Jumping in front of White Wells in Ilkley

Visit Ilkley with Kids

If you are looking for a fabulously family friendly town set just outside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, then Ilkley is the place to be!

This pretty town is buzzing with kid friendly stuff to do, places to play and with a riverside play park where you can find the ducks, it’s got to be on your must visit list!

Are you coming to visit Ilkley?

There is SO MUCH going on for the kids in Ilkley! This town is located just outside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, at the south eastern-most point. Home to the legendary Ilkley Moor (baht’at and all that), this town has high street charm, with stunning views across the wild moorland that surrounds it.

It truly is a great place to visit as a family and on this page, you’ll find out all the must do activities in and around Ilkley itself; you’ll find details of local kid friendly attractions; where to walk with the kids and of COURSE where the play park is (as well as where to find the ice cream!) Ilkley is our home town, so we are all about shouting as loudly as we can about it!

You HAVE to read on to find out our favourite parts.

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Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my website and for reading this now!

I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

If you would like to support us and can afford a few pennies, you can make a donation to our ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ page. Simply tap the button below to head there!

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The Ilkley Moor waterfall (but completely frozen!)

Our best family friendly Ilkley Walks

Ilkley is a hub for family friendly walks, with it being located at the base of the rugged and wild expanse of Ilkley Moor, but still being within stone’s throw of the town. We have loads of walks in the Wharfedale area but here are a few of our Ilkley-based favourites!

Do you want to find a waterfall? Yes, Ilkley Moor has its very own secret waterfall (well actually there are more than one….) Our walk to the Beck Stone will take you right by it as well as heading past the must see Cow and Calf Rocks !

Fancy a walk to the White Wells Spa? You won’t be getting a massage or facial here though, but you can dip in the famous spa water for the price of a cup of tea from the cafe! Our White Wells walk will take you to an area of the moor that’s simply packed with history and you will also head to Ilkley Tarn too.

Do you have the pushchair? Then try out Ilkley Tarn, or Ilkley riverside for buggy friendly options.

Looking for a woodland waterfall walk? Head for a dinosaur hunt at Heber’s Ghyll! Or check out the swathes of bluebells in Middleton Woods from early April to May.

Do you have an older kid who wants a bit more of a challenge? Head to the Ilkley Moor trig!

Two children standing next to a bench with Ilkley Tarn to their left and trees surrounding

Ilkley Tarn (this walk is pushchair friendly.

Two children bent over picking up stones to throw into the river they are next to with a bridge behind

Ilkley Riverside

Child climbing on top of the trig point on a moor with a sunset behind

The Ilkley Moor trig point

Outdoorsy stuff for kids to do in and around Ilkley

You will NOT be surprised to hear that there is a whole LOAD of outdoorsy activities around Ilkley that are great for the kids!

Fancy a swim? Head over to Ilkley Lido, which has just undergone extensive restoration, and was originally opened back in 1935. Famous for its' charm and also for its Summer Solstice Swims the water may be chilly, but the views are outstanding! Check out the Ilkley Lido website to find out more and for their seasonal opening times!

Or maybe take a daring dip at White Wells on Ilkley Moor.

Are you looking for a kid friendly seasonal trail? Then head to Bolton Abbey which is approximately a 15 minutes drive away, where you regularly find either the welly walk (Easter to Halloween) or a seasonal trail through the Strid Woods (Easter, Halloween and Christmas). You can find out more about the Bolton Abbey trails by heading to our Yorkshire Dales events page or our Bolton Abbey Estate Walks.

Looking for a family friendly open farm? Then Hesketh Farm is also located just down the road on the Bolton Abbey Estate. It has animals to pet, outdoor and indoor play areas and the epic tractor ride too (our favourite bit!!)

Is climbing your thing? Then check out the Cow and Calf, where you’ll find companies who specialise in guided climbing (for those with no experience) as well as sessions suitable for those who are doing their NICAS. Try My Expedition Rocks or Live for Today Climbing.

Staying in the area for a while? Check out our Visit Pateley Bridge with Kids Guide and Visit Grassington with Kids Guide to find out more going on in the areas. Both are around a 30 minute drive from Ilkley.

Abseiling off the Calf rock

Bolton Abbey

Hesketh Farm

Clip and Climb Ilkley

Rainy day stuff to do in Ilkley

Come on guys… it’s Yorkshire. The likelihood is, you’ll be dealing with rain at some point! But NEVER FEAR! For we have some IDEAS (see what I did there? Poet and I don’t know it and all that….)

Want to go indoor climbing? Then Clip n Climb is the place to be! Located next to the train station in the centre of Ilkley, this is a top rainy day place to go for active kids! There are occasional Tots sessions running, which are suitable for ages 2.5 - 6. Or there are the general climbing sessions, suitable for ages 4+ (including adults!) It’s a lot of fun, and there is a family friendly cafe on site too. Check out the Ilkley Clip and Climb website for more details. Booking is required.

Fancy a trip to the cinema? Ilkley Cinema is an independent cinema stuffed full of comfy sofas, and serves drinks and tasty food to your seat! They often have a fab range of films ranging from family friendly to arts and indie. Love it! To find out what’s currently showing, head to the Ilkley Cinema website!

Billy Bobs Ice Cream Parlour is a little drive from Ilkley (20 - 30 mins), but has a family friendly restaurant and indoor play barns (and outdoor play areas) too.

Ilkley Manor House Museum is free to enter and is found at the top of Riverside Park just off the main road through Ilkley. There, you can learn all about the history of Ilkley. Or perhaps a visit to the Toy Museum might be up your street!

Looking for an indoor Soft Play? Dan’s Den is just off the Grove and is suitable for the under 6’s. It’s brilliant and holds SO many happy memories for us as a family! My two grew up playing here, and I whiled away many an hour sipping coffee and nibbling cake in the cafe whilst the kids went off and played (and I generally don’t like soft play!) The set up is entirely family friendly, there is a sensory area and age specific play areas too. All surrounded by the most wonderfully friendly staff. I reckon I’ll also give a special mention to the toilets too. Yes, the toilets. They are equipped with spare clothes, socks, nappies, potties, and toilet steps. Basically everything you need as a parent to an under 5!

The Little Calf on Church Street in Ilkley is a new soft play cafe well worth a check out (I have the word on the street from the local mums to very little ones!)

Dan’s Den Ilkley

Where’s the play park in Ilkley?

Just down the hill from the Manor House museum is Riverside Park, where you’ll find a huge play area with loads of sections suitable for a wide range of ages. Surrounded by green space, and the riverside of Ilkley, there are ducks to feed, fish and chips nearby, and ice cream! Often during the summer months, you might find some activities on.

Got a skater in the family? Ilkley also has a skate Park on the other side of the bridge to the play park, so check that out too!

Ilkley Lido Summer Solstice Swim

A Day Out in Ilkley must do Itinerary

Ok. You only have a day in Ilkley, what would we recommend you do?!

Younger Kids:

Head down to Riverside Park and to the pushchair friendly three bridges walk… via the Ilkley Manor House Museum and New Brook Street Deli for a cake and a coffee (they sometimes sell duck food too)

Grab a tasty lunchtime treat from the Ilkley Tap (a grown up and kid pleaser) or next door a familiar family favourite, Pizza Express.

Grab a book from the Grove Bookshop or a game from Games Crusade (great places to spend some pocket money!)

Book the whole family in to Clip and Climb (yes, grown ups can climb too)

Head up to the iconic Cow and Calf to grab an ice cream and then wander around the Cow and Calf rocks.

Older Kids:

Spend the morning bagging the Ilkley Moor trig then head down into the town for lunch.

Why not try the Ilkley Tap or Ilkley Vaults for a tasty lunch.

Head down to the playpark via Ilkley Manor House museum and learn about some of the cool stuff you found up on the moor in the morning.

Head to Ilkley Lido for a sunny splash or if you are visiting in winter or on a rainy day, head over to Ilkley cinema.

A wooden ladybird in front of a child and information board in the countryside

What else is nearby?

If you’re staying for the week, or you’re just stuck for ideas as to what to do with the kids near to Ilkley, then why not check out…

Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale

In a 30 minute drive from Ilkley, you’ll find Pateley Bridge. If you want to find out more as to what you can do around here? We have a dedicated visit with kids guide!

Grassington and Skipton

Between 20 and 30 minutes away from Ilkley, you’ll find Skipton and Grassington. Check out the visit with kids guides to find out what’s going on there!

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