Quick answer
Ryedale’s free family days out are all outdoors: two English Heritage ruins with free entry, Dalby Forest if you arrive car-free, and a walled garden where under 16s go free. Kirkham Priory and Wharram Percy, both near Malton, charge no entry and open in daylight hours. Wharram Percy charges non-members £2 to park. Dalby Forest, north of Pickering, is free to enter car-free, but drivers pay for parking. Helmsley Walled Garden is free for under 16s and for carers accompanying a disabled person, but other adults pay. It closes for winter on Sunday 20 December 2026. Pick a dry day for the ruins and forest trails.
Free English Heritage ruins near Malton
- Kirkham Priory, Kirkham: a ruined priory by the River Derwent, about 5 miles south-west of Malton. Entry is free, and English Heritage says it is open any reasonable daylight hours. On 13 November 2026, its calendar showed that on every date we checked to 10 January 2027, Christmas Day included. There is plenty of space to run, and the carved gatehouse shows St George and the Dragon. Safety first: the access page lists deep water close by in the River Derwent and a one metre drop at the edge of the site. It also lists smaller drops and low walls in the ruins, and steep steps from the cloister to the refectory. Grass can be slippery when wet. Parking is free for about 50 vehicles outside the gate, but it is not managed by English Heritage. There are no allocated disabled spaces. The official pages do not mention toilets or a café, so bring a picnic. Pushchairs are allowed, but expect rough grass and slopes.
- Wharram Percy, near Wharram-le-Street: a deserted medieval village about 6 miles south-east of Malton. Look for the ruined church, the millpond and the outlines of lost houses. Entry is free, and English Heritage says it is open any reasonable time during daylight hours. Its calendar showed the same on every date we checked to 10 January 2027, Christmas Day included. Parking costs £2 for non-members, payable by text. It is free for members with a valid car sticker on display. The catch is the walk: about ¾ mile from the car park on an uneven track, steep in places and muddy in parts. English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies, and sturdy, waterproof footwear is required. Farm livestock is likely on the site and the path. Keep children close by the millpond. The official pages mention no toilets or café.
Dalby Forest: free if you arrive without a car
- Dalby Forest, near Thornton-le-Dale: a Forestry England forest north of Pickering. Forestry England says it is free to enter if you arrive car-free, by public transport or bike. There are no public transport links directly to the forest. The nearest bus stop is 1 mile away, on the Coastliner service. Drivers pay for parking: £3.50 for up to 1 hour, rising to £15.00 over 4 hours. Members park free, and Blue Badge holders pay the normal charge. The forest is open 8am to 8pm every day. The visitor centre opens 9am to 4pm from 1 November to 28 February. It closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and opens 9am to 12pm on Christmas Eve.
- Free once you are there: the Grandfather Oak play area beside the visitor centre has a toddler play zone. The Gruffalo sculptures stand near the Adderstone play area, on a walk Forestry England grades as easy. The Ellerburn trail is the pushchair route.
- Costs extra: the Gruffalo orienteering map is £1.50, and the Room on the Broom Christmas trail pack is £4. The orienteering trail is not suitable for pushchairs. On 13 November 2026, Go Ape’s Dalby page said it was closed for winter until 6 February 2027.
- Good to know: there are toilets around the forest, some portable, plus baby changing. There is no sheltered seating out in the forest, so pack warm layers.
Free for children: Helmsley Walled Garden
- Helmsley Walled Garden, Helmsley: a five acre walled garden below Helmsley Castle, with a Labyrinth, a Secret Garden and chickens. The visit page lists free entry for under 16s and carers. Carers accompanying a disabled person do not need a ticket. A standard adult day ticket is £14.00, sold only at the admission kiosk on the day. It opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It closes for winter on Sunday 20 December 2026 and reopens in March 2027, with no exact date given. The event page lists free entry for everyone on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December 2026.
- Good to know: the garden is almost completely step free. The home page mentions a children’s play area that closes at 4pm. There is a pond by the chickens and a wildlife pond. The pages do not say whether they are fenced, so keep toddlers close. You can use the Vine House Café without paying garden entry. There is no public parking at the garden. The council’s Cleveland Way car park, about 150m away, charges from 9am to 6.30pm daily. Pay on arrival and enter your registration. The council says Blue Badge holders park free for up to 24 hours, with the badge clearly displayed. The garden’s older access page says they are charged.
Plan your visit: money-saving tips
- Budget for parking. Dalby Forest, Wharram Percy and the Helmsley car park all charge drivers. Kirkham’s parking is listed as free.
- Pack a picnic and use the loo first. The official pages mention no toilets or café at Kirkham Priory or Wharram Percy.
- Leave the buggy for Wharram Percy. Bring a baby carrier instead, which is our own suggestion, and boots for the muddy walk.
- Go early in winter. Kirkham and Wharram Percy open in daylight hours only, and the walled garden’s last entry is 3pm.
Frequently asked questions
What can kids do for free in Ryedale?
Kirkham Priory and Wharram Percy have free entry, though Wharram Percy charges non-members £2 to park. Dalby Forest is free if you arrive car-free. Under 16s go free at Helmsley Walled Garden until it closes on 20 December 2026.
Is Dalby Forest free?
Forestry England says it is free to enter if you arrive car-free. By car, parking costs £3.50 for up to 1 hour, rising to £15.00 over 4 hours. Members park free.
Are Kirkham Priory and Wharram Percy open over Christmas?
On 13 November 2026, the English Heritage calendar showed both open in daylight hours on every date we checked to 10 January 2027. That included Christmas Day.
Can you take a pushchair to Wharram Percy?
English Heritage says the site is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. The walk from the car park is about ¾ mile, steep in places and muddy in parts.
Is Helmsley Walled Garden free for children?
Yes. The visit page lists free entry for under 16s, and for carers accompanying a disabled person. Other adults pay £14.00 at the kiosk on the day, and the garden is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Ryedale venue pages, each checked on 13 November 2026. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Photo: Poliphilo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).