Family Holidays in York

What's on offer for families around York

There are 16 family-friendly stays published on BritStays in the York area, and most of them are outdoor holidays. Caravanning accounts for 8 and camping for 6. There is just one holiday park and one hotel. If you're picturing a pitch, an awning and a playground within shouting distance, you'll have plenty to compare. If you'd rather have a proper bed and someone else cooking, your choice is much narrower.

Ten of the 16 stays are listed under York itself. The rest are spread across Crowle, Central England, Goole, Cawood, Great Barugh, Cliffe Common and Earswick, with one each.

Coast or countryside?

None of the stays in this set is listed as coastal, so plan a countryside-and-heritage break rather than a seaside one. The choices here are farm campsites, caravan parks and country parks. York's historic streets and some grand country houses give you plenty to fill the days.

Choosing by type of trip

Families with young children have the most options. A playground is the most common facility, listed at 11 of the 16 stays. Several sites list the same useful trio of playground, toilets and disabled access:

• Sheriff Hutton Camping and Caravanning Club Site
• Wombleton Caravan Park
• Ashfield Touring Caravan Park
• Willow Garth Caravan Site in Great Barugh
• South Newlands Farm

Some sites add a little more. York South Caravan & Camping in Cawood has a cafe. Apple Blossom Caravan and Camping in Goole and York Meadows Caravan Park both have a bar alongside the playground. Lakeside Caravan Park stands out for listing a creche, a picnic area and WiFi.

Larger groups should look at Seven Lakes Country Park in Crowle, Central England. It sleeps 8, has EV charging nearby and is near a train station, which helps if not everyone is arriving by car.

Couples, or families wanting a treat, have a few options:

• The Pheasant Hotel is the one hotel in the set. It lists a swimming pool and a restaurant.
• Ranch Caravan Park at Cliffe Common lists a swimming pool, gym and spa.
• Yapham Holds Farmhouse offers a swimming pool, spa and takeaway food.
• Bleak House Farm Campsite combines camping with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Dog owners can choose from half the set, as 8 of the 16 stays are listed as pet friendly. Among the examples, The Pheasant Hotel is marked pet friendly. For anywhere else, check the listing before you book, and ask whether there are limits on numbers or breeds.

Facilities worth checking

Beyond playgrounds and toilets, these are the facilities that appear most often:

• Disabled access, WiFi, a laundrette and pet-friendly status each appear at 8 stays.
• A gift shop appears at 7.
• Parking is listed at only 6.

Parking is the one to watch. If you're arriving by car, confirm where you'll leave it, rather than assuming. If anyone in your group needs step-free access, check the details with the site directly. A listing can't tell you everything about pitch surfaces or shower blocks.

What to do once you're there

York's best-known sights are a good starting point. York Minster and The Shambles are the obvious first day out. For children, Murton Park is listed as a theme park. Mother Shipton's Museum and Gift Shop is another family option elsewhere in Yorkshire.

For a day in the countryside, Castle Howard is a major heritage attraction. Rievaulx Terrace and Goddards are both National Trust properties. Birdsall House and The Old Lodge are listed as stately homes. Smaller museums include Catton Heritage Museum and the Quilters' Guild in York. If the weather turns, Leeds has the Royal Armouries, Leeds Industrial Museum and Leeds City Museum.

Opening days and times vary, so check before you set off, especially outside the main summer season.

When to book

Sixteen stays is a modest choice, and the more unusual options are one-offs. There's only one hotel, one holiday park and one listed creche. If you have your heart set on one of those, book as early as you can. School holidays are likely to be the busiest time for family-focused sites.

If you're flexible, start by deciding which facilities you can't do without, such as a playground, pet-friendly pitches, parking or a pool. Then shortlist from the stays that list them. Before paying, check with the site about arrival times, what's included and any extra charges for dogs or facilities like a pool or spa.