected historic images to frame on your wall, using links to our ‘East Riding Photos’ online prints service (www.picturearchives.org/eastridingphotos )
  •  ‘Contribute’ by suggesting refinements to photo locations, or donate your historical collections to East Riding Archives

For more information visit www.eastridingarchives.co.uk/whatwashere. Or download it now, free on Google Play & the App Store (search ‘ what was here ‘)

Yorkshire Wolds Railway

A small heritage railway near Wetwng formed on the trackbed of the former Malton & Driffield Junction Railway. Ride in the locomotive cab “Sir Tatton Sykes” or have a look in the visitor centre set inside a BR MK1 coach. Entry and car parking is free, however there is a small charge for cab rides.

Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome on site, but sadly dogs are not able to travel in cab of the locomotive. Open from Easter until the end of October, check for which days they are open.

For more information call 01377 338053 or email info@yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk

Fimber Halt, Beverley Road, Fimber, YO25 3HG.

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