Apart from the Armouries, is there out to do in Leeds City Centre?

[roisin]

We have two boys (9 and 11) and none of us particularly enjoy shopping.

Is there anything in Leeds which is likely to capture our interest other than the Armouries?

Not much in the city centre, but there is the Thackery Medical Museum at Jimmy's which is bound to appeal to boys that age.

There is the art gallery but I've not been there for years.

Leeds is pretty rubbish for things to do.

If you are coming for a shopping trip but want a distraction, Freeport at Castleford is opposite Xscape (indoor snow place) and Diggerland.

Hmm.. Yes, I'm getting that impression!
I've been googling and turned up very little

There's the new Leeds City Museum in Millennium Square which is quite good - but I think boys that age would probably get more out of the Medical Museum.

Where are you staying? Lovely places to go North of the city, but depends if you have your own transport

Mine are much younger but we use the new museum on Milnennium Square quite a bit. Definitely worth a look.

Not in the city centre but you could get a train from Leeds to York and go to the National Railway Museum which is right by the train station at the other end (free to get in and you can take a picnic - indoor eating area is provided)

Get the 36 bus out to Harrogate? the Hydro swimming pool plus Valley Gardens is a good day out. (Tennis courts, crazy golf, model boating lake etc on the park aswell as lovely walks/woods)

Thanks all. We do have got transport, but I actually wanted things to do in Leeds itself. (We've spent many, many happy days in the NRM and other activities in York.)

I will check out the museums you've all mentioned.

We're staying at the Premier Travel Inn [Central] - wherever that is!

A walk round the canal might be interesting (weather permitting!) - there has been lots of redevelopment over the last 20 years and it's now a very trendy part of the city. There are nice restaurants and bars around there as well.

I was thinking, if you had transport, of a trip to Tropical World/Canal Gardens, in Roundhay. It's about 3-5 miles North of the city, next to Roundhay Park.

Temple Newsam, Harewood House or Lotherton Hall may be of interest?
All within Leeds but not city centre

The museum on City Square has only just opened - its in the old Civic Theatre building - I understand that its rather good, although I've not had the chance to go yet.

Kirkstall Abbey - bus ride (20 mins tops) from the city centre? Roundhay park and tropical world (bus no 2?). Going to THe Dark Arches might appeal to ds s even if they are not interested in the shops at the end.

Armley Mills Industrial museum - also a bus ride along Kirkstall Road.

There is a fairly new cinema in the centre - The Light.

I was impressed by the number of things to do in Leeds - DH's family is from Yorkshire and we visit regularly. Things we have enjoyed are:

1. The armouries - especially displays of jousting, and walking round the stables afterwards. The armouries museum is great for boys actually

1. The art gallery - and a browse around an area called the Victoria Quarter with some nice boutiques (for you more than for the boys)

1. Tropical World - which the children have always enjoyed - meerkats and butterflies and tarantulas and fish

1. The Medical Museum - which I found dull but the children enjoyed

1. Harewood House - which besides being a regular stately home also has an animal thingummy

1. The Yorkshire Sculpture park - which is fantastic for children because it is a blardy long walk, which you can make fun, with some sculpture thrown in

1. There are loads of places to go and eat

1. There is a snowdome - with skiing and tobogganing - this is outside Leeds

Just from memory. You'll enjoy it

Oh, and at Kirkstall Abbey there's also a good museum, Abbey House, with recreated Victorian streets, shops and houses

here

Temple Newsam has a farm and plenty of open space and a cafe.

There's a farm near Yeadon called Emsley's that's free to walk round but fairly small.

There's also Meanwood Valley Urban Farm but I haven't tried that one.

There's tropical world which also has a cafe and is next to Roundhay park.

Middleton railway (haven't been as we were going to go on a santa train but dd is scared of santa)

Also a huge adventure playground at Harewood House.

thanks all.

There's a bowling alley in the Merrion Centre.

There's a go karting place not far from the city centre

There is the Leeds climbing wall (Leeds Wall)

Several swimming pools a short bus ride away (nearest one probably Kirkstall)

Tennis courts and skate park in Hyde Park (short bus ride/30 min walk from city centre)

You could get train out to Saltaire and go on the Shipley Glen tramway

Train to Bradford is 20 mins - the television museum is v good and has an imax cinema.