The 19 best things to do in Leeds with kids

For years, I associated with Leeds with grown-up city breaks – all the shopping, bars, fabulous opera and theatre and cool hotels – but having rediscovered the city with my daughter, there are so many things to do in Leeds with kids that it’s perfect for families too.

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For starters it’s incredibly walkable (and there are several trails to help persuade kids to join in), with lots of pedestrian streets and a string of cool arcades to stroll down.

And while there are all the usual bonuses of a big UK city, there are some more unusual museums which we loved, along with places to eat that manage to tempt both foodies and families with fussy eaters.

For ideas of more things to do in Yorkshire with kids, check out my top picks

Royal Armouries museum

When you describe the Royal Armouries – a museum which traces the history of war, plus activities to see alongside the displays – it doesn’t capture how brilliantly engrossing it is.

I admit, I’d assumed my daughter and I might while away an hour here before moving on, but really, you could spend a whole day without difficulty.

The first galleries focus on the early empires, from the Egyptians and Hittites to Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, not to mention Persians, Alexander the Great and more.

Then the floor are split geographically. There’s western Europe, with whole displays on medieval battles, castle building, the development of armour, and through to the English Civil War and Waterloo, as well as the First World War.

For a full review of a day at the Royal Armouries with kids, check out my post

Separately, other displays focus on China, Japan and India, with eye-catching exhibits like armour for an elephant as well as a replica Terracotta warrior and the ferocious armour for the Shogun’s guards.

Not to mention exhibits on fencing, on developments in forensics and new technology, temporary exhibitions, plus peace protests and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament – this is somewhere which makes you think about warfare as you explore.

During our visit in the school holidays, there was also a chance to see riders demonstrating Tudor sword and lance techniques on horseback (before visiting the stables), not forgetting sword-fighting displays.

And that’s still only a brief introduction – if you visit Leeds, this is simply unmissable. After all, where else can you watch horses in the tiltyard, follow the action at Agincourt and see the inspiration for Darth Vader’s helmet, all in one place?

You can walk along the riverside to get to the Royal Armouries, or take a water taxi from Leeds City Centre which run every 15 minutes

Thackray Museum

After a £4 million redevelopment, the Thackray Museum reopened with extra galleries joining old favourites like Disease Street, to tell the story of medicine and public health.

Like the Royal Armouries, it’s definitely something different to the usual run of museums – and is equally fascinating, as well as being family-friendly.

Starting with Disease Street, a recreation of Leeds in 1840 (complete with authentic smells), you can choose a character from a spinning wheel, then pick up a card to slot in to various points along the street, revealing more of their story. Unsurprisingly, not always with a happy ending!

Along the way, there are plenty of startling facts – a street with over 350 people would have had two shared public privies, for example! – plus some of the major discoveries which still form the basis of medicine today.

There are some great interactives too – such as challenging kids to answer whether you can be ‘too clean’, and inspiring them to get creative by inventing their own device, plus quizzes.

Along the way, there are some weird and wonderful quack remedies, an ornate apothecary’s shop and some live leeches, through to X-rays, transplants, the discovery of DNA, and the end of iron lungs.

There’s also a sexual health clinic area (you can detour around this with younger kids if you prefer) and displays to trick your brains – as well as explanations about how they work.

Whether you want to forget Covid altogether or appreciate just how far medical science has come, it’s a great day out with kids in Leeds.

Check out my review of a visit to the Thackray Museum with kids

Leeds City Museum

The small city museum has a tempting mix of different displays, ranging from Romans and ancient Egyptians (including a mummy) to the history of Leeds and a cleverly designed natural history section.

There’s no entry charge, so it’s great if you’re looking for free things to do in Leeds with kids, plus it means that if your family is only interested in one area – or you fancy a couple of short visits rather than one long one – it’s the ideal solution.

We loved the exhibit on the development of language, from the earliest writings, plus a bit of code-breaking on the side, as well as the chance to trace the history of Leeds from prehistoric times through Romans, Vikings and Normans to the Industrial Revolution.

There are more interactive exhibits here too (lifting the flaps to find sweets that contained poison was a stand-out memory).

Meanwhile the natural history section has plenty on conservation and sustainability, as well as the chance to ‘design’ your own animal, following the lines on the floor.

You can also wander through time from earth’s earliest life, finding out more about stromalites, ammonites, and fish fossils and the earliest trees, before learning about camouflage.

A visit here feels a little like a treasure trove, where you’re never sure what you’ll discover next: perfect for keeping kids entertained and great if you’re looking for an indoor option on a rainy day in Leeds.

Leeds Discovery Centre

With around 1.2 million items stored here, Leeds Discovery Centre is a literal treasure trove, a state-of-the-art storage centre that’s home to everything from elephant skulls to a medieval log boat, mummy bandages and meteorites.

There are sometimes special events, or you can speak to them about arranging activities for groups, as well as family friendly visits.

Best of all, it’s free to visit, although you do need to book in advance to get access. It’s a little way beyond the Royal Armouries Museum if you’re coming from Leeds City Centre, or you can get bus number 29 from Leeds Dock.

Leeds Industrial Museum

There’s a chance to learn more about the city’s heritage at Leeds Industrial Museum, just outside the city at Armley Mills. And if you think that doesn’t sound too tempting for kids, it’s home to railway equipment, displays on how the city played its part in high street fashion, and a whole series of cameras and printing presses.

You can take a peek inside a house furnished and decorated as if it were still 1969 and wander through the garden, filled with flowers used for traditional dyes.

There’s even one of the smallest 1920s cinemas in the world, the Palace Picture House and changing exhibitions.

Around a 10-minute drive from Leeds City Centre, there are also several buses which will take you to the museum or nearby – the number 14 stops on Canal Road where the museum is based, or various others stop on Kirkstall Road nearby, including 33, 33A, 508 and 757.

Kirkstall Abbey

One of the most complete medieval abbeys in the UK, Kirkstall Abbey was founded over 800 years ago as a Cistercian Abbey.

It’s another great free day out in Leeds with kids, with regular family events and activities during holidays, including trails and art packs.

Whenever you visit, you can stroll through the ruined abbey buildings and the lovely parkland on the banks of the river, plus more about the monks who lived here, on display at the visitor centre.

If you’re driving, there’s a free car park nearby at Abbey House Museum, while bus 33 also runs from the city centre.

Abbey House museum

In the galleries at Abbey House Museum, you’ll be transported back to life in Victorian Leeds, strolling recreated 19th century streets.

There are shops, a pub and houses, where you can peer inside and see how people lived a century or so ago, as well as regular new exhibitions.

You can also discover a whole area on classic toys, including traditional games and Victorian dolls – you can even play some of the original penny slot machines (and buy an old-fashioned penny from the vending machine to do it).

Look out for extra events and activities during the school holidays, for added fun.

Leeds Art Gallery

Focused on modern and contemporary art, there’s still plenty which makes the Leeds Art Gallery family-friendly – during our summer visit, for example, there were creative activity bags to take away, ideal for inspiring your kids.

Another of the string of free places to visit in Leeds with kids, you’ll find exhibits to get everyone thinking – a Damien Hirst sculpture, as well as works by Anthony Gormley, between bright contemporary art and Victorian paintings.

There are also regular temporary exhibitions, and don’t miss Artspace, a creative space in the heart of the gallery, which is designed to be family-friendly.

Spot the owls

I love how walkable Leeds is – as we explored, we found ourselves criss-crossing the streets, ambling down pretty pedestrianised roads, stumbling across alleyways.

But if you need something more to persuade your kids to get out and explore, Leeds also has a string of walking trails which are ideal for families.

Some change from year to year (2021 saw animatronic dinosaurs in shopping centres across the city, while there was a Bear Hunt themed trail in 2023), but you’ll always be able to look for the owls dotted around Leeds, the symbol of the city.

You can download the owl trail map here – or buy it for a pound at Visit Leeds at The Leeds Visitors Centre and Art Gallery Shop (the city museum also had some in their shop during our visit).

A lot of the statues are found around the older buildings, including City Hall, the Library, the war memorial and cathedral among others, but keep your eyes open and the map to hand and you can find 25 as you explore.

Street art trail

Leeds was embracing street art before it was cool – and if your kids love spotting murals and other imaginative creations, the city’s street art trail is another perfect way to explore Leeds with kids.

Some is inspired by the city itself – one mural features the elephant armour from the Royal Armouries and the white rose of Yorkshire, another includes an owl, and even a deep-sea diver climbing out of a washing machine.

With some tucked away down little alleys and others most visible from the water, it’s a good way to find works you might not otherwise stumble across – some are several storeys high, but the trail is a good reminder to always keep your eyes open.

Junkyard Golf

Crazy golf always goes down well with my daughter, but with its disco lights, tongue-in-cheek puns (one hole called Pablo Discobar…) and very fun holes, the course at Junkyard Golf is great for families.

Kiids are allowed during the daytimes until 6pm for golf on Sunday to Thursday, so make the most of it by booking one of the three courses, called Gary, Pablo and Bozo.

We went for jungle-themed Pablo, which featured a jaguar wearing headphones, a mini volcano, unexpected trapdoors in slopes and hidden chutes along the way.

Unlike some mini golf courses, which are frustratingly tricky, all the holes are possible to play, which is a lot more fun.

Check out the old arcades

Wandering through an traditional shopping arcade might not seem like an obvious one to put on a list of things to do in Leeds with kids.

But these wonderful vintage arcades have some quirky temptations as well: in several, including the Grand Arcade and Thornton’s arcade, there are some fabulous clocks with figures which move and strike bells on the hour.

Thornton’s arcade features Robin Hood while the Grand Arcade has knights in armour, both over 100 years old.

Throw in beautiful ceilings, not to mention OK Comics in Thornton’s Arcade, and time your stroll through to watch the free show.

Take the water taxi

Whether you choose to take the little yellow water taxis to the Royal Armouries or just have a mini cruise along the river Aire, a ride is a bargain at £2.

The two boats (Twee and Drie, from Amsterdam) sail between Granary Wharf (near the Doubletree by Hilton hotel) and Leeds Dock, every 15 minutes – and kids aged five and under are free.

Roundhay Park & Tropical World

One of the largest parks in Europe, Roundhay Park – not far from the city centre – stretches over a whopping 700 acres.

With lakes and woodland in the park, as well as activities galore and some open-air theatre in summer, you can also visit Tropical World, the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens.

There are also a string of walking routes, including past the castle ruins and around the lake, and several play areas to entertain younger kids.

And older ones will love the areas based on famous gardens from around the world, including a recreation of the Alhambra in Granada as well as Monet’s Garden, or the more dramatic landscape of the gorge with its waterfall.

Harewood House

There’s far more than just the stately home to discover at Harewood House – this is somewhere to spend all day exploring.

The grounds have three walking trails to help you explore, along with a great adventure playground, and a natural play area in the woods, a ‘secret’ tunnel to the Norman church, formal gardens, a pretty lake with a ferry heading across to more gardens and usually boat trips running too.

You’ll also find a string of farmyard animals, from guinea pigs to actual pigs, and a host of rare birds, including macaws and cockatoos, lovebirds and a flamboyance of flamingos.

My own favourite was the penguin pool, with its small colony of Humboldt penguins swimming in the water.

Despite all the temptations outdoors, you shouldn’t miss the house itself. The rooms are as gloriously ornate as you’d expect, packed with portraits and artworks, including some more unusual African pieces – along the way, you can also discover more about Harewood’s links to the slave trade.

Fans of period dramas might already recognise the rooms below stairs, which have been used to film Victoria, Lost in Austen and Downton Abbey (Emmerdale is also shot on the estate), with dresses and replica food on display, not to mention a gigantic collection of copper saucepans and moulds.

It’s around 20 minutes’ drive from Leeds city centre or you can take bus 36, which takes around 40 minutes including a short walk at the end.

Read my full review of a day out at Harewood House with kids

Temple Newsam

Another great historic house with plenty to do in the grounds for kids, Temple Newsam is only around 15 minutes’ drive from Leeds city centre if you’re looking for easy family days out.

The rare breed Home farm is a big hit with younger kids – and older ones, for that matter – with everything from the small and fluffy, including guinea pigs, to rarer farm animals, all set within the outbuildings and around the cobbled yard.

There are some lovely walks around the grounds too if you’re looking for outdoor activities, with nature trails and an adventure playground too. Check out the three lakes, all designed to have a slightly different feel, to choose your favourite, as well as exploring the walled garden and rhododendron walk.

The house itself was the birthplace of Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, and there are over five centuries of history to discover here – you can learn some of the stories as you explore and get a sense of what life in this grand family home must have been like.

You’ll often find extra activities in school holidays too, along with children’s trails and dressing up.

As well as parking (paid) on site, buses 19 and 19A run from Leeds to Whitkirk, around one mile from Temple Newsam – allow around 50 minutes, including the walk.

Lotherton

There’s another lovely wildlife park to visit in the grounds of this Edwardian country estate, around 30 minutes outside Leeds.

Originally a bird garden, the stars at Lotherton Widlife World are normally the penguins although there are currently upgrades on their tank, but you can also spot flamingos, as well as tapir and capybara in the different zones, not to mention learning about conservation and the threats from pollution and climate change.

There are also adventure playgrounds for different ages, including an area for kids under eight, plus zip wires in the woodland play area and lawn games in the garden – anyone for croquet, giant chess or getting lost in the hay bale maze?

Or spot deer in the woodland, follow one of several walking trails and explore some of the eight acres of gardens.

The house itself is frozen in time during the early 1900s for a taste of upper class Edwardian life, as well as restored servants’ rooms to discover more about those behind the scenes who made it possible – upstairs is closed during the winter months.

There are also five curiosity cabinets for families to rummage through, with objects linked to the history of the hall, trails for kids to follow around Lotherton, dressing up, an interactive display about the owners’ travels across the world plus fashion exhibitions within the house.

This is one historic house that’s best visited by car – there’s parking (paid). You can take buses 64/64A to Aberford from Leeds, but you can expect a 20-30 minute walk along a busy road to get to Lotherton.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

This city farm, just outside Leeds itself, stretches across 24 acres with a chance for visitors to see animals and allotments on the site.

There’s a lovely woodland path, a chance to spy birds, plus lots of eco-friendly sides to get kids thinking about conservation, such as solar panels.

Realistically most are going to be more excited by the chance to see alpacas and guinea pigs, as well as all the usual farm animals on a working farm, but it’s a lovely spot for kids both young and older with nature booklets for different ages to entertain them as well.

There’s a small car park at Meanwood Valley Farm, or you can take bus 38/39 for the 15-minute journey to Woodhouse Cricket Club, which is around a 10-minute walk from the farm.

Stockeld Park, Wetherby

Just across the border from West Yorkshire but still only around half an hour north of Leeds, Stockeld Park near Wetherby is another great option for a fun family day out from the city.

The outdoor adventure park has a huge variety of fun-filled family activities to choose from, and it’s open during most school holidays

Little adventurers can explore the themed play areas along The Enchanted Forest walking trail, get lost in the expansive hedge maze, and go crazy on the go-kart track.

There are lots of seasonal activities and events too. During the summer holidays, you’ll find an inflatable obstacle course and roller skating rink. Then at Christmas, you can visit Santa’s Grotto, explore the beautiful winter illuminations, pick up a tree from the Christmas tree shop, and go ice skating.

For more ideas of things to do in Yorkshire with kids, including theme parks near Leeds, check out my top picks as well as our visits to Nostell Priory and the Room on the Broom trail at Anglers Country Park

Where to eat in Leeds with kids

If you love your food, you’re going to love Leeds – and even better, if your kids aren’t such foodies, there’s still plenty to keep everyone happy.

At Trinity Kitchen, there’s a whole collection of street food stands with extra pop-up stalls, so you could eat anything from burgers and burritos to pizza and Pho, as well as a fantastic rolled naan wrap and cinnamon dusted doughnuts.

And if you fancy something a bit more adventurous than your kids, they can stick with a simpler option while you can experiment. My advice? Turn up hungry!

My daughter never says no to pizza, and Pizza Fella was a big hit too – proper big woodfired pizzas (and £5 margheritas currently at weekday lunchtimes) were delicious. [EDIT: Sadly this closed in May 2023]

Save space for dessert as well: roasted peanut butter, chocolate and caramel ice cream was fantastic.

If you prefer a burger, Almost Famous has burgers so big and packed with ingredients, you practically need a wash after scoffing one of them.

My Liberty Island burger was huge, oozing with sauces on buttermilk chicken – a three napkin job – while there’s a simpler menu for kids too.

No room for dessert here, although my cocktail – a limoncello-based martini – was almost as sweet as the candy decorations inside our table.

For somewhere a little more unusual, I loved Bundobust too. A modern twist on classic Indian dishes, it’s all veggie or vegan Gujurati style, and the idea is to get lots of little plates and share.

We got thoroughly carried away, and my daughter was persuaded to try aloo paratha and chole saag, while I also tucked into a spicier bundo chaat.

There’s a great beer menu, not to mention a mango coconut mojito, and a dreamy mango lassi for my daughter as well.

Where to stay in Leeds with kids

You can find most of the big name chain hotels in Leeds – and often discount offers, such as the Be Our Guest promotion during the summer we visited, to help keep the costs down.

And one of the things I loved about our family holiday in Leeds was how easy it was to get everywhere from our own hotel, the Radisson Blu Leeds, in The Light.

Everything in the city was within walking distance: the furthest we ever had to wander was around 20 minutes to the Royal Armouries (and a lovely wander it was). The city museum and civic buildings – plus a lot of owls from the trail – were about 2 minutes away, the shops and restaurants, all within about 5-10 minutes.

There’s parking in The Light too, with a discount for hotel guests, if you’re planning to drive to the Thackray Museum or Harewood House.

Our room had a big comfy bed, plus a giant TV (with sanitised remote control!) and a desk where I could catch up on work after my daughter fell asleep – not to mention a quick filling bath and Radisson Blu toiletries.

There’s a great buffet for breakfast – always a highlight of a hotel stay – plus other hot food options in the restaurant.

Art deco touches tie in with the building’s history as well, plus you’ll spot some Leeds influences in the decorations.

Even more fun were the street art style decorations on the open space between floors – near the lifts, you can peer down into the walkways and open area between the corridor to the rooms to spot them.

For more information on a family holiday in Leeds, check out Visit Leeds

*first published 2021, last updated 2023*

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN LEEDS WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. My stay, entry to some attractions and some of our food was free for the purposes of review, but all opinions are my own.

Main image/Leeds Industrial Museum/Kirkstall Abbey/alpaca courtesy Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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