Clifford’s Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in York, but what is it actually like inside? With our English Heritage membership, we have been a couple of times and it only felt right to write about it!!
What is at Clifford’s Tower?
The facilities are quite sparse at Clifford’s Tower. After all, it is a about a thousand years old and they didn’t really think about baby changing facilities in those days!!
Family day out at Clifford’s Tower
In the basic form, Clifford’s Tower involves climbing up 2 or 3 stories of stairs to see the view of the city of York. It is true that there isn’t much else “to do” and it will probably take 30 minutes or so to look round, so what is the appeal….??
The views
The main reason to go to Clifford’s Tower is to see across the city of York and beyond. On a good day, the views are amazing and the maps handily indicate what you are looking at!!
You are quite high up, so whilst the views are impressive, they are not for those scared of heights!! Rather than me describe the scenes, here are a few pictures which will hopefully do it justice.
What is there for children?
Hopefully the views will take their breath away, but failing that, on the ground floor, there are a few bits and pieces for them.
The best for us was the dress up box with wooden swords and Knights dress-up. As you can see we had good fun “pretend” fighting (There were a few real hits, particularly on my hands!!)
CHARGE!!
There are a few information boards to help educate both young and old. However, if you have a choice of reading about the history of York, and play fighting, what would you do?! Perhaps the education would be best left for the adults!!
Accessibility
As mentioned previously, Clifford’s Tower isn’t particularly accessible. You have to be good with heights and climbing tight, winding stairs. There aren’t any toilets and whilst pushchairs are allowed, I wouldn’t recommend it, unless you have a baby carrier/sling.
Younger children will struggle with Clifford’s Tower, so it might be something to do when they are school aged.
Whilst in York…
Around 200 yards away from Clifford’s Tower is Fairfax House – a Victorian House mock-up, which is brilliant for inquisitive youngsters. You can read about our previous visit here, in this blog post
On a rare (very, very rare!) childfree weekend, we went
to Wellness at Alpamare in Scarborough for my first Spa experience! It was such a relaxing experience and one
that I am sure that we will want to do again.
Adults only!
Wellness at Alpamare is a relaxing, calm experience and as such, it is adults only. If you’re looking at taking the family to Alpamare, then this blog post is ideal for you.
Getting started
When you get to Wellness at Alpamare, you are given your
towel and robe at the entrance and get changed in the usual changing
rooms. Make your way upstairs and you’ll
be welcomed at the Wellness at Alpamare reception. Here you will be given a
tour of the facilities.
For those who are more into these things, you are given a
couple of suggested routes around the facilities to get the most out of
it. However, we didn’t use them but they
are clearly there for a reason!
The staff at reception are more than happy to answer any
queries or offer advice. Here you can help yourself to free flavoured water,
book any treatments and order food/drinks.
The Wellness at Alpamare lounge
The Facilities
Wellness at Alpamare offers both treatments and the
general spa experience. We didn’t have any treatments, and whilst they are
offered, there is certainly not a hard sell by the staff.
The spa has both a Finnish sauna, which overlooks the sea
as well as a clay sauna. There are also foot spas, again, which look over the
sea.
The view from the Finnish Sauna and footspas
In terms of baths, they have a Herbal Steam bath and a
soap steam bath, which is extremely funny to see other people try to work out
how to use it!
Perhaps my favourite was the warm centre stone, where you
lie down and relax on the warm stone. It might sound daft, but it was so
soothing on my back and so relaxing!
You also get full use of the Alpamare swimming
facilities!!
Alpamare swimming pool
Top Tips
Being a newbie to spas, I did find it a bit strange, but
my word, it was so relaxing! Here are a few tips to get the most out of your
experience:
The saunas are intense, therefore don’t worry
about giving them short sharp bursts.
Enjoy a drink/snack in the lounge overlooking
the main pool.
You have the rest of Alpamare to use as well, so
enjoy the super warm pools.
If you go on an evening, there are some nice
photo opportunities. However, phones, saunas and spas don’t mix very well!
Go to the Aufguss Ceremony. It is a bit strange,
but the mixture of heat and aroma is a bit different!
Just Relax!
As Wellness at Alpamare is child free, then the
atmosphere is completely different to the rest of Alpamare. As such, relax,
enjoy some adult company and let the body and mind drift. Sometimes we have to
look after ourselves and after going to Wellness at Alpamare, I was so so
chilled!!
One of the places we discovered in 2019 was Brimham
Rocks, which is to the north of Harrogate near Pately Bridge. The mixture of
climbing, adventure and mystic means that virtually every weekend a request is
made to go back!!
The view at Brimham Rocks
What is at Brimham Rocks?
Brimham Rocks is set in 400 acres of moorland and
historic rocks that is open all year round. As it is in great outdoors, weather
can be a factor, and so take an extra layer, just in case!
To some, there isn’t much to do at Brimham Rocks except
walking. There are no shops, no playgrounds, no games. However, the open space,
mud and rocks prove an excellent backdrop to allow your children (and yourself)
a way to get exercise and fresh air!
The Rocks
If you’re going to Brimham Rocks, then you’re going to
want to climb the rocks! It is best to go when it is dry as they can become
slippy but they aren’t too difficult to make a decent attempt at them.
The Rocks!!
Children from about 3 or 4 years of age can probably feel
comfortable starting out on them, although it is best if a grown up leads the
way and/or helps them up and down.
Probably best not to wear anything you don’t want to get ripped or
muddy, because once they start climbing, it will be difficult for you to stop
them!
Climbing the rocks
One thing that I like to do is get Heidi to imagine how
the rocks came to be how they are. As such, it isn’t just a place to explore
the body, it is a place to explore their imagination and mind too!
Geocaching
One of Heidi’s interests in 2019 is geocaching and
Brimham Rocks is great for it! There are 4 which are quite easy to find for
young families and they are great fun to help motivate little legs!
Geocaching at Brimham Rocks
There are a total of 13 dotted around the park, but some
of the others are a little more difficult and may be suitable for older families.
Facilities
The car park is of decent size, and whilst Brimham Rocks
entry is free, car parking does cost. In 2019, it costs £6 for 4 hours (which
is long enough for most) and is very competitive, especially compared to
somewhere like the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. If you’re a National Trust member,
parking is free!
There is a toilet block and outdoor cafe about half a mile walk from the car park, past most of the rocks and there is an information point at the car park. There is also a picnic area next to the cafe.
The paths are ok for prams and pushchairs, but it might
be a slightly bumpy ride at times!
All in all, we absolutely love Brimham Rocks and I am
sure that we will keep on going in 2020 and beyond.
The outskirts of Heckmondwike is not the first place you
imagine an animal park to be. However, Ponderosa Zoo has been there for a
number of years and apparent investment in the park and animals has breathed
new life into the venue.
Ponderosa Zoo Animals
Ponderosa Zoo has two functions; one being an
entertainment attraction, but the other is that it is a place for therapy for
people. As such, the animals at Ponderosa Zoo are on the smaller, friendlier
side!
There are meerkats, reptiles, birds, otters, reindeers
and many, many more. In late October,
they have just introduced wallabies so it will be interesting to see how they
take to Heckmondwike!!
Ponderosa Zoo isn’t a huge attraction, and as such, it is
quite child/toddler friendly. It will probably take a couple of hours to walk
round, with a few stops at the play areas thrown in. However, it does get a bit
chilly and muddy, therefore pack an extra jumper and wellies, just in case!!
Although there is mud, Ponderosa Zoo has paths all the way round, so it is
pram-proof!
My favourite!
There are a number of talks throughout the day and it is
best to look on the website at the times, before planning a visit. The animal
handling talks are usually the most popular talks and it is usually a good idea
to plan around those. The staff are really friendly, especially during the
talks and are happy to answer any questions about the animals.
You don’t have to do this!!
Perhaps most importantly, the animals looked to be well
cared for and happy. By no means is this an educated view, but it is important
to mention.
Halloween Trail
For Halloween 2019, for an extra £3, you can take part in
the Halloween Trail. This is where you have to find 10 “gravestones” of extinct
animals hidden around the park.
You’re looking for these!
It isn’t too difficult, although we did see one family
struggling to find the last one!! If you complete it, you get a “small treat”
which in our case was a lolly.
Check out my pumpkins!
However, the main part of the trail is getting to do
pumpkin carving, with no danger of getting hurt!! In the “pumpkin patch”, you
can select a pumpkin and a member of staff will cut the top off for you. Then
you need to scoop it out (spoons and baby wipes are provided!). After that, you
draw your design and allow the staff to do the carving.
Check out our designs
For £3, it is really good value for money, and you don’t
have to pick up a knife at all!! I would do the pumpkin patch towards the end,
just so you aren’t carrying it around Ponderosa Zoo. However, as it takes them
a few minutes to do the carving, I wouldn’t leave it until the last moment
either.
Play Areas
There are a few decent sized play areas for the little
ones to burn off some energy. There is the ship and huge sand play area, which
is brilliant in summer.
There is also 2 sets of climbing frames, both of which
are a little bit different. However, they have slides and allow the children to
climb and run around.
There is also the indoor play area (extra charge applies)
but this is closing in early November 2019.
However, they are keeping its replacement well under wraps!!
Facilities
At Ponderosa Zoo, there is a indoor ice cream/snack
outlet, as well as the Lakeside restaurant. The restaurant is often used for
functions and so check before you set off whether it is open or not. The Sunday
carvery smelt terrific however, when we popped in to use the toilets there!
Speaking of toilets, there are plenty dotted around so
you shouldn’t be too far from one!
Car parking is free (yes, free!) and plentiful and there
is a small gift shop at the entrance/exit.
Conclusion
All in all, if you’re looking for lions, tigers or bears,
Ponderosa Zoo isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for an afternoon out where
the children have space to play and see smaller animals, then you can’t go
wrong with Ponderosa Zoo.
Disclosure: For the purposes of this blog post, we received free entry to Ponderosa Zoo for the Halloween Trail. However, we have previously paid entry prices, on numerous occasions. This blog post has not been edited by Ponderosa Zoo, nor any influence made on it.
October is “Light Night Leeds” month and it is a perfect
night out for grown-ups and children alike. Whilst the attractions change year
on year, the crowds always turn up regardless of the weather. As such, here are
a few hints and tips to make the best of Light Night Leeds.
Make a plan
You simply cannot see everything at Light Night Leeds.
There are too many things and it is too busy. However, pick a few things that
interest you and stick to them. You’ll see plenty as you walk within the city
centre, but if you walk aimlessly, you might miss quite a bit!
Light Night Leeds – Jugglers
In 2018, our favourite was the Leeds Children’s Circus
exhibit in the Kirkgate Indoor Market, and there is always something for the
children to enjoy.
Light Night Leeds – Circus School
Eat before arriving
City Centre restaurants and bars will be busy and you
don’t want to be wasting time waiting for food. As such, eat before getting
into town, and take a few snacks to keep the children happy and quiet!!
Wrap Up Warm
Yes, you will be walking throughout the city centre.
However, it is a night event and the October chill will be in the air. As such,
take an extra layer and you’ll be thankful when the sugar rush has worn away
and the children complain that they are cold!!
Use a pushchair
There will be crowds and you will end up walking
throughout the city centre. As such, if your child is on the edge of being in a
pushchair, err on the side of caution and use it. It will come in useful in
case they get tired, and it will also be a good battering ram!!
Find the pianos in Leeds City Centre!
Check out the Queens
Queens Hotel is usually the focal point of the Light
Night Leeds exhibits. As such, if you only have chance to go to one thing, go
here. They usually show an animated short show on a loop on the side of the
hotel. There are numerous special effects and is a sight to behold.
Because of this, and the traffic, if you can get into the
city centre by train, do so!!
It would be great to read your own hints and tips to make the most of Light Night Leeds for you and your family. As such, please use the comments section below!!
If I could only have one meal in the world, it would probably be pizza! As such, when we got the opportunity to visit Domino’s Xscape for their store opening, we couldn’t say no!!
We were invited to Domino’s Xscape by the good people of Don’t Panic Events, who did an amazing job given that the queue had built up around half of Xscape before the start of the event! However, as we arrived a couple of hours in, it was busy, but not hectic.
If truth be told, we didn’t know what to expect, apart from a couple of slices of free pizza. However, we were given the chance to make our own pizza, which turned into a magical experience!
Explaining how it all works!!
Making the Pizza
First and foremost, the Domino’s Xscape staff were so friendly, especially as they were run off their feet making pizzas and working the crowd. A but shout out to Karan for helping us to make the pizzas and Hannah for organising it.
All dressed up!!
First impressions were that Domino’s Xscape is quite small “behind the scenes” (as Heidi puts it) but so well organised. After we were given the aprons and hats, we washed our hands and we started!
Heidi made a 9in pizza with beef and pepperoni and Oscar made a garlic bread with ham. Kim and I made, well, I’m not sure, but I can confirm that there wasn’t any pineapple on it, because pineapples don’t belong on pizzas!!!!
Heidi loved the opportunity to put the ingredients on and whilst she does it at home now and again, there was something special about doing it in a real kitchen! The thing that amazed her was the fact the oven was a conveyor belt, rather than a standard oven! I was amazed that none of us burned ourselves on the ovens!!!
Putting the ingredients on
So, how did we do?? I’m not sure we are as good as the Domino’s Xscape professionals, but we absolutely loved it!
The finished product!!
The other highlight of the day was the fire-eater, who was absolutely amazing. However, I’m not sure it would be any good for cooking pizzas!!
An alternative to the oven!!
How to Find Domino’s Xscape
The Domino’s Xscape outlet is on the side of Xscape facing the Junction 32 shopping outlet. It is a little hard to find, but there is parking just outside!! There are a few seats and tables to eat at, but it is mainly for takeaways. There is plenty to do at Xscape, one of which is the trampoline park, Gravity, which I have written about previously here.
All in all, it was a wonderful way to see a pizza outlet open. I’m sure we will be back to Domino’s Xscape, but we will let the professionals do the cooking next time!!
Located inland between Scarborough and Filey, in Cayton,
Playdale Farm Park is hidden off the beaten track but is a wonderful way to
spend a day in the area. We went when
Heidi was 3 and had a lovely time, but now she is 6, she could enjoy it even
more!
We spent 3 hours at Playdale Farm Park and only saw half
of the animals and missed out on 2 of the play areas. It’s safe to say that it
is a day-long attraction!!
Animals
As Playdale Farm Park is, well, a farm, there are the
usual animals to see. In the main barn, there are goats, pigs, alpacas and
chicks to see, amongst others. In the
other barn and dotted around outside are donkeys, chipmunks, sheep and loads of
birds.
Heidi holding a chick
Perhaps the best part of this is the handling activities that
are set up during the day. Times can
vary so check before you set off, but we got to hold guinea pigs and chicks
that were only a couple of days old.
Whilst it was busy, we didn’t real rushed and had long enough to hold
the animals, before both they and the children got bored!!
Heidi holding a guinea pig
The staff looking after the animals were more than happy
to talk to the children about the animals. They also encouraged children to
wash their hands after holding the animals, to make sure the risk of catching a
bug was reduced,
Play Areas
Even if you are not into the animals, there are loads of
play areas for the children to run about and, well, be children. There are 2 outdoor climbing play frames, as
seen below, which are more than adequate for most children aged 2 to 12.
The smaller Playdale Farm Barn outdoor climbing frame
There is also an indoor barn full of hay bales, which the
children absolutely loved. Because of
this, it might be a good idea to pack a spare set of clothes for the children
because hay can get EVERYWHERE!!
Playdale Farm Barn hay barn
There is also an indoor play area with 2 soft play areas –
one for under 4’s, and one for over 4’s, although the children can play in
either quite easily. Inside the indoor play area are ride on tractors as well.
Indoor play area
Ride on tractors
However, as it was a lovely early September day, we had great fun on the zipline, dry sledging and the cycle go-karts. As you can see in the video at the start, the zipline and dry sledging isn’t for toddlers, but children 4 and over should be ok with it. Once we got over some nerves, Heidi absolutely loved it and it was difficult to pull ourselves away from it!
We didn’t even make it to the sand play area or the Frisbee
golf, but I suggest the latter is more for adults. It can get a bit windy and
the children may get a bit bored chasing the Frisbee!
Facilities
To make the most of Playdale Farm Park, you do need dry
weather, as some of the activities are outside. If you have bad weather, there is enough to
entertain, but you will miss out on the dry sledging, which was our highlight!
There are plenty of picnic tables for you to bring your
picnic, as we did. However, there is also a lovely looking cafe, with some
amazing looking cakes, which I really should have taken a photo, as well as
bought!!
The toilets are of decent quality and the cubicles are
quite large, which helps when you’re with children. There are plenty of hand
washing stations, which is always good to see.
Cost
For 2 adults and 2 children, it cost just over £30 (2019
prices), with free parking. This didn’t
feel too bad given that we took our own food and could have had a full day of
entertainment. The children absolutely
loved it and I am sure that we will be back on a future trip to the North
Yorkshire Coast.
We love Grass Hoppers and have been looking forward to the opening of their new soft play. As such, we were really excited to be invited along to the pre-launch event, to check out the facilities, which are now open.
Grass Hoppers in Tong Garden Centre is an amazing place to take the kids, and we have visited their outdoor area on many occasions. It is a safe play space for families and you’ll find a huge outdoor adventure playground and a large indoor play area, where children up to 10 years old can enjoy proper playtime! You can read about the outdoor area in this blog post.
Keep reading for details of their great grub and award winning (and allergy conscious!) ice cream being served in the new Woody’s Kitchen.
What’s New at Grass Hoppers?
Well, first off there is a brand new entrance. It is accessed through the covered area where you will find the outdoor plants. It’s really easy to find but the staff at Tong Garden Centre are always willing to help if you find yourself a bit lost.
This guy is happy to help!!
As you walk in there is a brightly painted wall and a wooden desk with a locked gate which you find at all soft play areas. This gives you you real confidence it’s a safe place for your child to run around and explore.
Grass Hoppers entrance
There is ample seating for you to sit down. However, if it is very busy, you’ll likely not be able to see your child if you’re near the back or sat near the ice creams. As such, get there early if they are young and need closer watching.
The Soft Play Area
We love soft play, it’s a brilliant opportunity for the kids to burn off energy and for the parents/carers to have a few minutes peace with a hot cuppa!
The soft play itself was very impressive, as you find they all tend to be the same. However, Grass Hoppers have set the bar high. For the younger kids, there is a brilliant interactive area. This includes a piano to record and play sounds with your feet. They even have nursery rhyme suggestions and tell you which keys to press to play the tune. However, it was still popular with the older kids and parents testing it out.
There is a talking tree and an infinity mirror panel with lights as well. This is an excellent sensory activity for any children on the spectrum. A big “wow” was a screen hiding under the smallest slides. It loops a video of different bugs and animals like ants and snails so you can see the detail of their anatomy and how they move.
What about older children?
For older children, they have a great sports court with cut outs for goal scoring, just like you see at fairgrounds. This was really popular with some of the older children. We also enjoyed some the games throughout the Soft Play frame such as spot the difference.
I also counted at least 5 slides throughout the play frame which was a big hit with us.
Something I’ve never seen in a soft play before but I was very impressed with was the 3 real life play areas including a Shop, Garage and a Coffee Shop. They’re not very big but this stops it getting clogged with too many kids trying to play with the same thing. In the garage, there was a racing car the kids can take apart and re-build as much as they want or just use their imagination to pretend they’re the next Lewis Hamilton!!
Garage
In the garage and also in the toddler play area, were wall jigsaws to place soft play shapes/tools. This was a great spin on traditional jigsaws.
What does entry into Grass Hoppers give you?
Your entry gives access to both indoor and outdoor play. If you want to access the outside area, there is a new doorway at the back easily spotted from entering Grasshoppers.
Grass Hoppers outdoor play
You will find that with the new building the outside feels a little smaller. However, nothing has changed in respect to the facilities or the equipment for children to play on. There is a new area for ride on cars, seesaws and play houses for younger kids. There is so much space both inside and out that it shouldn’t be a problem.
Woody’s Kitchen
There is a brand new kitchen and ice cream parlour known as Woody’s Kitchen. They offer a great selection for breakfast and lunch such as sandwiches, panini’s and pizzas.
We ordered sausage, chips and beans for the little ons. They were fresh butcher sausages and were ‘yummy’ – which is the official seal of approval from the 3 year old! From the adults menu, we tried the fish finger butty and a bacon roll. Both were delicious and very filling. However, we did manage to save room for cake!
Healthy (ish) meals!
There is so much to choose from such as brownies, flapjacks, scones and cakes. You can eat in or take away. The menu itself highlights suitability from a Vegetarian and Vegan perspective too.
Let me tell you about the ice creams!! I was so impressed at how switched on they are from an allergy perspective. There were 8 sorbets and ice creams to choose from that were dairy free (Vegan friendly) and individually wrapped gluten free cones. This is to prevent any risk of cross contamination or picking the wrong cone. Whilst not ideal from an environment perspective, from a health & safety perspective, it really makes you relax that allergies can be catered for.
Ice cream!
There was a microwave not far from the toilets you can use to heat up any baby food etc.
Toilets and Baby Change Facilities
The toilets haven’t changed from before. But what you may not notice is that where you once accessed them outside by the ticket office, they are now just easily accessed from the play area. There are baby change facilities in both the men’s and women’s toilets. There is also a toilet and baby change facility for unisex use. The disabled bathroom does not offer changing facilities.
I did really like that in the main toilets there was 1 much smaller ‘toddler’ toilet which you don’t find in many places.
Overall
In a nutshell, we loved it! We will definitely be back though the summer and beyond now that Tong Garden Cebtre is an all-weather spot to take the kids.
For full disclosure, whilst we received free entry for the purposes of this post, no influence has been made to the information or contents.
Even though I have written about loads of different places in Leeds, I have not done a “Best Place in Leeds” blog post before. As a result, here are a few things which are some age appropriate selections for you!
Best Place in Leeds for Crawlers
Boomchikkaboom hosts one-off events all over West
Yorkshire, but quite a few are held in Leeds, with most being in Mothercare at
the Crown Point Shopping Centre. You have to pre-book (and make sure you do
well in advance) but their Mini Raves are a mix of upbeat music, dancing and
songs which brilliant for smaller children who love sensory overload!
Boomchikkaboom take some brilliant pictures and share on Facebook
Boomchikkaboom also do messy play sessions for the
younger kids, but during school holidays, they do sessions specifically for
school aged children as well.
Loving a Boomchikkaboom rave!
You can read a full blog post on Boomchikkaboom here.
Best Place in Leeds for Pre-Schoolers
If your child is into creative play and imagination, the
Rainbow Factory based in Farsley will be absolutely perfect. Keep your eye out
for their special events during certain weekends and school holidays. However, during term-time, they have specific
sessions for pre-schoolers.
We are HUGE fans of the Rainbow Factory and whilst it can
seem a bit strange concept, the work that they do really does bring children out
of their shell and boost their imagination. If your child is a bit shy, it does
help to join in the sessions, but you’ll enjoy it just as much as your little
one.
Kids are free to be as creative as possible at the Rainbow Factory
Opened in 2017, the Leeds Urban Bike Park is a really
safe space for children (and grown-ups) to ride their bike. Set on the old
council golf course in Middleton, it is a free venue where there are trails for
cyclists of all ages to explore. The site is completely vehicle free which
means that riders are so much safer than on the roads and your child can ride,
and develop accordingly.
One of the trails at the Leeds Urban Bike Park
There are even bumpy trails for young and old to
experience proper BMX-ing, which I am reliably told is a “pump track” (who
knew?!)
Best Place in Leeds for Older Children
The Royal Armouries is a free attraction at the south
east of the City Centre which gives an insight into the history of battles
through the ages. Some of the artefacts are a reminder as to how deadly war can
be, but it can act as a thought provoking visit for the older children. It
would work really well if your child was into history and/or was learning about
a relevant topic in school.
Exhibit at Royal Armouries
To make the trip more of an experience, get the free
water taxi from Granary Wharf (near the train station) to the Armouries. You get to see parts of Leeds which you would
never see before although the queues can be big on hot summer weekends. If you have not done it before, it is worth
the wait.
You can read a full blog post on the Royal Armouries here.
Best Place in Leeds for Adults
Why should the children get all the fun?! Hotel Chocolat,
just off Boar Lane, do chocolate making sessions for children and adults.
Whilst there is some learning about the science behind chocolate, there is also
the opportunity to decorate chocolate. You also get a decent discount in the
shop at the end of the session, which is ideal if you’re going to do a bulk buy
purchase at Easter or Christmas!!
Welcome to the Hotel Chocolat!
You do have to book well in advance for this. However, if
you know you’re going to be child free, you’re probably counting down the days
already!!
You can read a full blog post on Hotel Chocolat here.
Overall
All in all, there are loads of things to do in this
brilliant city. I’d love to hear what your recommendations are, which will
probably lead to a follow-up blog post!!
Opened in 1996, the Royal Armouries is one of the jewels
in the crown of Leeds. I remember when it was opened, how it was such a big
thing for Leeds to have such a national treasure. However, being from Leeds,
perhaps it is taken for granted somewhat.
We have visited the Royal Armouries a couple of times now
and felt that it needed a blog post doing!!
What is at the Royal Armouries?
The Royal Armouries is the home of arms and armour from
all over the world, both historical and modern day, held over 5 floors.
I am in no way an expert in any of these areas, and so
I’ll let the pictures to the talking, but as you can see, there are lots of
artefacts to view.
The most visual displays, particularly for younger
children, are the animal exhibits, showing how animals were used in battles.
Depending on the age of your child, they may just see them as dressed up
animals, which isn’t a bad thing at all!!
There are talks and demonstrations as well throughout the
day, and on the top floor, there is a paid-for activity, using a cross-bow to
shoot balls. We didn’t have chance to give it a go, but it did look fun and
decent value for money (2019 price: £3 for 8 balls)
The Royal Armouries also do special events as well,
particularly in the summer and bank holidays, so keep an eye out for upcoming
events, especially as they tend to get quite busy!
Is Royal Armouries child friendly?
It depends on how old your child is. If your child understands war and has a historical understanding of certain events, then the Royal Armouries will be very, very educational. However, if your child is more hands-on or doesn’t understand the concept of war, then the attraction may not be for them.
However, there is lots of space for children to explore
and as such, they can find what appeals to them.
There are really good baby changing facilities, with
separate toilet facilities, was well as changing facilities in the men’s
toilets.
Is the Royal Armouries just about War?
Pretty much. However, there is a small “Peace” section
hidden away on one of the upper floors. Whilst it is important to know about
the past, it would have been good to see how we can avoid wars going forward.
It’s not all about war
How can I get to the Royal Armouries?
Probably the best way to get to the Royal Armouries is
via the free water taxi service from Granary Wharf. It gives a view of Leeds
that you wouldn’t normally see and is very interesting. There can often be a
large queue in summer, but if you can take the trip, do so.
There is a large multi-story car park about 300 yards
away, which charges city centre prices (understandably), but is very
convenient.
Perhaps the best way would be to get a bus/coach into the
bus station and do the 10 minute walk down. This is especially true if you have
older children.
To read about our experience of getting a National Express coach, check out this blog post.
How much is admission to the Royal Armouries?
Entry into the Royal Armouries is free. There are places to make a donation throughout, as it is a registered charity.
Overall
The Royal Armouries may not be ideal for your child,
depending on their age and level of understanding. However, it is a national
treasure and its quality is amazing. With everything undercover and free entry,
it is well worth a trip and see for yourself!
