Yorkshire days out: An A-Z of family fun

Here in Yorkshire we're not only blessed with gorgeous countryside, historic towns and cities and that famous warm hospitality — there's some top attractions too.

From thrilling theme parks to natural wonders, animal adventures to fascinating museums, you'll struggle to run out of ideas for fun family days out in God's Own Country.

And so give you some ideas for the summer, we've created a whole alphabet of inspiration.

Here's our A-Z of fun-filled family days out in Yorkshire:

A is for Aysgarth Falls

One of Yorkshire's most popular beauty spots, Aysgarth Falls in Leyburn are surrounded by pleasant walks through the Dales and local woodlands, taking in the spectacular waterfalls. Pack a picnic for a day trip (the Falls are around one hour 45 minutes away by car) and show the kids one of the natural wonders of the Dales.

B is for Bradley Park Golf Club

A little closer to home, head to Bradley Park Golf Club to try the latest craze there — Footgolf! The club's short three par course has been converted into a Footgolf course, with tees and greens replaced with Astroturf and holes widened to 21 inches in diameter. The sport is available to play after 2pm on weekdays and and after 10am at weekends. It costs £5 with a Kal card, £6.25 without, and can be booked on 01484 223772.

C is for the Calder Valley Greenway

Get on your bikes and try the four-mile, largely rural route that connects Huddersfield and Dewsbury via woodland, farmland and riverside paths. A small section between Mirfield Railway Station and Huddersfield Road has still to be developed, but an on-road route is signposted.

Stand-out views can be found from the Ridings, which looks down to the John Smith's Stadium and Dalton Bank, Bradley Viaduct and Lower Spen, offering views of the Spen Valley up to Norristhorpe and Roberttown.

D is for The Deep

The Deep is one of the UK's largest aquariums, and is home to 3,500 fish, including sawfish, sharks, rays and even a colony of Gentoo penguins. Its underwater reef features hundreds of colourful fish and its underwater viewing tunnel will have youngsters mesmerised. Open daily from 10am-6pm. Adults cost £11.75, children (3-15) £9.75 and under threes go free. A family of four ticket costs £38.60.

E is for Eureka

Eureka! The National Children's Museum combines learning and play through hundreds of interactive, hands on exhibits, covering everything from the human body to eco-systems around the world. There's also the child-sized Town Square - complete with a Halifax bank, Marks and Spencer's store and the Eureka! house. Open seven days a week, 10am-5pm, during the holidays, and 10am-4pm Tuesday to Sunday in term time. Standard admission includes a free annual pass, and children aged 0-11mths go free. For adults and children aged three and above admission costs £11.95, and tots aged 1-2 years get in for £4.25.

F is for Flamingo Land

Not just fun rides, but a zoo as well! Flamingo Land offers an action-packed day out for all the family, whether you're queuing for the rollercoasters or cooing at the baby animals! You can also book animal encounters. Tickets cost £37.00 when you book online.

G is for Grassington

Waterfalls, quaint cobbled squares, and even its own two-week festival in June — Grassington is far more than a sleepy Yorkshire Dales village. Take a stroll through the ancient Grass Wood and discover the Iron Age fort, Fort Gregory. Or, if the weather's not too good, you can visit the Grassington Folk Museum, which tells the story of Wharfedale. Grassington, in North Yorkshire, is around one hour 30 minutes away by car.

H is for Hesketh Farm Park

Located a mile from Bolton Abbey village and five miles from Skipton, Hesketh Farm Park us a working farm with more than 1,000 livestock including cattle, sheep and pigs. You can feed and stroke the animals, plus there's a giant sandpit and straw maze. Open six days a week (closed Mondays), admission costs £5.50 for adults, £6 for children, £3 for under twos and under ones go free.

I is for Ingleborough Cave

A showcave in the heart of the Dales, Ingleborough Cave boasts spectacular cave formations, with artefacts dating back millions of years. The floodlit passages offer concrete paths, and the Cave is accessible for pushchairs (but not wheelchairs). Dogs can also enter on leads! Tour commence on the hour, beginning at 10am with the last tour at 4pm. Admission costs £8 for adults and £4 for children. Located in Clapham, North Yorkshire, the cave is around a two-hour drive away.

J is for Jungle Experience

Step into the glass houses to explore the Jungle Experience's botanic gardens and exotic habitats. A huge variety of plants, butterflies, fish and animals including quails and terrapins can be found across the attraction's different zones. The Jungle Experience and its accompanying Walled Garden, in Manor Heath Park, Halifax, is open seven days a week, 10am-4pm. Admission is £1 per person, with under 5s free.

K is for the Kirklees Light Railway

All aboard the Kirklees Light Railway for a scenic journey through the south Pennine foothills! The railway features six little steam engines - Hawk, Owl, Fox, Badger, Jay and Katie - and runs from Clayton West to Shelley. Visitors can ride all day for the cost of one fare.

The Shelley terminus offers a tea room and outdoor play area and picnic spot as well as a souvenir shop and cafe serving hot and cold food whenever the railway is open. Adult fares cost £7 (concessions £6), children aged 3-16 years pay £5 and children undre three go free. A family ticket, for two adults and two children, can be snapped up for £22. Click here for the railway timetable.

L is for the Leeds Donkey Sanctuary

Based in Eccup, the Leeds branch of the national Donkey Sanctuary charity offers the chance to meet its 18 donkeys and explore the centre. There's also a cafe and donkey-themed gift shop! The sanctuary is open seven days a week, 10am-3pm. Admission is free and donations welcomed.

M is for National Coal Mining Museum

Travel 150m underground one of Britain's oldest working mines and learn about the hard-working lives of miners through the ages at the National Coal Mining Museum. There's also the museum's ponies, interactive models and touch screens and original machinery from the mine. Open daily 10am-5pm, parking and admission is free.

N is for National Media Museum

With more than 8.5 million items from the world of film, television and photography, across eight interactive floors, the National Media Museum offers a fun-filled family day out.
From the development of photography to the history of videogaming and a back catalogue of televisual greats in TV Heaven, the museum's collections will amaze young minds that grew up in the Blu-ray and 3D cinema age. The free museum, based in Bradford town centre, is open daily 10am-6pm.

O is for Oakwell Hall and Country Park

Tucked away in Birstall, Oakwell Hall is a sprawling country park boasting woodland trails and lots of wide open fields for football, rounders and cricket (all three of which you'll probably see being played in summer). There's also an adventure playground and two educational visitor centres where youngsters can learn about the different wildlife that live in the park's woodlands and ponds.

An onsite cafe serves hot and cold food, drinks, cakes and ice creams - but there's plenty of space to enjoy a picnic too.

P is for Pugneys Country Park

Head to Wakefield and explore Pugneys Country Park, a 250 acre site with a watersports centre and lake. Try sailing, windsurfing, kayaking or hire a canoe, pedaloes or bikes. There's also ample picnic areas, Sandal Castle, play areas and wildlife spotting to enjoy. Parking costs £1 for up to one hour, £2.50 for up for four hours, and £4 for more than four hours.

Q is for Queensgate Market

Open six days a week and boasting more than 100 shops, teeth whitening services, beauty salons, tattoo parlours and hairdressers are nestled in among the traditional market stalls at Queensgate Market. Shoppers can pick up fresh meat and fish, fruit and veg and baked goods as well as carpets, bedding, cushions, haberdashery, books and more. The indoor market, in Princess Alexandria Walk, also features a Demonstration Zone, with cookery demos, children's crafts and other free events, as well as a free play area to keep little ones amused. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5.30pm, and Saturdays 8.30am-5.30pm.

R is for the National Railway Museum

With more than one million objects from 300 years of railway history and stunning engins including the Mallard, Replica Rocket and Japanese Shinkansen, the National Railway Museum in York also boasts Queen Victoria's favourite royal carriage, a working turntable science shows and miniature trains. Open daily 10am-6pm. Entry is free, donations welcomed.

S is for Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Known as the 'gallery without walls', this internationally renowned free attraction offers a wide range of sculptures and modern art scattered across 500 acres of 18th century parkland.
Based in the grounds of Bretton Hall, Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park also features five indoor galleries to compliment the inspiring artwork that dominates the landscape.
Entry is free but car parking charges apply: £8 for a full day, £5 for 1-2 hours and £2.50 for up to an hour.

T is for Tropical World

Based in Roundhay Park, Leeds, Tropical World is an exotic haven of fish, birds, lizards, butterflies, snakes, spiders, turtles and an adorable meerkat enclosure.
Tropical World is open 10am-6pm in summer (last admission 5.30pm). Admission costs £3.40 for adults, £2.30 for five to 15 year olds, and under 5s go free. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

U is for Uppermill

Perfect for scenic canal and riverside walks, Uppermill, nears Marsden is an area along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Enjoy a canal cruise or simply pack a picnic and enjoy the views.

V is for Lightwater Valley

Based near Ripon, Lightwater Valley has rides and attractions for all the family, as well as a falconry centre, adventure golf and a holiday village. Its signature coaster, The Ultimate, is Europe's longest and peaks at more than 100ft high. Day tickets cost £19.60 for visitors over 1m in height and £5 for under 1m. Pensioners go free. Lightwater Valley is open daily 10am-6pm.

W is for Yorkshire Wildlife Park

With a walkthrough safari, ranger talks and feeding times, play areas and shops in the Safari Village, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, has plenty to see and do on a family day out. See polar bears, lions, tigers, leopards, meerkats, zebras, ostriches, lemurs, giraffes, baboons and more. The park is open daily 10am-6pm. Adults cost £16, concessions £14 and children aged three to 15 £13. Children under two go free.

X is for Xscape

Xscape Yorkshire is more than just a day out — there's probably two or three days of fun to be head! From skiing and snowboarding in the Snozone to 4D golf, the lazer zone, a trampoline park, arcade, climbing walls and soft play park, you'll be spoilt for choice.

Y is for York Castle Museum

With an underground Victorian Street, toy museum, the stories of York Castle Prison, a swinging Sixties exhibition and a stunning interactive World War One exhibit, the York Castle Museum brings local and nationa history to life. Examiner parlours, bedrooms and kitchens of years gone buy, explore the characters of Victorian Kirkgate and meet the rogues of the prison. The museum is open daily 9.30am-5pm and tickets cost £10 for adults. Under 16s go free.

Z is for Body Zorbing

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For a different day out, try Body Zorbing with Live for Today Adventures, who have centres in Leeds and Harrogate. As can be seen in the video above, each Body Zorb covers players from the waist, leaving on their legs to compete in the games! Adult experiences cost £30, children £25 and you will need at least six people to book. The minimum age is eight. Click here for more information.