Spring View Farm

Spring View Farm sits just outside York and does exactly what it says on the tin - it's a working farm with animals you can actually get close to. No pretentious enclosures or distance-viewing setups here. You'll see sheep, goats, pigs, and various poultry wandering about, and if you time it right, the staff let you help with feeding and handling. It's hands-on stuff, the kind of thing that keeps kids occupied for a solid couple of hours without them asking "are we done yet?"

Families with younger children will get the most from a visit. Toddlers go mad for the hands-on animal contact, and there's something deeply satisfying about a five-year-old successfully feeding a goat without dropping the pellets everywhere. Older kids might find it a bit basic after an hour, depending on their patience for farm life.

It's worth building this into a longer day around York rather than making it your sole destination. The nearby Hideaway at Baxby Manor - just under two miles away - makes a brilliant base if you're planning a few days in the area. You can pop into York itself for the cathedral and medieval streets, then use Spring View as a palate-cleanser for the afternoon. Ravensdale Glamping Retreats, five miles out, works too if you want something a touch more upmarket.

Contact them first to check current opening times and whether there's an admission charge - farm operations change seasonally, and you don't want a wasted trip.