There are some fantastic places to take children on our doorstep and a short journey away.
Below are some suggestions for paying and free days out across our region. If you have any other suggestions for a day out that you have enjoyed, or want to feature your attraction, please contact us here
In line with Government guidance on COVID-19, local attractions and venues have been closed and activities and events cancelled or postponed. Some are starting to re-open with new restrictions in place (a lot are online booking in advance).
I am endeavouring to keep the listings as up to date as possible but please check with venues first before going, thanks for your understanding.
Sledmere, Driffield, Yorkshire YO25 3XG. 01377 236637
The Grounds, Gardens, Stables, Café, Shops and Play Park open all year round 10am – 5pm Tuesdays to Sundays. CLOSED MONDAYS (except bank holiday Mondays).
House open from March 30th to October 28th 12pm – 4pm.
The Spotty Pig Play Farm is home to some of the rare breeds kept on the estate. Staff on hand to introduce you to all the animals. Lovely adventure play ground where the kids can let off steam.
For more info please visit their website here.
FREE entry into the house and gardens to 14th February 2020! Also look out for their annual Friends Pass for great savings all year round.
Climb aboard Hull’s last surviving sidewinder trawler and explore the ship moored on the river Hull. Free guided tours are available.
The Arctic Corsair is now closed to the public ahead of the exciting Hull & Yorkshires Maritime City Project.
Rear of Streetlife Museum, High Street, Hull, HU1 1PS. For more information call 01482 300300
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.
March- October Thursday – Sunday & Bank Holidays 12pm – 4pm.
November – February Saturday – Sunday 12pm – 4pm.
Caistor Road, Barton-upon-Humber, DN18 5QP. 01652 633297
Grade 1 listed building with stunning Georgian courtroom, plus 2 exhibition rooms with local items. Specifically for children are:
Free admission. Open Wednesdays & Fridays 10am-4pm.
Register Square, Beverley, HU17 9XX. 01482 392783.
Small heritage museum located on Bridlington’s harbour. Inside you’ll see photos, harbour history and historical fishing information. Free entry. Open from April to October.
Harbour Road, Bridlington, YO15 2NR
Victorian country house with lovely gardens to explore, and an adventure playground and tearooms. Located 5 miles north west of Doncaster.
Open weekends only to 30th March then daily (House open in the afternoons and the Gardens from 10am-6pm)
Brodsworth, Doncaster, DN5 7XJ. 01302 722598
Large gardens to explore with children’s activities on the way round. Huge lake with large fish to feed. Also a nice play area, museum and good cafe which has children’s toys.
2019 Opening Times: 16th March to 31st October, 10am-5.30pm.
The Balk, Pocklington, York, YO42 2QF. 01759 307125
Stately home, gardens, woodlands, playground and cafe. Lots of areas for children to explore, things to find and a new adventure playground in 2019.
2019 Opening Times: 1st April to 31st October – Hall, cafe, shops and gardens open daily between 11am-5pm
Burton Agnes, Driffield, YO25 4NB. 01262 490324
Beautiful house and large grounds and parks to explore. Great space for children, toys to play with outside as well as indoors in the stables area. Also a lovely cafe and gift shop on site.
2019 Opening Times: 6th April to 3rd November, Hall – Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays except for Bank Holidays, 12pm-5pm. Stables, Grounds, Stables Kitchen & Gift Shop, open daily 10am-5pm.
Check website for Winter opening times.
Skirlaugh, HU11 4LN. 01964 562400
Approx half an hours drive from Hull over the Humber Bridge. Large walled gardens to explore, lakes where you can feed the fish, paddocks, chickens and small animals and a very good outdoor play area. Courtyard and cafe. Open all year round with special events during school holidays.
Elsham (near Brigg), North East Lincolnshire, DN20 0QZ enquiries@elshamhall.co.uk
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 and Gallery Expedition are sessions for the under 5s and sessions are available for older children during school holidays (see our school holiday section for more information).
Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3RA. 01482 300300.
Set in the old Grammar School where William Wilberforce studied, a history museum including the history of Hull. This gallery is home to a genuine 2,600 year old mummy and unique replicas of King Tutankhamen’s treasures. Free entry.
Opening times – 12 to 4pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month
South Church Side, Hull, HU1 1RR General Enquiries – 01482 300 300
Hedon Museum is located behind the Town Hall, accessible by a small alley between Watmough’s Arcade and Iveson Close Car Park. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays 10am-4pm. Closes for Winter.
Museum all about the town of Hedon and it’s heritage, includes a children’s corner. Free entry.
For more info call them on 01482 890908 or email kmiller.hedonmuseum@miller3.karoo.co.uk.
There’s something for all the family at Hornsea Museum. 18th century farmhouse, outbuildings and garden with play area, 18th century barn, cottages. Victorian rooms, exhibition areas, over 2000 pieces of Hornsea Pottery, a model railway and model fishing boats.
Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm. Sunday 1pm – 4pm.
11-17 Newbiggin, Hornsea, HU18 1AB. 01964 533443.
Walk through various ages of history. 235 million years of history is brought to life, with mammoths, Saxon invaders, an Iron Age village, a Roman bath house and stunning mosaics. Located in the Museums quarter next door to the Streetlife Museum. Free entry.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
36 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NQ. 01482 300300
Hull History Centre holds all of the cities archives. Also runs children’s activities (usually the 1st Saturday of the month) and family events – see Events Calendar for details
Open Tuesday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month 9am – 4.30pm
Worship Street, Hull, HU2 8BG. 01482 317500
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:
A cafe is available onsite and entry is free for all to enter.
Parish Centre, 10a-11 King Street, Kingston upon Hull HU1 2JJ
Large parklands, play area, picnic area and aviaries to explore. Tea room, stables and often run special events. Good day out approx 1 hour drive from Hull.
2019 Opening Times: March to October, 10am-5pm.
Off Collier Lane , Aberford , Leeds , LS25 3EB.
Museum of Hulls maritime past. Free entry. Often holds children’s events.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
Queen Victoria Square, Hull, HU1 3DX. 01482 300300
Great day out for children. Large display of trains and old steam engines some of which children can get on, historic station, activities, outdoor play area and miniature train, good cafe. Steam Rides are available for a small fee, running most Saturdays (can book online). Free entry but donations are welcome.
Open daily 10am-5pm in Winter, 10am-6pm in Summer. Located next to York Railway station so a good place to get the train from Hull to or there is a car park across the road from the museum (£10 for parking but you can park all day and get the land train from here into York city centre)
Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ. 0844 815 3139
Large parklands to explore, historic house and gardens, playground with ride on railway, good farming museum with children’s activities. They also have a Splash Pad for children which is open throughout summer, and a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. Approx 30 min drive across the Humber Bridge. Check for seasonal opening times before visiting.
Normanby, North Lincolnshire, DN15 9HU. 01724 720588
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.
Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
Armouries Drive, Leeds, LS10 1LT
Large parklands with deer to spot, hall and gardens to explore, zoo with a variety of animals, mini golf, playground, cafe and shop. Specifically for children are:
2019 Opening Times: 30th March to 30th September. House 11am – 4.30pm. Gardens 9.30am – 5.30pm. Zoo & Cafe 9.30am – 5pm. Stables Gift Shop 10am – 5pm. Ice Cream Parlour 12 – 5pm (on selected days during summer). Pitch ‘n’ Putt, Footgolf, Putting 9.30am – 4pm.
Church Lane, Sewerby, Bridlington, YO15 1EA. 01262 673769
Museum inside the working windmill with children’s activities. Specifically for children are:
Also a good playground in the field adjacent and cafe in the courtyard.
2019 opening times – Saturday to Tuesday 10am-12.30pm & 1pm-5pm.
Skidby, HU16 5TF (follow the brown signs from the A164). 01482 848405
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. An interpretation panel at the Marina explains its history and various parts for visitors when the ship is closed.
You can still view The Spurn Lightship in the Marina but access onto the ship was closed in 2018 due to being moved to a different location within the Marina to allow for major bridgeworks to be completed over the A63. It is expected to reopen in 2021 after conservation work and rejuvenated displays.
Hull Marina, Castle Street, Hull, HU1 1TJ. 01482 300300
Old buses and trams that children can climb on and scenes from olden day Hull to explore. Experience 200 years of transport history as you walk down a 1940’s high street, board a tram or enjoy the pleasures of our carriage ride. Usually hold children’s events during the school holidays, see Events calendar for details. Located in the Museums quarter next door to the Hull & East Riding Museum. Entry is free.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
High Street, Hull, HU1 1NQ. 01482 300300
Small museum in Bridlington detailing the history of the town and the local area, with lots of interesting artifacts and exhibits. Open weekdays April to September, and Tuesday to Friday during October. Free entry.
Bayle Gate, Bridlington Old Town, YO16 4PZ 01262 674308
Historic building and home of art and sculpture exhibitions including the Hull Tapestry. Entry is free.
Guildhall, Hull, HU1 2AA. 01482 300300
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
A fine Regency House with gardens, parks and a woodland walk.
They have a selection of ‘Open Days’ and ‘Garden Days’ running throughout summer 2019, where there will be children’s activities. Check their website for dates.
Located between Seaton and Hornsea, HU11 5RJ
‘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.
For more information visit www.eastridingarchives.co.uk/whatwashere. Or download it now, free on Google Play & the App Store (search ‘ what was here ‘)
This house is William Wilberforce’s birthplace, inside is now a museum telling the story of the slave trade and galleries about West Africa.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm, Sunday 11am-4pm, plus bank holidays (except Good Friday)
23-25 High Street, Hull, HU1 1NQ. 01482 300300
A fantastic family day out at this great air museum near York, with lots of exhibitions, historic planes and vehicles set on a large site. Also a gift shop and a cafe on site.
2019 Opening Times: Summer 10am-5pm, Winter 10am-4pm (last Admission 1 hour prior to closing). Open bank holidays.
Elvington, York, YO41 4AU. 01904 608595
