Enjoy the delights of Leeds Museums and Galleries this Easter

A feast of family-fun activities and events are set to light up Leeds Museums and Galleries this Easter.

Fans of Alice in Wonderland are in for a treat as both Abbey House Museum and Lotherton Hall will be offering events inspired by Lewis Carroll’s timeless book from this Saturday (April 1). Enjoy creative crafts at Abbey House Museum and take a trip down the rabbit hole from the start of the school holidays with a programme ranging from murder mystery to flamingo croquet. As part of ‘A Mad Hatter of an Easter’ at Lotherton Hall, take a walk on a special Mad Hatter trail through the house and gardens, meet his friends, and who knows you may even have the chance to play hopping games with the Easter Bunny.

The beautiful surroundings of Thwaite Mills Watermill in Stourton are home to a wonderful array of wildlife, and take the opportunity to explore the grounds with the use of a nature pack or get creative with an artist pack. Themed events as part of Creative Tuesday (4 & 11 April) and Experimental Thursdays will also be available offering crafts, egg experiments and animal investigations. Not to be missed on Sunday 16 April is a traditional Easter Fete from 11am-4pm which will be held on Thwaite island. Experience the beauty of the island whilst taking part in activities including an Easter bonnet competition.

A series of multi-sensory family adventure sessions celebrating the wonderful world of hippos will be held at Leeds City Museum as part of ‘Hippo Easter Holidays’. Join in on Tuesdays (4 & 11 April) with storytelling you can touch, smell and even taste, while on Wednesday and Thursdays take part in Hippo-tastic themed craft activities. Lovers of comics can also sign up to a comic strip masterclass on Tuesday 4 April for youngsters aged 11+.

The important role that our fire and rescue services play will be celebrated throughout the Easter holidays at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. Come and see our beautiful Victorian fire engine, dress up as a fire officer, make fire engines and see some of the wonderful objects in our collection.

For more information regarding each event, please see the notes to editors section.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for Leeds Museums and Galleries, said:

“With Easter just around the corner, I am delighted to say that Leeds Museums and Galleries are once again offering a packed programme of events and activities.

“Whether you are a lover of Alice in Wonderland, creative crafts, murder mysteries, experiments or a big fan of our fire and rescue services, there really is nowhere better to keep all the family entertained this Easter than at our unique museums and galleries sites.”

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:

Abbey House Museum

Easter Holidays

Sat 1–Sun 16 Apr

Join us for two weeks of fantastically creative crafts and activities. We’ll be going down the rabbit hole as we start out the holidays inspired by Alice in Wonderland, with everything from murder mystery to flamingo croquet! In the second week of the holidays it’s all about eggs, with family challenges and silly science. We’ll also welcome our annual guest the Easter Bunny; let’s hope he’s got lots of treats to give out.

Visit leeds.gov.uk/schoolholidays

Leeds City Museum

Hippo Easter Holidays

Tues 4–Fri 7 & Tues 11–Thurs 14 Apr, 10am–12pm & 1pm–3pm

Did you know hippo bones were discovered in Armley in Leeds? Join us on Tuesdays for multi-sensory family adventure sessions about the hippo, with storytelling you can touch, smell, hear and maybe even taste! Our crafts are hippo-tastic on Wednesdays and Thursdays of the holidays. On Tuesday 4th take part in a comic strip masterclass (ages 11+) then on Friday 7th we’re giving you the chance to don a lab coat and investigate 125,000 year old hippo bones (suitable for age 7+).

Visit leeds.gov.uk/schoolholidays

Leeds Industrial Museum

Easter Holidays

At Easter, learn about the important role of our fire and rescue services. Come and see our beautiful Victorian fire engine, dress up as a fire officer, make fire engines, and see some of the wonderful fire services objects in our collection.

Visit leeds.gov.uk/schoolholidays

Thwaite Mills Watermill

Thwaite Fete

Sun 16 Apr, 11am–4pm

Thwaite Island is holding a traditional Easter fete, with fun and games for all. There will be an Easter bonnet competition and the chance to meet the Easter Bunny. Nestled between the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation, don’t miss a chance to see the beautiful island in all its spring glory.

Easter Holidays

Sat 1–Mon 17 Apr

Throughout the holidays we’ll have lots going on, make use of a nature pack to help you explore the grounds or pick up an artist pack and get creative. Join in one of our special activity afternoons; Creative Tuesdays (4 & 11 Apr) and Experimental Thursdays (6 & 13 Apr), where we’ll have crafty fun, egg experiments and animal investigations to keep the children occupied.

Visit leeds.gov.uk/schoolholidays

Lotherton Hall

A Mad Hatter of an Easter

Sat 1–Sun 23 Apr, 10am–4pm

Over three weeks at Easter we have a varied programme of activities including daily springtime crafts, outdoor games and a Mad Hatter’s trail to explore the house and gardens. On special days play hopping games with the Easter Bunny, meet the Mad Hatter and friends, see live hatching displays in the bird garden and make a spring planter or basket. We’ve got enough to keep the whole family entertained whatever the weather!

Visit leeds.gov.uk/schoolholidays

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk