York Barbican
BEST FOR
Ages 7+
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A big indoor stage for touring family shows, from orchestral film concerts to comedy and dance.
This is a proper concert hall setup rather than a soft play or a farm, so what you're getting is a seat, a stage and whatever's touring. Right now that includes a 20th anniversary Avatar: The Last Airbender show with a live orchestra playing along to the visuals, which is the sort of thing a ten-year-old who's watched the whole series on repeat will remember for months. Beyond that one-off, the venue runs family shows across music, dance, comedy and film, so it's worth seeing what's actually on before you commit to a date rather than assuming there's always something age-seven-friendly.
Speaking of age seven, that's the floor here. This isn't a venue that pretends toddlers will sit through two hours of orchestral scoring, and it's honest about that from the ages listed. If you've got a mix of ages in the family, this is one for the older ones while a younger sibling does something else.
It's a fully accessible building, which matters for a venue this size, and getting there without a car is straightforward. York Station is a fifteen minute walk or there's a bus from the station taking ten to fifteen minutes, useful if you're combining the show with a day in the city rather than driving in and out.
If you are driving, parking needs a bit of thought. Q-Park Barbican is a minute's walk and £7.50 for six hours if you book ahead, but the cheaper options like Peel Street or St Georges Field only kick in from 6pm, so an afternoon show won't catch those rates. Booking ahead is available for the shows themselves, and given how specific some of these events are, that's not one to leave to chance.
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 7 and up, built around specific touring shows
- Parking
- Q-Park Barbican (1 min walk) £7.50 for 6 hours pre-booked
- Wheelchairs
- Fully accessible venue
- Getting there by bus or train
- York Station is a 15 minute walk
- Minimum age is seven, so it's not one for younger siblings
- The cheaper street parking rates only apply from 6pm, no good for afternoon shows
- What's on rotates across music, dance, comedy and film, so check the specific show suits your child's age before booking
Plan your visit
What age is this suitable for?
Seven and up. It's not aimed at younger children.
Do we need to book?
Yes, there's a booking link for shows and given how specific some events are, like the Avatar concert, they're not the sort of thing to leave until the day.
Is there parking nearby?
Q-Park Barbican is a minute's walk, £7.50 for six hours if you pre-book. The cheaper evening car parks like Peel Street only start from 6pm, so they won't help for a matinee.
Can we get there without driving?
York Station is about a fifteen minute walk, or there's a bus from the station taking ten to fifteen minutes.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
It's listed as a fully accessible venue.
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