West Yorkshire is a large county in Northern England. With cities including Leeds and Sheffield, there are also plenty of bustling market towns to explore.
However, if you happen to be visiting the area or live close by, you might be wondering if there are appropriate places to take the kids? The answer is yes!
West Yorkshire has an abundance of family-friendly attractions. Read on for 10 of the best.
Whether you are heading to North, East or West Yorkshire, there is plenty to do in God's own country.
With its beautiful landscapes and unspoilt countryside, here are some more places in Yorkshire we love:
Scroll down for 10 of the best places to visit in West Yorkshire with kids.
Eureka!
Eureka is a children’s focused museum and is known as the national children’s museum with so many interactive exhibits focused on delivering knowledge and education to children aged up to 11 years old.
It focuses on learning through play where you can be assured of a great day out.
While it is an educational setting your children won’t feel that way as there is a lot of fun to be had. Indoor and outdoor activities are available and it is a great day out.
Kirkstall Abbey
This is a lovely day out for the whole family where you can enjoy walking in the parklands and woodland areas but the abbey ruins are also fascinating to walk through.
The kids will love the chance to check out the different areas and enjoy the parkland.
There is a lot to do here, and lots to see, and it can be a slower-paced day out where you can enjoy everything at your own leisure.
The nearby Abbey House Museum is a fascinating record of social history in Leeds with Victorian streets to walk through.
National Science and Media Museum
Based in Bradford you have the National Science and Media Museum which can also be a great day out for the family and the perfect option if the weather isn’t so great.
Here you will find lots of different exhibits, many of them interactive to get the whole family involved.
Museums have evolved so much over the course of the past decade that many children enjoy walking through and being given the opportunity to learn things in a different way.
There is always something going on, so you might want to check the website first to see if there are any events taking place when you want to visit.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
If you want to do something that means being outside, is fun and a little unique, but won’t cost you a lot of money, then heading to Yorkshire Sculpture Park could be the answer.
There is always an array of sculptures on display where you can wander around and enjoy the creativity and unique art that is on display outdoors.
Hardcastle Crags
Now it is time to mention a National Trust location, and Hardcastle Crags is one of the best places to visit with kids.
It is a lovely woodland area with 19th-Century Gibson Mill and a delightful cafe nestled in the middle of it.
There are lots of walks to enjoy as well as beautiful streams.
You will need to pay for your access, but it is well worth it, and free if you are NT members.
Bring a picnic and find a secluded spot sitting next to the stream or within the woods.
The kids will love exploring the different areas and finding lots to do.
Tropical World
If you have mini explorers that love animals then heading to Tropical World should be at the top of the list.
There are different greenhouses and enclosures where you can see and learn about reptiles, smaller insects and beautiful butterflies.
There is a lot to see and do here and it is always worth looking online to see if there are any special events taking place.
The surrounding Roundhay Park is another great place to explore with fun playgrounds for the kids.
Pontefract Castle
You can’t beat a castle, or even visit castle ruins, for a fantastic day out with kids.
There is something mysterious about castles that can really get your children’s imaginations running wild.
Pontefract Castle near Wakefield is a great location to take the kids, and definitely should be on the list.
It is open daily, and the perfect location to explore on a warm and summery day.
There is also a play area for children to enjoy, and car parking is free.
It is well worth looking online to see if there is anything happening while you are there.
Comparing the ruins you see to the reconstruction model (below) is a fascinating exercise.
Diggerland
Sometimes the kids need a place to enjoy and have a bit of fun, embrace thrill-seeking rides or just play in outdoor play areas.
Diggerland is the place to do it. There is so much to see and do in Diggerland.
You have fabulous rides for big kids and little ones. You have safaris and even things like go-carts to explore.
There is something for everyone at Diggerland and the whole family will enjoy a day out there.
No matter whether the kids are digger mad, or just enjoy doing something different, this is a great day out in West Yorkshire.
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Haworth is a small and fascinating village on the edge of the moors in West Yorkshire that was once the home of the Bronte family.
The famous authors penned some of English literature's most well-known and well-loved novels, such as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.
You can visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum where they lived and wrote, walk out across the moor to the Bronte Falls waterfall, or on further to Top Withens, which many believe to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights.
The village is also worth exploring, particularly the graveyard which shows just how awful life must have been in this isolated spot in Victorian Times.
National Coal Mining Museum
Finally, the National Coal Mining museum may not sound interesting, but this museum is very unique.
It gives you a realistic take on the mining industry and gives you a chance to explore the underground and understand what mining is all about.
Children will find it fascinating and may have even learned about it in school.
Hopefully, this has given you plenty of ideas for some of the best places to visit in West Yorkshire with kids.
Find more great family days out in the UK:
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