If you’re stuck indoors on one of these days, why not try some of Mumbler’s tried and tested activities to do at home. From spy games to creating time capsules, you’re guaranteed to have fun. Click here to read.
If the snow is deep enough, these are the favourite sledging spots in and around West Leeds, as mentioned by your fellow Mumblers.
Chevin Park Otley – Park in the car park on Otley Old Road, just opposite the Cheerful Chilli. Follow the main path up the hill to the carved seat and you can sledge down the path on the left.
Golden Acre Park – Park in the read car park off Arthington Road and take the southern path from the car park to the steep slope.
Kirkstall Abbey – The fields opposite the abbey are always very popular with sledgers
Hunger Hills Fields, Horsforth
Pudsey Queens Park
William’s Den is a new and exciting adventure attraction, giving children the chance to connect with nature and get active as they explore a custom designed complex that brings the great outdoors inside. A unique environment, inside and out, where children can play, explore, run, climb, build dens and learn, all in an open, rural and natural setting with a range of facilities tailored to families.
Also run lots of special events and activities both term time and in the school holidays.
For more information please call 01430 472230 or email hello@williamsden.co.uk. Or you can find more info and book tickets on their website here.
William’s Den, Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave, East Riding Of Yorkshire, HU15 2LS. 01430 472230.
Based in Horsforth, Leeds, Honey Pottery is part of the bustling community on New Road Side. Our pottery café has a fun, friendly atmosphere – the perfect place to be inspired and to create! You don’t have to be super arty to enjoy painting at Honey Pottery, we’ll provide everything you need to create your masterpiece!
Tel: 0113 345 1211
Abbey House Museum has a huge range of activities, from dressing up to special tours and much more! Take a break in the cafe and then step outside to use the children’s play area or wander over to Kirkstall Abbey and explore the abbey grounds!
Muddy Monkeys – under 5s craft activities
(Tuesdays, 10am-11am – please check our What’s on website for up-to-date listings)
Fun, free messy and imaginative craft play activites for under fives and their carers.
Children at AMF Hollywood Bowl Leeds who are determined to throw their own can pick from a range of lighter weight balls designed just for the younger player!
Cardigan Fields, Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2DG, England. Tel: 0844 826 1462
Bagshaw museum is a free, educational day out for the family. Children can take part in a Punch and Judy show as well as dress up in costumes based on different periods of time. On a nice day, children may even want to play in the neighbouring Wilton Park.
Woodlands Road, Batley, WF17 0AS. Tel: 01924 324765
Split the family in two and give each team 2-3 hours in the kitchen to bake whatever they want, then invite grandparents, aunties uncles, cousins and friends to judge the culinary creations.
Home of the most exciting laser, all-action, interactive outdoor gaming in the area.
Their battlefield offers thrilling laser combat gaming activities for anyone aged 7 to 107! As long as you are big enough to carry the gun, you can play!
Battlefield Leeds, Castle Gate, Leeds LS26 8HE.Tel: 07552 626888
Board games are a great way to bring the family together and pass the time on a rainy day.
Take a journey through Bolton Abbey on a working steam train! This trip is perfect for kids and there is even a cafe on board the train for lunch or even just for a treat.
The home of Leeds’s first dedicated indoor bouldering centre with 475 square meters of climbing. There are 150 boulder problems ranging from very easy to very hard and a section gets reset every week so there’s always new climbs to have a go at. Adult & kids lessons, birthday parties. Age 6+.
The Cottage Road Cinema is the oldest cinema in Leeds and one of the few remaining independently run cinemas in the country.
Headingley, Leeds, LS6 4DD. Tel: 0113 2751 606
This is a great little railway line that is set within the Yorkshire Dales. The journey is very scenic with open views of the countryside that go as far as the eye can see. Often have family events with special character appearances like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, see website for more detail.
Bolton Abbey Railway Station, Skipton BD23 6AF. Tel: 01756 710614
Eureka! is a unique place for families to visit, where children aged 0 to 11 are inspired to learn all about themselves and the world around them by playing, imagining, experimenting and – above all – having fun. Accessible site. Cafe, toilet facilities & shop.
Closed Monday’s Term Time, check website opening times before visiting.
Eureka, Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE. Tel: 01422 330069
Multi screen cinema with with a passion for quality. Bar and adjoining restaurant for blockbuster and cult films with drinks service. Special events, private parties, birthday parties.
Relax, have fun and get creative, all ages are welcome with a great range of child and adult friendly services. We offer a wonderful environment in which to paint pottery, work with clay and enjoy crafts. Whatever you are enjoying with us, we are always on hand to give friendly guidance and tips!
116 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4AH
Fort building is an excellent at home activity with the kids that can provide hours of entertainment. Plus, it’s completely free!
The splash park has something to do for everyone! There are water features and small slides for children, as well as a lazy river, swimming pools and large slides for all the family. To book, call 01484 766269.
Hailed as “The cosiest cinema in Leeds” the Picture House has been in constant operation since 1914. The programme features a rich mixture of traditional arthouse films, key cross over titles and a varied array of special events.
Wednesday: Bring Your Own Baby screenings are a chance for parents and carers of babies up to 12 months old, to get to the cinema. With raised lighting levels, reduced volume and baby changing/bottle warming facilities, the aim is to make the screenings as comfortable for parents as possible.
Hyde Park Picture House 73 Brudenell Road, Leeds, LS6 1JD Tel: 0113 275 2045
Jigsaw Juniors is a play cafe and party venue for younger children in Horsforth, Leeds. We offer pay & play 9am to 3.00pm Mon to Fri and private exclusive use parties at weekends. Fully equipped sensory room also available.
Tel: 0113 258 1093. 30 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RJ.
Indoor trampoline park in Leeds, with dodgeball courts, free jumping foam pits, basketball hoops and much more! Look out for special events. Birthday parties catered for.
Redcote Lane, Leeds, LS4 2AL. Tel: 0113 263 5951.
Soft play, cafe and party venue for younger children in Yeadon, Leeds. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5.00pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4pm. Cafe serving delicious food including home made cakes. Separate sensory and baby area also available.
A Great Family Day Out! Climb aboard our little steam trains for a scenic railway journey from Clayton West to Shelley, in the beautiful South Pennine Foothills. Cafe, shop, playground, miniature railway, picnic areas and bouncy castle. Special seasonal events. Birthday parties.
Park Mill Way, Clayton West, Clayton West HD8 9XJ.Tel: 01484 865727
Currently closed in order for essential repairs to be carried out on the Victorian roof; however will reopen galleries to the public from Friday 13 October 2017.
Tiled Hall Café, Visit Leeds and the Gallery Shop are still open throughout the building works, as are close neighbours Henry Moore Institute and Craft Centre and Design Gallery Leeds.
A great family day out with 4.5 billion years of discovery. If you love Leeds history, the ancient worlds, natural sciences, there’s plenty to enjoy. Cafe & toilet facilities. Accessible site. Free admission, closed Mondays.
Join Rory, the Leeds City Museum tiger for regular craft activities at the Museum every Saturday between 11am and 12.15pm. Also offers free craft activities for children under five during Tiny Tigers sessions at 10am – 11.45am on Fridays.
Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH. Tel: 0113 378 5001
Step back in time to discover the industrial history of Leeds that the city was famous for. From textiles to printing, clothing to manufacturing, engineering and locomotives. Great fun for all age groups. Open Tuesday-Sunday. Call 0113 378 3173.
Help the kids to construct their very own finger puppet theatre and puppets. Then spend the afternoon watching their theatre productions.
Get out the aprons and enjoy an afternoon of messy play! It’s the perfect indoor activity for everyone.
Middleton Railway is the world’s oldest working railway, offering train rides on weekends and school holidays. Museum, gift shop and toilet facilities. Special events throughout the year. Birthday parties.
The Station, Moor Road, Hunslet, LS10 2JQ. Tel: 0845 680 1758
With new films coming out every two seconds, a movie afternoon is an activity that can never fail. You could even try making your own popcorn.
Ahoy there, me hearty! Arrrr you ready for a swashbuckling adventure? Then it’s time to follow me to Mr Mulligan’s Pirate Golf in Castleford. You can play two rip-roaringly adventurous 18-hole out-of-doors courses at Skull Cove and Smugglers’ Bay. BEWARE: all 36 holes are riddled with peril and dastardly traps…Birthday parties catered for.
Junction 32 Outlet Village, Tomahawk Trail, Glasshoughton, Castleford, WF10 4FR. Tel: 01977 550030
The National Railway museum is a free day out in York. The whole family can explore many trains from throughout history and learn all about 300 years of railway.
Explore the science and culture of light and sound technologies and their impact on our lives. The museum aims to inspire our scientists and engineers of the future to see more, hear more, think more and do more.
The galleries and exhibition spaces help illuminate world-famous collections in photography, film and television and the team of Explainers create learning activities that fuel the imagination.
Three cinema screens—including an IMAX theatre—showcase the magic of moving images
Bradford, BD1 1NQ. Tel: 0844 856 3797
We are a family run farm, providing an excellent farm shop stocked with our own renowned meats, and you can take a walk around our outside animal area or visit the pigs, rabbits and other animals inside the barn. We have a large indoor sandpit and small play area for children. There is lots of free parking and a special picnic area.
None Go Bye Farm Shop, Otley Old Rd, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS18 5HZ. TEL:0113 284 2206
Odeon Leeds-Bradford is a multiplex cinema at Gallagher Leisure Park, Thornbury, West Yorkshire, between the cities of Leeds and Bradford in England. It has 13 screens
10 different jumping zones with limitless activities to get you jumping like never before; performance trampolines, a mega airbag, Freejumping, dodgeball and volleyball courts, speed reaction and fitness challenges, a foam pit, and a super obstacle course to conquer!
So what are you waiting for? Jump in!
Cardigan Fields, Kirkstall Road, LS4 2DG. Tel: 020 3846 1386
Roxy lane is a fantastic place to go on a rainy day. It houses many bowling lanes and even caters for kids with flashing light up and lightweight balls! For more information, contact 0113 467 2300.
School of Sew takes a fresh new approach on teaching traditional sewing skills to people of all age, covering threading a needle and how to create fabric masterpieces. They also offer sewing parties for children age 8 – 16.
Contact at 0113 418 2718
No 1 The Spinning Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Leeds LS28 5UJ
Welcome to the world of SCRAP: Everything you need for a crafty project under one roof and cheap as chips too. They also host a range of Design, Tinker, Make and Play sessions suitable for all ages.
Tel: 0113 3452627
Snozone Castleford houses a 170m slope. This fabulous indoor slope means you can year round ski, snowboard and toboggan with all the family. With a SnoAcademy for children just learning as well as special family fun activities including sledging the traditional way. Situated in the Xscape complex.
Get ready for high-octane go karting over 580m of racing tarmac! Glide through hairpins and speed along the straights as you tackle the longest indoor circuit in Yorkshire. Perfect for family days out, kids’ parties and corporate events, this Leeds track offers an unforgettable experience for true thrill seekers. Age 8+.
69 South Accommodation Road, Leeds LS10 1NQ. Tel: 0844 998 0000
Through nine interactive galleries go on a journey of discovery to explore the incredible world of medicine. Travel from the Victorian age to the present day to explore the fascinating world of surgery and find out how breakthroughs in science have changed all our lives for the better.
Exciting family activities take place at weekends and during every school holiday. Car park and cafe.
Thackray Medical Museum, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7LN. Tel: 0113 244 4343
Jam packed with vertical, overhanging and slab walls. There are also a Bodyweight Workout Area, Zlag board, Peg Board and Campus Boards. And for those with children there is a dedicated area for younger climbers. Kids lessons & birthday parties. Age 5+
Units 14 & 15, Kirkstall Industrial Park, Leeds LS4 2AZ. Tel: 0113 263 2742
The gallery brings together work from Wakefield’s art collection, exhibitions by contemporary artists and rarely seen works by Barbara Hepworth. Regular special events & kids art sessions. Cafe, shop, outdoor play area. Free. Closed Mondays.
Visit The Leeds Wall and test yourself on their newest adventure – The Leeds Adventure Zone. With 10 themed walls to choose from you can have hours of fun & fitness whatever the weather! Suitable for children age 4+.
Open: Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm. Saturday & Sunday 10am-7pm
Address: The Leeds Wall, 100a Geldard Road, Leeds, LS12 6BY Tel: 0113 2341554
Yorkshire’s Premier Climbing Centre for climbing routes, bouldering, dry tooling & outdoor climbing. Adult & kids courses, kids holiday clubs, birthday parties. Age 6+
The Royal Armouries is home to the United Kingdom’s national collection of arms, armour and artillery. Look out for special seasonal & school holiday events. Free entry. Family friendly. Accessible site. Cafe & toilet facilities.
Royal Armouries, Leeds, LS10 1LT. Tel: 0113 220 1999.
Contemporary art centre with galleries, learning studio, workspaces for creative industries, restaurant and bar, in the heart of Leeds’ South Bank. Special events and school holiday activities.
The Tetley, Hunslet Road, Leeds LS10 1JQ. Tel: 0113 320 2323
Set on a beautiful island in the canal just 2 miles from Leeds city centre, Thwaite Mills is one of the last examples in Britain of a water-powered mill. Open weekends & school holidays, look out for the special events. Accessible site. Toilets & shop.
Here at mumbler, we’re big advocates of recycling (hence our toy exchange) and what better way to update your toy supply than to swap with friends. Invite friends round for tea, cake and toys!
With only a little forward planning required, a treasure hunt is a great activity to involve the whole family. Why not make your hunt educational? Use maths puzzles and problem solving as part of your clues.
Tropical World offers a unique opportunity to explore the jungle, desert, nocturnal and aquatic habitats with plants and animals such as crocodiles, butterflies, bats, snakes and a gorgeous family of meerkats! Shop, cafe & toilet facilities.
Princes Ave, Roundhay Park, Leeds LS8 2ER. Tel: 0113 237 0754
Located in Cardigan Fields Leisure Park on Kirstall Road, Vue Leeds Kirkstall has ten screens – including an IMAX screen – with over 1,880 seats.
York Chocolate Story is an interactive journey through the history of chocolate making in York. It is perfect for all chocolate lovers and makes an excellent day out for the whole family.
This place has a great (free) outdoor play area with wooden structures and indoor barn area for those having the full dining experience. Separated out into under and over 7 year olds, and just £1.00 per child entry, the bigger kids can enjoy high adventure, whilst the little ones can take it more gently in their own play space. Brilliant 1950’s style parlour serving sundaes, breakfasts, burgers and hotdogs, coffees, cakes & all sorts!
Calm Slate Farm, Halton East, Bolton Abbey, BD23 6EU. Tel: 01756 711826
