The Child Friendly Guide to Summer in Leeds
When it comes to child friendly things to do, Leeds is the place to be! Whether it’s days out, days in, new experiences or out of this world experiences. We’ve put together this ultimate guide of the best places to visit this Summer!
Our Child Friendly Leeds Live summer guide on a page…
For booking details and more information, check the information below. For example, if you see an event in Kirkstall Abbey you want to attend, go to the Kirkstall Abbey section to find out more!
The Child Friendly Summer Challenge!
Are you ready to have some fun? Want to be in a chance of winning our family favourite board games or a chance to visit some exciting venues and shows in Leeds? Well get involved in the Summer Challenge.
The Child Friendly Leeds 12 Wishes were launched taking in the views of 80,000 individuals. Wish 2 is that “Children and young people have safe spaces to play, hang out and have fun. The have time and opportunities to play, hang out and have fun across the city. They feel safer as there is less crime, vandalism and litter.” That is exactly what we want to achieve this summer!
To enter, simply visit any THREE places, activities or events from our summer guide and complete the entry form below. You can either tell us about your experience or send us images of your favourite places via social media to enter. When completing form, please enter parent / carer or your own email address and we will choose three names to win some amazing prices on Sunday 1st September! Ready?
Breeze your way into Summer!
‘Breeze in the Park’ is back! Get caught up in sun, fun, chills and thrills with, our interactive play system, arts zone, food and, of course, our classic inflatables.
Fast track the inflatables with a £5 Breeze Pass App, and your adventurous spirit. Don’t have a Breeze Pass? Scroll to the bottom of this page to find out how you can get one today. Prizes to be won!
Healthy Holidays provision!
Healthy Holidays is our local name for the Department for Education’s (DfE) Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
Our fantastic holiday clubs provide delicious food and amazing activities for school aged children who are eligible for income-related Free School Meals. There is no cost to the parents/carers for their children and young people to attend the clubs!
There are clubs taking place in 26 of the wards, and you can see what’s on where on this page: Healthy Holidays Leeds
Find out more about where kids eat for free:
Leeds Food Aid network
Yorkshire Tots – information on where kids eat free
Ready to find out more about what’s on this summer?
All the details you need for the events on our summer guide on a page!
Click on a button to navigate the page…
1. Leeds City Centre
Leeds City Centre is always fun of pop up events and fantastic hidden gems, especially during the holidays. Free-to-view space installations and immersive experiences are here in Leeds city centre.
Monopoly Leeds Takeover is a first of its kind city-wide version of the iconic board game from 27 July – 1 September. This free, family friendly immersive experience brings the best-selling property trading game to life, using key locations and landmarks as the gameboard with life-size tokens, clues and puzzles around every corner. Leeds was home to Waddingtons, Britain’s leading manufacturer of board games and playing cards, which produced the UK version of MONOPOLY from the 1930s and was responsible for the now famous London properties in the game.
Here in Leeds we love working with ambassadors to put on free, fun and exciting things to do especially during the holidays. From the Jurassic Trail to the Bear Hunt, we’re super excited for the Monopoly Leeds Takeover, brought to the city by LeedsBID and under license from Hasbros.
Libraries, Museums & Galleries
> Leeds City Museum
Make a day of it in Leeds City Centre by visiting these brilliant buildings! Starting with Leeds City Museum, which has six stunning galleries and a programme of family friendly exhibitions in the heart of Leeds. From workshops to their brilliant community choir, there is always something to see and enjoy at the museum.
Find out more about the events at Leeds City Museum, which are listed on our Summer Guide:
Token Treasure Hunt (22 Jul – 30 Aug)
Free, drop in
Embark on a nostalgic journey celebrating classic board game tokens in our summer trail! Search the museum for oversized game pieces, from the iconic Monopoly top hat to a 12-sided dice.
Stop off at Leeds City Museum to enjoy this fun family trail while you take part in the city’s MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover.
Board games workshop (30 Jul & 13 Aug)
30 Jul & 13 Aug 10am – 12pm & 1 – 3pm
Free, drop in
Join in this fun board game workshop with Cards or Die during the school holidays at Leeds City Museum. They’ll be bringing a massive selection of games along to Leeds City Museum – and Ann will be there to teach and recommend the perfect game. We’ve got retro and vintage games as well as modern classics.
There will be something for all ages 5 plus, from competitive to collaborative. Join us for the day or just pop in for a short while. Feel free to come on your own too – you can play a solo game or join with others. Free, drop in.
Burley Banksy art workshop (30 Jul 11am-3pm)
Free, drop in
Leeds Leeds Leeds! Channel your inner artist and join in a family workshop celebrating all things Leeds with renowned local artist Andy McVeigh (aka Burley Banksy).
Burley Banksy is a primary school teacher and street artist who made a name for himself creating murals around the city celebrating Leeds and Leeds United Football Club. Together we’ll be creating a Burley Banksy inspired artwork that will go on display at Leeds City Museum to be admired for months to come.
Free, drop in, no need to book.
Board game builders (multiple dates in Jul & Aug)
31 July, 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22 Aug 10am – 12pm & 1 – 3pm
Free, drop in
Dive into the world of board game design in our weekly craft sessions! Invent your own unique game using paper and card, create eye catching boards and make up your own rules. Personalise a jigsaw, make your own Ludo board or create your own game from scratch with a dice to match!
Free, drop in any time between 10am – 12pm and 1 – 3pm, every Wednesday and Thursday from 31 July to 21 August.
While you’re here, don’t forget to spot the iconic games tokens in our Token Treasure Hunt and check out our range of fun game-themed workshops, tying in with the city’s MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover.
Sensory room (7 Aug 10am-12pm & 1-3pm)
Free, booking required (tickets available soon)
Pop-up sensory room for families who might find a visit to the museum overwhelming. The room has dark tents, light-up toys, squishy floor tiles, dens and a bubble tube. This event is for families with SEND, neurodiversity, autism and/or anxiety.
Extend your visit with our free Token Treasure Hunt trail around the museum.
Tickets for the sensory room are free. Please book a ticket per child. Accompanying adults don’t need a ticket. The ticket grants you entry to the pop-up sensory room between either 10.30am-11.30am or 1pm-2pm.
You can come and go as you need to, and there’ll be no need to queue. Please contact us if you’d like to find out more about the museum/event or if you’d like to discuss how we can best support your family on the day.
Tickets available:
Augmented reality gaming workshop (multiple dates in August)
Free, booking required!!
Dive into Augmented Reality this Summer at Leeds City Museum!
Unlock the magic of Augmented Reality (AR) and world-building in our exciting summer workshop designed for young explorers!
Workshop Highlights: Step into a world where the past and future blend seamlessly. Using inspiration from the museum’s unique collection of animals and local history, participants will create their own AR projects that bring history to life.
What You’ll Do:
• Explore AR Technology: Discover the fascinating world of Augmented Reality and how it transforms the way we see the world.
• Build Your Own World: Use elements from the museum’s exhibits to design and build unique AR experiences.
• Learn Block-Based Coding: Engage in hands-on coding activities with block-based coding, making it easy and fun to create your own AR projects.
• Interactive Learning: Engage in hands-on activities that blend creativity and technology.
• Inspire Your Imagination: Delve into local history and animal lore to fuel your innovative projects.
Additional Details:
This workshop is perfect for young minds eager to explore the intersection of technology and history. All necessary equipment will be provided, so you only need to bring your enthusiasm and creativity!
Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their AR projects, allowing them to share their unique creations with family and friends. We ask that if your child is between the ages of 5-12, please book onto our morning sessions and if your child is 12+, please book onto our afternoon sessions!
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to blend history, technology, and creativity in an unforgettable summer workshop!
Tickets available soon.
> Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds Art Gallery is a free attraction in the heart of the city, the gallery collection comprises a wide range of modern and contemporary art along with an extensive programme of events. They also have their ‘Artspace’, which is a relaxed, family friendly, creative space along with many events and activities to get involved in.
> Leeds Central Library
The magnificent Leeds Central Library is situated next to the Art Gallery and has the most interesting reads, free internet access for public use and holiday activities for all age groups now with the exciting new mini play boxes. In Leeds, our libraries are all free – it’s free to join, free to borrow books and there are always things on for little ones including Story and Rhyme time as well as our Ready Steady Readers programme. Find up-to-date information on our Facebook page.
Tiny Totley opens at the Leeds Central Library on July 12th!
Open from Friday 12 July Tiny Totley Studio will offer a unique, creative environment featuring tactile objects, a slide, a den, and a bespoke sound installation. It’s designed to provide a free, family-friendly space for children to engage in playful exploration, bridging the gap between art and play.
Hello Hip Hop: Art and Dance Workshop
Get ready for some good Hip-Hop vibes this Summer. We have a special guest, Bboy Philty from @hellohiphop, who will provide taster sessions in Breakin’ and Graffiti. Suitable for all abilities, Phil will demonstrate the art of Breakin’, teach the foundational structure of the dance, and finish with a calm and relaxing art class. During the session, children can showcase what they’ve learnt, cypher, or battle while making new friends and building their confidence. Book in, and get ready for fun, creativity and noise!
A pay-what-you-decide family-friendly event suitable for children aged 7+. Follow this link for tickets and info: Hello Hip Hop: Art and Dance Workshop event tickets from TicketSource
Tale Tracking and Story Sniffing: Storytelling and Creative Workshop
Do you know what happens when we forget stories?
Often the tales have simply tucked themselves away somewhere in the back of the storage cupboard in our brains and we can’t get to them. But sometimes, just sometimes….they escape! Join Pin on their quest to find these stories roaming in the wild before they get sucked into a vacuum cleaner, get stuck in a tree or worse…drift into space and get tangled in the stars! Help to gently guide them back to where all forgotten stories go… AND make your own Tale Tracker or Story Sniffer so you can keep searching for forgotten tales on your way home! Delivered by Libellule Theatre.
A pay-what-you-decide family-friendly event suitable for children aged 5+. Follow this link for tickets and info: Tale Tracking and Story Sniffing: Storytelling and Creative Workshop event tickets from TicketSource
Save the Planet: Crafts and Storytelling
Come and meet Mother Nature and her Squirrel Friend and learn all about how we can better Save The Planet. Play games, make a bug hotel for the garden, and learn about garden birds all in an interactive and enjoyable workshop setting. Delivered by Same Difference Arts.
A pay-what-you-decide family-friendly event suitable for children aged 5+. Follow this link for tickets and info: Save the Planet: Crafts and Storytelling event tickets from TicketSource
Marvellous Music Machines / Marvellous Makers
Marvellous Music Machines
To celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme of Marvellous Makers, join us for this session where you will code and craft your own musical creations. Try building, recording and looping your own voice or sound effect with our Lego Spike music makers project, create an audio collage and bring it alive with Makey Makeys and Scratch, and craft your own own percussion shakers. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge, and borrow books.
Marvellous Makers
Join us for this session where you will become an artist for the day! Taking inspiration from famous artworks and brilliant books, we’ll be doodling, collaging, building and crafting. Work together to make a giant collaborative artwork and create a craft to take home with you.
Free family-friendly events suitable for children aged 5+. Follow this link for tickets and info: Summer Reading Challenge: Marvellous Music Machines and Marvellous Makers event tickets from TicketSource
Hebocon! Make the World’s Best Worst Robot!
Hebocon is a competition where you will create robots by taking apart old broken toys and putting them together again in weird and wonderful ways! Think Sid from Toy Story…
You have permission to rip heads off dolls, pull tails off dinosaurs, glue wheels to their feet… Whatever you want! The uglier the better. You don’t need any skills to take part as you will learn how toys are put together by pulling them to pieces! We will provide the toys (or bring your own if you’re happy to destroy them!) and all the tools you’ll need to create your own mutant toy robots.
But we can’t do this without lots and lots of toys! If you have old, unused, broken toys, just sat in a box taking up space in your cupboards, sheds, or garages, we can use them! Please bring them along to your nearest community hub and library. Toys such as dolls, teddies, robots, cars, especially anything with wind-up or battery motors, anything that can be cut apart or dismantled and reconfigured that is no bigger than 50cm is welcome!
A free family-friendly event suitable for children aged 8+. Follow this link for tickets and info: Hebocon! Make the World’s Best Worst Robot! at Room 700, Leeds Central Library event tickets from TicketSource
> City Square
City Square is hosting the Summer of Sports during summer 2024! With a pop-up green space and big screen, it’s a great place for families to visit to picnic, play or relax and enjoy the sports screenings.
Want to get inspired by the Tour de France, Wimbledon or even the Olympics? There will be workshops and pop-up events to get involved with, like a rowing competition on the day of the Olympic rowing finals.
Don’t miss the ‘Making Monsters’ event at City Square on 7th August!
Spotted any trees who seem to be alive? These pieces include eyes, mouths, teeth, and abstract shapes, adding personality and expression to each tree.
This National Play Day (7th August), join artist & designer Joe Mason for a thrilling adventure into the world of creativity. At the event, ‘It’s Alive! Making Monsters with Joe Mason’, Children will have the opportunity to unleash their imagination and bring to life their very own fun & friendly tree characters using recycled materials.
Suitable for ages 6+
2. Leeds Kirkgate Market
Leeds Markets have a lovely atmosphere and family friendly dining experience. Every school holidays they put on free events and activities from 11am to 3pm. This summer they have:
- DEN BUILDING (7th & 21st July and 9th & 23rd August)
- HIPHOP WORKSHOP (6th, 8th, 20th and 22nd August)
- CIRCUS SCHOOL (13th to 16th August)
- LEGO, DUPLO & COLOURING (daily throughout the holidays)
- BUMPER CARS (30th July to 2nd August)
- ROLLER SKATING (27th to 30th August)
3. Temple Newsam
It’s the most wonderful time of the year when you can hear the birds singing and flowers fill the grounds. Discover Temple Newsam and explore the Tudor-Jacobean mansion filled with hidden treasures, encounter rare breed farm animals in the historic farm and stroll through the impressive grounds and gardens.
Enjoy a delicious day out at Temple Newsam this holidays with food-themed family crafts, activities, and trails throughout the house.
Pot a Plant (1 Aug 1-3pm)
Free, drop in
Celebrate Yorkshire Day at Temple Newsam by potting up a beautiful Coleus plant from our National Collection to take home.
Free, drop in.
Why not make the most of the school holidays and enjoy one of Yorkshire’s most beautiful historic houses and gardens while you’re here?
Link: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/events/temple-newsam/pot-a-plant/?occurrence=2024-08-01
4. Tropical World
Tropical World at Roundhay Park is one of the most loved family attractions in Leeds. This Summer, you can enjoy the beautiful surrounding gardens and waterfalls whilst experiencing an unforgettable journey through Tropical World’s various exotic and interesting zones and see some fascinating animals and creatures along the way!
Don’t miss their brand new sculpture trail!
“I had the most amazing hour at Tropical World and can’t wait to tell my friends. I saw so many animals, feeding the butterflies was my favourite. The sound of the waterfall was wonderful. I also played in the gardens outside and enjoyed eating at the cafe.” – Ruqayya age 9
5. Lotherton Hall
Enjoy a fantastic day out at Lotherton, a beautiful Edwardian country estate set on the outskirts of Leeds. Wildlife World is Lotherton’s zoo and Lotherton provides plenty of entertainment outdoors including our traditional playground and woodland play area, complete with zip-wires.
Take a walk on the wild side at Lotherton, with a trail and activities dotted around the estate to keep the whole family entertained.
6. Leeds Discovery Centre
Harewood House is know for the Woodland Wonderland, the fantastic bird garden and Adventure Playground and children absolutely love it!
Find out more about the events at Leeds Discovery Centre, which are listed on our Summer Guide:
Fabulous Fashion workshop (31 July 10am-12pm)
Free, booking required
Travel through time at this family workshop where you will learn what the children of Leeds wore in the past.
Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million objects in our collection, most of which are not currently on display. Our purpose-built museum storage and conservation facility holds toucans to telephones, meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
The Leeds dress and textiles collection details the history of what people have worn in the past, and the textiles they have used for their clothing, furnishing and decorating their homes.
The textile collection includes some extremely rare fragments dating back to the 15th century. The collection contains fragments and also complete items highlighting the wide variety of techniques used in the production of textiles for dress, furnishings and interiors.
The online exhibits Fast x Slow Fashion and The New Look, along with many items from the collections are available to view online on our Google Arts & Culture page.
To book, please call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk
Go for Gold! (7 August 10am-12pm & 1-3pm)
Free, booking required
Come along to this Olympics centred family workshop to find out about some of Leeds’s top Sporting heroes.
Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million objects in our collection, most of which are not currently on display. Our purpose-built museum storage and conservation facility holds toucans to telephones, meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
A Piece of the Puzzle (14 August 10am-12pm)
Free, booking required
Monopoly may be taking over the city of Leeds this summer but join this family workshop to learn about some of the other games and jigsaws made by Waddington’s.
Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million objects in our collection, most of which are not currently on display. Our purpose-built museum storage and conservation facility holds toucans to telephones, meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
To book, please call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk
Flower Forage (21 Aug 10am-12pm)
Free, booking required
Join us to explore some of Leeds amazing wildlife in this plant focused family workshop.
Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million object in our collection, most of which are not currently on display. Our purpose built museum storage and conservation facility holds toucans to telephones, meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
To book, please call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk Link: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/events/leeds-discovery-centre/flower-forage/?occurrence=2024-08-21
What Lies Beneath (21 Aug 10am-12pm)
Free, booking required
Join us to explore some of Leeds amazing wildlife in this plant focused family workshop.
Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million object in our collection, most of which are not currently on display. Our purpose built museum storage and conservation facility holds toucans to telephones, meteorites and masks, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
To book, please call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk
7. Abbey House Museum & Kirkstall Abbey
Find out more about the events at Abbey House Museum and Kirkstall Abbey, which are listed on our Summer Guide:
Urban Nature Trail (23 Jul – 1 Sep)
Free, drop in at Kirkstall Abbey
Our popular trail is back for the summer school holidays with lots of birds, bees, bats and butterflies hidden all over the abbey. Enjoy a beautiful nature walk through the ruins and along the banks of the River Aire while you spot the wildlife!
Look out for our arty and craft sessions on this theme too.
Link: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/events/kirkstall-abbey/summer-holidays-urban-nature-trail/
Get Arty in the Abbey (Wednesdays 10-11:30am during August)
Free for Leeds residents/included with admission, drop in at Kirkstall Abbey.
Wednesday mornings in August are all about art. We will have a range of materials to borrow to have your own family art adventures in the abbey including chalks, pastels, charcoals and fine liners. Choose your paper, choose your materials and get creative!
Free, drop in.
Get Crafty in the Cloister (Thursdays 1-3pm during August)
Free for Leeds residents/included with admission, drop in at Kirkstall Abbey.
Thursday afternoons are all about crafts. Inspired by our summer nature trail, come along and make bee fan, bat hat, or butterfly wreath.
Sensory Storytime (10:30-11:30am 2nd Aug)
Free. Booking required.
Our Sensory Storytime at Abbey House Museum is for families with additional needs who want to take part in our summer holiday themed event.
We will host a session in the Gatehouse using one of the stories from our summer school holidays trail. There will be sensory objects including things to touch and smell, actions we can try together, music to dance along to, or just enjoy the atmosphere.
FREE – Booking required as there are limited spaces to ensure that our sessions are relaxed. Email our Learning and Access Officer for more information and to book on: sarah.allen@leeds.gov.uk
8. Visit Leeds Parks
Leeds has many fantastic major parks which have many pop-up events and activities throughout the year including Breeze in the park. Roundhay Park in Leeds is a brilliant place to visit has over 700 acres parkland to explore you can see lakes, woodlands, gardens and wildlife as well as enjoy cafes, playgrounds and even a castle.
Explore the free Roundhay Park Sculpture Trail, using the ‘Love Exploring’ app to go through the interactive trail, available on the app from 5th August 2024. It is fully accessible, free and you can bring along your own picnic.
Find out about your local park’s attractions and facilities here: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/
Love Exploring is a FREE app 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.
9. Thackray Museum of Medicine
A brilliant experience to be had in Thackray Museum after their four-million-pound redevelopment. Wander through the grimy streets of Victorian Leeds, watch gruesome operations taking place in our 19th-century operating theatre, and discover the medical innovations that changed the world. SPARKS! is the fantastic new soft and role play at Thackray Medical Museum. Under-fives can explore the senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell in the roleplay medical centre.
10. In the Community
CATCH Leeds
Leeds Music Centres
Groundwork…
Leeds Sensory Services
Yorkshire Contemporary @ Cross Flatts Park
Pop Up Pop In
Kirkstall Forge
Hyde Park – Rainbow Junktion
every Friday during the holidays
Finally, we love other reviews and featured news on family friendly events and activities so here is a feature by Leeds List including what’s on at Leeds Arena and Theatres in Leeds!
Please share any others ideas, experiences or places via comments below or contact childfriendlyleeds@leeds.gov.uk.
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