Family Breaks

The UK’s locomotive industry is an essential component of British History, and York is home to some of its most iconic innovations and an unrivalled collection of engineering brilliance. The National Railway Museum celebrates the past, present, and future of British locomotive engineering, highlighting some of the key marvels that have traversed the nation’s railways throughout the years, and showcases the forward-thinking creations to come.

Here, you’ll see wonders like George and Robert Stephenson’s Rocket, the world’s first inter-city passenger railway line built-in 1829 to run between Liverpool and Manchester, The Mallard steam locomotive, built in 1938 and still holds the steam speed record of 126mph, and several exhilarating simulator rides. You’ll also have the chance to become a conductor yourself by taking a ride to the fantastic miniature railway.

With over 20 rides, shows and attractions on offer and the largest Maize maze in Europe to tackle, The York Maze has plenty to see and enjoy for a fun-packed day out! Take a journey through time and see the giant dinosaurs or experience a mind-bending trip through the House of Cornfusion. And of course, there’s the maze itself, a living & growing entity with over 1 million maize plants covering an area larger than 8 Wembley football pitches. There are also several feature-filled smaller mazes to enjoy, including the Maze of Illusions, the Mineshaft Maze, and the Finger Fortune Maze.

Does your child have a taste for the sweeter things in life? Then this is the perfect activity to try! York’s chocolate story is a fantastic journey through the city’s rich history of chocolate making, learning the secrets behind some of the world’s tastiest treats, from KitKats to Terry’s Chocolate Oranges. You’ll discover the vast history of chocolate, from its origins as from a simple cocoa bean discovered by mighty tribes in Africa, to the modern techniques used to highlight the ethical and sustainable chocolate provides. You’ll then have the chance to become a master chocolatier, learning from the experts to make your own chocolate.

Travel back in time and leave the modern world of York to discover the Viking inhabited land of Jorvik, where Norse warrior-kings arrived and conquered the lands during the late 9th century and early 10th century. At the Jorvik Viking Centre, you’ll be greeted by historic figures who dominated the area for a period where Vikings roamed the country, finding new towns and cities to claim for themselves. There’s plenty to see and do to immerse yourself in this captivating world, from the preserved Coppergate Dig where the history of Jorvik was discovered, historical interpretations to give you a sense of what life was like back then, and state of the art animatronics and interactive displays to broaden knowledge of this fascinating era.