Yes we know, the summer season is coming to a close and the kids are heading back to school next week – hurrah! However, we’re already looking forward to the autumn half term and the coming change of the season. Because with it comes some fantastic opportunities to explore the UK’s most beautiful regions minus a few of the crowds synonymous with the height of summer, and we couldn’t be more excited.
And one of the UK’s very most beautiful? Why, Yorkshire, of course. Here, we explore 5 places in Yorkshire to visit with your kids this season.
Stockeld Park
Could there be a more quintessential autumn activity than pumpkin picking? Ideal for creepy Halloween carving, delicious desserts, creative curries and even those fabled pumpkin spice lattes, this versatile fruit is a treat for kids and adults alike.
Come pumpkin season, one of the best-themed adventure parks in Yorkshire, Stockeld Park, has thousands of pumpkins in their meadow ready to be picked! Every child with a paid-for ticket at £2.50 can choose a pumpkin for free.
Stockeld Park comes alive for Autumn half term – you’ll find lots of Halloween surprises in the Enchanted Forest, witches will guide you as you follow the new skeleton trail, and so much more. We wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, though!
Last entry to activities, the Forest and Adventure Playgrounds is 4:30pm and the park closes at 5:30pm. Oh, and when it’s raining, there are live theatre productions and themed events to take the kids to.
I Spy Walking Tour Of York
York is undeniably a stunning city. With a rich architectural history dating back to mediaeval times and an ye olde English air, every street you walk down is full of history. Old and charming, with quaint cobblestone streets and Gothic buildings, as well as a vibrant hub in tune with the times, one often feels as if visiting York is like stepping back in time.
This is particularly true as the nights draw in, with the city’s twinkling lights and lanterns illuminating curious corners of York’s famous winding lanes.
If you want to explore York on foot with your children, but minus the moaning, then the Little Vikings I Spy walking trail is just the ticket! This free walking of York is available all year round. Simply pick up an ‘I Spy Trail’ printed map and leaflet from the Visit York Information Centre during opening hours, follow the route, and see how many things you can tick off.
As the York Mix explains, Little Vikings has the trail as part of a new #LoveWalking campaign; “The permanent walking trail features 22 weird, wonderful and interesting things to spot along the route, and will be a fun way for families to explore the city and spot some of York’s unique sights”.
Fossil Hunting at Runswick Bay
One of Yorkshire’s most attractive scenic destinations, Runswick bay has a lot to offer. It is a perfect picnic spot – even in autumn! – and has been voted one of the best coastal holiday destinations by tourists and locals alike.
Boasting a long sandy beach where you can quietly spend time playing games and enjoying kayaking, water skiing and other water sports, perhaps the highlight of Runswick Bay is its opportunity for fossil hunting. The beach is home to various fossils from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, and there’s something truly atmospheric about hunting for them with the kids during autumn’s slightly moodier conditions.
Sheffield Winter Gardens
This multi-award-winning Winter Garden in South Yorkshire’s Sheffield is the largest temperate glasshouse. A 70 metre long, 20 metre high building, the structure boasts over 2500 plants… Wow!
And the best news? The Winter Garden is open every day, all year round, not only the UK’s coldest season. Opening hours are between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.
Abbey House Museum
If you want to experience Victorian life, immerse yourself in an authentic street experience, and enjoy several play areas to boot, the Abbey House Museum has so much to offer. Moreover, if you have a sweet tooth, you shouldn’t miss the homemade cakes and the delicious granola bars at the museum’s cafes… Speaking from experience, they’re terrific!