When people plan a trip to the UK, they usually talk about London or Edinburgh. But one city from our UK road trip completely surprised us, York.
Founded by the Romans, later ruled by Vikings, and still wrapped in medieval walls, York feels like stepping straight into a history book. It’s compact, incredibly walkable, and packed with just enough quirky experiences to keep kids entertained the entire time.
We only spent two days here, but it quickly became one of our favorite stops in England. If you’re visiting York with kids, here’s exactly how I’d spend 48 hours.
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Start your visit at The Shambles, York
The first place you should head in York is The Shambles, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe.
The narrow lane is lined with crooked timber-framed buildings that lean toward each other overhead. Some date back to the 1300s, and walking through them honestly feels like stepping onto a movie set.
If it looks familiar, that’s because many people say it resembles Diagon Alley from Harry Potter (another street often mentioned as inspiration is Victoria Street in Edinburgh).
Today, The Shambles is filled with sweet shops, cozy cafés, and small boutiques, perfect for a slow wander with kids.
Visit York Minster
Just a short walk away is York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe.
Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth stopping to see the massive stone façade and towers. The scale is incredible, and the surrounding square is a great place to let kids run around for a bit.
If you do go inside, you’ll see stunning stained glass windows, medieval stone carvings, and centuries of history under one roof.
Turn exploring into a tame: The York Cat Trail
One of the quirkiest things we did in York was taking the York Cat Trail. Small cat statues are hidden on buildings all across the city. Historically, these cats were placed there to ward off evil spirits (or rats).
Today it’s a fun scavenger hunt for kids. We picked up the free map from our hotel, the Hilton York (you can also get it atThe Cat Gallery store), and spent about an hour spotting cats on rooftops and window ledges while exploring the city.
The most challenging part was finding the very first cat, because we didn’t know the scale, haha, after that, everything was way easier.
While the grand prix was supposed to be a cat figurine from The Cat Gallery store, sadly, the lady at the shop said they were out out of them.
Climb Clifford’s Tower for the best York views
For sweeping views of York, head to Clifford’s Tower (luckily, we stayed right across from the tower, at the Hilton York). Originally built by William the Conqueror, this historic tower has served as a prison, treasury, and royal mint over the centuries.
Today you can walk the viewing platform at the top for incredible 360° views across York’s rooftops and medieval streets. The climb is short and manageable for kids, and the views are absolutely worth it.
Walk Along the River Ouse, York
After a full afternoon of exploring, head down to the river for a relaxing walk along the River Ouse.
The waterfront is lined with historic buildings, pubs, and cafés, making it a great place to slow down for the evening. You can sit by the water, grab dessert, or even take a river cruise for a different perspective of the city’s medieval skyline.
Walk the Medieval City Walls of York
One of the best things to do in York with kids is walking the historic York City Walls.
These medieval walls still surround the old city and are some of the best preserved in England. Walking along them gives you great views over the rooftops and streets below.
You don’t have to walk the entire loop; even a short section feels like walking along a castle wall.
Explore the Jorvik Viking Centre
York’s Viking history comes to life at the Jorvik Viking Centre. Built on the site of an actual Viking settlement discovered during excavations, the museum lets visitors ride through a recreated Viking village while learning about life in York more than 1,000 years ago.
It’s interactive and surprisingly fun for kids.
Walk through York’s Medieval Streets
Some of the most charming streets in York are just outside the main attractions.
Take time to wander places like:
- Stonegate – one of the most historic streets in the city
- Goodramgate – lined with beautiful medieval buildings
- Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate – famous for being one of the shortest streets in England
These narrow cobblestone lanes feel straight out of a storybook.
Visit York’s Railway Museum
If you have train-loving kids, don’t miss the National Railway Museum. It’s one of the largest railway museums in the world and home to historic locomotives, royal trains, and interactive exhibits.
Even if trains aren’t your thing, it’s impressive to see some of the massive steam engines up close. And the best part, admission is free (but it’s best to book your free ticket online in advance).
Where we stayed in York: Hilton York
We stayed at the Hilton York, located right in the historic center and just steps from Clifford’s Tower and the city walls. The location made it incredibly easy to explore York on foot.
You can book this hotel using Hilton Honors points, but during our visit, the cash rate was actually pretty reasonable. Instead, we used the Hilton hotel credits from a few of the American Express credit cards we carry, which basically covered the stay and helped offset the cost.
Our room had two double beds, which worked well for a quick stay in the city.
One of our favorite perks was breakfast. With Hilton Gold status, breakfast was free for our family of four, which always makes mornings much easier when traveling with kids.
And the highlight for our girls? The automatic pancake machine at breakfast. They probably could’ve stayed there all morning watching pancakes appear.
Bottom line
York doesn’t always make the top of UK itineraries, but it absolutely should. It has the history of major cities like London, the charm of Edinburgh, and yet it feels much more relaxed and manageable with kids.
In just two days you can explore medieval streets, climb historic towers, walk ancient walls, hunt for hidden cats, and learn about Vikings, all within a compact, walkable city.
And somehow it still feels like a hidden gem. If you’re planning a UK itinerary, don’t skip York, it might end up being one of your favorite stops, too.
