Kirkstall Abbey: FREE ENTRY to Leeds residents – proof of address will be required. Explore the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, take a picnic and enjoy it in the surrounding areas, try out the mud kitchen and enjoy their first-ever scarecrow festival, with scarecrows designed by staff and our favourite community partners. Spot the scarecrows and take part in family activities too. Kirkstall Abbey, Kirkstall Road LS5 3EH Leeds, UK
Ilkley Manor House: FREE ENTRY to the house, the heritage display, exhibitions and family fun activities. Visit the Solar Gallery where artists explore the ways in which margins influence their individual practices or travel back in time with the How Ilkley Has Grown exhibition which plots the changes and growth of the town over the last 80 years including aerial photos and other images. Castle Yard, Ilkley LS29 9DT
The Royal Armouries, Leeds: FREE ENTRY to the Royal Armouries including the free River taxi outside (7 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday, 10 am – 6 pm Weekends)! Special Half-Term Events running. Book tickets online.
Bradford Museums: FREE ENTRY & ACTIVITIES. Join us for Free Half Term Activities at Bradford Museums and Galleries to celebrate spring! Full details here.
The National Science & Media Museum, Bradford: FREE ENTRY to the Museum, book online in advance. Bradford Science Festival returns from 23 May – 4 June 2023 with an unmissable programme of hands-on experiences and exciting events. Get ready for a celebration of surprising science and fascinating fun, with events at the museum and across Bradford. Full details here. The National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, BD1 1NQ.
Leeds Art Gallery: FREE ENTRY to the Museum. Leeds Art Gallery in Leeds, is a gallery, part of the Leeds Museums & Galleries group, whose collection of 20th-century British Art was designated by the British government in 1997 as a collection “of national importance”. Its collection also includes 19th-century and earlier artworks. Enjoy their new exhibition celebrating the richness and diversity of artistic talent in Leeds during the Leeds 2023 Year of Culture. The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA
Leeds City Museum: FREE ENTRY. Transform into a hedgehog this May half-term by making a spiky headband. Will you have sonic speed or curl into a ball? Something for all ages. Free, drop in. Why not have a go at the Hedgehog Hideaway Trail while you’re here too?
Tiny Tetley Studio: Open Wednesdays-Sundays, the Tiny Tetley Studio sits on the second floor of the Tetley and is an artist-designed play space. Children can get creative as they spend time in this immersive environment, where they can touch, climb and slide! Head to the Tetley website to sign up for a Free Family pass. Full details here
Bolton Abbey:
Family Cycle Zone – Grow your little one’s confidence on two wheels with our safe area for children to cycle, away from the hazards of traffic and pedestrians. With “roads” cut through the grass and signs to mark the way, children can enjoy endless fun manoeuvring the roundabout and junctions!
Welly Walk –Embrace the outdoors and get ready for a muddy adventure! The Welly Walk leads you from the stepping stones to the Cavendish Pavilion cafe, whilst coming across lots of fun obstacles along the way. Pack a picnic and enjoy a family fun day out.This is a challenging adventure and some obstacles are not suitable for all age groups. Children must be supervised at all times. FREE but estate admission charges apply.
Tropical World Leeds: Embark on an unforgettable journey through our newly refurbished Rainforest Canopy and meet our NEW animals in their NEW home. Tropical World is open seven days a week all year round, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and is the ideal day out for both adults and children, with FREE ENTRY for under 5s. Adults £7.60, Children 5 to 15 £3.80. Full details here.
Lotherton: Visit Lotherton for Spring half term as we delve into stories old and new and travel around the world in 80 stories. There will be stories for all ages, excitement and adventure around the estate for families to get involved in. Pick up a trail and follow the stories around the estate using your map. Pop into the house for more stories and dressing up, and then head into the beautiful gardens for outdoor games and a picnic if it’s nice! Pre-booking essential. FREE EVENT but Normal estate admission applies.
RHS Harlow Carr: FREE ACTIVITIES. Get sowing this May half term at RHS Garden Harlow Carr and learn how to grow your own food. From sowing peas to edible garden tours with the Garden Detectives, take part in the veg Olympics, or explore a family trail with plenty of grow-your-own ideas to inspire you along the way. All activities are included with garden admission. Free to RHS members and children under 5.
Temple Newsham: We are exploring ‘Happy’ this week for May half term. Come along and take part in activities that make us feel good. Discover your happy place at Temple Newsam! Join us for fun activities in the house and garden for all the family. Make sure to visit the animals at Home Farm, explore the grounds, and stop off at the café too! FREE ACTIVITIES. Normal admission applies.
Abbey House Museum: Gnomes have set up home in our Victorian streets. Gnome doors are popping up all over the place! Find them planting in the pub, camping in the chemist and gardening in the grocers. There will be the usual range of trails and quizzes plus crafts in the Education Room. FREE ACTIVITIES. Normal admission applies.
East Riddlesden Hall: Join us this May half-term for nature-inspired activities around the Hall and gardens. There will be 5 activities to try around the gardens and Hall. Who can build the tallest tower? How long can you hoola hoop? Can you spot all of the flowers hiding around the historic Hall? Normal admission charges apply. FREE ENTRY for National Trust Members and under 5s
Ilkley Cinema: Every Saturday morning at 10.30 am we have a special Kids Club film which is suitable for our younger audience and accompanying grown-ups alike. All tickets are £7.80.
The Picture House at the National Science & Media Museum:
May Kids’ Club screenings.
These screenings are open to all families with children but are mainly aimed at families with children under 12. Unaccompanied adults will not be admitted.
Saturday 27 May 2023 10:30 – Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG)
Sunday 28 May 2023 10:30 – Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG)
Saturday 3 June 2023 10:30 – Big Hero 6 (PG)
Art Club: DIY Desk Organiser at Skipton Town Hall
Monday 29th May 2023 10am – 12 noon and 2pm – 4 pm Art Club is back for May Half Term! Let’s get organised! Well, starting with your desk, stationary and books. We’ll show you some paper folding techniques and the materials you’ll need to build a really sturdy desk tidy and some super cute…
Create your own ‘Nectar Bar’ this May half term at Moss & Moor
Date : Monday 29th May, and Friday 2nd June Time: Sessions at 10:00 am & 2:00 pm Price: £7.50 per child, to cover the cost of plants and materials. Suitable for age 4+ In celebration of World Bee Day on Saturday 20th May -recognising the purpose of bees and other pollinators for our ecosystem, we have an exciting…
FREE –May Half-Term at Bradford Libraries
Bradford Council’s Libraries Service is offering a host of fun family friendly activities to encourage book-sharing and reading during the Spring Bank School Holiday. Library staff will be telling stories involving Bill and Ben, gardens and flowers, birds and birdhouses and Chimpanzees in Happy Trees. Along with the story time, Libraries will be helping children…
Buttercups Tots Cookery School
Our new monthly tots cookery school will provide a fun, engaging and social environment in which your little chef can create and bake themselves with only a little grown-up help! We have some more dates for our cookery school; HALF TERM Wednesday 31st May 10:30am (Sausage roll or Cheese roll) inc various ingredients HALF TERM…
DONATIONS ONLY: Craven Museum Make & Take: Craven Folklore & Fairytales at Skipton Town Hall
Wednesday 31st May 2023, 10 am – 11 am and 1 pm – 2 pm Join us for crafts inspired by local folklore and fairy-tales in this holiday’s Make and Take, linked to Craven Libraries’ Local History Month. Create a fairy-tale pop-up scene and your own mischievous boggart to take home! Donations towards the running…
FREE: Bradford BID Dino Day
DINO Day is coming to Bradford! Saturday 3rd June is a date for the diary as the dinosaurs return to the city centre.
DONATIONS WELCOMED: Woofts at Cliffe Castle Park
Saturday 3 June 11am-2pm Cliffe Castle Park. FREE, however donations very welcome for Aireworth Dogs in Need Family-friendly event celebrating pooches with a light-hearted dog “show” and prizes, pet products, chipping and stalls as well as info sharing to provide a fun yet informative day for local dog owners. Dog Show Cliffe Castle Support Group will be…
FREE: “Balle Balle” Burst of Bhangra Read & Dance! FREE at Shipley Library
Salma Zaman author of ‘Help!!! I can’t Dance Without My Bhangra Pants’ shares her book. Dance and spin and shake at this active session created to support Living Well – 20 Minute Movement. Suitable for ages 3 – 8. Friday 2nd June Shipley Library 1.30pm – 2.30pm Contact the host library to book your…
FREE: Skipton Car Show
4 Jun 2023 2023 Welcomes back the Skipton Car Show. After a few years off, the High St will be closed and filled with over 200 show vehicles, ranging from Supercars to American Cars, to vintage and classics, both old and “new” . There will be a display by the Fire Brigade, and as well…
We live in such a beautiful area and are spoilt for choice when it comes to parks, gardens & nature reserves. All are free to enjoy. Have a walk or a bike ride…
Make it more exciting with nature bingo, a scavenger hunt or doing some leaf rubbings – Lots of free ideas available with a quick internet search.
If you visit any of our beautiful parks and playgrounds take a snap and send it to wharfedale@mumbler.co.uk I’ll post it on the listing for that park so other Mumblers can see what is there before they visit!
Try out one of the below trails and let us know your thoughts! wharfedale@mumbler.co.uk
The Chevin Geology Trail, Otley
The Chevin Sculpture Trail, Otley
The Aire Valley Sculpture Trail, Saltaire
Event for May Half-Term: Saltaire Arts Trail – May 27
27 May 2023 – 29 May 2023 Saltaire Arts Trail is a community arts event held annually in May. It offers an imaginative visual arts programme, celebrating the village’s rich heritage, and offering opportunities to both emerging and established artists. The Arts Trail prides itself in reaching out to new audiences and making art accessible to…
Board Games /Jigsaws – Dig out some board games or jigsaws and enjoy some old-fashioned fun.
DIY Pamper/Spa Day – Foot soak, face masks, nail painting, cucumbers on the eyes, hand massage, what a treat!!
Corn Flour and Water Slime- it’s so easy, just use twice as much cornflour as water and add a bit of food colouring! Hours of fun!
Scrap Booking – With so much going on in and around Wharfedale & Craven, there will be plenty for your little ones to put in a School Holiday Scrapbook. Keep leaflets/tickets etc for them to stick in, photos, maps & drawings, should keep them busy a while!
Olympics – Set up a mini Olympics. Obstacle courses, egg and spoon races, balls in buckets, the list goes on.
Pizza Making – Fun and gets a meal sorted at the same time. Either make your own base or buy ready-made/pitta bread for a quick option.
Origami – Lots of patterns/instructions available online for free. Patience required!
Junk Modelling – Empty the recycling box and get creative. Space rockets, robots, wherever your imagination takes you!
Make dough – Use the recipe from The Imagination Tree to make some quick and easy dough.
For even more ideas read our Rainy Day blog
