Children exploring the adventure play area at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire — Make time for play time this summer | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Family-friendly places in Yorkshire

Head off on new family adventures in Yorkshire. Set off on a bike ride in the countryside, seek out natural play areas, spot spring wildlife, and spend time together. Even if it's raining, we've still got plenty to do indoors to keep your little ones entertained.

Looking for a day out that'll keep the whole family entertained? See what's in store during a Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank.

Our partnership with Starling Bank

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Wentworth Castle Gardens

Have a go at the musical and sensory play on the play field and look out for archery sessions and the teddy zip-line at the castle.

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Let your imagination run wild and build an obstacle course by the abbey. Take to the stage and perform with puppets, costumes, or musical instruments. Play creatively with chalk and logs in Swanley Grange.

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East Riddlesden Hall

This summer of play is full of games from hoola hooping, noughts and crosses and a challenge to build the biggest tower. Drop in every Wednesday for a dance class – with a changing style every week. If it rains, head inside to the Discovery Room for different craft each week and house trail so play can continue indoors.

Archery activity for families at Hatfield Forest, Essex

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Nunnington Hall

It’s animal antics in the garden with games and activities like cheeky monkey badminton and frog’s dinner archery. Inside don’t miss the summer exhibition of children’s illustrations by Ada Grey. Plenty of chances to get involved and see her work from babies to queens, dinosaurs to unicorns and lot, and lots, of poo from the books ‘Poo in the Zoo’.

Children playing lawn games in the garden at East Riddlesden Hall

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Nostell

There are games galore to try this summer and themed sporty days with the Featherstone Rovers Foundation, players and mascot. It's going to be memorable.

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Ormesby Hall

Try out pockets of play this summer. Get active with tennis, badminton and cricket, find the musical play to make some noise and get stuck into nature play. Pick a day to visit when Let’s Circus are in town running sessions on circus skills including hoola hooping and juggling.

Visitors paddling on the beach at Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire

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Yorkshire Coast

Whether you're planning a staycation or looking for a summer day out - you can't beat the coast. Look our for rockpooling sessions or pick up a new tracker pack and head out on your own adventure.

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Brimham Rocks

Tuesday is try out day with taster sessions on offer from climbing and abseiling, to orienteering and rock explorting.

Ready, set, go. More ideas for family days out full of laughs and mucky knees.

Summer events in Yorkshire

Children looking through binoculars outside

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Beningbrough

Weave your way around the gardens keeping your eyes peeled and spot the hidden wooden birds and fascinating facts about our favourite feathered friends along the way. Every Wednesday across the school holidays, get involved with a variety of nature related activities from bird themed crafts, tansy beetle investigating and outdoor story telling.

Four children playing tennis at Chirk Castle, Wrexham. The two on the far side of the net stretch up with their racquets for the ball

Goddards

This summer try somewhere new, and although there isn't the typical play area or miles of cycles tracks to explore, the garden at Goddards is a great spot for a play and picnic day. Try the new sense-sational trail or borrow some of the garden games to determine the family champion at croquet, tennis, skittles and giant tumble.

There’s nothing quite like playing outdoors. Swooshing down slides, clambering over logs and letting your imagination run wild. It’s no wonder that play areas are an essential part of many family days out. Here are some top places to play in Yorkshire.

Two children on a swing in the play area at Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens, North Yorkshire

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Discover the Wilderness play area at Beningbrough

Unleash your wild ones on the 7-metre pyramid tower and slide, cantilever swing and clamber stack or explore the zone for smaller children, where they can climb and get creative in the Wendy house or soar to new heights in a bucket swing.

Exploring the adventure play area at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire

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Let off steam in the play area at Fountains Abbey

There's a huge play area just two minutes from the visitor centre where little adventurers can run wild - you'll find a wooden abbey, a woodland lookout, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman's poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire to enjoy.

Girl in the play area at Ormesby Hall, North Yorkshire

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Go wild in the natural play area at Ormesby Hall

Head to the bottom of the garden at Ormesby Hall and let the kids go wild in the natural play area. They can perform on the Willow Stage and challenge themselves on the rope walk, log stepping stones and balance see-saw.

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Find the Discovery Garden at East Riddlesden Hall

Tucked away within the trees, this natural play area has lots for little ones to discover. Find the hidden entrance to start your adventure. Cook up a messy masterpiece in the mud pie kitchen, make some music with the chimes, practice balancing on the rope bridge or use the wheelbarrows to make a hedgehog house with leaves.

Visitors in the Little Acorns nature play space at Wallington, Northumberland

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Enter the Lion's Den play area at Nunnington Hall

Enter the Lion's Den play area where little explorers can climb up, over, and wobble along a natural obstacle course. There are tree stump steps to jump across, a rope bridge to climb across as well as a wooden climbing frame to conquer.

A boy swings on a zip wire swing whilst another pulls him along

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Head to the woodland adventure play area at Nostell

Jump, swing and slide in the adventure play area tucked away in the woodland. There are climbing frames with slides, a huge fort, balance beams, swings and a big wobbly bridge. Feel the wind in your hair as you zoom between the trees on the zip wire - it's a whopping 30 metres long!

Children exploring the gothic folly 'Stainborough Castle' at Wentworth Castle, South Yorkshire

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Conquer the castle at Wentworth Castle Gardens

Conquer the wooden castle, zoom down a zip-line, fly through the air on the swings, whoosh down the slide and try the new accessible see-saw as you get your muscles moving in the adventure play area.

From led activities to places for ball games, picnic spots and where to get an ice cream. Plan your time together at some of Yorkshire's favourite places to spend a day out with the family.

Summer holidays exploring the Studley Water Garden

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

There are acres of space where little legs can explore and imaginations run riot at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal. Become an abbey explorer and discover all the hidden corners of the ruins. There's also a large adventure play area close to the visitor centre.

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Beningbrough Hall

Discover the family activities and events at Beningbrough, from den building in the wilderness play area to nature spotting on a walk. Look out for new trails and activities during the school holidays.

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Wentworth Castle Gardens

Wentworth Castle Gardens is the perfect place for a family adventure. Explore the gardens - from the turrets of Stainborough Castle to the hiding places in the Union Jack Gardens. Try out our Multisensory or Orienteering Trails, and don't forget to call into the adventure play area before you leave.