Travel // Top 5 Family Friendly Places to Visit in Leeds

While I am off taking a little maternity break I am pleased to bring you a few guest posts from some great fellow bloggers. Today’s post is from Jo who blogs over on A Rose Tinted World. Jo is going to tell you all about her Top 5 family friendly place to visit in Leeds. 

If you like this post don’t forget to check out all our other Family Travel posts for lots of tips on family friendly places to visit, plus our Ultimate Guide to Legoland with a Toddler and our very popular 100 places to visit in South and West Wales  

I’m Jo. I’m a 47 year old Mum of a 3 year old, and I blog at A Rose Tinted World. I am a qualified dentist, I took a career break about 18 months ago to focus on rediscovering my mojo. I blog about being an older mother and all that brings, passing on my stress busting tips and also about my favourite hobby of sewing.

I love living in Leeds. There is so much to do for children of all ages. In fact, it was hard to narrow this list down to only five. But here are the 5 family friendly places in the Leeds area that we love the most.

1. Temple Newsam House and Farm

Temple Newsam is a stunning Tudor-Jacobean House set in amazing grounds with a fully working farm. It is actually free to park within the grounds and to walk around the huge estate and gardens. But you can pay extra to visit the farm, house or both. 

The house is full of fascinating artefacts and historic items. The farm is particularly child friendly, with a huge play area, and lots of interaction possible with the animals and exhibits. There is a picnic area, cafe and plenty of walks and trails around the park grounds.

You’ll find opening hours and ticket prices here 

2. Tropical World In Roundhay

Found on Roundhay Road in Leeds opposite the entrance to Roundhay Park, Tropical World is home to a myriad of butterflies, birds, fish and many other creatures. 

As you walk around the attraction you are taken through a butterfly house. Then through the Amazon basin where a tank filled with the biggest fish all intermingle, and other smaller tanks contain piranhas and catfish. Other exhibits include crocodile and terrapin enclosures.Canaries, finches and weaver birds chirrup as they fly above. You pass a huge waterfall and into a collection of exotic lizards, spiders and leaf-cutter ants. Then pass through a desert scene where meerkats have set up their home. Finally you pass through a night-time area, where nocturnal animals such as bush babies and bats can be seen feeding. Before coming back to where you started. It’s such a fun experience.

On site is a cafe for post attraction refreshments. Parking is free on the surrounding streets. And entrance to Roundhay park, with its lake and garden walks is also free. 

Check their website for lots more info

3. The Royal Armouries

The Royal Armouries in Leeds is just south of the river. Entrance to the armouries is free, but there is a multi-storey car park next door where charges apply.

The armouries consists of themed displays and galleries of how armour and combat has changed through time, history, and across the world. Some of the most impressive exhibits are the fully armoured elephant in the Oriental Gallery, and the Hall of Steel.

Throughout the day, live talks and reconstructions take place. Taking you right into the minds of the men who were in combat. Finally there is a tiltyard where jousting and tournaments take place.

Find out what’s on at Leeds Royal Armouries here 

4. Lotherton Hall and Wildlife World

Lotherton Hall is an Edwardian House that was gifted to the city of Leeds by the last of its owners. In the last few years, Leeds Council have upgraded the bird garden that was here into more of a wildlife facility. 

There are penguins, flamingoes, tapirs and capybaras all on show amongst the owls and ostriches that have long been at the park. As well as this there are great walks and trails around the grounds, a deer park, and two playgrounds for children of all ages. 

The house holds fashion and art from the last century. And there is a cafe too.

Check out Jo’s review on her blog

5. Golden Acre Park

The final one of our 5 family friendly places in the Leeds area is this gorgeous woodland and lake area just to the northwest of Leeds going out towards Otley. 

Golden Acre Park was originally a pleasure park, with attractions such as a miniature railway, boats on the lake and a swimming pool. However, it is now a nature reserve, with lots of woodland trails and open spaces.

Parking is free in two small car parks. But then it is a wonderful walk around the lakeside. In places you can feed and interact closely with squirrels. And if you are lucky you may also get a close encounter with the birds!

I hope that you get to visit some of our 5 family friendly places in the Leeds area, and that you enjoy them as much as we do.