Why York is the Perfect Family Weekend Destination
There’s something truly magical about York – a city where history comes alive at every corner and family adventures await down every cobbled street. For families looking for a fun, easy, and memorable weekend in York with the kids, this charming city offers the perfect mix of discovery and delight. From Viking voyages and chocolate making to wizard walks and puzzling places, there’s plenty to keep little ones entertained. Then when its time to unwind, Hilton York makes the ideal family friendly hotel in York, combining comfort, convenience and a warm Yorkshire welcome that feels life home.
York is a small city so everything is within easy walking distance which is ideal for little ones. All the attractions are central and easily accessible so you can pick a few to do during your weekend getaway in York with the family. The city is big enough to explore and get your bearings quickly but also feels small and homely.
Checking in: Family Comfort at Hilton York
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The Hilton York is situated in the heart of the city. As soon as we arrived we had that wow factor with the imposing Clifford’s Tower on the hill right in front of the hotel. On pulling up to the hotel we were greeted warmly by the concierage who showed us where to park, helped with our bags and led us into the hotel.
Check in was simple, straight forward and quick. The rest of the family had only just sat down when we were ready to hand our bags in for storing until our room was ready. The bar area also had a lounge area so we could chill, get a drink and relax in there whilst waiting for our room. The boys were given activity packs which kept them entertained for ages, in fact they were gutted they couldn’t finish them as our room was ready quicker than expected.
Family rooms
Our room was on the third floor which was the top floor of this hotel with great views over the rooftops of the city.
The family room in this hotel are all in one room; 2 double beds for the family. Although not our usual arrangement it actually worked out well for us and the boys were really good at going to sleep. The hotel decor was simple, modern and very clean. This was throughout the rooms and the bedroom we had no quibbles with at all. We were greeted with a welcome tray of goodies and tea making facilities. The boys had a goodie bag each and towel animals created on the bed which they loved. They dove straight into their bags which were tailored to their ages and you had never seen such wider smiles on their faces.
Hotel location
The hotel as mentioned, is situated right outside Clifford’s Tower. It is only a 15 minute walk to the train station which has direct links to the rest of the country with ease – Leeds, London, Newcastle are all very easily accessed. The main shopping area is a 5 minute walk and The Shambles again is only 5 minutes walk.
Again, like our visit to the Hilton Leeds City, the staff did not know we were there to do a review of the hotel yet we were met with the same warm hospitability that we have come to expect from the Hilton Hotels. A trusted brand, genuine professional friendly staff and overall an exceptional standard of hospitability.
Day One: Exploring York
National Railway Museum – top tips for visiting
A visit to family weekend in York is not complete without a visit to the National Railway Museum. This museum is FREE to enter (you do need to pre-book). You will be amazed at the huge expanse of trains and locomotives on show where you can immerse yourself in some of the most iconic and famous ones as well as discover others from around the world. It is a huge collection of engineering brilliance with interactive exhibits, displays of artifacts and endless opportunities for the kids to get involved, play, build and have fun. The new Station Hall has just reopened after a huge refurbishment throughout 2024/2025 and here you will find an outdoor playground plus a ride on miniature train. The museum is not just for railway enthusiasts, it’s for everyone with something to spark your interest.
The absolute highlight of the Railway Museum is the Wonderlab. Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery is an unmissable interactive experience for families—where nothing is off limits. A fully interactive space for all ages. Get hands on with the science behind the railways. Explore aerodynamics, find out about fuels and test your engineering skills as you step into the human wind tunnel, launch a rocket, plan routes to send balls through the Great Machine and design structures to withstand an earthquake. On top there are regular, daily live science shows and demos, and a team of Explainers on hand to bring the science to life.
The Wonderlab is paid entry (prebooking required). Expect to spend around 2-3 hours in here plus another 1-2 in the Museum.
City Centre explore
When you are finished with the Railway Museum head into the city centre to explore. The city is easily walkable with huge amounts of history around every corner. Just wander the streets, ginnels, snickets and get lost in the markets, cobbles and shopping areas. Every now and again you will immerge in an expanse of greenery, or be in a courtyard of an ancient building. Every corner holds a surprise.
Evening light show entertainment
During our visit we experienced the Echoes of Yorkshire light show at York Museum Gardens. This installation by Luxmuralis brought the history and story of the Yorkshire Musuem and Gardens to life. An immersive display of light, colour and music showing artefacts and exhibits that celebrated the history of the North of England and the City of York. After dark (from 5pm) the gardens were alive with colour. A brilliant walk to do ending at the Thors Tipi for an obligatory glass of mulled wine around the roaring fire pit. This event was on at October half term only however there are always other events on throughout the year so check out Visit York to find out what’s on when you are there.
Evenings at Hilton York
There are plenty of places to eat in York, from fast food to Michelin star, however I would strongly suggest the latter is enjoyed child free! The best and easiest option for a family is to eat in the hotel. A relaxed dinner where everyone can order what they want, no pressure of leaving the table for a certain time plus once the kids eyes start to drop can be taken upstairs to bed.
The Tower Restaurant in the Hilton York delivered just that and more. With a relaxed yet formal restaurant we were greeted warmly by the waiting on staff and showed to our table overlooking Clifford’s Tower. The boys were happy with their activity packs and their goody bags from the room so they were entertained all evening.
Tower’s Restaurant – the food choices
The restaurant menu does cater for all tastes, with a wide selection of dishes. The kids menu again is tailored to a range of tastes and satisfied our fussy eaters.. The drinks menu was great and we could enjoy our beverages knowing that the kids were fine. No request was too much for the staff which was hugely appreciated.
Steaks for the adults, pasta for the little one and pizza for the eldest. Everything was delicious. Puddings all round with a dreamy chocolate fondant for me, the special cinnamon cheesecake for the husband and a another special request from the boys for lemon sorbet (with the addition of strawberries). Every plate was wiped clean.
Bedtime routine
Bed time was a doddle after all the excitement of the day we were tired out. The beds were spacious, beyond comfortable, windows had black out blinds and the hotel was super quiet. Next thing we knew it was nearly 8am and we ready for breakfast!
Day 2: Quirky family fun and hidden gems
Breakfast of dreams
Breakfast at the Hilton York is an unlimited buffet of freshly cooked hot food, selection of baked items, a bakery selection, fresh fruit, cereal bar, juices and the highlight for the boys was the pancake machine!
Teas and coffees delivered to the table, food regularly topped up and everything delicious. We were ready for another fun day of exploring the city.
Exploring the city
Around every corner of York’s city centre there is something else to see. So either go wander and see where you end up or head to the Tourist Information / Visit York and pick up a FREE walking trail. We picked a selection and did parts of each. It keeps them entertained and you come across things you may not have discovered otherwise.
The main highlights in York which you cannot miss seeing are York Minster, The Shambles and York Museum Gardens. You can explore these in more detail if time allows or just take in the sights. Dean’s Park has the Paddington Bear bench which is a must for little ones also.
This visit we headed to Spark for lunch. A series of shipping containers which houses independent businesses including food and drink outlets. Scan the QR code on the table and order straight from there. The boys sampled Clucking Oinks and it was the best chicken they had ever had. We on the other hand were still fueled from breakfast so stuck with a coffee!
City Centre Family Friendly Attractions
Our day’s entertainment consisted of 2 attractions on this visit: The Puzzling world of Professor Kettlestring and Hole in Wand. Both were great for the boys, and us adults in fact, definitely ones that we could enjoy as a family.
The Puzzling World of Professor Kettlestring is York’s most brain-tickling, mind boggling experience that appeals to curious minds of all ages. We spent around an hour in here being tricked, confused and utterly perplexed!
Hole in Wand is the craziest golf in York! Take on 9 enchanted holes on this magical mini-golf course. Hear tales of York’s wizarding lore, uncover the secret word whilst searching for the potion brewing gargoyle, Grobblenook. On completion you are rewarded with a spellbinding potion. Again we spent around an hour in here trying to figure out the courses, top tip for Dad’s is that this is not your normal golf course so those rules don’t apply!
Why do Families Love Staying at Hilton York?
The Hilton York is super central so it’s very easy to access all the city centre attractions and eateries. The views out over Cllifford’s Tower are mesmerising too. The Hilton brand is renowned for its exquisite service, friendly staff who all have a genuine passion for what they are doing. This can be seen in every Hilton hotel throughout the world, so when you book a Hilton stay you know what you are going to get. The Hilton York has lounge areas which are great with the kids to make them feel more relaxed. Activity packs are provided so the kids are kept occupied when you are having some down time. The kids menu is tailored for all tastes so there is always something they will eat. Children are accepted and welcomed in this Hotel.
So whether you are visiting for the 100th time or the first time, Hilton York is your family’s perfect base for your next weekend away. After a full day of adventures, there’s no better place to relax than Hilton York – your home base for comfort and family memories. So why not start planning your next family break in York today?
To check availability and book click here – Hilton York Hotel – Book on Hilton.com for Best Rates
What else can you do on a family friendly city break in York?
There really is no best time to visit York, every time of year is amazing with events running throughout the year. Also, York is really accessible. The train station is very central with easy links to the rest of the country. For those driving there is a brilliant Park and Ride system which has car parks at 6 locations around the city to pick up the main routes in. Buses are regular, on time and open 5.30am til 10pm (Mon-Sat, 7.30am Sunday).
If you are looking for more family friendly places to visit during your stay in York why not try;
- Wizard Walk of York
- York Chocolate Story
- Rowntree Park playground
- Yorvik and Yorvik Dig
- York Dungeons
- York Minster
- Piglet’s Adventure Farm
- Oxygen trampoline park
- Web Adventure Play
Looking for more holiday inspiration? Check out another of my blogs; A family friendly city break in Leeds, An adrenaline fueled family weekend on the Yorkshire Coast, or Staycation in Ripon, Yorkshire.
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