Stuck for interesting activities to keep the kids entertained? Luckily for you, Leeds has all you need…
Leeds is perfect for a family day out. Whether it be museums rich with history and culture, pottery studios that inspire creativity, or farm animals that are begging to be stroked, you’re certainly not short of things to do with the kids in Leeds. So, when you’re next looking for weekend activities or school holiday sanctuaries, get yourself down to enjoy the wonders this city has to offer.
Explore ancient relics and natural wonders
Leeds City Museum has definitely earned its place in this list. Spanning four floors, you won’t be short of things to discover here, from the history of the city to the pyramids of Egypt. Take a trip back in time with the Ancient Worlds Gallery, where you’ll find Nesyamun, the 3,000-year-old mummy.
Or, if nature’s more your little one’s style, the Life on Earth gallery houses over 800,000 creatures, centuries-old fossils and extinct animal bones!
Where? Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8BH.
How much? Admission is on a Give What You Can basis.
Take a trip to see feline friends
Would you believe it, Leeds boasts very its own Kitty Cafe, which is the purr-fect place to go with your kids? You can bring the family to rub shoulders with these kitties while enjoying a bite to eat – choose from child-friendly dishes like jacket potatoes and pizzas.
While you wait, your little ones can play with the cats to their heart’s content, as the cafe provides toys and treats to help you entice them over.
Where? Kitty Cafe, 8-9 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6BZ.
How much? The cafe includes a welfare charge of £8 for adults and £6 for children.
Race to the top of multi-coloured climbing walls
If you want to safely introduce the kids to climbing, Clip ‘n Climb is one of the best places for families in Leeds. They offer a clip-on safety system, specially designed grips and dazzlingly coloured walls so you can rest assured the little ones are in good hands.
Reach new heights with 32 unique climbing routes to choose from. And once you’ve all worked up an appetite, nip their on-site Woodpeckers Diner to enjoy a child-friendly bite to eat.
Where? Clip ’n Climb, Unit 3, Tristram Centre, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 6BF.
How much? £16 for adults and kids, and £13.50 for toddlers. Spectators go free.
Paint your own pottery
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If your kids have an artistic touch, Jackrabbits Pottery is one of the best days out in Leeds. Sheltered from the temperamental British weather with a calm and inviting atmosphere, Jackrabbits is a paint-your-own pottery studio where you can all get creative.
You’ll be invited to choose from a range of over 130 pieces, including piggy banks, mugs and animals, so you can paint your finest creations. Are you ready to have your very own Van Gogh?
Where? Jackrabbits Pottery, 633A Roundhay Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 4BA.
How much? Price depends on the piece of pottery you choose, ranging from £10 to £45.
Visit a city farm
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Farm and urban are two words you probably never expected to hear together, but Meanwood Valley Urban Farm does just that. Say hello to cows, alpacas, rabbits and even turtles on this city farm, which occupies 26 acres of land.
They provide a range of interactive outdoor activities for children, with regular classes including Silverwood Adventures, where your little ones can explore a safe and secure woodland area.
Where? Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Sugar Well Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 2QG.
How much? £3 for adults, 50p for kids. Under 2s go free.
Reach for the stars at this trampoline park
If you want one of the best children’s activities in Leeds to wear your kids out, Gravity Trampoline Park is the place to go. Their open jump sessions are perfect, allowing you to jump, bounce and dance your way across the park for one or two hours.
They even offer an aptly named Ultimate Wipeout session, where you can go head-to-head with members of your party to be the last one standing – warning, it might get a little competitive!
Where? Gravity UK, Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2DG.
How much? From £15 for a one-hour open jump session or £4.25 per person for parent and toddler sessions.
Explore a children’s role play village
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If you’re stuck for things to do with the kids in Leeds, run, don’t walk, to The Hidden Village. The indoor activity centre offers soft play with a twist – it’s a miniature children’s town, complete with a cafe for a bite to eat and a boutique toy store to keep the fun going at home.
They run child-led play sessions each day, where your little one could be tending to animals at the vets, cooking up a storm at the courtyard cafe, or checking items at the grocery store.
Where? The Hidden Village, 44 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DT.
How much? From £9.95 for 1 adult & 1 child (12m+) or £6.95 for 1 adult & 1 baby (3-11 months) on weekday sessions.
Get to grips with your Leeds history
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Did you know that Leeds has a rich industrial heritage? Well, it does, and Leeds Industrial Museum is bursting with exhibitions for your kids to explore. Housed in what was once the largest woollen mill in the world, you’ll be amazed at what there is to find.
Whether it be catching a show at one of the smallest 1920s cinemas in the world or perusing a collection of steam engines, this is one of the best things to do in Leeds with kids.
Where? Leeds Industrial Museum, Canal Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 2QF.
How much? £6.40 for adults and £3.50 for kids. Under 3s go free.
Visit the tropics in Roundhay
A tropical paradise in the middle of a 700-acre park? Yes, please. Roundhay Park is one of the best places to go with kids in Leeds – with woodlands, lakes, tennis courts and bowling greens, there’s a reason why this is Leeds’ most popular park.
But that’s not the only reason to go. It also houses Tropical World, where you can discover exotic animals, such as meerkats, marmosets and all the creepy-crawlies you can tolerate!
Where? Tropical World, Princes Avenue, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2ER.
How much? £9.50 for adults and £5.50 for kids (3-15 years). Under 3s go free.
Play on vintage arcade machines
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Arcade Club is a haven for your game-crazy kids – just get a ticket at the door and you’ll have unlimited access to Europe’s largest video arcade! With a wall-to-wall collection of games that spans three floors, Arcade Club offers a trip back in time with much-loved games from the 70s, 80s and 90s alike.
Introduce the kids to classics like Pac-Man or stick to the 21st century with their virtual reality sets – you’ll have a blast whatever you choose.
Where? Arcade Club, Abbey Retail Park, Savins Mill Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3RP.
How much? £18 for adults, £10 for kids (under 16).
Go wild at this adventure park
Want to tire out the kids ready for an early bed time? Well, you’re in luck, because Go Ape offers a thrill like no other. The whole family can tackle their awe-inspiring aerial adventure course, and with a host of zip-lines and tree-to-tree crossings, your heart is sure to be racing.
When you’re done, slip off your harness and roam the grounds of Temple Newsam. If you’re wanting a variety of things to do with kids in Leeds, then this is the place.
Where? Go Ape, Temple Newsam, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 0AD.
How much? From £20.95 for Treetop Adventure bookings.
Discover the history of medicine
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Not for the faint-hearted, Thackray Museum of Medicine dives into the history of medicine with all of its gory tales and horrible histories. If you’re brave enough, take a trip down the streets of Victorian Leeds to a 19th-century operating theatre – be sure to watch through your fingers!
It isn’t all gore, though, as they provide child-friendly exhibitions so your little ones can learn a thing or two about medical history, from plagues to pregnancy.
Where? Thackray Museum of Medicine, 141 Beckett Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 7LN.
How much? Recommended price is £12, with lower cost £9 tickets available. Kids 6 and under go free.
Enjoy a bite by an ancient relic
What’s better on a hot, summer’s day than a picnic in the park? A picnic in the park by one of the finest medieval Cistercian abbeys in the country, of course. Kirkstall Abbey offers the perfect backdrop to tuck into your lunch before you step in to explore the remains up close.
Situated by the River Aire and surrounded by 24 hectares of land, there’s no better place to enjoy a leisurely stroll as your kids explore the grounds and burn off some energy.
Where? Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3EH.
How much? Admission is on a Give What You Can basis.
Be a farmer for a day
Want things to do with the kids in Leeds? The family-run Swithens Farm and Playbarn has a whole host of animals to meet, as well as a fun-packed play area! There are classic farmyard faces such as cows, sheep and pigs, and in the last few years, they’ve even introduced llamas, alpacas, meerkats and more.
They offer a hands-on experience, so your children can feed the animals and learn how to care for them on a real, working farm.
Where? Swithens Barn and Playbarn, Swithens Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS26 0BT.
How much? Farm park entry is £11.57 for adults and kids. 1s and under go free. Play barn admission is £3.16 per child.
Take a scenic ramble at Otley Chevin
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A visit to Otley Chevin and you’ll find out why they call Yorkshire God’s Own County. Overlooking the market town of Otley, the Chevin Forest Park is a designated nature reserve made up of 700 acres of land for the kids to roam (it’s great for dogs, too!).
Try Surprise View walk and be rewarded with views of the valley, or take the path untrodden and discover hidden trails. If you’re wanting a day out with the kids in Leeds, this is the place.
Where? Chevin Forest Park, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS21 3DD.
How much? Free.
Transport yourself back in time
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A hidden treat in Leeds, Abbey House Museum will transport your kids back to the 19th century with its carefully-curated Victorian high street. Complete with a traditional drinking house and an old-fashioned high street, you can discover Victorian Leeds first-hand.
Upstairs features the Childhood Galleries, which is packed with nostalgic games and memorabilia spanning decades. They even have a collection of original penny slot machines!
Where? Abbey House Museum, Abbey Walk, Abbey Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3EH.
How much? £7.35 for adults and £3.60 for kids. Under 3s go free.
Be prepared for take off at Leeds Bradford Airport
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The MultiFlight Cafe Bar at Leeds Bradford Airport provides the perfect location for all your plane watching needs! So if you’ve got little pilots in your brood, this is the perfect place to go, so take a seat and enjoy fresh homemade food.
Meals range from a full English to homemade quiche – there’s a also a menu designed with little ones in mind. Open seven days a week, MultiFlight really gives you a front seat to all the action.
Where? MultiFlight Cafe Bar, Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS19 7UG.
How much? Price depends on what you order. Parking is £2.50 per hour, with the first 20 minutes free.
Be up to your eyes in books
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A visit to the Central Library is one of the best things to do with kids in Leeds. Tucked inside a beautiful Grade II-listed building which opened in 1884, you can choose from a collection of over 250,000 books, journals and newspapers to get lost in.
Love music? The Music Library is the place to go, with sheet music spanning all genres. It isn’t all education though – take a wander through to the Tiled Hall Cafe for some cake and a drink!
Where? Leeds Central Library, Calverley Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3AB.
How much? Free.
Ride down to Leeds Dock with the Water Taxi
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The Leeds Water Taxi is a cheap and easy answer to your kid’s boredom. For just £3, you can hop on and venture from Granary Wharf to Leeds Dock, or if you prefer, do the journey in reverse – and children under five ride for free!
The two boats, Twee and Drie, have come all the way from Amsterdam to serve the people of Leeds. And with their canary yellow paintwork, they’re hard to miss. Did we mention they’re dog-friendly?
Where? Granary Wharf, 20 Wharf Approach, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5WA.
How much? £3 per person, per journey. Under 5s go free.
Make a great escape
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Want an intense experience like no other? Escape Hunt Leeds is just the destination. Let your kids take the wheel as you battle to complete high-pressure missions. You’ll have to work together as a family and complete the puzzle in less than 60 minutes.
Will you beat the clock and make your great escape? With five different themed rooms to choose from, ranging from Alice in Wonderland to pirates, you might have to plan a return visit.
Where? Escape Hunt, The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8TL.
How much? Prices vary based on escape room but are typically aroun d£30 per person for two players, £27 per person for three players, and £23 per person for four players.
Take an alpaca for a walk
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Moss Carr Farm offers a taste of South America in Leeds with their Treeside Alpacas experience. The definition of hands-on, they give you the opportunity to take an alpaca on a guided gander as you explore the grounds of the estate.
After, you can take a trip out into the Yorkshire woodlands with your furry friends whilst taking in the views of the countryside. This will make for a great day out for all alpaca lovers!
Where? Treeside Alpacas, Moss Carr Farm, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS26 9DW.
How much? £25 for 1 adult with 1 alpaca, £20 for 1 child (8-15 years) with 1 alpaca, £30 for 1 adult & 1 child (4-7 years) sharing 1 alpaca. Note, under 4s cannot be accommodated.
Visit the magnificent Stockeld Park
Stockeld Park truly has something for everyone and it’s one of the best places to find children’s activities in Leeds. From live theatre and indoor soft-play to a roller-skating rink and go-karting track, they run a host of rotating events throughout the school holidays, too.
What’s more, they’re home to one of Europe’s largest indoor playgrounds, the Playhive. Jam-packed with all-weather family-friendly activities, there’s no question you’ll have a great time here.
Where? Stockeld Park, Wetherby Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS22 4AN.
How much? Prices vary by time and activity, with all-day weekend entry in winter costing £10 per person.
Learn more about ancient histories
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The Royal Armouries is the place to be for history buffs, and is a favourite for things to do in Leeds with kids – admission is free, too! Bring your books to life as you observe their range of over 8,500 objects, from the armour of Henry VIII to tusk swords from the 16th century.
They even put on daily shows, where you can see their expert team act out interpretations of events from history, whether it be the Battle of Towton or the Somme.
Where? Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1LT.
How much? Free.
Feel like lord and lady at Lotherton Hall
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With its elegant pastures and stately feel, Lotherton Hall will transport you to another century. Its Regency-era chapel will have you awe-inspired as you bask in the magnificence of its build – or, for the kids, maybe their on-site zoo, Wildlife World?
Home to an array of animals, from penguins to capybaras, you can attend scheduled feedings. After you’re done, the adventure playground is the perfect place for the kids to burn off some energy.
Where? Lotherton Hall, Off Collier Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS25 3EB.
How much? From £10.50 for adults and £6.25 for kids when booked online. Under 3s go free.
