Be Curious at Leeds Industrial Museum
FREE ENTRY
17 February
Meet researchers from the University of Leeds and explore their work through interactive activities.
As part of our Engineery: Building Better Futures exhibition and the Smeaton300 celebrations, Leeds Industrial Museum and Be Curious have joined up to share how John Smeaton’s ideas still pop up in the world around us. Get hands-on with activities that make exploring research super fun. Follow the chocolate trail, practice your engineering skills in mask and hat making, look at planning safe cities for women and explore how engineering shapes fashion, medicine and Artificial Intelligence. Plus, you can take some of these to do at home. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next big inventor like John Smeaton? Get ready for a day of fun and discovery!
Half Term: Chinese Dragons Trail at Leeds City Museum
10-18 February 2024
This February half term, follow our Chinese Dragon trail around the museum to find out more about Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. Which animal are you?
Hip Hoppin Half Term at Leeds City Museum
13 – 15 Feb
Get ready to party with hip hop performances, workshops, and free family activities this half term.
On Tuesday 13 Feb it’s our Hip Hop Family Fun Day, with performances throughout the day by local hip hop artists. There’ll be special workshops to sign up for such as emceeing or breakdancing – keep an eye on this page as we update the timings of the workshops and how to book. Please note the day may be busy so you might wish to borrow ear defenders, or you can bring your own. If you’d like to discuss any access needs, email city.museum@leeds.gov.uk to talk with Natalie.
The hip hop fun continues through February half term as you can drop into the Brodrick Hall on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm to collage and decorate your own hip hop character.
Belgrave Vegan Feast
Saturday 10th February, Belgrave Music Hall
Join us from 11am on Saturday 10th February for the first Feast of the year! We’ll be hosting a vegan special with some delicious street food traders, as well as a whole host of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
🥙 FOOD
Enjoy vegan dishes from guest traders Delice D’ivoire, Shouk TLV, Dim Sum Su, and Black Day Bakes, as well as residents Patty’s Burgers and Dough Boys.
🍕DOUGHBABIES PIZZA MAKING
Dough Boys free children’s pizza making class is back! From 11am – 12pm, bring your little ones to create their very own mini pizza creation.
🎨 TYKES CRAFTS & PLAY
Get crafty with our kids’ crafts and play in the Snug Bar. Hosted by Tykes, this session is free to attend for all, just turn up on the day and get involved!
🛍️ FEAST ART MARKET
Featuring a host of local and independent traders, our art market is the perfect place to do some indie shopping.
🎵 DJS
Expect guest DJs in the Canteen and Music Hall to soundtrack your day.
Free entry, with free tickets available from https://link.dice.fm/hf16a8462114
Kirkstall Abbey
Love Birds Week: 10-18 February 2024 (FREE entry to Leeds residents)
A fun trail for families around the abbey, looking for birds of all shapes and sizes, both native and exotic!
While you’re here, see how many real bird species you can spot too, as you explore the abbey grounds and beautiful riverside park.
Free Half Term Crafts at White Rose Shopping Centre
Fun for the whole family, the events will be held in White Rose’s Central Atrium, inviting guests to get stuck into a variety of creative and interactive activities.
What’s more, The Entertainer White Rose is hosting a visit from Lego Batman on 17th February. Visitors are encouraged to snap a selfie with the larger-than-life superhero, with the chance to win a £25 The Entertainer gift card to spend in-store. See in-store for entry details.
Craft activities will take place in White Rose’s Central Atrium from 11am – 4pm throughout February half term, 12th – 16th February. No booking is required.
FEBRUARY HALF TERM AT THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM
Visit the National Railway Museum this half term for a guaranteed fun-filled day out, whatever the weather!
Big News: Flying Scotsman is back!
The most famous locomotive in the world returns to the museum. See the much-loved locomotive for FREE, with access to the footplate and entry to the cab. Book free museum admission tickets here.
Looking for something a bit different? Be swept away by the magic of the most famous locomotive in the world with the Flying Scotsman VR Experience. It takes you on a journey through time and around the world to discover the extraordinary story of Flying Scotsman as you have never seen it before. Find out more and book tickets here. (£7 a person)
Wonderlab activities are also running 12-25 February. Tickets £7.20.
Jorvik Viking Festival 2024
12th until 18th February 2024
Now in its 39th year, this event attracts visitors from all over to the streets of York, to march with the Vikings, learn
new crafts, brush up on battle skills and prove (once and for all) they really do have the best beard!
The full programme of events has been released and tickets are going fast, with some events already sold out. So, if you’ve been thinking about coming, now is the time to secure your place.
If money is tight at the moment then don’t let that put you off; there are more free and low cost events than ever to ensure everyone can join in the fun, these include:
• Living history encampment on Parliament Street
• Arena performances and displays in St Sampson’s Square
• March to Coppergate
• Best Dressed – now featuring Best Beard (for both real and home-made beards), Best Cosplay and Best Beast (yes, you read that right!)
• Stagecoach presents…
• Soundmarks York
• Family crafting – £3 for one, £5 for 2.
CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH LEEDS CHINESE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Saturday 10th February | 2.30-4pm | The Merrion Centre
Enjoy live performances, tasty bites, and an art exhibition. It’s a community- led, family-friendly gathering that’s completely free. Let’s welcome the Year of the Dragon together. Read more here.
Free Hip Hop Workshop at Dance Studio Leeds
Love Exploring is a FREE fun way to encourage families to be active together and inspire people of all ages to explore their local parks and discover some of the city’s cultural treasures.
From February half-term through to Easter, Love Exploring has an awesome new trail! Get ready to zoom into outer space with their augmented reality Space Walk in parks around Leeds!
The trail guides you through the solar system with an astronaut talking you through the wonders in front of your very eyes!
Just download the FREE Love Exploring app to your mobile phone and get ready for some free family friendly fun!
The Space Walk is available at Roundhay, Middleton, Temple Newsam and Kirkstall Abbey, as well as many local parks including Cross Flatts, East Ardsley, East End, Farnley, Harehills, Horsforth, Mans
Wakefield has a number of excellent FREE story trails around it’s country parks. There’s Room on the Broom at Angler’s, Blown Away at Pugney’s, Gnome Roam at Newmillerdam and Peter’s Peregrine at Pontefract Park. Follow the trail and complete the activities as you go round. At Anglers and Pugneys you can also buy a little activity pack at the visitor centre for some extra activities.
These trails are all buggy friendly, and great for scooters. At each park there is a cafe, and all but Newmillerdam have a play area to enjoy too (don’t let that put you off though- Newmillerdam is our favourite trail).
Read more about the story trails on the Wakefield Mumbler site here.
Try a new Play Area
We are so lucky to have a variety of play areas for children around Leeds and the surrounding areas, many of them provided by the local councils and so absolutely free. Roundhay Park is one of our favourites for young children, and for older ones Boston Spa has a bit of everything for them to enjoy!
Click here to see our favourite Mumbler Play Areas for Under 5s
Click here to see our favourite Adventure Playgrounds
Click here for our full listings of parks, playgrounds and outdoor play
Free and Low Cost Places to see animals
Hope Pastures rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes horses, ponies and donkeys. They also provide the opportunity for people to meet the animals and learn about them and how to look after them. You can visit everyday free of charge 10am to 3pm. The visitor centre is open at weekends and bank holidays providing refreshments.
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm is a working farm with a wide variety of animals, market gardens and woodland walks. Also visit the cafe, farm shop, and adventure play area for under 12’s. Accessible site, toilet facilities. Open daily, small admission charge.
None Go Bye Farm, HorsforthA family run farm, providing an excellent farm shop. You can take a walk around the outside animal area and feed the animals (£1 per person), they even have Alpacas!. There is also an indoor sandpit and small play area (£2 per child) with ride-ons and Little Tikes slide etc for children. There is lots of free parking and a special picnic area.
Meet the wonderful team of donkeys – they love to meet new people and you can discover their unique characters and stories. They have a good value cafe,great play area inside and out . Themed events run throughout the year including grooming days and interactive sessions. Open 365 days a year from 9am until dusk. Admission and parking are free.
Selling great Yorkshire Produce, with a Deli counter and Butchers Shop. Hot drinks available. Courtyard seating area. Visit the animals of the farm, and buy a bag of animal feed for 70p at the shop.
AD| Enjoy unlimited bus travel all day with our great value group tickets!
Up to 5 people can get unlimited travel across all of West Yorkshire on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays with our FirstDay Weekend Group ticket for just £6.00. Put your parking money towards treating your little ones and get out and about with First Bus! Download the First Bus App from your app store to buy your ticket and plan your journey.
Travelling during the week? Up to 5 people can get unlimited travel across all of West Yorkshire Monday – Friday (after 9:30am) or on bank holidays with our FirstDay Group ticket for just £8.75!
Why don’t you join our North Leeds Mumbler chat group where you can share reviews of days out/activities and get ideas from others.
We hope you have a great February Half Term.
Please check all event details prior to visiting in case of change.
Wakefield Story Trails