30 amazing days out for toddlers in Yorkshire

If you've got a digger fan on your hands, they're going to love Diggerland Yorkshire.

The biggest of four Diggerland sites in the UK, kids can ride, drive and operate REAL diggers, dumpers and other full-size construction machinery. (Don't worry, adults can have a go, too!)

Play areas, sandpits and rides add to the fun.

Good news for older toddlers, kids over 90cm can ride on the majority of rides while those under 90cm get free entry and will still enjoy seeing the machinery up close.

Where: Diggerland Yorkshire, Willowbridge Ln, Castleford, Yorkshire WF10 5NW

With nearly 500 animals from leopards to lemurs, this walk-through wildlife adventure is a great visit for all ages.

Toddlers will love seeing polar bears, lions and tigers up close, watching meerkats at feeding time and running around in the play areas along the way – including the new dinosaur-themed Uproar! Play Barn.

Kids aged two and under go free at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, although there is a charge for the Play Barn.

Where: Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hurst Lane, Doncaster, DN9 3HQ

Forget stuffy museums, Eureka! is designed specifically for kids aged 0-11 and has plenty of fun-packed areas for under 5s.

There are loads of interactive exhibits to get involved with and learn about the world.

Toddlers will particularly enjoy exploring the child-sized town, meeting friendly robots, visiting the story tent, enjoying the light shows and listening to lullabies from across the world.

Where: Eureka! The National Children's Museum,
Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE

For a fun and free outdoor adventure, head to Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire.

Once toddlers have finished picking up leaves and sticks, running through trees and spotting squirrels, they can build a den in the wild play area, visit the adventure playground or spot the Gruffalo on the Gruffalo trail.

Find more places in the UK to spot the Gruffalo here.

Where: Dalby Visitor Centre, Low Dalby, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7LT

From turtles and stingrays to sharks and clownfish, young kids will love exploring the colourful underwater world at SEA LIFE Scarborough.

Penguin Island – home to a colony of Humboldt Penguins – is bound to be a big hit!

Under threes are free.

Where: SEA LIFE Scarborough, Scalby Mills Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6RP

Made from more than one million growing maize plants, York Maze is the largest in the UK. Open during the summer months, it's a great day out for families with toddlers.

As well as the giant maize maze, there are sand and water play areas, you'll spot dinosaurs and there's a maze with tunnels and bridges for kids to crawl through and clamber over, too.

Don't miss our favourite, live pig racing – A-MAIZ–ING!

Under threes are free.

Where: Elvington Lane, York, YO19 5LT

The rollercoasters may be off limits but there's plenty more for toddlers to enjoy at this North Yorkshire theme park.

After you've visited Flamingo Land's zoo with animals including tigers, lions, monkeys and farm favourites, hop on a kids' ride or visit the new CBeebies Peter Rabbit Adventure.

Kids can explore the Secret Treehouse, visit Jeremy Fisher’s musical pond with its giant instruments, crawl through tunnels on Lily Bobtail's Nature Discovery, and even meet Peter Rabbit himself!

Under threes are free.

Where: Flamingo Land, Kirby Misperton, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6UX

Set in the heart of Yorkshire, toddlers will love exploring the grounds and gardens of this stately home.

The renowned Bird Garden at Harewood House is home to exotic species including penguins, owls, flamingos and parrots. A boat offers tours of the lake, there's a walled garden to discover and, of course, an adventure playground.

Special events, including pop-up play spaces, take place at Harewood House throughout the year.

Under fours are free.

Where: Harewood House Trust, Harewood House
Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG

Free for kids under three, The Deep is one of the UK's biggest aquariums.

Run for conservation, not profit, it's housed in a dramatic building overlooking the Hull estuary, and is home to a huge range of marine life, including penguins, stingrays, tropical fish, turtles and more.

There are daily dive shows and animal presentations.

Where: The Deep, Tower St, Hull HU1 4DP

This fun adventure park is designed specifically with kids in mind and has plenty to keep active toddlers occupied.

As well as a huge indoor play area, there's an outdoor adventure park, water play area, toddler trike track and animal zone where kids can see goat, ponies, chipmunks, guinea pigs, chickens and more.

If you've got older kids, there's a high-wire rope adventure, too.

Where: Web Adventure Park, Wigginton Road, York, YO32 2RH

Studfold Adventure Trail in the Yorkshire Dales is perfect for toddlers and younger kids to explore nature and run wild.

Fairies and pixies live in the secret woodland and meadows and are just waiting for children to discover them. How many secret fairy doors, houses and magical sounds will your kids find?

There's also den building, go karts, tractors, sensory boxes and more.

The Adventure trail is open from April to September, under threes go free.

Where: Studfold Adventure Trail, Studfold, Lofthouse, North Yorkshire, HG3 5SG

Housed in a former police and fire station in Sheffield, the National Emergency Services Museum is ideal for blue light fans.

Kids can try on police gear, climb inside emergency vehicles – including RNLI boats and police motorcycles – sit in air raid shelters and have their picture taken in a fire engine.

Where: The National Emergency Services Museum, Old Police/Fire Station, West Bar, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S3 8PT

At Lightwater Valley all rides and attractions are tailored for under 12s and there's plenty for preschoolers to enjoy at this North Yorkshire theme park, too.

Toddlers can run around in soft play areas and play parks, take a ride on mini trains and tractors, try their hand at sand digging on mini diggers, or explore the park on dragon boats and swan pedalos.

Where: Lightwater Valley Theme Park, North Stainley,
Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3HT

Holden Park – also known as Oakworth Park – in the picturesque village of Oakworth, near Bradford, is a truly magical place to explore with your toddler.

Like something out of a story book, it's home to secret caves and grottoes, mysterious pathways and woodland to run wild in.

The perfect free day out!

Where: Holden Park, Colne Road/Keighley Road, Oakworth, Keighley, BD22 7PB

Thomas the Tank engine fans will be in heaven at the National Railway Museum. Free to enter, it's right next to the train station in York.

There are loads of trains and locomotives to see, plenty of carriages for inquisitive toddlers to clamber into, a mini railway, under 5s play area, storytelling sessions and hands-on family fun activities throughout the school holidays.

Where: National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ

Set in the North Yorkshire Moors, The National Centre for Birds of Prey has a huge collection of birds who take part in impressive flying demonstrations throughout the day.

There's woodland and parkland to explore after you've watched the birds and there's also a free ink stamp trail for kids.

Where: National Centre for Birds of Prey, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5EB

A trip on a steam train or vintage diesel train is a fun day out for all the family.

Hop on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at one of its historic stations, including Goathland, which features in the first Harry Potter film, and take a trip to the beautiful seaside town of Whitby where toddlers will love playing on the beach, and having fish and chips and ice cream.

Where: Stations at Whitby, Grosmont, Goathland, Newtondale Halt, Levisham, Pickering

Animal-loving toddlers will have an amazing day at Piglets Adventure Farm near York. As well as visiting the Piglet Maternity Ward – where they can see mummy pigs and their piglets – there are loads of other farm animals and regular feeding and petting sessions.

It's not just animals either, kids can play in the giant sandpit, ride on tractors and tackle the Olym-Pig Obstacle Course, too.

Where: Piglets Adventure Farm, Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, York, YO32 9ST

Originally built as a private folly, The Forbidden Corner in North Yorkshire is a great place to explore with toddlers.

The four-acre garden in Tupgill Park is full of secret tunnels and surprises, including wooden statues and underground chambers – perfect for fearless kids.

Under fours go free.

Where: The Forbidden Corner, Tupgill Park Estate, Coverham, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4TJ

Stockeld Park is a magical adventure park in the grounds of a beautiful stately home.

In the Enchanted Forest kids can discover fairies and trolls, meet talking trees and enjoy clambering up climbing nets and sliding down slides in the adventure playground.

There are also go-karts, a farm-themed playground specially for toddlers and younger kids, and a magical maze.

Special events take place throughout the year – the Christmas illuminations are definitely worth seeing.

Under twos are free.

Where: The Adventure Park, Stockeld Park, Wetherby, North Yorkshire, LS22 4AN

At Thornton Hall Farm Country Park, kids can see a whole host of farm animals, collect eggs, pet rabbits and guinea pigs, and enjoy feeding calves and lambs.

There's plenty more fun on offer at this working farm too, including live shows, pony rides, sand pits, adventure play, a play barn and more.

Where: Thornton Hall Country Park, Thornton-in-Craven, Skipton, BD23 3TS

A great option for transport-loving toddlers, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway takes you on a five-mile journey through Bronte country on a steam engine or vintage diesel train.

Special family-focused events take place throughout the year – look out for the Elf Express towards Christmas!

The railway was the location for the classic film The Railway Children and a sequel starring Sheridan Smith has recently been filmed there.

Under fives are free.

Where: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, The Railway Station, Haworth, West Yorkshire, BD22 8NJ

A National Trust property and World Heritage Site in North Yorkshire, there's loads of fun for younger kids at Fountains Abbey.

Toddlers will love exploring the huge ruined abbey, running through the acres of grounds, checking out the vibrant artworks and statues in the water garden, and then following the river path to the deer park.

If you're lucky, you'll spot some of the Red, Fallow and Sika deer who live there.

Where: Fountains Abbey, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3DY

There's more than just butterflies at the Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Conservation Park near Sheffield.

Kids can also meet lemurs, meerkats, owls, otters, snakes and other animals as well as getting up close to butterflies, birds, bats, crocodiles and creepy-crawlies in the indoor rainforest.

Once you've seen the animals, there's a playground, wet play and an indoor craft centre.

Where: Tropical Butterfly House Ltd, Woodsetts Road, North Anston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S25 4EQ

If you want to take your toddler for a fun day in the pool, Calypso Cove in Barnsley is a great choice.

It's pirate-themed with a giant pirate ship, wave machine, a selection of different pools and flumes.

You'll probably spend most of your time in Barnacle Bay, though. An interactive play area, it's specifically for toddlers and younger kids, and has water jets, a mini slide and loads more splashy fun!

Where: Calypso Cove, Metrodome Leisure Complex, Queens Ground, Queens Road, Barnsley, S71 1AN

England's oldest tourist attraction, Mother Shipton’s Cave and the Petrifying Well were once home to a prophetess, Mother Shipton, whose well could turn ordinary objects into stone.

The cave, where she's said to have been born, is cool but it's the walk there that toddlers will really love. Following the river Nidd, kids can spot hidden carvings in the trees, play on the adventure playground and press buttons to hear all about the story of Mother Shipton.

It's worth noting, there's no access to the cave itself with pushchairs but a pushchair shelter is provided.

Where: Mother Shipton's Cave, Prophecy Lodge, High Bridge, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8DD

While toddlers might not be interested in the interior of this stately home, they'll love exploring Newby Hall's extensive gardens.

They'll also love the miniature railway, which runs alongside the river, and the adventure playground, complete with a dancing water area.

There's an impressive dollshouse exhibition as well – and the hall is also home to Gyles Brandreth's teddy bear collection!

Where: Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE

The National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield is free of charge, making it a great low-cost Yorkshire day out.

And while kids need to be five or older to go on the underground tour of the mine, there's plenty for toddlers to explore above ground.

They can meet ponies and horses at the Pony Discovery Centre, play on the interactive coal mining displays, jump on the train used to ferry miners around the pit, or have fun in the adventure playground or Little Diggers soft play for under fives.

Where: National Coal Mining Museum for England,
Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH

On rainy days this huge leisure complex is well worth a visit, particularly if you have older kids to entertain too. Toddler-friendly activities at Xscape Yorkshire include:

Xplore Soft Play Centre – with its dedicated toddler area

Gravity Trampoline Park – for kids aged 18 months up

Tenpin bowling – get those bumper bars up

Snozone – ski lessons and family sledging is suitable for kids aged three and over

Where: Xscape Yorkshire, Colorado Way, Glasshoughton, Castleford, WF10 4TA

Which toddler doesn't love a day at the seaside? And the North Yorkshire resort of Whitby is a great choice.

The sandy beach is great for digging and there are rock pools to explore, too. You'll see fishing boats heading out from the harbour, can count the 199 steps up to the clifftop abbey – the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula – and enjoy some of the UK's finest fish and chips.

Where: Whitby, North Yorkshire