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The best things to do in Leeds this Easter
6th March 2024
With Easter and the springtime holidays right around the corner, it’s a great time to get outside, discover something new and have fun!
Over the next few weeks Leeds will come to life with family fun activities for all ages (big kids included!). Here we’ve rounded up the top things to do this Easter which are guaranteed to put a spring in your step.
Get inspired by film
Need to keep your little ones entertained over Easter? Leeds Young Film Festival has you covered. Running from 30th March to 13th April, the festival sees popular movies screened every day in venues across the city, including Carriageworks Theatre and Hyde Park Picture House. So grab your popcorn and get comfy to watch a variety of movies including Encanto, Detective Pikachu and Labryinth! Films will be suitable for all ages.
Have a cracking time at Leeds’ historic houses and estates
Hop on down to Temple Newsam, this stunning Georgian property and grounds are transformed into an Easter paradise this year where you can enjoy a delicious day out. See rooms set for feasts and learn about fabulous food from the past while you take part in family fun crafts, activities, and trails throughout the house. A visit to Temple Newsam isn’t complete without a trip to their on-site farm. Lambs, piglets, chicks and rabbits – you can see all of these new springtime arrivals here!
And at the magnificent Lotherton Hall, you can embrace all things wild and wonderful. Explorer trails around the grounds, houses and Wildlife World are perfect for little adventurers, with nature-inspired crafts on offer too. And for little ones to really be at one with nature, there’ll be activity stations to make wildlife dens for hedgehogs, birds and other animals. The Wild about Lotherton event is running from 23rd March to 14th April, with prices starting at £9.50 for an adult and £4.75 for children aged 3-15.
For nature lovers Harewood House has the perfect adventure – ‘Rainbow Rabbit Easter Trail’ runs throughout the Easter Holidays where kids can race around the Lakeside Path and take on challenges in the Rainbow Rabbit Arena – from hopping bunny races to hula hooping and hopscotch, you must complete all activities to claim your prize! All whilst surrounded by the beautiful gardens, estates and grounds of Harewood House.
An eggcellent Easter at Leeds’ museums
The array of magnificent museums in Leeds are great places to entertain kids during the holidays whilst also discovering something new. And in most cases entry is free, so you can experience fascinating culture, easily!
There’s tonnes of Easter fun happening in museums across the city this year. Leeds Industrial Museumis putting on a Wildlife Explorers event, allowing visitors to spot wildlife that’s wandered into the mill in a fun, kid-friendly trail. And with special felting workshops, be inspired from the wildlife you see and make your very own felt creation.
All aboard to Thackray Museum of Medicine where you can take a voyage into unchartered waters to explore medicine at sea through the ages. For just £2.50 more you can watch a LIVE session in the Victorian Operating Theatre.
Step back in time to the medieval ages at the Royal Armouries, the UK’s leading museum of arms and armour. Their Easter programme this year is inspired by the lives of Medieval Knights, with archery, sword fighting and extra special warrior showcases all on offer. Plus, over the Bank Holiday weekend there’ll be a special International Jousting Tournament, with teams from UK, France and Italy battling it out in an exciting competition over four days to see who will reign supreme! Entry to the museum is totally free, but prices for the jousting tournament start from £5.
Easter shows to be egg-cited for
The Leeds Playhouse will be home to an interactive adventure straight from page to stage in the form of Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Monster in Your Show, a great introduction to theatre shows for little ones.
How about a classic story brought to life with mesmerising puppetry and song? Well, The Little Prince, one of the best selling children’s books of all time, will be on at the Carriageworks during the holidays.
And at first direct arena, Cirque du Soleil’s OVO returns with three new acts and new characters, in a newly revisited high-energy and high-acrobatic production that appeals to audiences of all ages.
And something out of this world…Leodis Space Agency promises an unforgettable Easter Activation across Leeds City Centre. Prepare to be transported into a cosmic wonderland as the heart of the city is adorned with breathtaking free-to-view installations and free immersive experiences.
*This blog was originally posted in 2023 and has been updated for 2024