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WHAT TO DO IN LEEDS?: Summer holiday family events

August 3, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

There’s plenty to do in Leeds, West Yorkshire with the kids this summer. Here’s the lowdown of what’s going on whether you live in Yorkshire or are visiting for a fun day out.

Abbey House Museum

School Holidays

Until 30 Aug

Inspired by our current temporary exhibition, Danger Zone, we will be making crafts and having fun with a different theme each week. From bugs and insects to spies and crimes, there’s plenty to get involved in with the family. Plus, we’ll be theming our silly science sessions so come along to get involved and find out something new!

30 Jul & 2 Aug – Spies and Crimes crafts

31 Jul – Spies and Crimes silly science

6 & 9 Aug – Reptiles and Roars crafts

13 & 16 Aug – Dinosaur crafts

14 Aug – Dinosaur silly science

20 & 23 Aug – Jungle crafts

27 & 30 Aug – Pirates crafts

28 Aug – Pirates silly science

Each Thursday in the holidays – Danger Zone Quest

All sessions run 10am-12pm & 2-4pm.

Leeds Art Gallery

Artspace: Sculpture Experiences

Until 29 Sept

Leeds Art Gallery’s popular creative space for families and others hosts imaginative activities inspired by YSI artist-work within the gallery making links between sculpture and everyday experience of a world full of objects. Check our website for Artspace pop-up events aiming to surprise, play and make us laugh hosted by the Henry Moore Institute and others.

Leeds City Museum

School Holidays

Until 30 Aug, 10am-12pm & 1-3pm

Make Marvellous Music at Leeds City Museum this summer holidays. Explore the musical side of our collections by following our Strange Sounds trail and hear the haunting tune of the Malham Pipe, our 2500 year old whistle! Each week make and decorate two different simple musical instruments from shakers and castanets to Japanese pellet drums and an Ancient Egyptian Sistrum. Design a sheet music decoration to take home.

Leeds Industrial Museum

School Holidays

12.30 to 3pm Tues, Wed, Thurs in summer holidays

Arts & craft workshops linked to our museum collection, including printing and wool felting.

Vintage Bus Day

18 Aug, 10am-5pm

Catch beautifully restored buses and coaches to hop between the city centre and Leeds Industrial Museum, Middleton Railway and Thwaite Mills. Purchase a ticket to either Leeds Industrial Museum or Thwaite Watermill and gain free entry to the other one on the same day! Jump off the bus at Thwaite Mills for a day of fun activities for all the family, including a classic car show and children’s entertainment then head over to Leeds Industrial Museum to see a transport themed movie in the 1920s cinema.

Thwaite Watermill

School Holidays

Until 27 Aug, Tues & Thurs, 1-5pm

Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays for crafts and experiments with a different theme each week. Make a windmill, design some super cool shades and discover the wonders of ‘smart materials’ this summer.

Vintage Bus Day

18 Aug, 10am-5pm

Lotherton

A Sixties Summer of Fun

24 Jul – 1 Sept

Stuck for something to do for six weeks? Then why not visit us throughout summer for our Flower Power trail, swinging sixties crafts and on special days, artists workshops. Each week we will have a new theme that celebrates Lotherton as it approaches its special milestone birthday.

Week 1: Sixties Summer week

Week 2: Flower Power week

Week 3: Lotherton Birthday week

Week 4: Fashion Crafts week – from the 1960s to now

Week 5: Groovy Zoo week

Week 6: Love Lotherton week

Temple Newsam

Through the ages for all ages tour

Every Sat & Sun, 2.30pm

A tour for our younger visitors with a chance to handle some items from our collection and hear stories of some of the people who lived here.

School Holidays – Monsters in the Mansion

Until 1 Sept

Calling intrepid explorers of all ages to a summer of beastly adventurers! Borrow a monster back pack and go on our monster trail or simply follow the monster map around the house to discover ‘creatures’ in the objects and walls! Hear fantastical stories of awesome animals and become a creative creature in our own beastly lair. Make your own unicorn, dragon or griffin and design a marvellous monster mask to take home.

Amazing Animals

10 – 18 Aug, 10am-4pm

A celebration of our fantastic rare-breed farm animals, native wildlife and birds and animals from all over the world! Hands-on activities, animal encounters and more.

Clay Creatures

21 Aug, 10.30am-12.30pm

Go on an adventure around the House in search of fantastical beasts with our friendly Learning Officer Nikki Caines then learn some clay skills in order to create your own beast to take home.

Kirkstall Abbey

Free entry

Kirkstall Abbey Markets

29 – 31 Aug

12-3pm

With over 40 stalls in the cloisters of the abbey, the Kirkstall Abbey Market is the perfect place to find high quality Yorkshire produce, handmade crafts, collectables and freshly cooked treats for a tasty lunch. Put an extra spring in your step and take a stroll through the grounds afterwards.

Mini Dragons

30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 10-11am

Our weekly under 5’s session has a dragon theme for the summer holidays. Bring along your mini dragon for fun crafts and activities in the abbey. Please be prepared that we might messy and we like to go spread outside in nice weather. Older siblings welcome.

Games Galore

Every Weds in summer holidays, 10am-3pm

Each Wednesday of the school holidays we will be putting out a selection of games in the cloister for people to help themselves and have fun.

Outside Art

8 & 28 Aug

Join us in the cloister for some outside art. We will have lots of materials and different techniques to explore.

Picnic with Barry the Dragon

15 Aug, 1-3pm

Come along to the abbey, bring a picnic and meet our friendly dragon Barry. Just make sure he doesn’t eat your sandwiches!

Kirkstall Abbey Fun Dog Show

22 Aug, 1-3pm

Our fun dog show returns with super serious categories such as dog with the waggiest tail and prizes for sausage eating and best control on lead!

Leeds Discovery Centre

School Holidays

Various dates, 10am-12pm

Fun themed sessions every week to come along to, explore and discover our marvellous collections, then take a tour of our incredible object store:

31 Jul – Money, Money, Money

7 Aug – A day at the Seaside

14 Aug – Indian Summer

21 Aug – Marvellous Minerals

28 Aug – Magnetic Toys and Games

Behind the scenes tour

Every Thursday at 11am and 2pm

One of the best ways to access and see our collections is to enjoy our free store tours held every Thursday. These unique tours highlight fascinating objects and delve into the stories behind some of our most unusual items.

These events are free but must be booked, please call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk

To find out more about Summer Holiday Family Events in Leeds…

For further information including opening times and admission prices please visit: museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk

MEADOWFEST: A family-friendly music and food festival in Malton

July 19, 2019July 22, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

The picturesque town of Malton will introduce its first ever music festival ‘Meadowfest’ this weekend, headlined by Levi Roots and his Reggae Band. Set in the rolling meadows and garden of the Talbot beside the River Derwent, the 10am to 10pm family-friendly event will see some of Yorkshire’s finest musicians grace the stage with their uplifting sets.

Meadowfest is a boutique summer music festival with a difference – combining Malton’s mouth-watering food credentials with some of Yorkshire’s best bands, visitors can expect uplifting tunes, all day feasting and dancing under the stars.

Set in the beautiful meadows and garden of The Talbot beside the River Derwent, the family friendly event is set to run from 10am to 10pm and Main Stage headliner Levi Roots will be supported by local talent such as Beth McCarthy, Flat Cap Carnival, Grand Old Uke of York, Tengu Taiko Drummers, Marc Atkinson and Ben Beattie’s After Midnight Band – promising festival goers an eclectic mix of ska, reggae, funk, blues and much more. Gracing the Hay Bale Stage will be Gary Stewart, Simon Snaize and Up Beat Brass.

Amidst the stunning backdrop on the edge of Yorkshire’s Food Capital, Meadowfest will offer relaxed and laid-back entertainment for all the family and feature some of the region’s best street food stands, including vegan and veggie options, arts and children’s entertainment and a festival bar serving cocktails, prosecco, craft beers and more.

Tom Naylor-Leyland, Festival Director, explains; “Visitors to Malton love our popular programme of events which, as a result, has grown vastly over recent years, building on our annual Food Lovers Festival, Monthly Food Markets and Harvest Food Festival to include Marathon du Malton and Street Food Sundays.

“We know from the success of our annual Food Lovers Festival that visitors to Malton love to get their dancing shoes on – with our 2017 Festival seeing hundreds of music lovers dancing in the streets to Levi Roots and his Reggae Band. Therefore, it was only right that our dear friend Levi should make a return to launch Meadowfest, our first dedicated music festival, which aims to be one of the UK’s best boutique music festivals.”

The main stage, set within a natural amphitheatre, means visitors can party up front or relax on the festival lawn which looks directly onto the main stage. With free parking nearby and easy 10-minute access from Malton train station, Meadowfest has got all the details covered so visitors can start their festival with the chilled vibes set to continue.

Tickets are available to purchase here. Tickets include free parking, access to the main stage and the ‘Hay Bale stage’, street food court, arts area, kids play area and The Talbot terrace area.

To find out more about Malton, please visit www.visitmalton.com.

Days Out, Everything

FREE FAMILY DAY OUT: Exploring Kirkstall Abbey (and Abbey House Museum)

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

I have seen pictures online of Kirkstall Abbey of various events popping up from cinema screenings to markets, all at the 12th century ruins. But other than events, what was there to offer for a family in Yorkshire with young children?

We had been invited to review Abbey House Museum (the gatehouse of Kirkstall Abbey) and Kirkstall Abbey itself by Leeds Museums and Galleries, so we went along in the school holidays to explore.

We drove from Wakefield and I was surprised at how close Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum (which are across the road from each other) are to the motorway and tucked around the back of Kirkstall Rd where I have previously worked for TV channels. Kirkstall Abbey is just 4 miles from Leeds City Centre (bus details are at the bottom of this post).

dav — Vlogging at Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum in Leeds / Yorkshire Families

Even from the car park Kirkstall Abbey is staggeringly beautiful and is thought of as one of the most complete Cistercian monastries in Britain.

But the kids being kids were more interested in the playground next to the car park. Anyway we managed to bribe them into Abbey House Museum Cafe aka The Gatehouse for some lunch before exploring Kirkstall Abbey and then inevitably, ending up back at the playground.

We had a peek inside the museum which is made up of Victorian Streets (but you have to pay to get in and we didn’t have time to do both, we should have scheduled a full day trip out). Abbey House Museum’s The Gatehouse cafe and toilets are aptly themed too with plenty to learn even whilst sat on the toilet!

The cafe, like the museum, is stunning in terms of the architecture of the building. It was a sunny day when we visited so we opted to sit outside overlooking a vast array of plant beds and Kirkstall Abbey across the road.

There’s also a picnic area too or you can choose a range of drinks and hot and cold food from a simple menu of sandwiches, jacket potatoes and other hot meals.

The food is fresh and nice but basic, so it was perfect for the kids but a little plain for us adults.

We finished off with ice creams before crossing the road to Kirkstall Abbey. Other than the visitor centre it is all outdoors so make sure you wrap up warm and bring an umbrella, unless you drop on like we did and have sunny weather.

Kirkstall Abbey is FREE to enter

There’s also a nice field for children to play on too and well built paths to help you explore the circumference of the Abbey. On appearance you can tell it was built by monks from Fountain’s Abbey as there are a lot of similarities in its appearance.

As The Cistercians in Yorkshire writes: “The history of Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire, begins with its foundation in 1147, when a group of twelve monks from Fountains Abbey, under the guidance of their prior, Alexander, colonised the site at Barnoldswick. In 1152 the community relocated to the present site of Kirkstall, and remained here until the dissolution of the abbey in 1539. The abbey buildings escaped the wholesale destruction and plunder that occurred elsewhere; most were left standing and used for agricultural purposes; this is perhaps why Kirkstall is now the most complete set of Cistercian ruins in Britain. While the abbey is now embedded in the industrial quarter of Leeds and the site bisected by the A65 Kirkstall Road, during the Middle Ages – and up until the late eighteenth century – this was a secluded spot in a rural setting. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the main thoroughfare to Leeds actually ran through the nave of the church.”

My family and I made our way around the Abbey before realising how to actually get in to the Abbey through the visitor centre.

The kids loved running around the site and playing hide and seek. Also there’s often activities on in the visitor centre during school holidays.

I also couldn’t resist taking endless photos of the stunning site for pleasure and for instagram of course.

View this post on Instagram

I am so nesh / delicate (the only thing about me that’s not #Yorkshire) as I wear coats ALL the time.. I get so cold! Do you? 🥰🥰🥰 Ooh and please follow my new @yorkshirefamilies Instagram for #daysout and experiences in God’s Own County and beyond 😘😘😘 Obviously years Bellydancing @bellydancersophie sometimes in arctic conditions hasn’t helped me other than giving me tough feet! 💃💃💃 oh and here I am pictured at the stunning #KirkstallAbbey #leedscity #yorkshirelass #familyyorkshire #leeds #leedsbloggers #sheffieldbloggers #weatherchat 🌄🌄🌄

A post shared by Sophie Mei Lan (@mamameiblog) on May 21, 2019 at 5:02am PDT

The kids also found a mud kitchen to play in. It was great to see them use their imaginations to move around the areas rather than give them lots of pre planned activities.

rpt — Make and Move: Jasmine and Arianna exploring Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds / Yorkshire Families

As the weather started to turn, we then made our way back to the playground as we had promised we could go there too.

We had only given ourselves a few hours to visit but I could have easily spent longer there. There is so much to do for the whole family young and old and easily a day out if visiting both places in tandem.

For other ideas for free days out in Yorkshire, go to: https://yorkshirefamilies.co.uk/2019/04/17/free-days-out-in-yorkshire-where-to-go-and-what-to-do-with-the-family/

How to get to Kirkstall Abbey

Visitor information:

Email

kirkstall.abbey@leeds.gov.uk

Address

Kirkstall

Leeds

LS5 3EH

Opening Hours

Mondays: Closed – Open Bank holidays: 10:00 – 16:00

Tuesday – Sunday:

April to Sept 10:00 – 16:30 Last admission 16:00

October – March 10:00 – 16:00. Last admission 15:00

Admission

General admission is free

Venue Details

Visit one of the best preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country and step back in time to see how the monks lived. Refreshments are available from the Gatehouse café across the road at Abbey House Museum.

Facilities

Baby change; Toilets; Visitor centre; Picnic area; Cafe; Education facilities; Play area

Telephone Number

0113 3784079

Access

For information on access at this venue, please visit our Access page

Parking

A large free car park is situated opposite Kirkstall Abbey, on Abbey Walk. This includes disabled access parking.

Public Transport

Bus numbers 33, 33a and 757 travel from the city centre to Kirkstall Road.

The nearest train stations are Kirkstall Forge (1 mile away) and Headingley (1 mile away). Contact Metroline for up-to-date travel information on (0113) 245 7676.

Getting to Abbey House Museum

Visitor information:

Address

Abbey Walk

Kirkstall

Leeds

LS5 3EH

Venue Details

Wander the beautifully created authentic Victorian streets for a glimpse of life in 19th century Leeds.

Telephone Number

0113 3784079

Email

abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk

Public Transport

Bus numbers 33, 33a and 757 travel from the city centre to Kirkstall Road.

The nearest train stations are Kirkstall Forge, c.1 mile away, and Headingley, a 1 mile walk. Contact Metroline for up-to-date travel information on (0113) 245 7676.

By car: If you are using a route planner, our postcode is LS5 3EH.

Access

For information on access at this venue, please visit our Access page

Parking

A large free car park is situated next to Abbey House Museum on Abbey Walk. This includes disabled parking. There is an additional disabled access parking space immediately outside the museum entrance.

Opening Hours

Mondays: Closed (Open Bank Holiday Mondays, 10:00 – 17:00)

Tuesday – Friday & Sundays: 10:00 – 17:00. Last admission 16:30.

Saturday: 12:00 – 17:00. Last admission 16:30.

Facilities

Baby change; Cafe; Shop; Education facilities; Picnic area; Play area; Toilets; Parking

Admission Adult

£5.20

Admission Child

£2.65 Children under 5 years – free.

Admission Concession

£4.20

Admission Family

£11.00

Admission Group

£4.20

Admission Leeds Card

Leeds Card Adult £4.15,
Breezecard child £2.10,
LeedsCard Family £8.80.
Leeds Card Extra £3.15 Please make sure you have your card with you.

Admission Max Card

General admission is free

Admission Membership

Admission is free to members of the Leeds Art Fund, Friends of Leeds City Museums, the Museums Association and the National Arts Collection Fund.

DISCLAIMER: WE RECEIVED FOOD AND DRINK FREE OF CHARGE TO COVER OUR COSTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW. ALL VIEWS ARE OUR OWN.

Days Out, Everything, Experiences

SNOZONE CASTLEFORD: Sledging at Xscape Yorkshire – Review

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

Who knew you can sledge all year round in Castleford, West Yorkshire?

When SNOZONE contacted me about reviewing an experience at Xscape I assumed it was just skiing.

But far from it, they offer snowboarding, sledging and have a café-cum-play area on site too.

As I had a day planned with my two daughters (aged 4 and 7) and my little brother who’s autistic along with his girlfriend, sledging seemed like a great way to try out Snozone for the first time and was something that the whole family/our clan could do all together.

Here’s what we got up to:

Arriving at SnoZone

We were instructed to arrive 30 minutes early to get ready in time for the sledging, which you definitely need to do if you’re hiring clothing and it gives you time to choose a helmet and sledge.

We were warmly welcomed by reception who provided us with the right sized clothing and snowboots so that we could stay warm and protected.

The clothing was really padded so the receptionist helped us to the changing rooms as i struggled carrying all that for my two daughters and I.

We got changed before putting our possessions in the lockers provided (these are located either inside the changing rooms or the shared changing area).

We then selected a helmet and a sledge just in time to start our session. It was super busy due to it being a Saturday so I was worried it might be sensory overload for my little brother Oscar.

There is a small section cordoned off for sledging which is right next to the ski lifts.

Oscar was fine knowing that he had all his safety gear on and that there was a process of queueing up the slope to then be able to slide down at your leisure.

Surprisingly my youngest Arianna got really scared of sledging, I think it was the fear of sledging on her own and with lots of new people around.

But after a few attempts, Arianna got into the swing of it. My eldest Jasmine however took straight to it and couldn’t get up the slope and down again fast enough.

We had 45 minutes sledging which was plenty of time despite the crowd of people. And actually part of the fun was dodging the other people as we slided down the slope.

I was really glad we had the hired clothing wear on too as this meant we were all snug and protected and it was even more fun getting covered in snow!

Afterwards, we all felt like we had done a bit of a work out so we headed upstairs to the Alpine Kitchen and Free Soft Play area.

Eat, Drink and Play

It’s a great space to watch people ski, sledge and snowboard through the glass windows.

As we had come on a special open day we were treated to free face painting and a live musician.

We had a great day out and it was a great introduction to Snozone. My brother is looking forward to returning for a bespoke session as they offer special assistance and training to people with additional needs.

I am also looking forward to roping some of my grown up friends into a snowboarding lesson soon!

For more on Snozone and our other top places to go in Yorkshire, check us out in the Yorkshire Evening Post here.

How to get to SnoZone

SnoZone is located inside Xscape at Junction 32 of the M62 in Castleford. The full address is:

Xscape Yorkshire

Colorado Way

Glasshoughton

Castleford

WF10 4TA

We tend to travel by public transport and as I was coming from Sheffield with my little brother we caught a train to Castleford and then a bus from Castleford Bus Station to Xscape (the bus station is really close to the train station).

When travelling from Wakefield, there is a new x32 bus that runs every hour and it’s a lot quicker than previous services which tended to stop at every possible bus stop on your way to Xscape.

DISCLAIMER: We received the sledging free of charge for the purpose of this review. But all views are our own.

Days Out, Everything

FREE DAYS OUT IN YORKSHIRE: Where to go and what to do with the family

April 17, 2019April 29, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

From West Yorkshire to South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire to East Yorkshire, here are some of our top free days out for families in Yorkshire.

Let’s begin our journey in…

West Yorkshire

1. 1. Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds: A real gem just off Kirkstall Rd in Leeds. Explore the Abbey ruins and the stunning lush grounds. There’s also a free car park and playground next to it. Abbey House Museum and Cafe is just across the road from the car park.
2. Leeds Galleries and Museum are free to enter, for a full list, go to: https://yorkshirefamilies.co.uk/2019/03/16/easter-holidays-what-to-do-and-where-to-go-in-leeds-west-yorkshire/

3. Leeds Dock has free water taxis: Their water taxis run everyday Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm and Sat–Sun, 10am-7pm. Twee & Drie (the boats) ferry passengers between Granary Wharf & Leeds Dock. The trip takes 12 minutes which is on a scenic canal route and all journeys are free of charge. To catch a ride on a yellow boat… Exit Leeds Train station via the New South Entrance or walk under the arches to Granary Wharf and the Doubletree by Hilton hotel. The taxis are on the lower water level, hidden out of view – just across the lock bridge in front of Bar Brasil. Hop on!
The Water Taxis run every 15 minutes from either stop. Look out for a yellow flag with water taxi written on in black.

4. West Yorkshire History Centre has a free exhibition and free family activities, check out their facebook page for the latest.
5.The Hepworth Wakefield is free to enter (although parking is £5 for the day but it is a short walk from Wakefield Kirkgate station).
The Barbara Hepworth inspired gallery has a range of free crafts on during the school holidays and on weekends.There is also an outdoor playground and UK’s largest public garden is currently being built outside the gallery next to The Calder building. There’s also stunning views from the The Hepworth Cafe over the River Calder and The Chantry Chapel (which has free heritage open days on select dates).6. National Science and Media Museum in Bradford is open daily 10am-6pm. Free Entry. For more details, click here.
7. Angler’s Country Park, near Wakefield. It’s free and there is a fabulous Room on the Broom trail.Anglers Country Park is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area known as the ‘Pol’. At one time this was the deepest open cast coal mine in the country, reaching a depth of 250 feet.Anglers has been awarded Green Flag status – recognising it as one of the best parks in the country.
8. Pontefract Castle is a hidden gem in West Yorkshire with outdoor ruins and an indoor visitor centre. Make sure you take time to visit the dungeons on a tour (these cost however, £3 per person at the time of writing).

9. Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a fabulous day out to explore “art without walls” (with some indoor galleries and creative spaces and cafes).

Parking is £10 for the day. There’s also a new Damien Hirst Sculpture which is part of Yorkshire Sculpture International festival (which is a free festival over 100 days at YSP, Leeds Art Gallery and The Hepworth Wakefield) and a new restaurant and gallery building. Visitor and local creative Darren Johnson, said:
1. South Yorkshire

10 . Experience Barnsley inside Barnsley Town Hall is a lovely little visitor experience-cum-museum which is free to enter and there are fountains outside.

It’s also a short walk away from Barnsley indoor market if you want to buy some cheap scran from the food court.

11. Clifton Park in Rotherham has parks, gardens and sport, rides and games and even a museum.

12. Sheffield Museums and Galleries have a whole host of free-to-enter exhibitions on from Sheffield Millenium Galleries which is connected to the tropical indoor Winter Gardens and the nearby outdoor Peace Gardens which is particularly wonderful in the warmer weather for picnics and running through the water fountains if you wish.

13. Ecclesall Woods in Sheffield is great for stunning walks and has a lovely visitor centre too.

14. Millhouses Park and Graves Park in Sheffield are located close to each other and well worth a visit. Millhouses has a great big play area and outdoor gym and Graves Park has a mini farm and plays host to a range of family-friendly events.

North Yorkshire

15. Harrogate’s Valley park with an outdoor paddling pool and stunning pavilion.

16. Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs near Harrogate: “Walking, cycle pump track, barbeque picnic spots. A very beautiful place in all seasons,” recommends Janet of a Falcondale Life.

17. Sutton Bank National Park in North Yorkshire: “We would highly recommend North Yorkshire to anybody who is into cycling. The ability to find trails suitable for the children or take on a challenging ride ourselves in the same area made it the ideal place to spend a few days. We’ll definitely be back again in the future to take on some tougher trails as the children’s cycling skills improve,” said Natalie Ray who blogs at Plutonium Sox.

18. York Railway Museum: “I have fond memories of going on a trip to York Railway Museum when I was a little girl. It was free when I was a child, and so it was always a favourite place for Mum and Dad to take my brother and I when we were younger. My brother was a bit of a train spotter in his youth. But I was more into the romance than the engineering. I loved the history of some of the older trains,” says Jo Boyne of A Rose Tinted World.

York Railway Museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily in winter, and 10am to 6pm in summer.

The museum has plenty of toilets and baby changing facilities. There are picnic tables and also several places to eat, including a tea room in a restored railway carriage and an Edwardian-style restaurant. There are two shops full of railway souvenirs and gifts for enthusiasts of all ages.

19. York City Walls http://www.yorkwalls.org.uk/?page_id=3690

20. Scarborough: “I love just wondering round from North Bay to South, Peasholme Park, paddling in the sea and playing on the beach and the view from Oliver’s Mount,” said Amy Downes from A Mum Full of Dreams.

East Yorkshire

Kirsty Holden aka The Money Saving Mum recommends:

21. Humber Bridge foreshore

22. Museum Quarter in Hull inc Maritime Museum and Hull Minster too.

Days Out, Events, Everything

EASTER HOLIDAYS: What to do and where to go in Leeds, West Yorkshire

March 16, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

There’s lots to do in Leeds this Easter Holidays at Abbey House Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Industrial Museum, Thwaite Watermill, Lotherton, Temple Newsam and Kirkstall Abbey.

From Super Superheroes at Abbey House Museum, Warrior themed fun at Leeds City Museum, the first ever Armley Print Fest at Leeds Industrial Museum to Springtime Babies at Temple Newsam.

What’s on in Leeds during School Holidays

Abbey House Museum

Super Superheroes

30 Mar-28 Apr

Abbey House Museum is celebrating all things superhero! From silly science to flying fun and murder mysteries to mask making, come along and celebrate all your favourite caped crusaders.

Super Superhero Crafts –2, 5, 9 & 12 Apr, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm

Super Superhero Silly Science – 3 & 10 Apr, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm

Super Superhero Murder Mystery – 4 & 11 Apr, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm

Easter Weekend

19-22 Apr, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm

Come along on Good Friday to meet the Easter bunny, get involved with some colourful crafts and grab a sweet treat from the bunnies basket. That boisterous bunny has gone and hidden all his golden eggs around the shops and streets too! Help us to track them down and take part in more Easter shaped fun long the way (Saturday, Sunday & Easter Monday).

Leeds Art Gallery

Sculptural Thinking in Artspace

2-13 Apr, 11-4pm

Head down to Leeds Art Gallery for playful family fun themed around the latest Leonardo da Vinci exhibition. Creative activities take inspiration from a world of three dimensions and the sculptural thinking of Leonardo.

Leeds City Museum

Easter Warriors

30 Mar-22 Apr

Fancy yourself as a shield maiden or a fearless fighter on the battlefield? Well Leeds City Museum has a whole load of warrior themed fun in store for you! From object handling to sensory story time and shield making to live demonstrations, come along and lean all about incredible warriors from all over the world.

There’s also a free daily trail around the museum. Pick up a copy and explore our weird and wonderful links to weapons and armour.

Check out leedsinspired.co.uk for details of times and dates.

Leeds Industrial Museum

Armley Print Fest

30 Mar, 11am-4pm

Come along and celebrate a little bit of local Leeds heritage at the first ever Armley Print Fest. Check out our collection of printing presses, join talks with local industry experts, grab something unique at the print fair and get involved with a range of practical printing activities for the whole family to enjoy. There’s also a very special screening of Pressing On: The Letterpress Film in the cosy surroundings of the art deco inspired Palace Picture House.

Inked

2, 3, 4, 9, 10 & 11 Apr, 12.30 -3.30pm

During the Easter holidays there’s a range of beginner workshops on offer for anyone who fancies learning about all things print! Explore different printing techniques through the collections and get involved with a range of practical make and create workshops with our experienced and friendly members of staff.

Mystery Matinees

Daily from 30 Mar-14 Apr, 2pm (closed on Mondays)

Watch a classic film in our atmospheric 1920s cinema. Tucked away inside the museum we have the amazing Palace Picture House, one of the UK’s smallest cinemas. Join us for intimate screenings of family favourites and vintage classics. Film screenings are included within the admission charge and running every single day in school holidays. Where else can a family of five go to the cinema for £9?

Thwaite Watermill

Easter Holidays

30 Mar-23 Apr, 10am-5pm

Hop to it and help the Easter bunny to hunt down his eggs hidden around the island. Grab a free art pack for the journey and take a trail through the nature reserve. For some indoor family fun check out our fashion focused Creative Tuesdays (1-3pm) and show off your scientific side at Experimental Thursdays (1-3pm).

Lotherton

A Mad Hatter of an Easter Holiday

30 Mar-28 Apr

Fall down the rabbit hole this Easter with four whole weeks of family fun. Get lost in the Wonderland Village, follow the white rabbit’s trail and get creative with kooky crafts. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party will be taking place each Wednesday during April along with flamingo fun in the Nestbox Education Centre. Also lookout for the Easter Bunny for hopping games and challenges.

Check out leedsinspired.co.uk for details of times and dates.

Temple Newsam

Springtime Babies

30 Mar-22 Apr

Pay a visit to Home Farm to meet the new lambs, calves, piglets and kids, many of which roam free throughout the cobbled streets of the farmyard. Get up close to the rare breeds and make memories to treasure forever!

The Easter fun continues in Temple Newsam house with activities themed around the latest Fantastical Beasts exhibition. Craft your very own beastly critter hidden inside an egg to take home (18-22 April, 1.30-3pm). Speaking of eggs, there’s loads hidden around the estate, hunt them down to be in with a chance of winning an eggcellent prize!

Techno Beasts

Various Dates

Come and meet MiRo on 4 April (11am-3pm), the robot companion pet. MiRo has been developed by scientists at the University of Sheffield using their research into animal behaviour. He responds to sound and touch and expresses his own mood through colour and movement. And he loves making Friends. Get to grips with coding and bring to life your very own Micro:Baest on 3 & 10 April (1.30-3pm), advance booking is required.

Pumpkin Sowing

3 Apr, 1-3pm

Meet at the Show House in the Walled Garden to sow your pumpkin seeds and come back to carve them in time for Halloween.

Kirkstall Abbey

Easter Holidays

30 Mar-22 Apr

It’s hopping mad at the abbey over Easter! The under 5’s sessions will be getting a makeover with lots of bunny themed activities on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Find our furry friends hidden around the abbey and earn a little sweet treat along the way.

Kirkstall Abbey Markets

30-31 Mar, 11am-3pm

With over 40 stalls in the cloisters of the abbey, the Kirkstall Abbey Market is the perfect place to find high quality Yorkshire produce, handmade crafts, collectables and freshly cooked treats for a tasty lunch. Put an extra spring in you step and take a stroll through the grounds afterwards.

Leeds Discovery Centre

Easter Holidays

3 & 10 April

As part of the Leeds Festival of Science, join us for some family workshops. On April 3 look at how modern gadgets have developed. On April 10 come and explore objects from around the world celebrating new life and the changing seasons. Take a store tour and get in touch with your family’s inner arty selves.

To get booked on call 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk

For opening times and admission prices, go to: leeds.gov.uk/musuemsandgalleries

Days Out, Events, Everything, Experiences, Featured

YORKSHIRE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: What to do, where to go this half-term – the ultimate guide

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

February half-term holidays is upon us and if you’re anything like me, you’re scrambling last minute for things to do and places to go, so you can have a memorable school holidays (and most importantly, prevent the kids from going stir crazy from staying indoors). Here’s some fund things to do and recommended places to go this half-term in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire

York

York is one of my favourite places for a day out in the centre. I recently went to review the kids menu at Star Inn the City which is located next to the Yorkshire Museum and then we spent the afternoon at York Maze which was a fun way to end the day.

We’ve also been know to do the York Park Run with the kids although it was a bit too chilly at York Racecourse when we last went before Christmas.

Kirsty Holden from The Money Saving Mum recommends York Railway Museum.

The National Railway Museum is free to enter and is open 10am-6pm.

Also in York this Half-term is Jorvik Viking Festival from 20 – 27 February 2019. It’s a family friendly festival and the largest event of its kind in Europe. There are historic encampments, talks, tours, combat displays and much more, all during half term week.

Blogger Hodge Podge who recommends the Jorvik Viking Festival said: “Thanks to my love of the TV series, The Last Kingdom, and my son learning all about Vikings at school, we’ve been reading a lot about life as a Viking.

“One way for us to learn more about Viking life is for us to visit York for the day and take in some of the JORVIK Viking Festival. The JORVIK Viking Festival happens every February, around half term and it’s a full on festival of all things Viking.”

Wensleydale, Yorkshire Dales

Wensleydale is set in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire. If you’re a cheese fan, it is worth a visit to Wensleydale Creamery and there is a family-friendly experience too.

Blogger Raising Badgers also recommends Wensleydale. She said: “We stayed in a lovely cottage in a little village called Askrigg, in Wensleydale, not far from the slightly bigger town of Hawes. Askrigg has three pubs, a church, a village shop and café and a children’s playground and loads of fields and paths and farm animals – perfect for a bit of exploration.”

Whitby

Once you’ve had some time in the countryside, you might fancy visiting the equally stunning Yorkshire Coast. Whitby is a great place to camp and follow the history of Captain Cook at the memorial museum.

Scarborough

Or maybe you fancy a splash at Alpamare indoor and outdoor waterpark based in Scarborough near to Peasholme Park.

Ripon

There’s also plenty to do at Fountain’s Abbey and Study Royal this half-term which is located in Ripon, North Yorkshire

South Yorkshire

Sheffield

This February half-term there is a Magna Mayhem inflatable adventure on Sheffield’s Science Adventure Centre Magna. I have fond memories of a scientific school trip to Magna.

From Monday 18th to Friday 22nd February 2019, kids can bounce, boing, jump, slide, bop and boogie on the inflatable adventure zone, for a full 75 mins of high adrenaline fun. Magna’s purpose built indoor world of adventure is a safe environment for children of all ages to let off steam and be active during the school holidays.

Standard sessions at 12 and 2pm are open to all ages 0-15, but are aimed mainly at under 11s. You know better than anyone else your own child’s enjoyment levels and limitations. There is no age limit for any of the inflatable equipment, it is at the discretion of the supervising adult to deem suitability for your child/children. With the exception of the Ocean Playzone which is limited to under three year olds only.

For more details, click here.

Sheffield blogger Naomi from Trips with a Tot has shared her picks for this half-term:

Children’s School Holiday Crafts at Sheffield Manor Lodge. Starts February 18th-February 21st. Candle making, snowflake sun catcher and winter bauble crafts. Plus sandpit, labyrinth maze, ruins and outside games. Crafts 11am-3pm. £4 per crafter. Don’t forget to explore the grounds and find the slide, too.

Medieval Mayhem at Bolsover Castle, Monday 18th-Friday 22nd. Step back in time and have Medieval fun this February half-term. Listen to the stories about adventurous times past, learn some honourable fighting techniques in the sword school and make sure to take part in the other (somewhat smelly!) cheeky medieval mayhem activities.

Barnsley

Monday 18th & Tuesday 19th: Free Crafting the Cosmos free drop in activity 11am-2pm at Cooper Gallery, Barnsley

East Yorkshire

Hull

Over to East Yorkshire and Hull-based blogger Hollie Hutchinson from money-saving blog Thrifty Mum recommend LEGO Brick History Exhibition at Hull History Centre…

The Hull History Centre is hosting a free exhibition which tells the story of some of the biggest moments in history…made completely out of LEGO! But its only on until 9th March 2019 so you’ll have to big quick to catch it.

If you want to catch the LEGO Brick History exhibition at the Hull History Centre, opening times are:

Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm

Saturday 9am-4:30pm

Sunday (Closed)

West Yorkshire

Bradford

Attachment Mummy recommends Haworth (Bradford), the village where the Bronte sisters once lived. This literary mecca is a top destination for grown-up tourists from around the world, but just how can you get children interested in its history? Is Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage Museum suitable for young children?

And what of the practicalities? Park down at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway station (£3 all day) and walk across the wooden bridge and up the hill to the bottom of Main Street. You will pass through pretty Central Park, which has an excellent playground and lots of space to play and picnic. (If the railway is running, a journey to Oakworth, setting of The Railway Children, is highly recommended too.)

Overton

National Coal Mining Museum of England has a plethora of activities this half-term.

Half Term @ Pit is for everyone, learn about the history of coalmining and get hands-on with our activities with a mining twist!

Science Shows:-

From Sunday 17th to Sunday 24th February

Performances at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

Join NCMME for a half term full of fun with our FREE explosive Science Show. This entertaining 30 minute show introduces you to some famous inventors and explains how the safety-flame lamp was invented and why it was so important to miners. Explosions guaranteed!

No need to book just drop in and enjoy. Suitable for all the family.

Craft Activities in the Family Learning Zone:- From Monday 18th to Friday 22nd February – 12.30 to 4pm.

Come and find out how miners kept healthy and safe. Making pit nurses and flame safety lamps.

Wakefield

Hop on the Free City Bus from Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate to find you’re way to Wakefield Museum at Wakefield One (located near Wakefield Westgate train station) which is free to enter and a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Also on the free city bus route (as well as having it’s own car park) is The Hepworth Wakefield which has a range of free craft activities on throughout the holidays as well as the normal free outdoor play area, craft packs and a new exhibition by Magdalene Odundo.

Wakefield Festival of Food and Drink aka the Rhubarb festival takes place at the end of February half-term from 22nd-24th with tons to do for the whole family.

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Ossett

Rachel Morgan on Facebook is off to Ossett in the suburbs of Wakefield. She said: “boomchikaboom are also doing a greatest showman/slime event at Ossett Town Hall on Thursday 21st.”

Leeds

Over in Leeds, the new home of Channel 4, there’s lots on at the city’s museums. To find out what to do at Abbey House Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Industrial Museum, Thwaite Watermill, Lotherton, Leeds Discovery Centre and Kirkstall Abbey – go to our dedicated blog post here.

Ice Cube looks like a fun event on at Millennium Square in Leeds – with an Ice Slide, Ice Rink and lots of activities for the whole family – a cool winter themed activity.

Also here’s a nice competition by Yorkshire-based business Ribbon of Hearts – something to do at home!

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Days Out, Everything

WHAT TO DO IN LEEDS: Where to go at half-term with the family

February 18, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

Throughout the half-term holidays, there is plenty to do in Leeds, the new home of Channel 4.

There’s so much to do at the city’s museums and attractions. So keep reading to find out what to do at Abbey House Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Industrial Museum, Thwaite Watermill, Lotherton, Leeds Discovery Centre, Kirkstall Abbey and more…

Abbey House Museum

Vile Victorians

19-22 February

Expect rats, chimney sweeps and a trail through the Victorian streets (19 & 22 Feb, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm).

There’s silly science experiments inspired by vile Victorian villains (20 Feb, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm) and shock horror… Mr Chop the butcher has been tripped by a string of his own sausages! Can you crack the clues to help us solve the case of this morbid murder mystery? Come along to find out on 21 Feb (10am-12pm & 2-4pm).

Teen Tours with the Vintage Youth Group

16 & 20 February, 12-2pm

If you’re aged 13+ and fancy learning all about the changing face of fashion then join the Vintage Youth Group on a tour of their new co-curated exhibition. Discover how a local designer uses ethical processes to develop their range and how independent stores provide gender and non-gendered clothing for their customers. The display features accessories, outfits and photographic memorabilia from the Victorian era to the present day.

Advance booking is required by calling 0113 378 4079.

Leeds Art Gallery

Curiosity Makes Things Happen

19-23 February, 11am-4pm

Artspace is on during the half term holidays for artist inspired activities aimed at every age group. Drop-in, experiment, visualise, innovate and surprise.

Leeds City Museum

Day at the Museum: Step into the Stories

19 February

Step into the stories at Leeds City Museum, with family friendly activities inspired by the Michael Morpurgo exhibition. Join in at their drop-in sessions and bring the characters from the stories to life by crafting colourful kites, imaginary friends and animal masks (10am-12pm & 1-3pm). If you’re feeling extra creative then join in with a puppet making workshop (10.15am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2pm, booking on the day is required).

Make your own string puppet inspired by the exhibition, learn how to use it with help from our professional puppeteer and take it home to carry on the fun at home (suitable for age 5+). Poetry writing workshops are also on offer for young people aged 11+. Explore the thoughts and feelings of animals through poetry, taking inspiration from our natural history collection and the exhibition (10am-12pm & 1-3pm, booking on the day is required).

Leeds Industrial Museum

Mystery Matinees

Every day in school holidays, 2pm

Watch a classic film in our atmospheric 1920s cinema. Tucked away inside the museum we have the amazing Palace Picture House, one of the UK’s smallest cinemas, seating up to 24 people. Join us for intimate screenings of family favourites and vintage classics. Film screenings are included within the admission charge and running every single day in school holidays. Where else can a family of five go to the cinema for £9? Contact us to hire the cinema for events or arrange group screenings.

From the Vaults

19, 20 & 21 February, 12.30-3.30pm

We’ve raided the archives to bring you a very special pop-up display of items handpicked and unwrapped from the depths of our collection. Have a laid-back chat with our curators and get practical with objects from our printing collections. The workshops might get messy some come prepared!

Thwaite Watermill

February Half Term

16-24 February, 10am-5pm

Come rain or shine Thwaite has you covered during the half term holidays with indoor activities in the shape of make and play. Explore the beauty behind stained glass at Creative Tuesdays and use materials to craft your own colourful creation (Feb 19, 1-3pm). If you fancy exploring your scientific side then why not try out Experimental Thursdays? Make and paint a new fossil friend and take it home to join your family (Feb 21, 1-3pm).

Lotherton

Love Birds

16 February-3 March

Celebrate spring with the annual Love Birds event. Keep the family entertained with Wildlife World themed crafts, the Love Birds trail and keeper talks. There’s daily feeds at 11.30am and 3pm with our penguin pals.

For more feathered fun become a bird boffin on our natural science day on 20 Feb, and make your very own nest box on 19 & 21 Feb.

Temple Newsam

Here be Dragons

16-24 February

Head over to Temple Newsam this half term as we gear up for some beastly activities! Experience dragon themed family fun with dressing up, crafts and storytelling. All activities will be themed around our Fantastical Beasts exhibition coming up in March, celebrating the creatures hidden in the most unlikely places of the house.

For more half term activities join in at the Stow House on Wednesday 20 February from 1-3pm. Plant your sunflower seeds and take them away to watch your very own creation grow at home.

Tours at Temple Newsam

Various dates

Temple Newsam House is full of hidden histories and tales of curious characters who lived and worked on the estate. Join us on the Hidden Temple Newsam tour and take a journey under the house to learn how the servants got around unseen (suitable for all guests aged over 7). Alternatively our popular Discovery Tour will take you on a 45 minute trip through the house, taking in some of the highlights as chosen by our friendly and informative tour guides.

Kirkstall Abbey

Little Lovebirds

19 February, 10-11am

Their Tuesday under 5’s session gets a feathery makeover to celebrate St Valentines day. Expect lots of feathers and glue as well as the usual toys and instruments. Older siblings are welcome to come along and get involved.

Abbey Crafts

21 February, 1.30-3pm

Join in with some free family fun during the half term holidays. They’ll be crafting bird feeders using natural materials to help out our feathered friends who might be struggling at this time of year. Be prepared to get messy and have some fun whilst doing a god deed for our nesting neighbours.

Leeds Discovery Centre

Behind the Scenes Tour

21 February, 11am & 2pm

A Leeds hidden gem, our artefact store is filled with over one million objects from across the world and millennia. Join our knowledgeable guides for a free tour to see everything from fabulous costume to vacuum cleaners, African masks and taxidermy. Don’t forget to look up and see the giant squid hanging from the ceiling as you enter!

Visit leeds.gov.uk/behindthescenes

Slime! Discover the Mysterious World of Molluscs

20 February, 10am-12pm

They are more dangerous than the great white shark and older than the dinosaurs. They range in size from the Giant Squid at over 10 metres long to animals so small they can only be seen through a microscope! Come and discover the amazing molluscs in the museum collection in our family craft workshop.

Book in advance by calling 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk

Transport

If like us you rely on public transport, WY Metro has this deal : A money-saving Family DayRover ticket to enjoy off-peak bus and train travel throughout the county for just £13.

Family DayRovers can be used by up to two adults and up to three under-19s to travel on buses and trains, between 9.30am and 4pm and after 6.30pm Monday to Friday, as well as all day at weekends and Bank Holidays.

Days Out, Everything

Half term at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal means Wild Wood Adventures PLUS WIN A FAMILY PASS

February 17, 2019by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

Den building competitions, trees with faces and a missing gladiator statue.

This half term there’s a wild wood adventure waiting for families at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The National Trust site near Ripon is only 45 minutes from Leeds and York, and this February their family programme is all about trees.

A clay faces trail has sprung up on different trees in the water garden and by the abbey, waiting for little wanderers to explore. There are den building competitions by the playground and wooden sculpture making drop-ins in Swanley Grange, re-using fallen twigs and sticks collected from the garden by the gardening team.

Visitor Experience Officer Hayley Donaldson said: “There are over 6000 trees here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, from sycamores to sequoias, Scot’s pines to wild cherries. Each and every one is special; some are very old, some are very tall, and some just very beautiful. There’s even a rumour that one tree was planted by royalty. We’re celebrating these wonderful trees by getting creative with art, building dens and making staffs.”

On top of Wild Wood Adventures, on Sunday February 24, wooden staffs will be swapped for garden games for the Dying Gladiator Day. The Dying Gladiator was an original statue in Studley Royal water garden which went missing over a hundred years ago. The team at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal are now fundraising to restore the statue, to return the gardens to their Georgian splendour.

The conservation team will take a mould of a Dying Gladiator statue from another eighteenth century garden to create the replacement statue. The mould will be recast in lead by a sculpture conservation specialist and mounted on a plinth made by a stone mason. The statue will then be painted bright white to match the other statues in the garden and placed in its original location near the moon ponds.

To help raise awareness for the Dying Gladiator appeal, Sunday 24 February will be a day of games, tours of the water garden and a chance to meet the conservation team. Come along to test your strength and agility with games and discover if you would have made a good gladiator.

All half term events are free with general admission. Free entry for National Trust members.

Half term highlights at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal include:

Den building competition

Tuesday 19 February and Tuesday 26 February

1pm-3pm, meet by the play area

Learn to make your own den using sticks from the estate. How watertight will yours be? We’ll be testing them with watering cans so you’d better bring your A-game!

Make a personalised staff

Thursday 21 February and Thursday 28 February

1pm-3pm

Make like a wizard or a wild explorer and decorate your own staff using green wood collected from the estate by our gardeners. We’ll show you how to decorate it too, so your staff is special to you.

Clay face trail

Saturday 16 February – Sunday 3 March

10am-4pm

There’s mysterious faces made from mud and moss popping up all over. Follow the clay face trail and learn all about wise trees growing at Fountains Abbey. We’ve chosen ten difference species – can you find them all?

Wild and woolly decorations

Saturday 16 February – Sunday 3 March

11am – 4pm, Swanley Grange

Pop in to Swanley Grange and have a go at making natural sculptures. We’ve collected twigs and sticks to wrap with coloured wool. How weird and wacky will you go?

Make your own clay face

Saturday 23 February and Saturday 2 March

11am-3pm, Trees at picnic point opposite play area

Led, drop-in

Get your hands dirty by making clay faces on trees. Find a tree with interesting features and decorate it with clay, moss, sticks, stones, feathers and leaves.

Dying Gladiator Day

Sunday 24 February

11am-3pm, at Silver Pond by the Studley entrance

Join us for a day of fun and find out more about the lost statue and our fundraising appeal.

Test your skills with garden games,* see artefacts from the garden and find out how statues are made. *The games will not take place in case of bad weather.

TO WIN A FAMILY PASS, GO TO: https://www.facebook.com/YorkshireFamilies/

Days Out, Everything

THE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE: Lotherton Hall in Leeds #Review

December 24, 2018by Mama Mei (Sophie Mei Lan)Leave a Comment

I’ve heard great things about Lotherton Hall which is a country house on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire. So when we were invited to review the Christmas Experience, we jumped at the chance.

As I was busy finishing off work on my other blog and vlog, my Mother in Law Janet and Sister in Law Jen took the girls on The Christmas Experience.

Janet writes…

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience

The entry fee included entrance to the Hall and the Christmas Experience. The Christmas experience included an elf village, a 12 days of Christmas walk and a fairy dell.

We went into the Elf Village first which included a food and drink van selling limited snacks which unfortunately were not really suitable for the children I had with me aged 6 and 4 years. The activities were very good decorating plates, decorations ceramic tree decorations and one other which was too busy for us to see what it was. You had to purchase tokens for these £10 for 4 tokens but I felt these were very good value.

Unfortunately although it was the Saturday before Christmas there was no Santa there. The playground was very good. We did not see the Fairy Dell and the children did not want to do the walk.

I personally would have preferred to have paid less just to go to the Christmas Experience with small children and as we didn’t want to see the house but it was included in the entry fee.

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The official lowdown

Steeped in Christmas magic and excitement. Enjoy a magical Twelve Days of Christmas Walk through the Captains Wood around the estate, make the turtle doves fly, walk through the five gold rings and be one of our drummers drumming! Uncover a secret fairy hideaway in our rock garden. Visit Santa in the North Pole and meet our elves helping in their workshop. Marvel in the splendor of the Edwardian House with the rooms dressed in all their festive finery. Wander down to the Elf Village where young ones can join the elves in making craft activities or listen to stories, and everyone can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or warm snack under our twinkling canopy.

DISCLAIMER: We received an entry pass but paid for everything else for the purpose of this review. All views are that of the author.