Plus there is a full list of everything going on around Leeds over May Half Term HERE.
Hedgehog Hideaway Trail at Leeds City Museum (FREE)
Look high and low for the hedgehogs and find out more about these spiky, loveable creatures. 30-31 May you can also make Hedgehog Headbands!
Cost: Free Entry. No booking required.
Half Term Family Workshop at the Henry Moore Institute: The Stories of Objects (FREE)
Join artist Emily Binks to explore the stories within objects and make sculptures using unwanted household items, inspired by the Henry Moore Institute’s current exhibition by Michael E. Smith.
You’ll begin with a short tour of the exhibition, then explore the stories behind an object that you will bring from home. You’ll then use unusual sculptural materials that the Institute has gathered from unwanted household items to make sculptures, which we’ll temporarily display and photograph in the galleries.
Suitable for families with children aged 6+. This is an intergenerational workshop – we encourage creativity in all ages! Children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. This event is free, but booking is required as places are limited.
Tutti Frutti presents… If All the World Were at Leeds Libraries
Join Leeds children’s theatre company, Tutti Frutti Productions, at libraries across Leeds and experience Joseph Coelho’s heart-warming book, If All the World Were, brought to life through a performed reading of the story and craft session where children will get to try a creative activity and create something to take home.
Free event but booking required. CLICK HERE
Kirkstall Abbey (FREE to Leeds residents)
Join us at Kirkstall Abbey for our first ever scarecrow festival, with scarecrows designed by our staff and our favourite community partners. Spot the scarecrows and take part in family activities too.
Cost: Free entry for Leeds residents. Please bring proof of address to receive your annual pass.
Percy Pig Fun at M&S Archives (FREE)
Come and explore the exhibition and try our new trail to claim your pack of Percy Pigs! There’ll be free squash, biscuits and hot drinks for the grown-ups and a picnic room – so why not bring your lunch with you?
Our new-look, family-friendly exhibition tells the story of over 135 years of history on the high street. Strike a pose in our new dressing-up collection, go shopping in the Penny Bazaar and get creative in the Design Studio.
No need to book, just drop in – it’s all free!
Daily activities will include:
Horse Shows – Stunt-riders, gunslingers and dare-devil stagecoach drivers in an exciting western-themed spectacular. Two shows every day at 11:00 and 14:00. Book your tickets for the horse shows.
High Noon shootout – Gun firing demonstrations by our western sharpshooters | Daily at 12:00
Have-go-activities – Tin can alley shooting gallery, Nerf gun showdown and cactus ring toss.
Stories from the Old West – Fascinating tales of cowboy adventurers, buffalo hunters, sheriffs and outlaws.
Make & take craft activities: Sheriff’s badges
Cost: Free entry but tickets horse shows must be pre-booked and charges apply
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.
Just download the FREE Love Exploring app to your mobile phone and get ready for some free family friendly fun!
Love Exploring 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.
The National Science and Media Museum allows you to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies and the impact they have on our lives.
Alongside many events, festivals and temporary exhibitions, there is also the permanent gallery called Wonderlab. Here you can touch, try and photograph your experience as you wander through 20 amazing exhibits. You can get lost in mirrors, make art using light and even travel through a laser tunnel.
There are also three cinema screens, including an IMAX theatre.
Entry to the museum, exhibitions and permanent galleries is free. You may need to book tickets for some of the special events. Some arcade games have a small charge and there is a charge for cinema and IMAX tickets.
Opening times: Open 10am – 5pm daily
See the Science and Media Museum website for more information
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
Half Term fun will take place on Saturday May 27, Sunday May 28 and then from Wednesday May 31 to June 4.
Explore our 12-acres of stunning woodland and discover different types of trees used in the coal mining industry in our new activity – Encounters with the Trees. We’re excited to be unveiling 10 new benches as part of the activity, lovingly crafted by one of our volunteers and situated across the site. We’ll have a host of fun-packed activities at Pear, Oak and Hickory which can be found on the interactive map on our website or just collect a print map from reception.
Our NCMM canary, Sparky, will be the star of Canary Capers, FREE shadow puppet shows at 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2pm. Our cheeky canary’s adventures are guaranteed to entertain visitors of all ages.
Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 4RH
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.
Discover more activities over half term here +
AD| Enjoy unlimited bus travel all day with our great value group tickets!
Families can enjoy unlimited bus travel all day!
From just £6 your family can travel across West Yorkshire all day so you can put your parking money towards treating your little ones!
Download the First Bus app to buy your group ticket.
*Details correct at time of publishing, check details before travelling in case of last minute changes. Some activities may also require advance booking.
