Day trip from York to ?

I prefer the Dales to the North York Moors, but perhaps that’s because the NYM are similar to the area that I am from. The Dales comprise stunning gently undulating countryside divided into farm fields by old stone walls. The NYM comprise open moorland and can be bleak in winter, but this won’t be an issue at the time of year that you are visiting.

If you can get a day tour, I would recommend a day in Whitby on the coast and to get there, you would drive through the NYM. I would have thought that exploring the ruined Abbey and seeing the home of Frankenstein etc would appeal more to your children. I always drive there, so can’t recommend any tour companies.

In York, a visit to the Rail Museum is worthwhile and free!

Will you be renting a car? If not there is a tour company in York......https://www.bobholidays.com.....that has good tours to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, look at their website to see which would be more of interest to your family.

I love the Yorkshire Dales, they are so beautiful. This is where James Wight aka James Herriot the author is from. If you decide to go there I would suggest you might enjoy reading one of his books. There is a James Herriot museum in Thirsk which is in the old veterinary office where his veterinary practice for fifty years.

Whitby Abbey.

You could visit Castle Howard on your way to Whitby. Both are great scenic locations. Castle Howard has been used in many movies. There is a tour which includes both locations and a steam train ride that you can book from York that I have seen on TV. It runs from March to October. It is called the North Yorkshire Dales Railway. I think that a trip to the Lake District is not required as you have many wonderful sites closer to York. Check the National Trust UK web site for things to see and do that the kids will enjoy. Fountains Abbey from the middle ages is close. I enjoyed Harrogate which was a Georgian era Spa town; a great place for Tea.

It's a matter of taste, but I prefer the Dales. The moors have more of a bleak beauty, the dales are more picturesque. I think either would be a fine visit. Don't underestimate the driving time. A lot of the roads around the Dales nearest York are narrow and winding, so you will be going slower than a map might suggest. Might I especially recommend going to Barden, Skyreholme, etc. area?

I am, though, worried that you are spending only 3 nights in York, but 7 in London. If possible, I would move at least one night from London so you can see the dales or moors and the coast (e.g. Whitby, Staithes). 4 nights is quite sufficient for London's worthwhile sights, plus extra nights if you plan local day-trips.

Whitby's great - rugged coast, small working harbor, accessible beach, the wow of the abbey ruins & Dracula connection, very good fish&chips, quirky town & really quirky/terrific local museum, & Capt. James Cook's home with South Seas-faring museum. Beautiful nearby village of Robin Hood Bay (exact name?) down at the water. Don't know public transport options, but worth finding out.
The Dales & Moors, too - ahh, England!

There is a bus every two hours to Whitby, departing outside York station. Called the "Yorkshire Coastliner"
Current timetable here: http://www.yorkbus.co.uk/cmsUploads/route/files/CoastlinerJUNE18WEB-11.pdf

It takes 2 hours, but the route is via Pickering, over the moors to Whitby, so you see views from the bus. There is lots to see in Whitby, the town, the Abbey on the clifftop.
Whitby tourist info here: https://www.visitwhitby.com/

Thanks all, it seems the Dales are the favorite, and sound lovely. I was a huge James Herriot fan as a kid (read all of them, wanted to be a vet for a long time) so that sounds perfect (for me anyway). I also will look into Whitby since so many mentioned that. We will not have a rental car (as of now) and alas, cannot move any nights from London (already paid for), but will make the most of what time we have. I wanted to take several day trips (Harry Potter, Avebury, Oxford) so that is why we decided on so long in London.

thanks so much!

The Coastliner was voted Britain's most scenic bus route

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44226761

plus Whitby has enough to keep you busy

We did a four week drive tour of Wales and England last October and love Britain.

York was one of our favorite places to visit. We did three nights there. We had 2 1/2 days there and the Minster (Cathedral) was amazing. Loved walking the walls, visited some museum as enjoyed the National Railway Museum.

After we departed from York, we drove to visit Castle Howard, which takes some time to visit. Then on to Pickering (on the edge of the Yourshire Moors). We overnighted there and the next day drove over the Moors to Whitby. The distance is not long, but it takes some time, since the drive is slow. On the Moors there are hundreds of sheep that block the road frequently, so you have to drive slow. It is very scenic. We enjoyed our drive.
We had a little more than half a day in Whitby and did the famous ruined Abby with it great museum and explored the city.
It is the home of Captain Cook. From there, we drove to Durham, which took two hours or more due to the traffic and it rained.

It seems to be that visiting the Castle Howard, the Moors and Whitby would be a bit too much to do on a day trip.
Also, after Durham we visited Hadrian's Wall and a couple of museum nearby before moving on to the Lake District. The terrain on the way to the Lake District was hilly and the drive was slow. You definitely don't want to try a day trip to the Lake District. You need time to do justice to the Lake District.

The North of England is magical. We loved its scenic places as well as its very friendly people.

Thanks geovagriffith-that is great info! I wish we had more time of course to see more of North England-maybe next visit!
I wonder if it would make any sense to rent a car in York and use it to drive around on one day and maybe drive it to London (actually more likely to drop off somewhere along the way). I asked about this and I know the drive from York to London is long and there is a fast train, so I think this idea was shot down by some. But maybe could drive to Whitby (and Goathland) one day if we had a car? Oh, decisions. I think I will have to research more and also find out what my kids most want to see.
Is there a recommended scenic/interesting drive from York to London? Or is this a bad idea. (I do not want a car in London.)

It doesn’t make sense to drive from York to London as the train is better and the drive is dull and prone to delays. It may make sense to hire a car to drive to Whitby for the day.

Castle Howard and Whitby can’t be done in the same day.

That’s what I suspected. Will have to compare renting a car for a day in York vs a tour. Will stick with train back to London. Thanks!

With only two full days in York you'll have more than enough to keep you occupied before even considering a day trip. What are you intending to visit in York?

I second what JC says. If you are there end of May beginning June it will be half term so, although busy, there will also be lots of events on in York itself, which will provide loads to do in the short time you have. Ditto for London.

Driving from York to London could take you by some great places, but once you are within 50 miles of London, you hit the unbelievable traffic. The Orbital (M25) is a slow moving parking lot.

If you try to drive, plan to drop the car before you get near London. We did Warwick and its castle on our way to York. Cambridge is a great place to visit. As you said Whitby is a great choice. However, considering you limited time, you many be better off taking the train.

Well, we could make it almost 3 full days in York, depending on when we get there (mid-day/afternoon) and when we depart for London. May stay most of our departure day there since we have more time in London. I'll figure out our must sees in town and decide if a day trip makes sense. I know we will see the Minster and probably the Railway museum (though no one has a particular interest in trains so we will see) and walk the walls. Anything else recommended for teens? Too many museums burns them out, which is why I was thinking of a trip to the moors or dales. Thanks for the input! I truly appreciate it.

Clifford's tower. All that is left of York Castle, It is on top of an artificial hill, and slowly splitting in two.
Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cliffords-tower-york/

If you visit one museum, choose the adjacent York Castle museum. It focuses on York through the ages, including a reproduction Victorian street of shops.
Website: https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/

Two hours on a bus to Whitby may or may not be OK for your kids, you will have to judge yourself. The second half is the best, did you see the video someone linked to above? If you do decide to go to Whitby, make sure you go up the steps (199 of them) to the Abbey on the clifftop.
Whitby ticks all the boxes for seaside town, fishing port, Gothic ruins (Whitby invented the term). It was no accident that a certain author, Bram Stocker, set his novel in Whitby. The name of the book: Dracula. The original on which all others are based.
Website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/
Photos of Whitby: http://www.urban75.org/photos/yorkshire/whitby-abbey-and-steps-yorkshire.html

Believe me, the NRM is interesting even if you’re not a train spotter!
Depends what your teens are interested in but as well as the usual suspects such as minster, walls and castle museum they may enjoy the dungeons, escape rooms or how about a Cold War bunker!
If you let us know what sort of things interest them I’m sure we can suggest more activities and days out. Teens can be difficult to please!

I was in York 2 years ago with two 16 year olds and they didn't whine once. One thing that helps a ton is to make sure they have working cell phones and let them go off by themselves; York (within the walls) is small and safe during the day. I highly recommend getting them a small book called The Snickelways of York by Mark Jones. It's not easy to find in the US, but amazon lists some used copies: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Around-Snickelways-York-Pb/dp/0951115847/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546918060&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Walk+Around+the+Snickelways+of+York

York has endless twisting, crooked semi-hidden (and hidden!) passageways and this book describes them all with hand-drawn maps and simple pen and ink illustrations. Our kids had a blast finding all the different secret routes.

Must sees: the Minster (don't skip the roman ruins in the basement, and then tire the kids out with an epic climb to the tower), walking the walls, & the railroad museum. The Jorvick Viking Center is touristy, but the kids will probably like it. The York Castle museum is not what you'd think: lots of rooms with quirky collections (early vacuum cleaners! historical toilets!) plus a recreated Victorian street. And don't underestimate the time you will spend just walking the streets and soaking in the atmosphere. Another thing to remember is that most traditional pubs are very family-friendly, so don't hesitate to take the kids in for an mid-afternoon soda (for them) and pint (for you) when you want to take a breather.

With all there is to do in York, I don't think you'll want to do a day trip, but if you do, I'd recommend renting a car and going over the moors to Robin Hoods Bay. It is a stunning village set in stunning scenery that will even impress the kids. If the tide is out, you can go out on the vast tidal flats and look for fossils. On the way back, stop in the tiny "village" (like, 8 houses) of Beck Hole and eat a late lunch at the Birch Hall Inn Pub then go up the hill to Goathland if the kids are Harry Potter fans (the station and heritage steam train were filmed as the Hogwarts express).

Have fun on your trip!

Hi Ferrin -

Plenty of excellent suggestions here to keep you occupied. I discovered last year (a bit of research for another poster asking a similar question) that there are two companies in York who do organised day trips out to the coast and NYM, dependent on which day you wanted to travel. Check out www.mountain-goat.com and www.bobholidays.com. They do other trips as well, dependent on what you decide you want to do. A visit to the websites may prove more illuminating. This is meant as a ‘no car hire’ option, but clearly cumulative costs may be the deciding factor.

However, be advised that having a car in central York is as much use as a chocolate tea pot. Plus parking is a) well nigh impossible and b) if you can find a spot in a car park, simply extortionate in terms of cost!

Points to ponder. I think!

On a Harry Potter related theme the Deathly Hallows (part one I believe) sees Harry and Hermione camping out on a rocky elevated pavement. This is Malham Cove in the Dales. I was disappointed to read that no filming took place at the Cove, it was all CGI’d in later. The real thing however is spectacular if a little treacherous under foot. Requires care and dry weather. The hike from Malham to Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar and then Malham tarn, returning down the dry valley of Watlowes to emerge on top of the Cove is fantastic day hike, a classic of its kind!

Hope you have a great trip!

Ian

Thanks guys for the input but just to let you know I decided a few weeks ago to axe York from this trip and save it for another time. Will be focusing on London (7n) and Oxford (3n) w closer day trips (Cotswolds, WB/Harry Potter studio, Stonehenge). York does sound great but it is kinda far and I know we will be back! Thanks!

I just wanted to say that we are going to York in June and I have been reading this thread with interest.

So even though OP changed plans, others are benefiting from your generous expertise.

BethFL that is very cool-glad that you are finding it useful. Hope you have a lovely trip! I wish we had time to see the whole country ;)