Huge big English pile from another Era set in magnificent grounds that are well maintained…read more Still I'm at an age where these places hold very little interest for me unless there's something real special or unique such as Highclere Castle and its Egyptian heritage display. As best as I understand it this place is now used for arts, culture, music, food and other activities and accessible to the great unwashed whose ancestors likely paid with their labour so the gentry could live comfortably from the toil of others.

The first thing I recommend anyone does before they think of visiting Harewood House, is to plan…read moreplan plan your visit. For starters pick your season, there are many; early season, main season and low season. Prices vary for each, in fact they vary massively. In low season adult tickets are £5 but in the high season they inflate to £13, I believe they've just lowered them from the previous rate, but still an eight pound difference depending on your time of year is a hefty one. Also in the early season with the low prices, certain things are not open on the full ticket, like the stately homes, which quite frankly sucks. I see this as a cheat in to forcing people to visit in high season with high prices. But all that unpleasantness aside, Harewood House is the beautiful combination of the spectacular, the picturesque, the decadent and the historical. The many many state rooms are steeped in history and should you care to find out, there is all the information you could require to know. Depending on your season and your ticket you can visit the below the stairs area with servants quarters and kitchen type areas. If it's a beautiful day then the Harewood grounds are well worthy of exploration. 100 Acres of beauty and garden art easily take a chunk of the day away, and it's difficult to fit everything in all on one day. The sculpture garden changes depending on the featured artist, but the works range from the small to the imposing and all are excellent to gawp at in awe and jealousy. The Himalayan Garden is sheer spectacle and beauty with Asian influences visible everywhere. The Terrace is what many have described as breathtaking, and with so many colours and historical restorations it really is. Children seem to go wacky over the penguins and flamingos in the Bird Garden, and maybe it's the sheer shock of penguins wandering around in a stately home that is hard to bend the brain around, but it's all charming and lovely. Speaking of kids and big kids, the adventure playground, when it's open is awesome, and I believe it's been voted the best in Yorkshire, so it's almost certain to be worthy of a dip in. It is a fascinating day out should you be willing to fork out the entry fee. Paying for one isn't too bad, but if there are multiples in your collective, then it can work out expensive. Students can go free on Wednesdays which is a score point, and should be taken advantage of.

This is a very well maintained and scenic line in Yorkshire. I found Haworth station by accident…read morewhen I lived in Halifax and went for a drive across the moors. As you can see from the pictures I've added this is a very picturesque and authentic station. We went in Summer so the weather was great and the station was fairly busy. You can stand on a nearby footbridge and watch the steam train come in and get a smell of smoke and steam as it passes underneath. This is the first "real" train I've seen in action and it was very impressive. I didn't travel on the itself but the prices were reasonable. Instead I bough a couple of platform tickets so we could have a look around. I don;t know if it's been used in any films but it certainly could be. Video link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpPc9mvJso

Great day out!! Really relaxing tourist attraction (but I would recommend it to people who are…read morelocal to the area too). Very picturesque journey and you can hop off in Haworth and take a walk up the main street & find out about the Brontes etc It has fantastic Santa Specials that are great for children - but you must book early for these!!

Ever since I started Yelping I found out that this place existed, and right on my doorstep. Despite…read morethere being signage on the main road, it's perfectly hidden away behind the housing and recycling yard on Meanwood Road, so you can be forgiven for not quite noticing that it's there. With memories of little farms that one can visit as a child, when we decided to visit here for lunch, but my friend and I had low expectations. Not because we assumed it would be poor, but that we assumed it would be a few barns and a farm house - not the wonderful structure that it is! Whilst the name gives away the location, it suggests that it is going to be somewhat concrete, but once you pass through the gates there's little urban about it. Besides a spot near the beck, and at the back by the cafe, you can almost forget that you're in a city since there's so much green around. To think that you can have all this within minutes of Otley Road and Meanwood Road is a marvel. Upon entering, my friend and I leisurely made our way down the path to discover two very happy looking Eeyores in the field. They seemed pleased to see us, as the instant we approached, one came 'hee haw'ing over to us with vigour. It was hilarious! They even posed for some pictures and enjoyed a good nose rub. I knew then that this would be a fun afternoon out. We met two others at the cafe and indulged in some lunch. The staff in here are really lovely, and there's a great number of options to pick from, including all day breakfasts (incl. veggie), burgers, baps, sandwiches, and home made soup. Being a greedy guts I decided to have soup, to be healthy, and a bacon sandwich, to be greedy. The irony that I'd later be looking at pigs was pointed out... I have to say, that home made soup was utterly delicious, so if they're serving spicy vegetable and tomato when you're there, you're in luck. Once we'd had our fill we wrapped back up and headed to the main building, a gorgeous looking piece of architecture with great windows, and bought some feed. Entrance is £1, and feed is 50p. There was a little confusion, as one chap told us the feed could be given to anything except donkeys and pigs, and another said just to cows, sheep and goats. In any case, we followed the latter, just in case. There's a play area for kids near the cafe, the beck runs through the main area so you can watch the ducks gabbing away, and just opposite the cafe there's a barn with rabbits, guinea pigs (we guessed, it was hiding) and a few other things. Past the main building there's a chicken coop with tons of squawking hens, who were beautiful. They've a little walkway to outside so they can free range it, but I don't blame them for huddling inside - it was really cold! The main event seemed to be feeding the sheep and goats. I don't know what breed of sheep these were, but they were ridiculously cute and chubby, with really thick wool and squishy little faces. They had a tough time getting the feed, since the goats were real bully boys, and literally head butted them out of the way to get at the feed. There was one in particular who shoved all others out of the way, a champion amongst goat folk. With flat palms you can give them a treat from the feed, but I warn you, your hands with be sloppy and covered in slaver. It was a ridiculously messy affair. I think my favourite moment was an adorable 5 year old giving the big goat a right telling off for head butting the sheep, this kid wasn't having it at all. Past that you can see the fields and gardens, although on this occasion we saw no cows. Whether it's because it was cold, or they'd wandered off, I don't know. You can also see the hens free ranging, and there's a bird watching area too. We wandered up to have a look at the pigs, but these gargantuan beasts were busy lazing in what little sun we had, and weren't up to saying hi. Fair enough! Oh - and there are yellow bellied turtles (or tortoises?) in the tank inside the main building too. All in all, it made for an excellent few hours on a Saturday afternoon (even for big kids like me), and I can't wait to go back. I think it'd be a fantastic place to wander when it's a little warmer, not least as the animals will be about a bit more, but to laze away in the sunshine as if you're a thousand miles from the city. It's a fantastic project, and well worth your support. Plus, there's nothing like a bit of nature to sooth the soul. And if you've got kids? It's a must.

Even though I've lived on a farm for most of my life, I still found myself super excited to get to…read morevisit MVUF & it's a bargain for only £1 per person for entry. Then, paying a very reasonable 50p for a bag of feed & getting to dole it out by the handful to happy goats & sheep never gets old no matter how old you are. Though I don't remember as a kid feeling quite so grossed out by the generous exchange of animal saliva for feed! Top tip: take some wet wipes with you! We spent a good couple of hours wandering around seeing donkeys, chickens, rabbits, alpacas, ducks, turtles, geese, a huge pig & even a worm farm, all with info points so you can pretend your visit is educational & not just so you can pet a fluffy alpaca. Perhaps it was just due to it being winter but there were a few empty pens/fields - no cows & only the one pig, but there was still definitely enough to do for an easy afternoon getting a bit of fresh air without having to travel far out of Leeds. There's also a cafe with a shop next door that sells fresh eggs. We had lunch & there was a good selection of main meals for under £5 & the service was friendly and fast. More homemade than gourmet, but good quality food at a really reasonable price. I didn't try any of the sweet treats but they looked really good too! All in all, a fun day out for a bunch of big kids. I bet normal-sized kids & their grown-ups would enjoy it even more.

I visited the Abbey House Museum with my family in February. It is located right next to Kirkstall…read moreAbbey so was perfect for a cultural day out with the family. We arrived inside the museum and bought our tickets from the gift shop, the guy serving us was really lovely and extremely helpful. He told us a bit about the history of the museum and what we could expect when we got inside, and everything he told us was spot on. When entering into the museum you can either go upstairs, where they hold different exhibitions, or downstairs to the historically constructed Victorian street. We decided to go back in time first, and it was beautifully designed and felt so real! Some of the houses on the street were actually constructed as exact replicas and made from the same materials as real Victorian houses, which made the experience even more impressive. We spent a good hour and a half downstairs, as there is so much to see and so many hands on things for you to do. One of the shops was a Victorian clothes shops, where kids can try on the different Victorian clothing giving you perfect photo opportunities. There were pottery shops and pawn shops, filled with Victorian artefacts - my parents are antique collectors so for them it was perfect. The staff inside the Victorian street were incredibly informative too, more than happy to explain everything to you, from the way the Victorian street was built into the museum to the actual objects that were on show. Kudos to Abbey House - they definitely train there staff well. From what I can gather the museum has put an awful lot of time and money into redeveloping the space to become more educational and entertaining. When we went there was an exhibition upstairs called 'How Do I Look?', a showcase of the different ways people have changed the way that they look through time. It touched on make up, hairstyles, tattoos and body modification through the ages, and was really interesting for the whole family. I think the exhibition is on till the end of this year so I would definitely recommend it. And with just one admission price for both things it was a really cheap and interesting day out.

I'm a big fan of Kirkstall Abbey and all the history it holds. Before my most recent visit to the…read moremuseum (to entertain my young cousins), the last time I had been was when I was only a young 'un myself, and a lot has happened since then. They have put a lot of effort into redeveloping the museum to be more educational and more entertaining so that it can be enjoyed by all members of the family, from the elderly historians of the family to the young, easily bored kids. My cousins were pretty impressed with the interactive nature of it, and I myself was pleased with the way it recreated an authentic image of 19th century Leeds. Good day out.

Situated on the main road through the village opposite The Green.From the outside the museum does…read morenot appear to be very big,but once inside you realise what the site lacks in width it makes up for in depth.The exhibits consist of old buildings from around Yorkshire that have been dismantled,taken to the museum and then re-erected.These range from an old manor house,farm cottages,various shops and business premises dating from the 17th to 20th centuries.Access to the various buildings is good and there is plenty of signage to explain about each exhibit.A couple of things worth noting are that as an open air museum the weather could determine ones enjoyment and there are no catering facilities.However our visit was most enjoyable and we came away with a good insight into life in rural Yorkshire in bygone days.

Years ago I had driven past thsi place and assumed there must be another one because of what i had…read moreread about it.It looked like a couple of little cottages. Later i stopped and took my children and got a big surprise! It has a big outside area with loads to see. There are loads of buildings rescued from elsewhere. cottages ,houses ,farm buildings and there was allsorts of work shops.There was machinery and vehicles connected wih various trades and professions.You can see people at work ,read about the history of various occupations and ways of life some of them long past.They have special days and exhiitions. The frontage has altered since I first went and every time I have been more stuff had been added.I haven't been for a while but writing this has made me realise it is time to pay avisit.

A fantastic museum tucked away in Bradford. This is really worth a look in if you want to whittle…read moreaway a couple of hours or are looking for a way to spend and afternoon with the family. For the most part machinery dominates the vast majority of the items held here, rather fitting due to it existence as a mill and that a large quantity if this machinery will have been here before. There are also the ever present horses and mill cottages. The guide boards with basic information are helpful. Best thing about this? It's something fun and it's free.

A nice day out for the family. Its a museum which helps you see what life was like growing up in…read moreBradford during Industrial revolution. Its fun for kids, they wont get bored. You can also have a ride on a horse drawn cart. The museum itself it free entry. There is a lovely cafe that serves snacks and drinks and also a gift shop. The car parking area is not very big but you can find a space on a nearby street.

The Henry Moore is a huge square grey marble building right next to the fantastic Light shopping…read morecentre. It is very modern but don't let the cold square exterior put you off. It is very welcoming inside and just like the art gallery right next door it is free. Situated on the headrow, less than 30 seconds from the bus stop and 10 minutes walk from the bus and train stations, this is a very accessible museum of all things sculpture. It does have a great mix of modern and tradtional art in a variety of physical media which is excellent and though no touching is allowed I would still say that this is a good place to bring slightly older and well behaved children with an interest or appreciation for sculpture and design. I enjoyed my visit there and there is a good hour's worth of things to see, so coupled with the art gallery and the little shop there's an afternoon's entertainment for free - which can't be bad. Again the staff here are lovely and very willing to help with any queries you might have. I love this place and I think it's worth anyone's free time- as it's free itself.

The Henry Moore Institute, named after the great man himself who comes from Yorkshire, is a…read moresculpture gallery located on the Headrow in the centre of Leeds right next door to the Leeds City Art gallery. It is an impressive black marble fronted building and like the Art Gallery is absolutely free to enter. It has a great deal of traditional sculptures in bronze, clay and wood, and lots of modern sculptures too in all manner of mediums - the sky seems to be the limit! Set yourself an hour aside to have a look round, it has disabled and buggy access, and a little cafe too. Absolutely worth a look.

The child in me is about to come out. It will surface for two reasons. First up, I've got one in…read moretow and have to keep them entertained. Secondly, anywhere that has the word pump in it makes me laugh. Yes I told you the inner child would escape. The Royal Pump (arf) Room is a fine museum. It's crammed full of ancient exhibits and stuff from Egypt. We're talking the part of history that was fun here. What I also love is the fact that you can find out about the history of the spa town and it's all done in an interesting way. Gone are the miserable day trips at school and being bored to tears. They've also created shops of old zone which appeals to me. Let's face it; if shops are involved I'm there. Of course one of the main things is the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, where over 15,000 people used to come every summer. Don't forget to taste the water for yourself, if you can stand gagging and feeling ill. Fantastic day out for the family

Open daily with a cost of £3 adult and £1.70 kids, with concessions for others…read more This is a totally different day out - the building isnt that big so it does get a bit claustrophobic when they are busy but it is quite interesting but, dont expect the kids to be that enthralled - mine were bored half way through and we ended up leaving within a hour. Some of the interests are the old well with the oldfashioned pure sulphur water which they encourage you to taste - i found it quite bitter. Quite interesting is the visitors book which has been signed by some famous names like charles dickens - you can also read what he had to say about the area and how he thought the residents were 'odd' which is quite funny. One of the exhibits is the oldfashioned shops and products they used to sell - i loved seeing the likes of daz washing powder and beans and that and how they looked in the olden days. The oldfashioned tills and weighing scales were a huge hit with the kids who couldnt believe there was nothing computerised to be seen. The other events being shown were also very interesting but, not enough for a full day out in my opinion. There is full disabled access and disabled toilets, hearing loops and also baby changing places.