SPARK York

What it’s like

A free-to-enter community space in York with a mud kitchen play corner, food traders and long opening hours.

There's no entry fee here, which makes it an easy one to fold into a wider day in York. The actual kid-focused bit is a play area with a mud kitchen and free activity books, so it's not a soft play or an attraction with a big centrepiece, more somewhere your children can potter about while you get a coffee and a proper sit down.

That's the trade-off worth knowing before you go: this is built around food, drink and community events first, with the play area as a nice addition rather than the main event. Nine independent food traders and four bars mean there's plenty of choice, with coffee and pastries from opening and the main menu kicking in from midday (11am on Saturdays). If you've got a toddler who needs feeding early, that gap before midday is worth planning around.

Hours are generous. Tuesday to Thursday it's open 8am to 10.30pm, Friday until 11pm, and it's closed on Mondays outside the summer months, when it opens then too. Saturday starts later at 11am and runs to 11pm, Sunday is 9am to 9pm. That late finish means it can double as a grown-up spot in the evening once the kids are in bed, but for a family visit you'd realistically be there earlier in the day.

There's no booking needed for a normal family visit, you just turn up. Wheelchair access is properly sorted, with a lift, ramp entrance and accessible loos, and well-behaved dogs are welcome too, dog bowls included. It sits a minute's walk from Coppergate Centre car park if you're driving, and it's close to the train station and several bus routes if you're not.

Facilities

Need to know

Booking

Walk-ups welcome. Large groups should give notice in advance

Parking

No on-site parking. Nearest is Coppergate Centre Car Park (1 minute walk)

Food

Nine independent food traders and four bars

Wheelchairs

Fully wheelchair accessible with accessible loos, accessible seating, wheelchair lift and ramp entrance

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs welcomed, including in co-working space

Getting there by bus or train

York train station nearby. Numerous bus stops served by First Bus, Arriva, East Yorkshire, York & Country/Coastliner and Connexions

• The main food menu doesn't start until 12pm (11am Saturdays), so early visits mean coffee and pastries only
• It's closed on Mondays except during summer
• Large groups should give the team a heads up rather than expecting a formal booking system
• It's as much a co-working and events space as a family spot, so don't expect a dedicated kids' attraction

Plan your visit

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