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Leeds: Ideas for Easter Holiday
Confident, classy and cosmopolitan, Leeds is the embodiment of Northern reinvention. This great city, once an industrial powerhouse, is a thriving, buzzy centre for the arts, shopping and business. The Royal Armouries, Britain’s national museum for arms and armour, calls the place home. There’s everything from urban farms to climbing walls, suiting children of all ages. With loads of kid-friendly attractions within easy reach of the city centre, it’s the ideal place for a visit in the Easter holidays.
The city centre is largely pedestrianised, with an eclectic mix of shops from vintage at the historic Corn Exchange to renovated Victorian arcades, as well as all the big High Street names. This is, after all, the place where Marks and Spencer started out, and the location of the first Harvey Nicks outside the capital. The old is not forgotten. Curious about Leeds supplies treasure trail maps; this is a city where if you keep your eyes peeled, there is much to reward the observant visitor. The Art Deco Tetley brewery has been reimagined as a centre for contemporary art and learning – though adults can still sample the iconic beer, of course!
Tick Tock Unlock
One of the newest attractions in Leeds is Tick Tock Unlock. This popular game invites teams of three to six people to solve puzzles and make their escape – and participants only have sixty minutes to pull it off! For those making a return visit, there are two rooms themed around blueprints and another named “The Hatch”. The adrenaline will be pumping as the clock counts down – would your team have the problem solving skills to pull it off and make it out in time?
Abbey House Museum
A short ride out of the city centre brings you to Kirkstall, with its wonderful ruined abbey set in extensive parkland. Bring a ball for a kick around or a blanket for a picnic and it’s the perfect spot to keep the kids amused. Across the road you’ll find the Abbey House Museum. Short-listed for the Guardian “Kids in Amusement Family Friendly Award” in 2011, this lively, interactive museum features recreations of Victorian streets to show what life would have been like in 19th century Leeds.
National Coal Mining Museum
Twenty minutes or so out of town, near Wakefield, you’ll find the National Coal Mining Museum. Here, you can get kitted out in hard hat and battery lamp to descend by cage 140m underground in the company of a former miner. Your guide will bring to life the harsh reality of working as a coal miner through the centuries. From Victorian times when children toiled alongside adults and pit ponies to modern times when mechanised mining techniques significantly improved performance and safety. Unsurprisingly, these tours are very popular and it’s advisable to book well in advance!
The choice isn’t whether to visit Leeds, it’s certainly when. With so many attractions for visitors of all ages, you won’t regret it. Buy your mobile ticket today and start planning your trip to Leeds with the Trainline app (iOS / Android).
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