York Maze Review – an a-MAZE-ing day out

We finally made it to York Maze! I’ve seen the signs to York Maze every summer I’ve lived in York and I’ve always wanted to go. But now my son is 2 years old, I decided it was about time we booked on.

It’s a great family day out that has maize mazes, rides, shows and other attractions. York Maze has plenty to do for all the family! This post contains all you need to know about the maze so you can plan your visit to ensure you have the best day out.

Overview of York Maze

York Maze is a seasonal attraction that opens its doors every summer (and Halloween!), offering lots of fun-filled activities for visitors of all ages. Made from over 1 million maize plants, York Maze is considered the largest in Europe. Apart from the impressive maize mazes, the park also features more than 20 other attractions and shows. Despite its name, York Maze is not just about mazes. It’s a full day out with lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Getting Started

Parking at York Maze is free. There’s plenty of parking – as York Maze works on a booking system and only so many visitors can go a day, they’ll always be spaces in the car park.

As you arrive at York Maze, you’ll be welcomed by friendly staff who will give you a booklet which has a map, information and challenges for children. They will show you where to go to start your adventure.

We arrived just after 10 am which is when it opened. There was a queue to get in – just scan your QR to get in. If you don’t have your QR code, they can enter your name into the system and book you in that way.

As you enter the park, there is the option to put a wristband on your child with your details in case they get lost. It’s a great way to give you a bit of reassurance – your number is there should they get lost!

And if you’ve travelled far – there are some toilets near the entrance.

The Mazes

The Giant Maize Maze

One of the main attractions of York Maze is, of course, the giant maize maze. This colossal labyrinth is re-designed each year and presents an exciting challenge for all ages.

When you first go into the giant maze, they have a gallery that has photos of all the different mazes over the years. Last year, the maze was Lego themed – there has been a Star Wars theme and many others. This year, it’s Tutankhamun. You can see the map of it here.

Navigate the maze using your intuition and the clues provided. There are platforms that you can climb up and see over the top of the maze, each is numbered and you can see your next goal from up here. Completing the giant maize maze is a rewarding experience and a highlight of your visit to York Maze. You even get a sticker at the end.

We went to The Gaint Maze at the end of the day. It was a hot day and we were all feeling tired, so we did cheat a little bit. Rather than going through it and finding each numbered tower, we went up the first tower, then spotted the one near the exit and went straight to that. It would have been nicer to spend more time in here, as it is the main attraction, but we had so much fun doing the rest of the things we ran out of time and energy to explore the largest maze.

Finger Fortune Maze/Sunflower Maze

The Finger Fortune Maze is another unique attraction at York Maze. It requires visitors to search for five boards within the maze and colour each finger in a different colour. Following this, you can read your ‘fortune’ based on the colour combination. It’s a fun and interactive activity that adds a touch of mystery to your visit.

This maze was shaped like a sunflower and was full of sunflowers! It was so pretty!

Jurassic Maize

The Jurassic Maize it’s a smaller maze that has all your favourite and biggest dinosaurs to ever roam the earth. As you explore the prehistoric maze, you come across different dinosaurs complete with information about each one.

Maze of Illusions

You won’t believe your eyes in the maze of illusions! This is another mini-maze. It’s full of optical illusions, disorientating mirrors and puzzles to get your mind working! This one is a lot of fun for all the family.

Mineshaft Maze

This corn maze is a 3D labyrinth of crawl tunnels, bridges and overhead walkways. It’s great for kids to walk around under the crawl spaces, but if you don’t fancy getting on your hands and knees, you can just explore the overhead walkways.

Musical Maze

This interactive maze has lots of instruments for you to explore. There are drums, xylophones, tubular bells and more to play with as you walk around the maze. This is really good for little kids who love making noise!

Exploring the Attractions

York Maze as many other mazes and attractions. Here’s what we saw.

House of Cornfusion

The House of Cornfusion is one of the favourite attractions at York Maze. It’s an indoor activity filled with various optical illusions, creating a unique and entertaining experience. From spinning rooms and a hall of mirrors to tilting floors, the House of Cornfusion is bound to leave you amazed and laughing.

Cobstacle Course

The Cobstacle Course is another popular attraction at York Maze. This giant inflatable obstacle course allows two people to race simultaneously. It provides a fun physical challenge and is particularly popular among children. My niece and nephew had so much fun on this.

This attraction is undercover.

Corn Snake Slides

For those who love a bit of adrenaline rush, the Corn Snake Slides are a perfect choice. These slides, available in different sizes and styles, offer a thrilling experience. Whether it’s the wavy slide, the bumpy slide, or the drop slide, each one promises a fun time.

We spent a lot of time here. I went with my niece and nephew who were 8 – they loved these slides. My son was too young, but he enjoyed watching the kids slide out of the bottom. He was laughing and trying to get high-fives and fist bumps.

This attraction is undercover.

Crowmania Ride

The Crowmania ride is an exceptional experience that shouldn’t be missed. I think this was one of my favourite attractions. I thought it was just a tractor ride but it’s a full performance. It’s a 20-minute tractor ride that combines a fun journey with an engaging story, told by a guide who joins you on the ride. Expect plenty of audience participation, laughter, and a chance to get a little wet!

The guide, Ella, was fantastic. She was so engaging and all the live actors on the way around were brilliant. There were corny jokes – literally, jokes full of corn and crow puns! A few jokes for the adults, too.

The Volcorno

The Volcorno is a 360-degree, 4-meter-tall volcano climb with a slide at the top.

It’s managed really well and ran in sessions. Children have to queue up and only so many can go on at once. When their turn is over, they have to exit the ride and then the next set of children go. This prevents too many children from getting on at once.

COBsleigh Run

Scale the Mattercorn then climb into your Cobsleigh and race down. Even I had a go at this one! There’s a bridge over the slide so you can watch others go down.

It’s single riders only, so you can’t take younger children. Sadly, this is another one that my son couldn’t go on.

Popcorn Pillow

The Popcorn Pillow is a bouncy pillow to bounce on. It’s another attraction that is run in sessions so children can bounce safely. There’s a smaller queue for toddlers under a certain height so they can have a go on their own so it’s safer for them, then the older kids can bounce their hearts out when it’s their turn.

The jumping pillow is undercover, so it’s a good break from the sun or the rain!

COBweb Climbing Zone

The COBweb climbing zone features climbing balance beams, cargo nets, pendulum swings and other climbing adventures for older children.

Cornstruction Zone

This is a giant sand and water pit featuring cranes, water pumps and pulleys. There’s also a climbing frame, slide and seesaws in this area. It’s near the cafe, too so you can sit with a drink and watch your children play.

There’s a foot wash to wash all the sand off after.

The Cornwall

This climbing wall lets children scale the cliff face from one side to the other. It’s a great little adventure for children!

Corn on the Club Crazy Golf

Enjoy crazy golf? You’ll love this one. The goal clubs are even shaped like cobs! There’s 9 cornfusing holes each with maize themed cobstacles – some of them are tricky so get ready for a challenge!

Corn on The Quad

These are coin operated – but you can pay by contactless. There’s also room for two so you can go on with a younger child. Again, this is run in sessions of 5 quads at once. Race around the track and see who is the fastest!

A charge of £1.00 per ride.

Remote Corntrol Boats

Control these boats around the lake, with obstacles to watch out for!

A charge of £1.00 per go.

Cornholing

Cornholing is popular in America and you can play it at York Maze. Toss your con bag into the hole on the corn board. We had a lot of fun playing this. My toddler loved grabbing the corn bags and bringing them back after we tossed them!

Cornula 1

This is a wacky race that lets you see four cars speed down the straight. Pick a side, cheer loud and see who wins! This race takes place at 11am, 1pm & 3pm

We didn’t get chance to see this – there’s just too much to do, we didn’t get to do it all.

Crazy Maze Show

This takes place in the Show Marquee – it’s a 20-minute show full of fun and laughter. It’s one of the other things we didn’t get to do!

Shows at 12 pm, 2 pm & 4 pm daily.

Cornival & Foam Party 5.15 pm

At 5.15 pm every day, join our Maze Mascots Kernel Kernel, Sweetie Corn and Russell Crow for 30 minutes of interactive fun, games and dancing with a fab foam finale. We left early though so didn’t get to go to the York Maze foam party.

Utter Cornage!

Get wet on this bucket-tipping attraction, you have to fill your opponent’s bucket and see who gets wet first! It’s great for children who love water play.

Angry Crows

This is another water attraction where you have to aim and hit your opponent’s target with water bombs!

Food and Refreshments

When it’s time for a meal, York Maze there’s, the food court offers a range of meals typical for this type of attraction, such as chips, burgers, pizza and chilli.

The park also features a coffee shop and cafe, serving sandwiches, cakes, and more.

There is also a refreshment stand near Crowmania, which is on the far side of York Maze that sells drinks, ice creams and snacks. So you are never too far away from a cafe if you get thirsty or hungry.

We ate at the food bar, I got a pizza, my husband had a chicken burger, and my mum had chilli – there were also kids’ meals for the little ones. The food was pretty standard and what you would expect form an attraction like this. Not amazing but not terrible.

There are plenty of picnic benches around the site and you can bring your own picnic if you prefer.

Please note that York Maze is a cashless site, so ensure you have your card or other digital payment methods available.

Halloween Events: Hallowscream and Hallowtween

York Maze is not just a summer attraction. It also hosts special Halloween events that are sure to send chills down your spine. The ‘Hallowscream’ event is designed for those aged 14 and above, offering a truly terrifying experience. For younger visitors, the ‘Hallowtween’ event provides a less intense but equally thrilling Halloween experience. These events offer a unique twist to the York Maze experience and are highly recommended.

Wrapping Up Your Day

As your day at York Maze comes to a close, don’t forget to stop by the gift shop. It sells toys, clothing and home decor items. It’s the perfect place to pick up a souvenir to remember your fantastic day at York Maze.

Our Verdict

We had a fantastic day at York Maze. I can’t believe how much there is to do here! The staff are so friendly and it really is a full day out.

We loved the Crowmania ride and can’t wait to go back again!

What age is York Maze good for?

York Maze was amazing for my 8-year-old niece and nephew – there was probably the perfect age for it! My son, who is two-and-a-half did have a lot of fun but there were lots of things he couldn’t go on.

I would advise against going if you are just going with a child under 3, but if you have older children, a younger sibling would still have fun. My toddler did have fun but he was unable to go on quite a few of the rides. It would have been better if an adult could take a younger child on some of them.

Under 3’s are free, though!

Information:

Address: Elvington Lane, York, YO19 5LT

Dates open: Saturday 15th July – Monday 4th September 2023

Prices:
Advance Flexible Tickets £21.50
Early Bird Discount Tickets £18.50
On The Day Tickets £24.50

Opening times: 10 am – 6:30 pm every day.

Top Tips for Visiting

1. Wear suitable footwear and comfortable clothes. The park is mostly outdoors and the conditions can be muddy if it has rained recently.
2. Arrive early. The park can get busy, especially during peak times. Arriving early ensures that you can make the most of your day.
3. Plan your visit. With so many attractions to experience, it’s a good idea to plan your day to ensure you don’t miss out on anything.
4. Bring a change of clothes. Some of the activities, like the Crowmania ride, can leave you a bit wet.
5. Bring a picnic. There are plenty of picnic tables – so you can save money on food this way.
6. Bring plenty of drinks! The drinks are quite expensive (£1.75 for a bottle of water) so bring plenty of drinks to last you all day to avoid unnecessary spending.

York Maze is a fantastic destination for families seeking a fun and engaging day out. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to the United Kingdom, make sure to add York Maze to your itinerary. People come far and wide to visit the maze! You won’t be disappointed. We had an excellent day and can’t wait to go again next year.

Hope you found this York Maze Review helpful! Let me know if you have been before.

Looking for more things to do with the kids? Check out this list of things to do with kids in Yorkshire.