Things to do in Leeds with the kids

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Known as the cultural heart of West Yorkshire, Leeds offers the very best of three things: proximity to York and Manchester, excellent public transport links, and a thriving entertainment scene. There are plenty of things to do with kids in Leeds, including everything from ice skating to mini golf and arcade games, making the city a perfect hotspot for parents. Whether you’re looking for an educational experience, a birthday venue or for them to simply play, you’ll find what you need in Leeds.

Zoom on skates at Planet Ice

Planet Ice is Leeds’ headlining leisure centre for cold-blooded skating enthusiasts. Residents can sign up for 6-week ice skating courses for kids, where they’ll learn how to zoom across the ice without going head over heels. However, if you think that’s part of the fun, book in for a one hour birthday party on the ice - you can even sign your toddlers up for supervised skating! 

Swing through the trees at Go Ape

If your young ones dream of being monkeys, Go Ape at Temple Newsam a 20-minute drive from the city centre could be an opportunity to pursue some wish fulfilment. Let them whizz down ziplines, climb into the trees and tackle obstacle courses off the ground in an event great for kids of almost all ages. Go Ape is designed to be fun for everyone, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on a good day while you supervise

Put your heads together to escape a room

Escape rooms are wildly popular across the UK, and Leeds has no shortage of options to choose from. Some interesting rooms are available at Escape Hunt, where you can set out to find Excalibur, help Alice out in Puzzleland, search for Blackbeard’s treasure or discover the world of samurais. Just remember that it’s important to check the theming of an Escape Room before you book, especially if younger children are involved! 

Take the young knights to the Royal Armouries

Do your little ones play with air-swords to rescue maidens and defend castles from dragons? Why not bequeath upon them a trip to the Royal Armouries, where they can see real armour used through the ages, alongside jousting equipment, helmets and swords. Take them to watch performances in the auditorium or let their imagination run wild when they see the museum’s (mostly) intact elephant armour, complete with models to match. 

Find a storytelling nook at the library

Afternoons out don’t have to be grand, planned events. There are plenty of free things to do in Leeds with kids, and sometimes taking them to the local library and simply letting them pick out their favourite books from the children’s nook is all the entertainment as they need. The Leeds Libraries have lots of facilities for children, including family-friendly library areas and resources such as mini playboxes for toddlers. Sitting down at the library and reading stories will be a special memory for the kids growing up, and it’ll also help them to learn and study at school. 

Make maths physical at MathsCity

When you think of a ‘science centre’, things like planetariums, windmills and steam engines come to mind. Engineering, astrophysics and chemistry are all on display - but what if we gave maths the same glory? It might not sound like a thrilling day out, but MathsCity offers a unique and intriguing premise: to make maths physical. The discovery centre explores the importance of maths in human achievement, including its position as the parent of all other sciences, and allows children to step inside a giant bubble, as well as a kaleidoscope!

Discover history at Leeds City Museum

Did you know that Leeds has a collection of over 800,000 animals in museums and collections? At Leeds City Museum, the kids can encounter a whole exhibition of them, ranging from stuffed bears to cassowaries. The museum also takes a holistic approach to history, with educational resources ranging from the history of Leeds itself to its connections with Asia. There are even exhibits exploring the ancient worlds of Greece, Egypt and Rome. In fact, it might even take more than one trip to explore them all!

Roleplay together at the Hidden Village

If you’re looking for indoor activities for kids, Leeds is happy to comply. The Hidden Village is a cute child-size village designed for roleplay, with play stations including a construction site, a cafe, a police station, a post office and more. Attached to a lovely little cafe, the Hidden Village is designed to let you relax while the kids play or join in with them as they discover their very own town. Alternatively, you can sit down at a miniature cafe table and let your kids serve you tea for once (even if it’s not real). 

Enable their competitiveness at mini golf

Children are competitive, and nothing unlocks that streak quite like a round of mini golf. Putt & Play at the Springs has a course designed just for children, with a ‘rookie’ difficulty to keep them entertained without creating any frustration. You can also enjoy higher difficulties with them if they’re used to mini golf, with several courses available across various themes and designs. 

Play retro games at an arcade

Arcades have been a classic day out since the 1970s, with old favourites like Space Invader, Snake and Pacman still headlining nostalgic venues to this day. Take the kids to the Arcade Club in Leeds to let them coordinate attacks on aliens and ghosts. Beware: their ambitious streak is bound to come out, and there’s no avoiding a bit of healthy competition. 

Spend a day at Tropical World

A day out at a zoo is a classic option for birthdays and family holidays, and for good reason! Leeds Zoo Tropical World is home to crocodiles, monkeys, meerkats, snakes and plenty more, and is located just north of the city. Tropical World also preserves a range of native UK meadows where you can see local butterflies, and there are plenty of educational opportunities around self-guided routes to help kids learn about the ecosystem. 

While it can be daunting to entertain young children in a city, Leeds has plenty of kid-friendly options to help keep them busy and happy on weekends and holidays. We’ve saved a few honourable mentions until last: taking them to see the fish at an aquatics shop, visiting the animals in Pets at Home, going to a winter market or letting them play at one of many play parks around the city. 

If you’re spoiled for choice and you can’t decide how to fill your trip, why not check out our new build homes in Leeds to see if you could make the city your home? 

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