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Top Things To Do in Leeds During May Half-Term
6th May 2026
May half term is the perfect time to get out and explore Leeds, whether you’re planning fun days out with the kids or looking for something new to enjoy together as a family, with exciting events, indoor activities and outdoor adventures. To help you make the most of the break, we’ve rounded up the top things to do during May half term, no matter the weather!
Cinema, Shows & Festivals
Hyde & Seek
Hyde Park Picture House
Hyde & Seek is the home of family-friendly movies at Hyde Park Picture House, with toddler-friendly & autism-friendly screenings, free crafts and much more. Screening across May half-term include The Sheep Detectives, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and some Animated Shorts from the London International Animation Festival.
Find out more and book your tickets here.
Great British Food Festival
Harewood House – 23rd to 25th May
The ultimate day out for the whole family, with street food, artisan market, chef demos, live music, kids activities and much more!
Natural History Museum Presents Dinosaurs Live!
Carriageworks Theatre – 25th May
London’s Natural History Museum takes you on a prehistoric journey to the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as you watch the life-like dinosaurs come alive right on stage and learn more about fossils, time scales and how our planet has changed over hundreds of millions of years.
Shrek (25th Anniversary)
Everyman Cinema Trinity Leeds – 25th May
Head to Trinity Leeds for the Family Film Club screening of family favourite Shrek for it’s 25th Anniversary. For 5-14 year olds tickets are 50% off, like a fairytale come true!
Spiky Singing With a Side of Silliness
Leeds City Museum – 26th May
Join singer-songwriter Nicky Bray for family-friendly interactive singing storytelling sessions. Think silly songs about creatures with spikes.
The Karate Kid: The Musical
Leeds Grand Theatre – 26th to 30th May
The 1984 hit movie The Karate Kid is adapted into this Tony-Award winning musical for all ages. Destiny is in your hands – Wax on – Wax off – Book now.
Bluey Story Time
Merrion Centre – 27th May
Join the much-loved Heeler pup Bluey for a special free interactive 30-minute story time this May half term.
Malory Towers
Leeds Playhouse – 27th to 30th May
Adapted from the popular novels by Enid Blyton, Malory Towers is the original ‘Girl Power’ story. Follow the story of Darrell Rivers as she starts school at Malory Towers and saves the school play! For 8+.
Colosseum of Chaos
Carriageworks Theatre – 27th May
This hilarious interactive show plunges audiences into a gladiatorial game of silly challenges, slapstick battles, and spontaneous fun.
You Choose
Carriageworks Theatre – 28th & 29th May
Based on the brilliant book by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt, Nonsense Room Productions (Shark in the Park and Hairy Maclary Shows) bring you an interactive musical show for all the family. But in this show – YOU CHOOSE what happens!
Indoor Activities
Saxon Story Hunter
Royal Armouries Museum – 23rd to 31st May
Become a trainee archaeologist, hunt for clues around the museum, watch performances and demonstrations and much more to discover Saxon life.
Amazing Anatomy
Thackray Museum of Medicine – 23rd to 31st May
The body is an amazing collection of parts that work together to keep us fit and healthy. But how does the body fit together? Designed for children and their curious grown-ups, it’ll be a half term with a packed programme of hands-on activities that reveal the inner workings of the human body.
Conservation: Today and Tomorrow
Tropical World Leeds – 23rd to 31st May
Journey through extraordinary habitats, meet the incredible species we’re working hard to protect, and uncover the stories behind conservation action with keeper talks, craft activities, displays and even a bee trail for Roundhay Park.
Everyday Heroes & Store Tours
Leeds Discovery Centre – 26th to 29th May
The Leeds Discovery Centre is home to over 1.3 million objects that are part of the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection. This half term, the doors open for special tours including the Everyday Heroes tours.
Bugs & Beasties
Harewood House – 23rd to 31st May
Follow the clues around this beautiful historic house to find the bugs and beasties that lurk, and find out how the Collections Care Team make sure to protect the house from them!
Have a Go at Half Term
M&S Archive – 28th May
We are stepping into the summer season in style creating wearable art inspired by over a century of millinery at M&S. Join the team this half term to design a piece of headwear that really makes a statement! Bring the whole family to explore our exhibition and enjoy free refreshments. Try the kids’ exhibition trail to claim your free pack of treats!
Find Your Happy!
Temple Newsam – 23rd to 31st May
Embark on fun-filled trails, hands-on crafts, interactive experiences and much more to spark imagination and lift your spirits.
Story Explorers
Leeds Central Library – until 29th August
Take a fantastical trip to the far reaches of outer space, the depths of the jungle and the bottom of the ocean floor in a free family experience, in collaboration with the British Library.
Gnomes Sweet Gnome
Abbey House Museum – 23rd to 31st May
Cheeky gnomes have escaped and are hiding across the Victorian Streets of Abbey House Museum. Find them camping at the chemists, planting in the pub and arresting suspects in the police station, and tick them off on your trail map.
Woolly Good May Half Term
Leeds Industrial Museum – 23rd to 31st May
Explore the new felt exhibition Untangled and fungi trail, enjoy felting activities and mystery matinees, all at the Leeds Industrial Museum.
The Hole in Wand
St John’s Shopping Centre
The city’s most magical attraction, The Hole in Wand Leeds, is an enchanting family experience that takes in an extraordinary 9 holes of mini golf. Owls will oversee your wizardly quest, and fairies will come to your aid as you face a troll and look to defeat the villainous dragon, Obredon. Play your way through hidden tunnels and a castle of ice as you help save the day through the noble game of Wizard Golf.
Shaun the Sheep Trail
White Rose Shopping Centre – 1st to 31st May
Explore White Rose and follow the trail using the bespoke ‘Fun with the Flock’ A.R. app to track down nine markers across White Rose. At each location, unlock animated scenes, complete Bitzer the dog’s checklist of fun challenges, and interact with Shaun and his farmyard friends in unexpected places!
Outdoor Adventures
Love Your Zoo Week
Lotherton’s Wildlife World – 23rd to 31st May
Explore the animal trail where you can discover fascinating facts about our animal friends, ask keepers questions, do craft activities and check out Animal Experiences to meet Capybara, Humboldt Penguins and Wallabies up close! Plus between 25th and 29th May, the Deer Tractor Tours return to get you an up close look to the herd of Red Deer in Lotherton.
Lawn Games & Minibeast Safari
Harewood House – 23rd to 31st May
Head to the lawns of Harewood for some classic garden games including croquet, chess and jenga, or head to the wilderness armed with magnifiers, observations pots and identification guides to discover the smallest residents of Harewood’s meadows. Plus all the play areas like the Adventure Playscape and Woodland Wonderland Willow Maze!
Springtime Babies
Temple Newsam Home Farm – until 31st May
Explore the Home Farm at Temple Newsam to see all the adorable newborn animals including playful piglets, curious calves and tiny chicks amongst all the other farm animals.
Petals and Poisons Trail
Kirkstall Abbey – 23rd to 31st May
Wander though the abbey ruins looking for a variety of flowers, plants and herbs – each one is special! Some of them might have been used by the monks to heal a sore throat or to clean their teeth, some made the church smell nice, others were deadly poisonous, just tick them off your list!
Go Ape Temple Newsam
With wobbly crossings, Tarzan Swings and zip wires, Go Ape is the day out for everyone. With trails for kids from age 4+ up to epic challenges, the whole family gets a chance to adventure in the treetops.
Check out Spring Walks for more inspiration on where to go for Outdoor Adventures.
Travelling into Leeds
Did you know that when you choose Park & Ride that the parking is free AND with every fare-paying adult, three kids (under 19) travel for free!
Then it’s only 10-15 minutes into the city centre to enjoy your May half term adventures!
Find out more about Leeds Park & Ride here.
*This blog was originally posted in 2025 and has been updated for 2026