A vibrant, historic town, Skipton is one of the most wonderful places to visit in North Yorkshire. It is picture perfect with the canal running through and there is plenty to do for kids in both the centre of Skipton and in the surrounding areas. There is enough to do to keep you occupied for several days and makes a lovely getaway for all the family.
Parking and Travelling:
Car parks are scattered around Skipton, making sure there is always one near your destination. Click here to find information about car park locations in Skipton.
High Street car park has electric vehicle charging stations.
Skipton has its own train station located in the centre of town, and connects travellers to Leeds, Bradford, Morecambe, Carlisle and other places.
Prams and Accessibility:
On quiet days, Skipton is quite easy to get around with prams. There are some cobbles and narrow paths, but most places have enough room to fit a pram inside, including several pubs and restaurants we took the pram to. However, on market days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) Skipton gets very busy. There are also lots of exciting hidden alleyways that can only be entered by going down steep, uneven stairs.
Things to do with kids at Skipton:
One of the most magnificent and least ruined castles in Britain, Skipton Castle sits at the top of Skipton’s high street. You can explore the rooms that people lived and worked in, such as the kitchens, Great Hall and the lady’s withdrawing chamber. The central courtyard has a yew tree that was planted by Lady Anne Clifford over 400 years ago. There is also a 12th century church, a gift shop and a tea room.
In this free museum about Skipton and the local area of Craven, there are a lot of interactive displays for children to get involved in. They can have a go at weaving, dress up in historical costumes, guessing what objects are through touch and much more. It is a very accessible museum with room to push a pram around.
You can take a cruise down the Leeds/Liverpool canal on a boat in Skipton. There are lots of different options to suit you and your family, from 30 minute cruises to a whole day of hiring out a boat yourselves. Some of the cruises offer afternoon tea, fish and chips or a Sunday dinner, and you are provided with a commentary by the comedian Dave Spikey. You can enjoy a drink at the bar and admire the countryside as you sail past.
This is a fairly easy walk through the woods behind the castle, from which you can see lots of sheep in the field beyond and you might manage to catch sight of more wildlife, such as woodpeckers or robins. Some parts, indicated by a yellow arrow, are pram friendly, while other routes have lots of steps. There are also some steep drops into the valley below on this walk, so keep any toddlers close.
Nearby things to do with kids:
- Hasketh Farm Park
A working family run farm where you can feed and stroke the animals. To entertain the little ones even more, there is a giant sandpit, go-karts, straw maze and double zip line.
2. Thornton Hall Country Park
Another working farm, in case one option wasn’t enough! This one also features lots of animals, this time where you can board a safari ride through the deer park too. They boast a three story soft play area, 4 slides, go-karts, a baby and toddler area and role play shops.
3. Bolton Abbey
Visitors can explore the ruins of the Abbey and if they are feeling brave enough, take the 60 stepping stones across the river. There is a beautiful walk to take up the valley of desolation, where you will see a waterfall. This walk continues up to Simon’s seat, a rocky outcrop 485m above sea level. This is not pram friendly and unfortunately dogs are not permitted on this walk either as it crosses Barden Moor. There are also the ruins of Barden tower to find on the Bolton Abbey grounds, a magnificent aqueduct, and the three fallen money trees laden with coins.
4. Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
Catch a vintage Edwardian steam train from either Embsay station or Bolton Abbey station (a 1.5 mile walk from Bolton Abbey) for a round trip of about one hour. You can purchase tickets for afternoon tea on the steam train which make excellent Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gifts, and I would recommend checking online to see if you can find and discount voucher codes before you do, as we got 20% the normal price of £70.