22 Terrific Things to do with Toddlers in Leeds
If you are looking for things to do with your toddler in Leeds, we’ve got 22 terrific ideas for you! These include many of our family favourites as well as some excellent suggestions from the Yorkshire Tots to Teens Facebook page.
Tiny Tetley Studio
Where: Hunslet Rd, Leeds LS10 1JQ
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: Tiny Tetley Studio is an artist-designed play space, created for under 5’s and their families, in the heart of Leeds. This fabulous play space is completely free for families to visit. Tiny Tetley Studio is a small space, but offers plenty of choice for children to play, slide, get creative, and explore!
Roundhay Park
Where: Mansion Ln, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2HH
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: “We loved Roundhay Park because there is an excellent playground over the road from Tropical World (very cheap and easy entertainment on a cold, wet day!), and a decent pub with meals too.” says Alice Cooper.
Tropical World
Where: Tropical World, Princes Ave, Roundhay Park, Leeds LS8 2ER
Cost: Adults £7.40, Children 5 to 15 £3.70, Under 5s Free
Why your toddler will love it: Tropical world has exotic animals, fish, waterfalls and plant life. There is plenty for little ones to see and explore and under 5’s even get free entry!
Royal Armouries
Where: Royal Armouries, Armouries Dr, Leeds LS10 1LT
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: The Royal Armouries has over five galleries with loads of space for your toddler to explore! There are more than 8,500 objects on display, so plenty to keep their attention. They will be especially impressed by the armoured Elephant. There are also hands-on exhibits and events on during school holidays and weekends. You can even enjoy a ride on the Leeds Water Taxi after your visit!
Kirkstall Valley Farm
Where: Kirkstall Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS4 2DD
Cost: Varies depending on the activity
Why your toddler will love it: “Kirkstall Valley Farm is really developing into a thriving hub for the community. They offer regular events to go down and get stuck in on the farm on weekends and throughout school holidays as well as their weekly Explorer tots sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays either at the farm or their unit on Burley Road.
Their Burley Road unit has a lovely pay as you feel cafe and a beautiful free library with an amazing children’s section perfect for a quiet afternoon with a book and some cake. You can also order weekly veg boxes full of seasonal produce to teach about healthy diets. I can’t recommend them enough, they are such a fantastic team who really do so you what community is all about,” said Rachel King.
Leeds Water Taxi
Where: Water Taxis run every 20 mintues Granary Wharf and Leeds Dock
Cost: Under 5’s ride free and there is a £1 charge for over 5’s to ride.
Why your toddler will love it: What better way to see Leeds than by water taxi? The Leeds Water Taxis are such a fun way to see the city. The rides are just over 10 minutes each way, making a perfect outing for little ones!
Kirkstall Abbey
Where: Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: Toddlers will love exploring the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey which is just outside of Leeds City Centre. There is also a dress-up box and exhibits in the interactive Visitor Centre. You can find free parking, a kid friendly cafe, and a play area over the road at Abbey House Museum.
Abbey House Museum
Where: Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH
Cost: Family ticket £13.50
Why your toddler will love it: The Abbey House Museum gives families the chance to experience life in Leeds during the Victorian era, try their luck at Victorian games, and enjoy a visit to the family-friendly cafe onsite. Toddlers will especially enjoy the interactive Childhood Galleries where they can see toys from the Victorian era to the present day.
The Den
Where: Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2UU
Cost: Varies by activity
Why your toddler will love it: “The Den is such a hidden gem. The owners are so welcoming and their groups are varied and a lot of fun. They’ve turned a carpark into such an oasis of calm for any parent with young kids. The best part is the creche sessions with free tea and coffee in their lounge. Nothing beats some free time to catch up on all that life admin while knowing your baby is in such safe hands!” says Rachel King.
Swithens Farm
Where: Swithen’s Lane, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0BT
Cost: Prices start at £6 for over 3’s. Under 3 Free entry.
Why your toddler will love it: “My 3 year old loves Swithens Farm, Rothwell. It’s a bit rough around the edges but there’s SO much to do. Lots of animal feeding and interaction, trampolines, little rides, digger zone and playground. It’s £6 so super good value,” says Liv Kirby.
Tree Nippers
Where: Swillington Organic Farm, Coach Road, Leeds LS26 8QA
Cost: £9 per child, adults free
Why your toddler will love it: “Tree Nippers forest school at This Green Moon, Swillington is our unquestionable favourite. It’s on Tuesdays and just the best, most engaging toddler group we’ve been to,” says Liv Kirby.
Grasshoppers | Tong
Where: Tong Ln, Bradford BD4 0RY
Cost: Tickets start at £4.75 for children over 1, adults go free and under 1’s start at £1.50 if not accompanied by an older, paying sibling.
Why your toddler will love it: Grasshoppers has both large indoor and outdoor play areas to keep your toddler happy in any weather. While Grasshoppers is suitable for under 10’s, there is a Baby and Toddler Zone exclusively for babies and toddlers with a soft climbing frame, activity rings, mini ball juggler and a twin-lane wavy open slide. It also features an interactive talking tree and an exciting sensory corner.
Kids About Tarn
Where: Unit 4 Cliffe Court, High St, Yeadon LS19 7YU
Cost: 1.5hr long session in the sensory room – for 1 baby and 1 adult – costs just £5, 1 year – 8years £5.50
Why your toddler will love it: “During covid and lockdown Kids About Tarn transformed their space to include role play dress ups which looks amazing. My son had outgrown the centre during lockdown sadly, but all the equipment is aimed at the younger infant and they do sensory for babies/toddlers,” says Zoe Porter.
Leeds Central Library
Where: Leeds Central Library, Calverley St, Leeds LS1 3AB
Cost: Free
Why you’ll love it: Leeds Central Library is housed in a beautiful building and has a fantastic children’s library. There are free under 5’s Story and Rhyme times as well as a ‘Ready, Steady, Readers’ challenge. It is in the same building as the beautiful (and child-friendly) Tiled Hall Cafe if you would like a treat after your book browsing.
Leeds City Museum
Where: Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: Leeds City Museum is free and has lots to offer toddlers. The Life on Earth Gallery features many animals, interactive areas to ‘dig for fossils’ colour and learn more about animals. There is also a small soft play corner and interactive exhibits throughout the museum. The Museum cafe is very child friendly as well.
Bramley Baths
Where: Bramley Baths, Broad Ln, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3DF
Cost: £5 adults £3 Child and under 5’s go Free
Why your toddler will love it: Jenny Ahston, manager of Bramley Baths says, “For tots, we have general swims and family fun swims that are toddler friendly. We offer our sea horse swimming lessons which are for children aged specifically between 2 – 3 years of age. We also have a community garden space where families can come along and have a picnic after their swim.”
None Go Bye Farm Shop
Where: Otley Old Road, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5HZ
Cost: £1 per person
Why your toddler will love it: “None Go Bye Farm Shop is such a great little farm (goats, hens, sheep, alpaca, pigs, rabbits etc) and affordable too – £1 per person and each child gets a bag of animal food. Extra bags 50p. There’s also a play barn inside too which is £2,” says Emily Joy.
Jump Inc
Where: Jump Inc Leeds, 1 Benyon Park Way, LS12 6DP
Cost: Toddler sessoins £8pp off-peak (weekdays during term time) and £11.50pp peak (weekends and school holidays)
Why your toddler will love it: Jump Inc is a mega-park with over 50,000 feet of indoor fun! There are trampolines, huge slides, sports zones, inflatables, tumble tracks and much more! They have special toddler sessions every weekday from 10am – 12pm and on weekends from 9am – 10am.
Temple Newsam
Where: Temple Newsam, Temple Newsam Rd, Leeds LS15 0AE
Cost: Varies depending on the activity
Why you’ll love it: Temple Newsam Estate has lots to offer toddlers from a toddler-friendly play area, paved paths for bikes and scooters, an on-site farm and the gorgeous Temple Newsam mansion which often hosts special events and activities for families.
Middleton Railway
Where: Middleton Railway, The Middleton, Moor Rd, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2JQ
Cost: Adults return ticket £7, Child return ticket £3
Why your toddler will love it: Toddlers can ride the world’s oldest continuously working railway when they visit Middleton Railway in Middleton Park. The trains run every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday as well as on Wednesdays. Three is a free museum and souvenir shop onsite as well.
Middleton Park
Where: Town St, Middleton, Leeds LS10 3SH
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: Middleton Park in Leeds is a great stop for toddlers. The park is over 600 acres in size and includes a nice play area, a kid-friendly bike park, ancient woodland, lake, and even its own railway.
Thackray Medical Museum
Where: Thackray Medical Museum, 141 Beckett St, Harehills, Leeds LS9 7LN
Cost: Tickets are valid for 12 months! Adults £11.95, Children £8.95, Under 5’s FREE
Why your toddler will love it: Thackray Museum of Medicine’s has a new play area for children aged 0-5 years called Sparks! Here toddlers can help the Feelgood Friends, which are animal characters featuring Dr. Ele the GP, Medi the paramedic, Wise Eyes the optician, Gnasha the dentist & Katrina the dietician. They can enjoy a sensory-themed roleplay medical centre, and even travel through the body’s digestive system ending with a poo slide leading to a giant toilet!
Meanwood Park
Where: 8 Tannery Square, Meanwood, Leeds LS6 4LT
Cost: Free
Why your toddler will love it: Meanwood Park is a beautiful place for a walk and a wander with plenty of paved paths for prams and bikes as well as a great play area and an amazing café!
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