Easter in Leeds 2024

If you’re on the hunt for more than chocolate eggs this Easter, look no further than Leeds. The city has plenty to offer this March, with indoor and outdoor activities to keep the whole family entertained, come spring sunshine or the odd early April shower. Let’s take a look at what’s on…

Out-of-this-world activities…

3,2,1. Prepare to blast off! The Leodis Space Agency is on a mission to take the whole family on a cosmic adventure, with out-of-this-world activities popping up across Leeds City Centre between 23rd March and 14th April. View the planets in their full illuminated glory on Briggate, explore a Lunar Wonderland at Trinity, Leeds, witness a flyby of the International Space Station at Leeds City Station and jump into an immersive inflatable Planetarium at Leeds City Museum (5+). Alien Zoo, an interactive mixed reality (MR) exhibit, lands at the Merrion Centre, where intrepid explorers can encounter aliens if they dare! Free to enjoy for the whole family.

Various locations in Leeds City Centre. Find out more at Leodis Space Agency.

Aliens aside, nothing holds a child’s attention better than a mention of bums, poo or farts. Rude Science, the naughtiest, funniest, most revolting science show in the world, is coming to Leeds this Easter—a sure-fire hit for relieving school holiday boredom. There are just two showings on Saturday 30th March (age 6+) at Leeds Playhouse. Grab your tickets now to avoid disappointment and to secure your status as the best parent ever.

Elsewhere, Leeds Young Film Festival 2024 (LYFF) is a great choice for expanding kids’ minds beyond toilet humour. Between 30th March and 12th April, LYFF will show a wide range of U and PG-rated films at Carriageworks Theatre, Hyde Park Picture House and Stockroom Cinema. View the day-by-day guide to plan your viewing schedule.

Other theatrical events to check out during the holidays include The Little Prince at Carriageworks Theatre and Cirque du Soleil’s OVO at the First Direct Arena.

Legendary adventures…

Between Saturday, March 23rd, and Sunday, April 14th, set sail on the H.M.S Thackray courtesy of the Thackray Museum of Medicine crew. You’ll voyage into unchartered waters, exploring seafaring medicine through the ages in Shipshape: Medicine at Sea. Little landlubbers are more than welcome. There’s a treasure trove of fun activities and gloriously gruesome factual gems to uncover. Pay once and visit as often as you like.

Charge over to the Royal Armouries and immerse yourself in the action of Medieval Easter between 23rd March and 14th April. There’ll be plenty of historic performances and demonstrations to keep the whole family entertained throughout the Easter holidays. Visit in the second week for armoured combats, battle stories and (ticketed) access to an International Jousting Tournament with teams from the UK, France and Italy. It’s free to enter the museum. To explore the Dock area further, pause awhile at Holdfast floating bookshop or hop on a yellow Dutch Water Taxi from just outside.

Cracking Easter fun…

It wouldn’t be Easter without a cute bunny sighting. We recommend hopping over to Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall, which is undergoing a bunny takeover between 29th March and 14th April. Visit Bunny Fun to spot long-eared friends all over the house in a bunny counting competition and take part in fun trails, scavenger hunts, and Easter crafts. There’s no need to book; the price is included in the admission ticket.

Join other Easter trails around Leeds: discover willow animals at Castle Howard, get wild about Lotherton, take part in a daily fossil dig at Stump Cross Caverns, join a giant egg hunt at RHS Harlow Carr or visit Mother Shipton’s Easter Wonderland, where every bunny’s invited. Or, why not mix it up with something spookily good: visit Temple Newsam on the 3rd of April for a free pumpkin planting event: plant two seeds, one for the gardeners and one to take home. Don’t forget to return at Halloween to carve your pumpkin!