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Little Vikings - York for kids

@littlevikingsyork

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📍 York with kids
⭐️ York’s best family guide
🗺️ Eat, play and explore like a local
🏆Award-winning & family-run since 2013
👉 little-vikings.co.uk

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If you thought October was good, just wait until you see November in York! 
Ghostly gardens, sparkling skies, Viking adventures and Victorian Christmases, there’s loads of reasons to get out and about as the nights draw in. And yes, we know it might feel early, but the ice rinks, Christmas chalets and twinkly light trails are on their way too! 
Swipe for 11 things to look forward to in and around York, and hit save so you’ve got them to hand all month. Don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter, too, so you never miss a thing.

🎅 Planning a visit to Father Christmas? Our Santa in York guide is landing soon, so keep your eyes peeled. by @littlevikingsyork

Looking for somewhere cosy to warm up this autumn?

@chocandcouk in The Groves is one of York’s friendliest little cafés, and it does so much good too. It’s a charity offering work and training to help people make a fresh start, so every hot chocolate and slice of cake you enjoy makes a real difference. They were kind enough to host our @indieyork social this week, and gave us such a warm welcome.

Expect daily hot chocolate specials, light brunches and lunches, and homemade cakes that families will love. The coffee is excellent, too. You can even pay it forward by buying a drink or meal for someone in need. This place is a labour of love that’s doing amazing things - we can’t recommend it highly enough.

📍 4 Mansfield House, Lowther Street, York YO31 7NB
🗓 Tues to Fri 8:30am to 3pm (4pm Thurs), Sat 9:30am to 2:30pm
ℹ️ Closed Sundays and Mondays by @littlevikingsyork

👻 York Museum Gardens after dark… but you’re not alone!

Ghosts After Dark is back! We went along tonight to see what’s new for 2026, and @the_york_bid have done it again 👻 ✨

The gardens look suitably spooky after dark, with ghostly figures, atmospheric lighting and plenty of surprises - like spooky stories - along the way.

It’s a lovely way to experience one of York’s most beautiful places in a completely different light (or lack of it!). Oh, and the perfect excuse for the first @thorstipi mulled wine of the festive season (no judgement please!). It’s a really lovely thing to do as a family - catch it while you can!

📍 York Museum Gardens
📅 4th to 8th November 2026

#GhostsAfterDark #YorkMuseumGardens #YorkWithKids #LittleVikings #VisitYork by @littlevikingsyork

Some birthday traditions are worth queuing for 🥞🎂

A birthday brunch at @robinsonsyork on @bishyroad has become a bit of a family tradition for us, and it never disappoints. Delicious food (including epic pancakes stacks), a buzzy atmosphere, great coffee for the grown ups and no washing up - it’s a birthday treat for everyone.

📍 Robinson’s, 7 Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 1NA

#york #yorkfood #yorkbloggers #brunch by @littlevikingsyork

What’s on in York this weekend? Loads! And lots of it’s suitably spooky for Halloween weekend. Spot a giant spider or go crazy for ghosts or just head out for an autumn walk before they’re back to school.

Comment ‘weekend’ for our full guide, or find it over on our website 🎃 🕷️ by @littlevikingsyork

About last night…we’ve just about recovered from the busy, buzzy Haunted York Night Market at Shambles Market. We handed out hundreds of maps and goodies and had some great chats with locals and visitors to help them make the most of their time in the city.

It’s all part of our York City Centre Family Friendly Project that’s kindly funded by @ynycombinedauthority. We’re on a mission to celebrate and enhance the experience of the city for families and these evening markets are a really fun way to spend time in York once the big light goes off. The next one is going to be even bigger and better - watch this space 🧊 🤔 by @littlevikingsyork

✨ LIGHT TRAILS AND ILLUMINATIONS NEAR YORK ✨

From glowing gardens to illuminated abbey ruins, there’s something magical about wrapping up warm and heading out after dark with kids. We’ve rounded up some of the best light trails and illuminations within reach of York this autumn and winter, including two happening this week, so be quick if you want to catch them!

🦇 Illuminated Whitby Abbey is on until 31 October.

💡 Light Night Leeds is on 28 and 29 October, and it’s free!

Swipe for more ideas and save this post for a sparkly family adventure✨ by @littlevikingsyork

Here’s a brilliant activity for half term, and it’s totally free! We checked out the new @nationalrailwaymuseum Ghost Hunt in Station Hall and it’s really fun. Some are easy to find, but you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled to find them all. It’s a lovely activity and a great excuse for a trip to one of the best museums in the city.

#york #ghost #railwaymuseum #train by @littlevikingsyork

It’s fair to say that the clock change isn’t as exciting when you’ve got small kids who don’t understand the concept of a lie-in 🥱

But there is one upside to an early start: enjoying York when it’s at its quietest.

With room to wander down the Shambles, time to look around without feeling rushed and far fewer people to dodge, it’s a great time to see the city with the kids. Just make sure the cafes are open so you can enjoy a strong coffee or breakfast, and suddenly being up early feels almost like a bonus… by @littlevikingsyork

When a school training day turns into 24 hours in the Yorkshire Dales 🍂 
We made the most of end of term training days with a little autumn escape, and it felt like we were away for ages.

First up, an autumn walk at Bolton Abbey, with the trees putting on quite a show. Then on to Malham for a night at The Lister Arms, before heading underground at Stump Cross Caverns on the way home. It’s a lovely family trip - in fact we’ve done it three times now!

Even better, it’s cheaper to stay and there weren’t any crowds so it felt like we had the Dales to ourselves.

One to save for your next school training day 🍂

✨No paid content, just genuine recommendations for experiences we footed the bill for ✨ by @littlevikingsyork

What was York like in the Middle Ages? Who lived here? What did York Minster look like then?

Discover the answers to these questions and more as we journey back to medieval York this October half term.

From Monday 26 October we will be joined by the team from @daysgonebyheritage who will share what life was like in Middle Ages from a pilgrim's perspective.

Meet the pilgrims who have travelled far and wide to worship at the tomb of St William and hear stories of pilgrimage just like the ones you may have heard in the Canterbury Tales! Plus get hands-on as you have a go at creating your very own wax votive, just as they would have done back in the day!

Meet the medieval pilgrims every day from Monday 26 to Saturday 31 October from 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm.

These sessions operate on a drop-in basis, are included with a sightseeing ticket, and there is no pre-booking required.

Find out more and plan your visit on our website, just tap the link in our bio 🔗 by @littlevikingsyork