Summer holidays are coming and if you’re anything like most Harrogate parents, you’re already wondering how to keep the kids entertained without spending a fortune every single day.

Luckily, Harrogate and the surrounding areas are packed with family-friendly adventures. From splash parks and woodland walks to soft play, farm days and hidden gems, there’s plenty to fill the summer calendar.

Here are 50 things to do with kids in Harrogate this summer.

Outdoor Adventures

1. Visit the Valley Gardens paddling pool

2. Feed the ducks at Valley Gardens

3. Have a picnic on The Stray

4. Explore the woodland at Harlow Carr

5. Go bug hunting in the park

6. Visit a local flower field

7. Try a family bike ride on the Nidderdale Greenway

8. Visit Brimham Rocks and climb the giant rock formations

9. Take a walk around Fewston Reservoir

10. Go blackberry picking

11. Build dens in the woods

12. Try geocaching around Harrogate

13. Visit a local playground you’ve never tried before @follitfoot playground

14. Have an ice cream walk around Ripley

15. Go on a family nature scavenger hunt

Water Fun

16. Splash in the Valley Gardens paddling pool

17. Water balloon games in the garden

18. Visit a nearby beach for the day @saltburn beach

19. Try paddleboarding at a local lake

20. Make sponge bombs at home

21. Create a DIY car wash for toy cars and bikes

22. Run through sprinklers in the garden

Animal & Farm Days

23. Visit a local farm park @birchfieldfarm

24. Feed goats and alpacas @monkparkfarm

25. Go strawberry picking @birchfieldfarm

26. Visit a butterfly house

27. Spend the day at a petting farm

28. Try pony riding sessions

29. Visit a garden centre with fish and animal areas @harrogategardencentre

Budget Friendly Days Out

30. Visit the library summer activities @northyorkshirelibraries

31. Have a movie afternoon at home with homemade tickets

32. Do a teddy bears picnic

33. Create a summer bucket list together

34. Visit free museum days nearby @royalpumpmusuem

35. Go on a “colour walk” spotting different colours outdoors

36. Camp in the garden overnight

37. Make homemade ice lollies

38. Have a chalk drawing competition outside

39. Visit charity shops and let the kids pick a toy challenge

Rainy Day Ideas

40. Visit soft play @littlebeesharrogate

41. Try a new baby or toddler class @adventurebabies

42. Bake cakes together

43. Build a giant blanket fort

44. Create a DIY cinema day

45. Visit a family-friendly café

46. Try pottery painting @paintingpotsknaresborough

47. Make homemade playdough

48. Create a cardboard box town

49. Have a dance party afternoon

50. Let the kids plan the day completely themselves

The best thing about summer in Harrogate is that you don’t always need expensive days out to make memories. Sometimes the simplest days end up being the favourites.

Save this list for the holidays and send it to another parent who needs ideas too.