Jo Addison: 5 of the best places to go with a baby in Leeds

Jo Addison is a Yorkshire born and bred Mum of 2 little boys. She blogs about holidays and days out for babies and toddlers at Kiddieholidays. In today’s blog, she tells us what she thinks are 5 of the best places to go with a baby in Leeds!

1. Get Messy at The Tetley
The Tetley run Free ‘Tiny Tetley’ messy play sessions, especially for under 5s, every fourth Wednesday a month. These are led by artists, and can include anything from sensory activities and messy play based around current exhibitions and themes. The Tetley Bar and Kitchen serves a delicious brunch or lunch afterwards too! The Tetley is located in the former Tetley Brewery, and there is pay and display parking nearby.
http://thetetley.org/tiny-tetley-2/. Pre booking is advised – email reception@thetetley.org to book.

2. The Hyde Park Picture House
What can be better than snuggling up with your baby and watching a film? The Hyde Park Picture House runs special BYO Baby sessions on Wednesday mornings so you can watch a film with your baby (up to the age of 12 months). The lights are raised so the cinema isn’t as dark as normal, the volume is lower and there are baby changing and bottle warming facilities. The doors open slightly earlier too so you can catch up with friends before the screening.
http://www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/events.php#event220

3. Middleton railway
Leeds is home to the world’s oldest working railway – The Middleton Railway! Visitors can ride on a steam train between Moor Park Station and Middleton Park, and at just 8 minutes long one way, this is perfect length of time for babies and toddlers with a short attention span! Best of all, you can get off at Middleton Park and have a run around before catching the train back to Moor Park for a bite to eat in the station café.
Cost: Children under 2–Free, Children 3-15-£2.50 return, Adults-£5 return, Family Ticket-£13.

4. Swithens Farm
I love going to Swithens Farm, near Rothwell, with my 2 year old. He is a real animal lover and gets really excited when he sees the pigs, cows and horses which live on the farm. The highlight was when he bottle fed a lamb – something he had never done before and had him in fits of giggles. As well as seeing the animals, there is an outdoor play area, a sandpit, trampoline and bouncy castle. There is also an indoor playgym in case it rains, and a café and picnic area.
Cost: Children over 5 years old-£1, Adults-£3, Playbarn-£2 Tuesday to Friday and £3 on a weekend. Bags of carrots to feed the animals cost 30p a bag.
http://www.swithensfarm.co.uk/

5. Roundhay Park and Tropical House
Babies will love seeing the butterflies at Tropical World at Roundhay Park. However there is lots more to see apart from butterflies – there are terrapins in Australasia House and snakes in the Creature Corner as well as the new Morelets Crocodiles. After a spot of lunch at the Explorer’s Café head into the park itself for a run around!
http://www.roundhaypark.org.uk/tropical-world-leeds/