As one of the most prominent cities in the north of England, there are plenty of things to do with toddlers in Leeds.
In the heart of West Yorkshire, you can expect farms and parks alongside indoor activities like soft play and trampolining. Whatever your toddler is in to — and whatever you fancy doing for the day — you’ll find something to suit your family in Leeds.
We’ve rounded up our favourite toddler activities in Leeds, both indoor and outdoor, free and paid, whole day and just an hour.
Let us know if we’ve missed your top Leeds toddler day out!
Fun Things to do in Leeds with Toddlers
The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary is located in Eccup just north of central Leeds and is a great day out for toddlers and young kids.
The sanctuary is home to a number of donkeys that have been rescued from all around the world, so it’s a great place for animal education and hands-on learning. Donkeys are free to roam throughout the sanctuary and may even choose to interact with you while you’re here.
It’s open to the public every Saturday and the first Sunday of every month. Make sure you check their website in advance for booking and opening times. Entry is free although donations are always much appreciated.
Tumble Town Adventure Play
Tumble Town is an indoor soft play centre located in Guiseley that’s designed to entertain kids aged between 0 and 6 years old — perfect for toddlers!
There’s a good size soft play complete with slides, a climbing frame and imaginative play areas like a shop, petrol station and car wash. Parents and carers can easily watch over their kids from the onsite café which has a great variety of drinks, snacks and meals for every age.
Play sessions are 2 hours (although can be extended during quiet periods) and they also host seasonally themed sessions throughout the year for maximum fun.
Tropical World
Tropical World is a zoo and indoor wildlife park in Roundhay Park that’s actually home to the largest tropical plant and animal collection in the UK outside of Kew Gardens.
Some of the animals you can expect to meet here include meerkats, butterflies, crocodiles, monkeys and clown fish. You can also explore different natural habitats including waterfalls, desert and rainforest. There are lots of educational and kid-friendly events held during the school holidays that are always worth looking out for.
Toddlers under 5 are able to enter for free and visiting prices otherwise are very reasonable. There’s an onsite café if you fancy refuelling while you’re here.
Leeds City Museum
A museum may not be the first thing you think of when you imagine somewhere toddler-friendly, but Leeds City Museum in the city centre is one such place.
There’s a huge amount of interactive and family friendly displays across the museum’s four floors that kids are bound to find both educational and entertaining. Some of the best collections include Life On Earth, The Collector’s Cabinet and The Leeds Story.
Admission is free for all and the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. It’s quite accessible for young kids thanks to a baby change and café.
Jump Inc
Jump Inc is a huge indoor trampoline park located in Holbeck just outside of central Leeds.
And when we say huge — not only are there the trampolines themselves, but also 6,000 square feet of inflatables like slides, obstacle courses, wipe out arena, bounce blocks and more. If that sounds a bit much for your little one, fear not, as Jump Inc host their own toddler sessions for children aged 5 and under every day including weekends.
These sessions are cheaper than normal entry and include 2 parent tickets for free. The lights will be turned up and Disney songs playing on the stereo!
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Meanwood Valley is a 24-acre city farm located in Meanwood that’s open 7 days a week and free for the under 2s.
It’s a working farm so not only will you be able to visit the animals but you can watch and learn exactly what they do and how a farm operates in the current age. As well as the animals, you can explore the gardens and woodland, as well as visit the café.
Some of the animals at home in Meanwood include alpacas, sheep, chickens, pigs, cows, goats, guinea pigs, turtles and more.
Jigsaw Gyms
Jigsaw Gyms is an indoor soft play area for kids aged from birth all the way up to 11 years old in Pudsey.
There’s a large, multi-level play frame to explore complete with slides, trampolines and rope bridge, as well as a separate soft play area for the under 4s — ideal for toddlers. Your littlest ones will love the sensory room for babies under 12 months old.
You’ll be able to supervise the play from the comfort of the adjoining café which has a wide selection of drinks and hot and cold food.
Jackrabbits Pottery
If you’re looking for a creative activity to do with your toddler, why not try out Jackrabbits Pottery in Roundhay?
This is Leeds’ first paint-your-own-pottery centre whereby you choose your piece of pottery to buy and then spend time in the studio painting it. The team will then glaze and fire your artwork and you’ll be able to pick it up the following week.
Cakes and drinks are available while you work while parties are also very popular with creative kids.
Golden Acre Park
Golden Acre Park is one of the best parks in Leeds to take toddlers who need a lot of space to run around and blow off some steam!
It’s located north of central Leeds in Bramhope and covers a whopping 137 acres. With beautiful gardens to explore and a stunning lakeside walk that’s perfect for little legs, you can really spend a lovely day outdoors here. There’s lots of space for picnics and ball games, and there’s a café and toilets too.
Plenty of parking and easy paths mean that buggies and tired toddlers are fine to bring with you. Make sure you keep an eye out for all the wildlife at home here!
The Arium
The Arium is a fantastic plant nursery and garden centre found in Whinmoor that’s got plenty to entertain young kids.
The large outdoor play area is very popular and suitable for all ages with its multiple climbing frames, slides, soft play, sand pit and more. There are loads of events and activities held throughout the year that are family friendly and will help you inspire your little ones to get excited about gardening and the natural world.
There’s also a great café and shop on site, as well as a picnic area. The Arium is open every day aside from special holidays.
Middleton Valley Railway
If your toddler loves trains, you have to take them to visit the Middleton Valley Railway in Hunslet — it’s the oldest continuously working railway in the whole world!
They’ve got a museum, souvenir shop, and even rides on the train themselves during the weekends, bank holidays and Wednesdays during the school holidays. Special events are held throughout the year including Santa Specials, heritage open days, superheroes and princesses days, comic-con style events and more.
You’ll also be able to visit the beautiful Middleton Park while you’re here, which covers 630 acres and is home to a boating lake, numerous paved walks and recreation areas.
Lotherton Hall and Wildlife World
Lotherton Hall is an Edwardian country house and estate in Aberford, just east of central Leeds, that’s also home to a zoo — Wildlife World.
While you can explore the beautiful house and gardens, toddlers and young kids will especially love the outdoor adventure playground, home to awesome climbing frames, roundabouts, zip wires and swings. There are also giant lawn games so the whole family can get involved!
Meanwhile in Wildlife World, you can meet Humboldt penguins, flamingoes, tapir, capybara and many more animals while exploring the various habitat zones.
Munchkins
Munchkins is another indoor soft play centre, this time located in Morley on the outskirts of Leeds.
The centre is designed for children all the way up to 12 years old, but it’s especially well set up for toddlers thanks to its dedicated under 2s play area that’s of a really good size. The larger play frame for older children is set over 3 levels and includes a trampoline, double slide, cannon ball shooter, ball pool, climbing challenges and much more.
There’s also a great onsite café that serves food and drinks all day, and is set in the middle of the play centre so you’ll have good visibility over the whole centre.
Swithens Farm
Located in Rothwell to the southeast of central Leeds is the brilliant Swithens Farm that’s super popular with families of toddlers.
There are lots of animals to meet and greet here including cows, sheep, pigs, donkeys, llamas, chickens, goats, guinea pigs, meerkats, alpacas and emus. Make sure you also explore the brilliant indoor play barn while you’re here — a large soft play centre suitable for kids aged up to 10, with sessions lasting 90 minutes.
Under 2s can enter the farm for free and you’ll need to buy separate tickets if you want a session in the play barn.
See more: the UK’s best farm parks
The Little Bookshop
The Little Bookshop is a fantastic independent bookstore for children that’s located in Chapel Allerton.
Not only can you and your little one explore the shelves for your next read but you can join in the many creative workshops and storytelling events that are held on the shop floor. They stock a huge range of diverse and inclusive books all the way from first books right up to teen fiction.
There’s also a café inside serving up plenty of drinks and wholesome food.
Jackaboos
Jackaboos is a much-loved indoor play gym in Pudsey that’s suitable for children under 148cm in height (roughly around 7-8 years old).
Book in to their 2 hour play sessions and your child can explore the brilliant 360° 3-tier play frame that’s so positioned so as adults have full visibility over the whole frame. Slides, ball pools, trampolines and more are all here for the taking!
Make sure you take advantage of the onsite café while you’re here which serves up delicious drinks, snacks and meals.
Yeadon Tarn
Yeadon Tarn is a great place to head for some outdoor time with your children. It’s located around 9 miles north of central Leeds in Yeadon.
The lake is the central feature here and there’s a good, short walk here that toddlers should be able to do with minimal (!) fuss. There’s usually lots to see on the lake itself too, including sailing, canoeing and windsurfing, and there’s a playground too which kids will love.
Yeadon Tarn is well accessible for buggies and wheelchairs with adequate parking, onsite toilets and food and drink stations nearby.
Looking for another location? Check out our Days Out section for more ideas.
