Ready, Steady, ACTION!

Got a budding sharpshooter? EJ Churchill’s Young Guns Club is just the ticket. On select dates over summer, they’ll get an hour of clay pigeon tuition with expert instructors and be smashing the clays in no time.

Make a splash at North Yorkshire Water Park’s Unicorn SplashPark. Find this magical, inflatable playground on the lake complete with bouncy trampolines, slides and even a 5-metre jump for the brave. With three different sizes, it’s suitable for ages 6+.

For adrenaline-seekers, Go Ape is a must with its wobbly bridges, tree-top crossings and a zip wire finale all set within the stunning Dalby Forest (safety harnesses and thrills guaranteed).

Rainy day spoiling the fun? Not on our watch! Rock Up in Hull offers over 26 climbing walls, a terrifying Vertical Drop Slide and soft play for the little ones.

Want to learn how to survive in the wild? Yorkshire Dales Bushcraft in Grassington has shelter building, fire-making, and marshmallow toasting – yum! Even better, under 4s go free!

And finally, for full-throttle fun, Another World Adventure Centre near Halifax has everything from grass sledging to go-kart racing and bumper balls. Pack snacks, water bottles and your sense of adventure – summer’s sorted!

ARTY PARTY

Do you have a budding author in the family? Those aged 7–12 can join the Harewood Young Writers Workshop (26-27 July) and let their creativity run wild as they dream up stories inspired by the grand rooms and rich history of Harewood House.

If your kids (or you!) are more about hands-on crafting, head to The Painting Pot Selby. This esteemed Muddy Award-winner houses shelves of ceramics to paint in the cosiest, most creative setting near York.

Over in Harrogate, Singalong Brunch at Mama Doreen’s is a must for Disney fans (27 July). Expect live performances from Singtasia and magical photo ops that will melt every Frozen-loving heart.

For pure storytelling magic, head to Grimm & Co in Rotherham and wander into their Emporium of Stories, where you will find book nooks, stories and magic around every corner. They bring the fantasy to life through a quirky apothecary, potion shop, and secret mail service – yes, your little one can write to a fairytale character and get a handwritten reply. Too cute! A spellbinding day out, guaranteed.

FESTIVAL FUN

Festival season is calling, and Yorkshire is totally bringing the vibe this summer! First up, the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival (18–20 July, Skipton) is back in a new home with celeb chefs (hi, James Martin), Bake Off stars, foodie masterclasses, Ibiza Proms from a 40-piece orchestra, and more tribute bands than you can shake a glow stick at. There’s camping, comedy and kids’ entertainment galore – tick, tick, tick – making it a great one to drag the whole family along to! Psssst: check out our comp to win tickets!

You can also try your luck at bagging a family weekend ticket to Deer Shed Festival (26–29 July, Baldersby Park) worth over £500! Super popular, this is a top pick for those cool families thanks to its mix of live music, comedy, science tents, creative workshops and proper kids’ zones – think Glasto, but with a nap schedule.

Celebrating culture and community, the Yorkshire Caribbean Family Festival (12 July, Rotherham) is packed with music, dance, food stalls and family vibes – expect everything from steel pans and reggae beats to mouthwatering jerk chicken and carnival colour. We’re there!

Over in the Dales, Den Fest (18-20 July, North Cave) brings a wholesome weekend of music, crafts, and camping under the stars. It boasts a strong eco ethos and plenty of muddy-knee memories in the making.

And finally, Staxtonbury Family Music Festival (18-20 July, Scarborough) is North Yorkshire’s laid-back answer to a good time – live bands, local food, camping, and a brilliant community feel. Just add wellies and good vibes.

HERITAGE

History gets a fun twist this summer with Nostell’s Summer of Play, where kids can let loose in glorious gardens with family trails, den-building, storytelling and creative crafts set against the backdrop of this 18th-century treasure.

Over at Fountains Abbey’s Summer of Play returns too with a circus tent full of fun games! It’s an ideal day out for energetic little ones who love to explore (and grown-ups who like a National Trust tearoom).

Meanwhile, the Festival of Archaeology at East Riddlesden Hall digs into the past with hands-on discovery, ancient artefacts and family activities that’ll make young historians feel like real-life Indiana Joneses.

For a summer packed with imagination, head to Lotherton where trails, crafts, outdoor games and themed weeks mean there’s something new each visit, plus the Wildlife World and play areas make it an easy all-day adventure.

Over at Castle Howard, young adventurers can take part in Rover’s Grand Tour, following the trail of a historic canine explorer through the house, while Skelf Island Adventure Playground offers zip wires, rope bridges and treetop fun every day. Book online for family tickets (£70 for four) and save nearly £20 – historic fun, modern savings!

GO WILD

Calling all animal lovers! Summer in Yorkshire is packed with wild encounters, cute creatures, and hands-on nature fun. The Big Butterfly Count at Pontefract Castle lets mini wildlife warriors flutter around the historic grounds spotting species and learning how to protect our precious pollinators. Binoculars at the ready people!

Over at Brodsworth Hall, things take flight with impressive Falconry Displays amongst the beautiful gardens. It’s the place to watch majestic birds soar and swoop while soaking in the summer sun.

For fluffier friends, don’t miss Blooming Sheep where you can meet, feed and snap a selfie with the cutest black nose Valais sheep. Those over 10 can also have afternoon tea with these woolly wonders.

Feeling more exotic? Book an Alpaca Adventure at Humble Bee Farm – these gentle, curious animals love a stroll, and it’s an unforgettable experience for kids and grown-ups alike.

And if you’re after the ultimate thrill, the Carnivore Experience at Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one for the brave! Go behind the scenes to learn about lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!), and get closer than ever to some of the planet’s most powerful predators. It’s the wild side of Yorkshire you won’t forget.

ON STAGE & SCREEN

If you’ve got mini drama Kings and Queens (and let’s face it, who doesn’t) to entertain this summer, Yorkshire’s theatre scene is where you need to be. The Wizard of Oz is landing at Hyde Park Picture House (26-27 July), ready to whisk audiences down the yellow brick road with all the magic of the classic tale – expect singing, sparkle and plenty of Toto moments.

For some alfresco fun, Oddsocks Theatre brings their gloriously bonkers take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream to RHS Harlow Carr (1-2 July). Think Shakespeare meets slapstick, with live music, belly laughs, and a dose of canine chaos thrown in. For little ones, The Koala Who Could at York Theatre Royal (3-5 July) is a heartwarming, beautifully staged story about courage and friendship, while The Elmer Adventure at the Sheffield Lyceum (15-17 July) celebrates everyone’s favourite patchwork elephant with gentle storytelling and vibrant visuals.

Got dino fans in the house? The Dinosaur That Pooped crashes into Scarborough Spa (28 July) with musical mayhem (and toilet humour, obviously), whilst Dinosaurs Live! at York Grand Opera House (26 July) brings life-sized prehistoric creatures to the stage in a roar-some, educational spectacle thanks to the Natural History Museum.

ACTIVITY CAMPS & WORKSHOPS

When school’s out, you might wonder how you’re going to keep little minds and bodies busy. Enter one of Yorkshire’s brilliant summer camps! For a mix of creativity and curiosity, Adventure Camps are a top pick, with everything from sports and bushcraft to performing arts led by expert instructors. It’s an ideal way for kids to makw new mates and try new skills, all while having a total blast.

If Bear Grylls did bedtime stories, it would look a little like Camp Wilderness at Castle Howard! Perfect for budding explorers, with days (and nights!) of den-building, fire-lighting and sleeping under canvas in the historic estate – can we come, too? Yorkshire Camps blend action and reflection, offering fun-packed days with a focus on teamwork, confidence-building and good old-fashioned fun, while Yorkshire Wildings is a nature-based dream for wild-hearted kids – expect muddy knees, woodland crafts and eco adventures galore.

Many of us will remember our PGL days and the one at Newby Wiske Hall delivers classic adventure camp vibes with zip wires, abseiling, raft-building and non-stop activities all set in a beautiful rural spot. Not a summer camp as such, but Stockeld Park offers a dreamy combo of adventure play, outdoor magic and themed weeks set in stunning surroundings. There’s giant inflatables, enchanted forests and plenty of energy-burning action.

LTTLE’UNS

Your littlest Muddy crew should head to Eureka! in Halifax for their Little Explorers Weekend – a sensory wonderland of hands-on fun designed especially for ages 0–5. With interactive zones, creative play and a whole lot of giggles, it’s all included in your entry and perfect for first-time visitors and curious regulars alike.

Over at Piglets Adventure Farm in York, experience the school holiday magic with two daily shows in the big-top-style marquee where you can expect dino roars, circus thrills, magic tricks and even a mini pantomime. Add in tractor rides, animal petting and the epic Maize Maze, and you’ve got an all-day adventure for under-5s and their older siblings too.

Digger-mad kids can charge towards Diggerland Castleford – a muddy little paradise with real construction vehicles to ride, drive and ogle at. It’s basically a building site turned into a toddler’s dream theme park (dad’s will probably have a blast too). Hard hats not required!

For a gentler pace, Brood Coffee House in Harrogate is a parenting dream serving up great coffee, gorgeous bakes and a soft play area you’ll actually want to sit in. They often host performances for the kids downstairs whilst the grown-ups seek caffeinated refuge in the coffee shop – perfection!

TEENS

Teens rolling their eyes? Fear not, Yorkshire has some seriously cool outings to tempt them off their screens. Cirque at Leeds Grand Theatre (13-14 July) is a dazzling fusion of musical theatre hits and gravity-defying circus stunts – think broadway bangers, big visuals and a show that’s anything but ordinary.

Movie lovers won’t be able to get enough of Castle Howard’s Outdoor Adventure Cinema which is showing a Wicked singalong under the stars (27 July) – picnics, fairy lights and belting out “Defying Gravity”? Yes, please! Thrill-seekers can burn off energy at Snozone in Castleford – an indoor slope providing snowboarding and skiing whatever the weather. Or head to either Lightwater Valley or Flamingo Land for classic rollercoaster highs and full-throttle fun.

Wanting more? Yorkshire Outdoor Adventures runs adrenaline-pumping quad biking experiences across rugged terrain that teens will love. Or for something a little more coastal-cool, Saltburn Surf School is an awesome way to ride the waves and soak up the beach vibes. Teens? Consider them entertained.

Things to do with kids and teens this summer (all blissfully screen-free)

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