Child walking along pathway underneath a castle and trees in the summer under blue skies

Visit Skipton with Kids

Skipton is a bustling market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and it is an excellent place to go visit!

With so much going on for the kids, you’ll be spoiled for choice!

Skipton is one of the gateway towns to the Yorkshire Dales

…And Skipton just so happens to be an ace place to visit with the kids too! As a family, we have visited Skipton since the kids were very young and over the many years we’ve spent running around the castle or stomping through the woods, we have found a whole LOAD of excellent stuff to do with the kids in and around Skipton!

Skipton is an historic market town with a bustling high street. At the head of it, you’ll find one of the best preserved medieval castles in the country and at over 900 years old, you’ll fully appreciate how much history this town has to offer! But whilst you might be admiring the charm, the kids? Well what on EARTH can they do?

Our guide will tell you our tried and tested places to visit (along with a few newbies along the way), where we like to take the kids to eat, what there is to see and do, where to find the park AND of course, where’s great to take a little wander!

So welcome to your Visit Skipton with Kids Guide!

Child running through woods on a fenced path in the sun

Skipton Castle Woods

Our best family friendly Skipton Walks

First things first. I cannot even begin to talk about walks in Skipton without talking about Skipton Castle Woods! There aren’t many ancient woodlands found right in the middle of a town, but in Skipton, well… there is! This Woodland Trust walk starts right from the centre of Skipton and is a must do it you are visiting the town!

On the edge of Skipton is the little village of Embsay, where you’ll find an excellent short wander around the reservoir. Perfect for very young explorers who are just finding their feet.

If you fancy more of a challenge then why not try a walk to Embsay Crag, which is just above the reservoir?

Do you want to find a waterfall?

Admittedly, there aren’t many waterfalls in Skipton itself (unless you count the weir on Eller Beck), but take yourself 10 minutes down the road and you’ll find Linton Falls on the River Wharfe near Grassington!

A little bit of peak bagging in order? Then try out the historic Beamsley Beacon, where you’ll also find a trig for your collection!

Or in less than 10 minutes you have the whole Bolton Abbey Estate at your feet!

Linton Falls crashing under the footbridge in spate in winter with child walking over bridge

Linton Falls on the River Wharfe near Grassington

Children playing in the sand next to reservoir

Playing next to Embsay Reservoir

Beamsley Beacon trig point with child leaning up against it

The trig point at Beamsley Beacon

Outdoorsy stuff for kids to do in and around Skipton

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

You can’t visit Skipton without taking a tour of the famous medieval castle! This is a great one for younger kids, as there really isn’t much in the way of furniture/displays inside (so there’s not a CONSTANT ‘don’t touch that’ conversation!) Find the ‘Long Drop’ (basically the medieval toilet) and you will have won the day just on that alone, or if they’re really having ‘one of those days’… take a trip to the dungeon!

There’s also a fabulous treetop nets style course in the woods behind Skipton Leisure Centre in Aireville Park callled Raven Treetops (2026 Update: Sadly, Raven Treetops has announced that this will be its final season. It’s not clear what the future holds, so keep your eyes peeled!)

Are you looking for a kid friendly seasonal trail? Then head to Bolton Abbey which is approximately 10 minutes away. There, you’ll 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!!) There is also Thornton Hall Farm just down the road in Thornton in Craven.

What about a canal boat trip? The Leeds Liverpool canal runs right through the middle of Skipton and there are plenty of canal tours to choose from!

Fancy an outdoor swim? Head 20 minutes down the road to Ilkley Lido, which has 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!

Billy Bobs diner also has outdoor and indoor play options on a day where the weather can’t make up it’s mind!

Great for older kids, the Skipton Ghost Tour takes you on a whistlestop tour of all the most haunted parts of the town centre!

Or try the Dogs Dales VR trail by downloading the app.

Hesketh Farm

Child coming down a tunnel slide

Bolton Abbey, the Welly Walk

Child wearing Halloween tshirt pointing at a sign for a ghost tour

The Skipton Ghost Tour

Child sitting painting a pottery octopus in front of a window

Coffee and Clay on the high street.

Rainy day stuff to do in Skipton

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….)

Fancy pottery painting with a yummy coffee and cake (or hot chocolate, they’re pretty epic too!) Head to Coffee and Clay! This wonderful independent cafe has a pottery painting studio right upstairs! The best way to while away an hour! Just make sure you book your spot via their Facebook page. It can get busy, particularly on a rainy day in the school holidays or at weekends!

Skipton Museum is a brilliant free way to spend a rainy hour (donations are welcomed!) This award winning museum is interactive and covers a MASSIVE amount of history in the Yorkshire Dales and Skipton. If you’re interested in caving, there is an excellent interactive exhibit which shows you what has been found in the surrounding areas, think bones… but like hippos and wolves rather than maybe a poor unfortunate sheep...

Fancy a trip to the cinema? Check out the Plaza! This cute independent cinema shows family friendly films amongst their others, so check out what’s on by heading to their Facebook page or the Skipton Plaza website!

Want to go indoor climbing? Then Clip n Climb in Ilkley (20 minute drive) 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.

Billy Bobs Ice Cream Parlour is a little drive from Skipton (5-10 minutes), but has a family friendly restaurant and indoor play barns (and outdoor play areas) too. Great on a day when the weather can’t make up its mind!

Maybe some family friendly (but slightly competitive) bowling is on the cards? There is a small independent bowling alley in Skipton! Check out Matrix Superbowl’s website to find out more!

Time for a swim? The Skipton Leisure centre is in Aireville park, next to the play area.

Looking for an indoor Soft Play? Try the Hidden Castle! Aimed at younger/ primary kids, this medieval role play centre is the perfect accompaniment to a couple of hours at the actual real life Skipton castle! It’s open every weekend and during school holidays.

And finally! The newest addition to the Skipton stuff to do gang… The Craft Social Cafe! Which opened earlier in 2026 and has you covered for all the crafty stuff you could ever possibly desire!

Child looking at a caving exhibit with a caving suit, helmets and information board about caving

Skipton Museum

Child climbing off of rope bridge at a play park in the summer under blue skies

Where’s the play park in Skipton?

Aireville Park is the main play area in Skipton, and it’s just next to the Leisure Centre. It is huge with plenty of play equipment aimed at a wide age group of children.

It also has a pump track and skate park!

Two children walking in front of Skipton Castle

Skipton Castle

A Day Out in Skipton must do Itinerary

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

Younger Kids:

Head to Skipton Castle Woods! We think that if you’re headed to Skipton, it’s a must do wander!

Grab a tasty lunchtime treat from Coffee and Clay! (Hands down my fav cafe in Skipton!)

Go to Skipton Castle and find the poo-hole!

Go spot the ducks on the canal and maybe have a canal boat trip!

Potter at the park, perhaps a mini wander down to the canal if you still have the energy!

Older Kids:

Skipton Castle Woods! Always!

Book Coffee and Clay for a pottery session and then grab lunch too!

Check out the museum… keep your eyes peeled for the caving exhibit.

Take a tour of the castle (find out about the ghost girl and then…)

Do the Skipton Ghost Tour! It’s a lot of fun…

Child climbing down a brightly coloured climbing wall

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…

Ilkley

In a 20 minute drive from Skipton, and you’ll find Ilkley. If you want to find out more as to what you can do around here? We have a dedicated visit with kids guide!

Grassington

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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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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Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.