Terrys Chocolate Orange

The story of how an orange got wrapped in chocolate is surprisingly compelling, and Terry's has made sure you can follow every step of it in York. This is a working factory tour dressed up as a gallery - you'll see the actual production line where those famous chocolate oranges get made, which is oddly mesmerising to watch. The smell alone is worth the visit.

It's genuinely interesting for families with children old enough to appreciate manufacturing (so realistically, ages seven upwards), though the gift shop will test your willpower and your wallet. History buffs get a kick out of the Victorian entrepreneurial story - Terry's was a proper family business that built York's reputation for chocolate. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do the factory tour properly and poke around the small museum section without rushing.

Families staying at Nurseries Caravan Park or Wagtail Park will find this a solid rainy-day option or a change of pace from the usual park activities. It's close enough to York that you could combine it with the city centre without too much faff. Whether you actually need to visit depends on your tolerance for chocolate-themed tourism - some people find it essential, others think it's a bit much for what is essentially a sweet factory. The tour adds genuine value though. It costs money to get in and do the factory experience (expect around fifteen to twenty quid per adult), but there's no entry fee just to wander the small exhibition space and gift shop.