Picture caption: There is plenty for all the family to enjoy during Easter with Leeds Museums and Galleries.
An array of fantastic activities and events are guaranteed to keep all the family entertained this Easter at Leeds Museums and Galleries.
The fun kicks-off in the stunning surroundings of Thwaites Mills Watermill in Stourton, which will be hosting a very ‘special’ Spring Festival on Sunday 5 April from 11am - 4pm. Celebrate the arrival of spring on it’s beautiful island with a spring market, boat rides, face painting, a bouncy castle, children’s crafts and much, much more.
Easter would not be the same without an appearance by the much loved Easter Bunny, and at Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall, a number of fantastic ‘Bunny Fun’ themed events are certain to capture the imagination. Hop along on Friday April 3, 4, 5 and 6 and enjoy a range of fun bunny crafts, search for Easter chicks in our Victorian shops, and who knows you might just bump into the Easter Bunny as well! A ‘Family Fun Challenge’ will also be held on Thursday 16 April from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm, which will require real teamwork in order to solve a variety of clues, activities, mystery objects and time challenges.
A short walk from Abbey House Museum is one of the city’s most famous landmarks, Kirkstall Abbey, where the Easter Bunny is again set to make an appearance on April 3, 9, 11 and 19 as part of a ‘Bunny Scarecrow Trail’. Join in the fun and hunt for the famous bunny rabbits in this free event.
If you have wondered what it would be like to step through time, why not visit Leeds City Museum and take part in their magical ‘Time Travellers’ Treasure Hunt’ during opening hours from Friday 3 April –Sunday 19 April. Take a step through the famous Harrison Clock and navigate your way around the museum as you search for treasure and solve the challenges to enter a prize draw.
A firm favourite of the Leeds Museums and Galleries’ Easter programme over many years is ‘Easter Eggstavaganza’, and the great news is it will once again feature this April. Held at Temple Newsam House during opening hours from Friday 3-Sunday 19 April, search for clues around the house and be in with a chance of winning an eggcellent prize! When the excitement is over why not drop into nearby Home Farm and visit the hundreds of lovely and adorable animals that it has to offer.
After a wide ranging refurbishment programme historic Lotherton Hall has once again opened its doors, and is looking better than ever. Join in the celebrations of its recent reopening by joining in their two weeks of springtime games and activities from Thursday 2 April or their wild and wonderful ‘Mad Hatter’s’ dress up day on Wednesday 8 April from 11am-3pm. Fall down the rabbit hole at Lotherton Hall, dress up and join the Mad Hatter and friends for a day of surreal Wonderland crafts and garden games.
Leeds Art Gallery remains one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions and any event or activity taking place there is sure to inspire and stimulate in equal measure. Through ‘Stepping out in Artspace’, why not join our artist in residence and take part in a number of free activities based on how people move from Tuesday 7 April –Sunday 19 April from 10am-5pm.
Leeds has a fascinating industrial history, and there is nowhere better to find out more than our very own Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. Come along on Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April from 1pm-3pm and try your hand at making Loom Bands and traditional weaving.
Last but certainly not least is the Leeds Discovery Centre which is a state-of-the-art storage facility for learning and exploration. On Wednesday 8 April, 10am -12noon as part of ‘Spring Animals’, take a unique behind the scenes free tour and also have a close encounter with the Discovery Centre’s fabulous natural science collection.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:
"With Easter fast approaching it is really great news that once again Leeds Museums and Galleries has put together a brilliant activities programme which both young and old can enjoy.
"All of our nine fantastic sites are taking part in the fun, which will include crafts, Easter egg hunts, special themed events, and the chance to learn new skills such as looming and weaving.
"With so much on offer, we are really looking forward to welcoming both old and new friends to our events this Easter."
Notes to editors:
For more information on events and admission, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries
Details on all Leeds Museums and Galleries’ events:
Leeds City Museum
Time Travellers’ Treasure Hunt
Fri 3 Apr – Sun 19 Apr, during opening hours
Tick tock goes the Harrison Clock. Step through the clock; navigate your way around the museum, treasure hunting and solving the challenges to enter a prize draw!
Price: Free
Audience: Older children 13+
Booking: Just turn up
Build a Toy Time Machine
Tues 7, Weds 8, Tues 14 & Weds 15 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Tick tock goes the Harrison Clock. Build your own toy time machine, and step through the clock for your own adventures - where will you travel to?
Price: Free
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Time Traveller photography
Tues 14 & Thurs 16 Apr, 12pm - 4pm
Photography workshop for young people.
Price: Free
Audience: Older children/13+
Booking: Just turn up
Abbey House Museum
Bunny Fun with Easter Bunny
Fri 3 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm, Sat 4 April 2pm - 4pm, Sun 5 & Mon 6 Apr 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm.
Hop along for a range of fun bunny crafts. We will also be looking for Easter chicks in our Victorian shops and you might just bump into our friendly Easter Bunny.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Funny Faces Family Crafts
Tues 7 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Pull your funniest face and come along to a fun day of silly crafts, activities and face painting.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Silly Science Eggsperiments
Weds 8 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
A day of science activities inspired by eggs. Can you crush an egg in your hand? How do you know if an egg is boiled? Is your egg fresh?
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Easter Family Fun Challenge
Thurs 9 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Abbey House's family challenge with an Easter twist. Designed for the whole family to work together they will have to solve a variety of clues, activities, mystery objects and time challenges.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Frightening Faces
Fri 10 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Pull your scariest face and come along to a frighterningly fun day of crafts, activites and face painting.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Wild Things Animal Crafts
Tues 14 Apr, 10am -12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Join us for fun family crafts inspired by wild animals including lions, tigers and bears
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Silly Science - Camouflage And Canines, The Science Of Animals
Weds 15 Apr, 10am -12pm & 2pm - 4pm
A day of science activities inspired by animals. Can you find our flies or camouflage a cameleon? No scientific knowledge necessary just curiosity.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Abbey House Family Fun Challenge
Thurs 16 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Abbey House's family challenge. Designed for the whole family to work together they will have to solve a variety of clues, activities, mystery objects and time challenges.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Cute and Cuddly Or Slimy And Slithery Animal Crafts
Fri 17 Apr, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm
Do you like fluffy bunnies or spooky spiders? Take your pick with our range of cute or creepy crafts.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Temple Newsam
Every Picture Tells a Story: Biblical Paintings Tour
Fri 3 Apr, 2pm - 2.45pm
A special tour for Easter of the biblical paintings in the House.
Audience: Families
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Booking: is required please contact 0113 336 7460
King Henry the Egg: Decorate an ‘egg’ character
Fri 3 Apr - Mon 6 Apr, 11am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 3.30pm
Create an 'egg' character inspired by our history and stories. For eggxample, 'King Henry the Egg', 'Elizabeth of Yolk', 'The Ghost of the Speckled Blue Lady'
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Easter Eggstravaganza!
Fri 3 - Sun 19 Apr, during opening hours
Join in our Easter egg hunt! Search for clues around the house to be in with a chance of winning an eggcellent Easter egg prize. A great time to visit the newborn animals on the farm too!
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Music fit for a King
Sun 19 Apr, 10.30am - 4pm
Members of the North East Early Music forum will be filling the House with music from the 16th century.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: All/Families
Booking: Just turn up
Kirkstall Abbey
Bunny Scarecrow Trail
Fri 3 - Thurs 9 Apr & Sat 11 - Sun 19 Apr, 10am - 3pm
Join us for a fun scarecrow trail around the abbey looking for famous bunny rabbits. You may spot Peter, Roger or even the Easter Bunny.
Price: Free
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Mini Eggs
Tues 7 & 14 Apr, 10am 11am
Our popular Tuesday under 5's session gets an eggy make over for Easter. Bring your own mini egg but be prepared we like to get messy!
Price: Free
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
How does your garden grow?
Thurs 9 & 16 Apr, 2pm - 3pm
Take inspiration from the nursery rhyme and make Mary’s garden to take home. We will be planting marigolds and making clay shells and bells and pretty maid scarecrows.
Price: Free
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Lotherton Hall
Spring Time Festival
Thurs 2 Apr – Sun 19 Apr, 11am – 4pm
Spring has sprung at Lotherton. Enjoy a fun-filled Easter holiday with brand new trails, daily crafts, garden games, meet the keeper, nest box making and more.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Easter Egg Trail
Thurs 2 Apr – Sun 19 Apr, 11am – 4pm
Follow the clues and find our decorated eggs around the estate.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Hopping Games with the Easter Bunny
Sat 4 & 18 Apr, 1pm - 3pm
Join the Easter Bunny for outdoor games, weather permitting.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Upstairs, Downstairs
Tues 7 & 14 Apr, 12pm - 2pm
What does it mean to be a Lady of the House and what kind of jobs did servants do? Find out the stories and more at Lotherton Hall.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Mad Hatter’s dress up day
Weds 8 Apr, 11am - 3pm
Fall down the rabbit hole at Lotherton Hall! Dress up and join the Mad Hatter and Friends for a day of surreal Wonderland crafts and garden games.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Thwaite Mills Watermill
Spring Festival
Sun 5 Apr, 11am - 4pm
Fun filled day exploring this beautiful island, boat rides, face painting, crafts stalls, bouncy castle plus more.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Leeds Art Gallery
Stepping out in Artspace
Tues 7 Apr - Sun 19 Apr, 11am - 4pm
Join our artist in residence and take part in joyful holiday activities for everyone based on how people move.
Price: Free
Audience: All
Booking: Just turn up
Leeds Industrial Museum
Spring and Easter Crafts
Weds 1 Apr – Fri 17 Apr, 10am – 5pm
Drop-in Spring and Easter Craft activities for all the family to enjoy.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Loony Loom Bands
Tues 7 & Weds 8 Apr, 1pm - 3pm
Try your hand at ‘looming’ and have a go at more traditional weaving.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Mystery Matinée
Tues 7 Apr - Sat 18 Apr, 2pm - 4pm
Watch a family film in one of the smallest cinemas in the world.
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Please call to find out what film will be showing.
Train Fun!
Tues 14 & Weds 15 Apr, 1pm - 3pm
Visit our loco gallery and make a train out of recycled materials
Price: Free, but usual admission applies.
Audience: Families
Booking: Just turn up
Leeds Discovery Centre
Spring Animals
Weds 8 Apr, 10am - 12pm
Craft activities, behind the scenes tours and close encounters using our fabulous natural science collection.
Price: Free
Audience: Families /Activity
Booking: is required
Ancient Egypt
Weds 15 Apr, 10 am - 12pm
Join us for Egyptian crafts and activities, and investigate our amazing Egyptology collection. Includes a behind the scenes tour!
Price: Free
Audience: Families
Booking: is required
For media enquiries, please contact;
Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578
Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk