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 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 the artists can show you their new creations inspired by the theme “The Overlooked” using diverse mediums such as ceramics, paintings, sketches, photography, and more. Castle Yard, Ilkley LS29 9DT
The Royal Armouries, Leeds: FREE ENTRY to the Royal Armouries including the free for kids River taxi outside (7 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday, 10 am – 6 pm Weekends)! Special Half-Term Events running. Book tickets online.
Brontë Parsonage Museum: FREE ACTIVITIES. Join us for our free activities over half term, and step into the world of the Brontës… Could you sew your name in cross stitch, or write with a dip pen in a tiny book you’ve made yourself?
Bradford Museums: FREE ENTRY & ACTIVITIES. Join us for Free Half Term Activities at Bradford Museums and Galleries to celebrate spring!
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. The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA
Leeds City Museum: FREE ENTRY. Find the Hedgehogs Trail this May half-term. Free, drop in. Look high and low through the museum for all sorts of hedgehogs in their hiding places, tick them off your list, and learn some fun hedgehog facts along the way.
Thackray Museum of Medicine: FREE ACTIVITIES. Germs, glorious germs – Germs get a bad rep. But what if we told you that less than 1% of germs make people ill? There are over 100 trillion microbes in our tummies that help us digest our food. They also help us fight disease and keep our skin looking neat and tidy. Germs can do us good!
Explore how germs can not only be deadly, but also friendly. Activities free with your museum ticket. Don’t forget that an admission ticket lasts a whole year so you can return every holiday!
Abbey House Museum: FREE ACTIVITIES. Gnomes have set up home in our Victorian Streets and gnome doors are popping up all over. Find gnomes planting in the pub, camping in the chemist and gardening in the grocers. There will be a range of trails and crafts in our Education Room.
National Coal Mining Museum Wakefield: FREE ENTRY & ACTIVITIES. This May Half Term, National Coal Mining Museum for England opens a brand-new totem tree trail, with beautifully engraved totems and benches, in celebration of the vital role that trees played in the story of coal mining.Younger visitors can get crafty with the tree theme at the free daily Makers’ Shed – making a peg doll from ash wood and a gemstone bookmark inspired by prehistoric trees. At Caphouse Creators, children (7-12 years) can make impressions into clay with organic materials to create a unique botanical relief casting. The much-loved Canary Capers Show returns for daily free performances – where families can learn about Sparky the Canary in a shadow puppet show, guaranteed to delight the young at heart.
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 Rainforest Canopy and come and see our NEW additions – Eastern Collared Lizard siblings, Jamie and Cersei! Find them in Creature Corner and see if they will become your favourite animal at Tropical World. Meet our animal keepers and learn about their work and the animals they look after. 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. Plant the seeds of a lifelong adventure with plants, at RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire this May half term at RHS Garden Harlow Carr at our Family Gardening Festival with Burgon & Ball. From Family Story Yoga to Gardening Tales with the Garden Detectives, or explore the Family Garden Trail. All activities are included with garden admission. Free to RHS members and children under 5.
Temple Newsham: FREE ACTIVITIES. Find your happy at Temple Newsam this May half term. Take part in fun family crafts and activities that will make you feel good and put a smile on your face! Explore the house and don’t forget to visit the happy animals at Home Farm. 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: FREE ACTIVITIES. Follow the Buzzing Bee May half-term trail around the gardens and discover some amazing facts about these striped pollinators.Try out 10 bee-inspired activities in the gardens. Inside the Hall little bumble bees are hiding, can you find them all? Enjoy bee crafting in the discovery room and take your creation home. Normal admission charges apply. FREE ENTRY for National Trust Members and under 5s
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal: FREE ACTIVITIES. Head on a walk around Fountains Abbey and enjoy the ‘Making Faces’ tree trail – see how many clay faces you can find hidden in the trees. Join in with a free spring flower craft at Swanley Grange every day, from 11am – 3pm. Normal admission charges apply.
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: Theatre at the Mill
This May half-term, join Pictureville Cinema for Theatre at the Mill. We’re currently running an off-site cinema and events programme in Bradford.
May Half-term Kids’ Club – A bumper edition of family favourites for just £3 a ticket.
Find our full listings here.
FREE: Livestream Screening – Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The No Brainer Show with Jeff Kinney at Otley Community Hub and Library
Sat 25th May 2024 11:30AM Come on down and unlock your brain power! The No Brainer Show is an outrageously entertaining event hosted by bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney. Streamed live from the Hay Festival and projected on a big screen in your local library, expect an epically fun event that celebrates the…
Meet the Governor at Skipton Castle
25 – 26 May 2024 TIME 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Come and meet Sir John Mallory Governor of Skipton Castle during the English Civil War Hear about the castle’s siege and skirmishes its garrison have already fought and how the King’s cause is faring in Yorkshire. Re-enactments will take place between 10am -5pm…
FREE Family Activity – Dreams And Songs To Sing at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery
May 28 2024 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Visit our new Gypsy Traveller exhibition and meet Author Richard O’Neill for traditional stories and handicrafts. Suitable for families of all ages. Drop in.
FREE The River Project at Skipton Town Hall
Tue 28th May 2024 11:00am & 2:00pm Free Performance Amelia’s homework task is to sit by the river for one minute and write down what she sees and hears. Amelia finds this task “B.O.R.I.N.G boring! Nothing to see, nothing to hear!” But when Amelia really looks and really listens she finds there is an awful…
ONE FOR THE TEENS – FREE MUST BOOK NCS Pre Summer Bash! Food, skating, DJing and fun in the sun!
Our NCS PRE SUMMER BASH is next Wednesday 29th May! Are you or someone you know aged 14 to 18 and looking for something to do in the May half-term? Join…
FREE Putting You In The Picture at Bradford Industrial Museum
May 29 2024 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Visit our “Bairds TV” display, help to make an old fashioned TV and become a news presenter or star in an advert! Suitable for families of all ages. Drop in. Bradford Industrial Museum235 Moorside Rd, Eccleshill, Bradford BD2 3HP
FREE Craven Museum Make & Take: Playful Pets
Wed 29th May 10:00am & 1:00pm Free Drop-in Join us for a relaxed, family craft session in the Concert Hall, suitable for children of all ages. Our May Half term Make & Take ‘Playful Pets’ is in celebration of the new delightful dog themed exhibition at The Mercer art Gallery in Harrogate. Craft your very…
PAYF (Must book): Family Pond Safari at Gallows Hill
Wednesday 29 May, 6.30 – 8.30pm. Bring the kids for an evening exploration of Gallows Hill Nature Area including pond dipping and a torch lit safari. Suitable for ages 7 years+ and accompanying adults. Will we find toads, newts, diving beetles, water boatmen? Will we hear owls hooting, see bats swooping by? Could this be…
FREE Local Myths And Legends at Bolling Hall Museum
May 30 2024 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Explore the stories within the collections, listen to some traditional stories and design a mythical creature. Suitable for families of all ages. Drop in. All of our activities are free, but donations are welcome.
FREE MUST BOOK – Let’s Make History: Craft and Create at Yeadon Community Hub and Library
Fri 31st May 2024. 10.30 – 11.30 am Tap into your creativity and travel back in time! We will be building and paper-folding our way through the past and celebrating Local and Community History Month by exploring our online archive, Leodis. Using Lego and origami we will recreate old images of Leeds and navigate old…
FREE Within Nature – Family Activity at Cliffe Castle Museum
Jun 01 2024 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Artist Louise Garett leads a workshop exploring nature with mark making and drawing. We have split this activity into two time slots – 11am-12pm A “quiet hour” especially for children with SEN/ Neurodiversity. 12.30pm-3pm Suitable for families of all ages….
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 [email protected] 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! [email protected]
The Chevin Geology Trail, Otley
The Chevin Sculpture Trail, Otley
The Aire Valley Sculpture Trail, Saltaire
Ilkley Manor House Puzzle Trail
A walk around Olicana Roman Fort, Ilkley
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
