GET SET FOR GREAT DAYS OUT IN LEEDS

THIS CITY OFFERS AN ABUNDANCE OF THINGS TO DO WITH DAYS OUT AND TOP ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY

Not only is Leeds crammed with culture and family fun, but the city lies a stone’s throw from the stunning Yorkshire countryside. Stay put in this northern powerhouse and immerse yourself in the city’s world-famous parks, museums and attractions. Or, venture beyond the big lights to discover grand historical houses, majestic ruins and natural wonders thousands of years in the making.

Get your fresh air fix among Leeds’ most enticing landscapes. Of course there’s rugged Yorkshire scenery for all you adventure-nuts, but many al fresco highlights promise a more tranquil day out in nature.

Leeds is rightly proud of Roundhay Park, one of the biggest city parks in all of Europe. There’s a mammoth 700 acres of green space to dive into, spanning woodland, parkland, playgrounds and lakes. The well-known phrase ‘there’s something for everyone’ has never rung truer than here. Pubs pepper its perimeter, so you’re guaranteed a decent slap-up lunch too – The Roundhay Fox is a favourite for food.

Botanical Gardens

Charming by name and nature, the 137-acre Golden Acre Park is a pretty spot with lots of aces up its sleeve, from botanical gardens to a lake ideal for duck-spotting. There are plenty of walking trails and picnic benches too.

Nearby, Adel Dam and Breary Marsh nature reserves present the perfect opportunity to add some extra bird-watching to your day out.

Walk or cycle around the 990-acre St Aidan’s Nature Reserve, just southeast of Leeds. These RSPB-owned meadows and wetlands are a haven of birdlife and you’re likely to spy bitterns, skylarks and, if you’re very lucky, short-eared owls on a visit here. Entry is free but there is a car parking charge for non-RSPB members.

For a walk with some hairier companions book a day out with Treeside Alpacas and you’ll walk the woods, fields and hills around Moss Carr Farm with a family of these friendly South American mammals, while checking out the other wildlife along the way.

Famed English gardener, Capability Brown, landscaped the grounds of Temple Newsam – a beautiful estate to the east of Leeds. There are over 40 rooms to explore inside the Tudor-Jacobean house.

However, you’d be forgiven for spending most of your time roaming the flower-festooned nature trails, 17th-century formal gardens and historic Home Farm. Yes, a farm complete with farmyard animals! Kirkstall Abbey is a stunner of a ruin. Founded in 1152, the Grade 1-listed monument remains one of the most complete Cistercian monasteries in all of Britain and provides a dramatic backdrop as you stretch your legs along the River Aire.

Harewood House, built in the 18th century, is a masterclass of grandeur. A few surprises await within the 100-acre gardens. There are flamingos and penguins in the exotic Bird Garden, boat trips out on the lake and, inside the house, contemporary art displays. More history can be found at one of Britain’s last remaining water-powered mills, Thwaite Watermill, which lies sandwiched on its own minuscule island between the River Aire and Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Alternatively, feel the breeze in your hair on a Water Taxi trip from Granary Wharf to Leeds Dock. Once you’re on dry land at Leeds Dock, the excellent Royal Armouries Museum is ready to welcome you.

When the weather’s pleasant, why not head for the water? The River Aire intersects the city and makes for a marvellous stroll. It’s your chance to admire a

Taste around

We will take you on a culinary and cultural adventure stopping off at five great eateries. We have tours available in Leeds, York and Harrogate. All of our venues serve locally sourced delicious food with great passion. Why eat at one place when you can try five?

Beetle Bank Open Farm is set in 28 acres in the beautiful Vale of York just four miles from the city centre. We are small open farm with a large petting barn full of animals, adventure playground, sandpit, toy tractors, playhouse, inflatables (weather permitting) and cafe selling delicious home made local produce.

From alpacas and llamas to pigs and donkeys we have lots of friendly animals for you to meet. If you’d like a party or meeting with adventure and animals in the mix, we’d love to host! Days and evenings available please get in touch.

Coming Spring 2023 is our new and exciting adventure playground.

01904 488796

WAKE UP TO WAKEFIELD, THE CREATIVE HEART OF YORKSHIRE

From modern sculpture at The Hepworth Wakefield to ancient treasures at National Trust Nostell, discover the culture and creativity of a district steeped in history.

At the crossroads of the M62 and M1, 10 min from Leeds by train, Wakefield is a district with plenty for the discerning traveller: a thriving art scene, fascinating heritage properties, world-class restaurants, stunning green spaces and a vibrant cathedral city.

Art lovers will appreciate Wakefield’s links to major 20th century artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, whose works are showcased at award-winning venues The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, alongside international collections and touring exhibits.

For heritage, National Trust Nostell is one of the great houses of northern England, boasting beautiful interiors and set in splendid parkland. The National Coal Mining Museum keeps Britain’s mining history alive through captivating exhibits and underground tours. Imposing Wakefield Cathedral combines art and heritage, as traditional concerts share space with avant-garde art pieces.

The Wakefield district’s flair for creativity shines in its festivals programme. Dig into the district’s proud foodie traditions with the quirky Rhubarb and Pontefract Liquorice festivals, uncover ancient histories at Castleford Roman Festival and revel in the riot of light and colour that is Light Up.

Wakefield’s originality extends to culinary experiences, too. Enjoy contemporary Spanish and South American fusion at Qubana, or a modern take on curry classics at Lala’s. Explore chic Abyssinian at Corarima, or try Italian cichetti-style dishes at Fino.

If you want to rejuvenate amidst nature, Wakefield is full of green spaces, including sublime Newmillerdam, Anglers and Pugneys Country Parks, plus wildlife haven RSPB Fairburn Ings.

In 2024, experience a fantastic programme of colourful festivals and show stopping events for “Our Year”, Wakefield’s year of culture.

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If you’d prefer to spend your time in the Yorkshire countryside, there are a few outdoor doozies worth keeping on your radar. Less than an hour’s drive from Leeds rests Haworth, also known as Brontë Country, where undulating moors and waterfalls inspired the setting for books like Wuthering Heights.

Or, hop on the train to Ilkley for more ambles. Ilkley Moor is a walking wonderland with endless trails, crags and heather-smothered clifftops. Plus, unbeatable panoramic views across the Wharfe Valley.

Two-wheeled adventurers could head out of town along the Headingly Loop where you’ll weave through lush countryside with time to stop at pretty villages such as Arthington and Weardley.

Meanwood Valley Trail

For all of the countryside charm but with city centre convenience, hike along the Meanwood Valley Trail. Known as the ‘green artery’ of Leeds, this seven-mile route begins at Woodhouse Moor and stretches past aqueducts, streams and woodland reserves until its finishing point at Golden Acre Park. If you’re not up for the full shebang, it can be easily split into three smaller sections.

Gather your clan and make the most of Leeds’ mix of outdoor adventure, wonderful wildlife and good oldfashioned family fun. Leeds City Museum brims with displays to delight young historians.

Right in the city centre, this is your chance to get nose-to-nose with natural history exhibits including a time when it was illegal to be Catholic, and only boys received a formal education, a group of religious sisters established this secret convent, and were the first to educate girls in the country. Today, it is the oldest living convent in the UK.

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Our regional websites are listed below:

BEDFORDSHIRE • BERKSHIRE • BIRMINGHAM • BRISTOL & BATH, SOMERSET • BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

CAMBRIDGESHIRE • CARDIFF, SOUTH-WALES • CHESHIRE • CORNWALL • CUMBRIA

DERBYSHIRE • DEVONSHIRE • DORSET

ESSEX

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

HAMPSHIRE • HEREFORDSHIRE • HERTFORDSHIRE

KENT

LANCASHIRE • LEICESTERSHIRE • LINCOLNSHIRE • LIVERPOOL • LONDON

MANCHESTER

NEWCASTLE • NORTHAMPTONSHIRE • NORFOLK • NORTHUMBERLAND • NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

OXFORDSHIRE

SCOTLAND • SHEFFIELD • SHROPSHIRE • STAFFORDSHIRE • SUFFOLK • SURREY • SUSSEX

TEES VALLEY

WARWICKSHIRE • WILTSHIRE • WORCESTERSHIRE • WREXHAM

YORKSHIRE a 19th-century Bengal tiger. You can even say hello to Nesyamun, a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy! There are six galleries and four floors in total to explore – all without having to spend a penny.

The Royal Armouries Museum, just on the other side of the River Aire, contains everything you could ever wish to know about the history of weaponry. From prehistoric hunting tools to medieval suits of armour, the displays span the length and breadth of the globe. The museum is especially exciting during the school holidays when jousting displays and other interactive activities take place.

Step Back In Time

Factor in a picnic among the ancient ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. After a mooch through the visitor centre, nip across the road and whip back in time to the Victorian era among the immersive streets of Abbey House Museum.

For al fresco fun, choo-choo-choose a trip on Middleton Railway. Reportedly the world’s oldest working railway, trains chug along the mile-long track most weekends. It’s a great way to see Middleton Park with its ancient woodland and fishing lake.

Hands-on kids will have a whale of a time at Firefly Pottery in Horsforth, where you can paint your very own ceramic masterpieces. Jackrabbits Pottery in Roundhay offers the same.

Introduce little gamers to the arcades of your youth at Arcade Club Leeds, where you can battle it out on classics such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders and even have a go on old pinball machines.

Families with steely stomachs and a taste for the macabre should flock to Thackray Museum of Medicine. Despite the obvious attraction of a little Victorian gore, this museum actually takes you on a fascinating journey through the history of medicine. Get to grips with science and enjoy the gruesome bits!

Gravity is a huge trampoline park at Cardigan Fields with 100 interconnected trampolines, a dodgeball court, basketball nets, an obstacle course and dedicated sessions for children with special needs. Safe to say, children with energy to burn will jump for joy. Give go karting a spin and tackle the 580-metre track and hairpin bends at TeamSport. Adventure is also on the menu at Clip ’n’ Climb in Holbeck. This is climbing like you’ve never seen before, with 32 brightly-coloured walls to clamber to the top of.