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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Things to do in Leeds with children

23 replies

flipflopson5thavenue · 02/05/2023 20:52

Hi, we’re staying in Leeds during May half term for three days.

Top tips for activities/places to visit with two boys ages 8 and almost 11?

thanks :)

OP posts:
FlyingFang · 02/05/2023 20:58

The Royal Armouries is great.

What do you like doing and do you have transport?

Marmite27 · 02/05/2023 21:02

Maths City in Trinity

The museum, Henry Moore & central library? (All places my kids like to visit).

Are you just looking for city centre?

HermioneWeasley · 02/05/2023 21:03

Abbey House museum is a little gem

tribpot · 02/05/2023 21:06

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm if you want to venture outside the centre of the city, ditto Tropical World.

chickbean · 02/05/2023 21:07

The market is a great place to eat. There are street food stalls, so everyone can eat something different. We love the Indian veggie stall, but one DC will have pizza and another Chinese noodles. We also like the lovely tiled cafe at the Library. Can you tell that I am on a diet and can only think about food?

PumpkinTruffles · 02/05/2023 21:07

Tropical World followed by a run about in Roundhay Park
Kirkstall Abbey - sometimes they have stuff on but it's just quite cool to visit anyway
Stockeld Park is fab
Lotherton Hall too - it has a lot to do, including animals

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/05/2023 21:27

Where are you staying? If you are in the city centre, the boat (water taxi) from behind the station is a rally fun way to get to the Armouries. They usually have some jousting/knights/superhero type stuff on in school holidays, have a look on their SM or website.

There's in indoor skate/scooter/skateboard place nearby called LS-TEN.

QueenKong101 · 02/05/2023 21:32

If you're on Instagram then have a look at The Little Adventurer - lots of great tips for Leeds and surrounds with kids.

Instagram

https://instagram.com/the_littleadventurer

Hellocatshome · 02/05/2023 21:39

Royal Armouries is ok but my kids found the endless displays of guns and swords a but boring after a while. The live sword fights were a hit though. But its free so even if you only get an hour out of it its something to do especially if the weather isn't great.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/05/2023 22:04

Get the train to Bradford and go to the National Media Museum.

ThatLibraryMiss · 02/05/2023 22:08

In the city there's the Owl Trail and if you have a car or don't mind getting the bus, Temple Newsam has a Home Farm and lots of space to run around. You can look round the house too, but I wouldn't expect 8 and 10 year olds to be excited by that.

Tropical World isn't what it used to be, apparently.

Leeds Owl Trail | A Nettl WordPress site

http://www.leedsowltrail.com/

Treasureboxkey · 02/05/2023 23:31

I find this Facebook page/ website useful https://yorkshiretots.com/
It covers the whole of Yorkshire though so needs sifting through.

Leeds has a few theatres that often have kids things on and the museums and galleries in the city center are interesting.

The surrounding areas are beautiful and easily accessible by train/bus.

The dales, Howarth, Ilkley are all nice days out.

I would avoid Bradford city centre personally.

The best days out and activities in Yorkshire

Yorkshire family events and fun including days out, reviews, camping, glamping and Yorkshire family holidays!

https://yorkshiretots.com

Redhotchllisteppa · 02/05/2023 23:48

Middleton railway steam trains. A bit further out xscape off the M62

mac1974 · 03/05/2023 07:11

Can you get to Halifax? Eureka is worth a visit.

FlyingFang · 03/05/2023 21:39

Tropical world is dreadful now. Seriously depressing!

tribpot · 03/05/2023 21:52

I looked at the Trip Advisor reviews after the comments on this thread @FlyingFang and I'm gutted, we were planning a revisit for ds' birthday in June. I wonder what's happened, are they running it down until they can close it? There appears to be work going on at the moment.

AuntieMarys · 03/05/2023 21:58

Train to Salts mill in Saltaire.

Temporaryname158 · 03/05/2023 22:05

There are the usual city activities like bowling, ice skating, cinema etc.

Leeds city museum is good, and has half term activities. As another poster said the water taxi and armouries combo is good. That’s based on the river/canal network and you can walk along for miles in either direction.

more widely outside of the city centre the list is endless with soft plays, Abby’s, country park type places, you are very close to the Yorkshire Dales etc

Original poster
flipflopson5thavenue · 03/05/2023 22:32

Thank you all, some great suggestions :)

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/05/2023 22:44

mac1974 · 03/05/2023 07:11

Can you get to Halifax? Eureka is worth a visit.

I thought of Eureka, but also though that 11 might be a bit old.

Samphiredragonfly · 04/05/2023 09:32

Harewood house and bird garden though not been for years
Second Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey museum. The victorian replica street is great.
Can walk along the canal for a bit.
Leeds industrial museum at Armley.
Royal Armouries - ok in small doses but often they have special displays on. We found the floor with espionage stuff quite interesting, lots of interactive stuff and niceish cafe.
Golden acre Park Roundhay park
If you have a car world's your oyster !

RoseBucket · 04/05/2023 09:35

The medical museum usually puts something on for children.

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