Whether you’re hunting for action-packed outdoor adventures or budget-friendly rainy day culture, these are the best summer holiday activities in Leeds for families.
The school summer holidays are the perfect time to explore everything West Yorkshire has to offer. This year, Leeds is hosting an incredible line-up of family-friendly events, immersive museum exhibitions, and outdoor trails designed to keep kids of all ages entertained.
To help you plan your break, we’ve brought together a curated guide to the most engaging, varied and budget-friendly activities running across the city this summer.
Looking for more inspiration? Here is our guide to 50 family days out in Leeds.
Quick picks: Best summer holiday activities in Leeds
Royal Armouries: Mongolian Horse Shows and Genghis Khan Exhibition
Credit: Royal Armouries
This summer, the Royal Armouries’ famous dockside tiltyard swaps jousting knights for Mongolian horsemen as daily live horse shows bring the story of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire to life. The performances accompany the museum’s major new exhibition, Genghis Khan: How the Mongols Changed the World, which features rare artefacts never before seen in the UK.
Alongside the special exhibition, families can explore five floors of arms, armour and interactive galleries. This combination of world-class history and live action makes it one of the most affordable family days out in Leeds city centre.
Why families love it: The live horse shows add real excitement to a museum visit and help bring centuries of history vividly to life.
When: Throughout the summer holidays, with horse shows taking place twice daily.
Where: Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1LT.
Cost: General admission and horse shows are free. Exhibition tickets start from £7 for adults. Children under 16 visit the exhibition free with a paying adult.
Summer Holiday Activities at Harewood House
Credit: Harewood House
Harewood’s summer programme puts performance centre stage with outdoor play zones, family challenges, creative activities and woodland adventures across the estate. Children can take to the stage at the Curtains Up! outdoor play area, learn circus skills, tackle den-building challenges and explore magical play areas hidden among the trees.
Inside the historic house, families can follow the Spot Simba the Pug trail, discover the art of photograph conservation and enjoy the colourful Cecil Beaton exhibition. Special events throughout the holidays include visits from Tibetan monks, holiday clubs, sensory sessions for younger children and hands-on conservation activities.
Why families love it: Few Yorkshire attractions combine historic interiors, huge outdoor play areas, woodland adventures and family activities so successfully.
When: Saturday 18th July to Sunday 6th September 2026.
Where: Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9LG.
Cost: Adult tickets from £24.50 when booked online. Children’s tickets from £10. Free for under fours.
Summer of Sculpture at Leeds Art Gallery
Credit: Rob Battersby
Leeds Art Gallery’s Summer of Sculpture brings together three fascinating exhibitions that encourage visitors to look at art in different ways. Families can discover Garth Evans’ playful Anti-Virus Sculptures, explore the abstract forms of celebrated artist Jean Arp and experience Hannah Catherine Jones’ immersive installation combining sculpture, sound and light.
Children are actively encouraged to engage with the artwork throughout the spaces. Meanwhile, the gallery’s spacious layout makes it easy for parents to explore the collections at their own pace.
Why families love it: The exhibitions are visually striking and accessible, making contemporary sculpture feel far less intimidating than many parents expect.
When: Various dates between May and October 2026.
Where: Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3AA.
Cost: Free, with donations welcomed.
Summer Playscheme at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Credit: Natasha Cadman
Children can swap screens for outdoor adventures at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm’s popular summer playscheme. Across five themed days, young adventurers can take part in bushcraft sessions, learn how to build fires safely, meet bees and care for farm animals.
They can also race homemade boats, hunt for minibeasts and even prepare for a theatrical zombie invasion. The action-packed week finishes with astronaut training, rocket-building and a celebration of the children’s achievements.
Why families love it: It’s a rare opportunity for children to spend a full day outdoors learning practical skills, making friends and getting muddy.
When: Monday 17th to Friday 21st August 2026.
Where: Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Sugar Well Road, Meanwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 2QG.
Cost: £15 per day, with free places available for eligible families.
Family Sculpture Adventures at the Henry Moore Institute
Credit: Carl Milner Photography
The Henry Moore Institute offers families the chance to explore world-class sculpture through hands-on activities inspired by its summer exhibitions. Young visitors can borrow free Explorer Baskets packed with challenges and creative prompts as they explore Phantasmagoria: Folkloric Sculpture for the Digital Age.
Families can also head to the gallery’s dedicated activity space to create their own paper sculptures. These interactive crafts are directly inspired by artist Yoko Terauchi’s beautiful work on display.
Why families love it: The free activity packs turn a gallery visit into a treasure hunt, helping children engage with art in a fun and interactive way.
When: Tuesday to Sunday until 30th August 2026.
Where: Henry Moore Institute, 74 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3AH.
Cost: Free.
Plant Power Summer Events at Temple Newsam
Credit: Joanne Crawford
Plants take centre stage at Temple Newsam this summer as the historic house bursts into bloom with giant paper flower installations, hands-on activities and family-friendly trails. Children can get creative by making paper flowers and leafy crowns, exploring unusual plant specimens and discovering how plants were used throughout history.
They can even build their own LEGO gardens inside the house. Outside, families can continue their adventures through the vast estate, working farm and walled gardens, learning about pollinators and wildlife along the way.
Why families love it: It combines creative activities, outdoor exploration and one of Leeds’ most beautiful historic settings in a single visit.
When: Wednesday 22nd July to Wednesday 26th August 2026.
Where: Temple Newsam House, Temple Newsam Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 0AE.
Cost: Included with House and Farm admission. Free child entry on Tuesdays with a paying adult.
Step Into The Game at Leeds City Museum
Credit: Leeds City Museum
Leeds City Museum is transforming into a giant game board this summer as part of an exciting, city-wide Trivial Pursuit adventure. Families can explore themed activity zones, solve puzzles and riddles, create unique crafts, play classic board games and enjoy regular pop-up events.
These special pop-ups include interactive animal handling sessions and live puppet shows. The museum’s dedicated Summer Zone encourages children to learn through play, while the central Trivial Pursuit Hub connects visitors to matching activities taking place right across the city centre.
Why families love it: There are plenty of free activities to dip in and out of, making it ideal for families exploring Leeds city centre.
When: Saturday 25th July to Sunday 30th August 2026.
Where: Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8BH.
Cost: Free, with donations welcomed.
No Strings On Me Puppetry at Hyde Park Picture House
Credit: Hyde Park Picture House
Cinema’s most beloved puppets take centre stage at Hyde Park Picture House this summer in a special season celebrating practical puppetry and family filmmaking. Alongside screenings of timeless favourites including Muppet Treasure Island, The Dark Crystal, Pinocchio and Return to Oz, families can enjoy live puppet performances and shadow puppet workshops.
The heritage cinema aims to keep things completely accessible to the local community. Because of this, many of these special summer events operate on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Why families love it: It combines classic family films with hands-on workshops and live performances, creating a much more memorable cinema trip.
When: Throughout the summer holidays.
Where: Hyde Park Picture House, 73 Brudenell Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1JD.
Cost: Various prices. Many events are pay what you can.
