Days Out - things to do and events in Leeds

Feature Playful Leeds

Stevie J Kilgour looks at a scheme to make Leeds city centre more fun

Already a thriving hub for music, TV and sporting excellence within these fair isles, our wonderful city is again looking to lead the way in interactive art, creative play and inspiring the imagination of every man, woman and child in Leeds.

The Leeds-based community development consultancy Cultivate are looking to inspire minds and bring out the playful side of the city, through a new project called Playful Leeds. It works on the idea that childhood is not the only time in our life when we should take a moment to push our imagination, let out a burst of energy and…

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News Fun First Kids Club, Headingley

A new learning and play group for February half-term in Leeds

It’s that time of year again when your little monsters are off from school: half-term! And the new Fun First Kids Club at Moorlands School in Headingley is offering to provide fun, excitement and outdoor adventure for your little ones over the holiday period.

The club runs from 13^th-17^th February and pledges to deliver activities and superior childcare to four-11 year olds. Those behind the club state that they have a team of play-workers who are utterly experienced, passionate and dedicated to ensuring your child has a great fun-packed holiday experience, with all kids welcome. They say that they have…

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Preview Leeds Valentines Fair, Elland Road

Europe's first and largest Valentine's fair returns to Elland Road for its 12th year running, we look at what's in store this February

Forget a candle-lit romantic dinner for two, the Leeds Valentines Fair is back and guarantees an unforgettable night of heart racing, pulse raising adventure for you and your loved one – St. Valentine would be proud.

Back at Elland Roadand opening on Thursday 9th February, the fair is celebrating its 21st birthday in Leeds with a bang. On Thursday 16th Februaryfrom 8.30pm onwards visitors and fellow ride junkies can enjoy a giant firework display as well as over 150 attractions.

Fed up of the waltzers? A ride that will literally have you head over heels is Top Buzz. As…

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Preview Ice Cube Returning to Leeds

The giant skate rink returns to Millennium Square from 27th January

Here’s one reason to feel less gloomy after the excitement of the festive period has resided. Ice Cube is coming back to the city centre for the 12^th year running, and this time it’s had a makeover.

The Ice Cube, organised by Leeds City Council, will be back at Millennium Square between 27^th January and the 26^th February and due to customer feedback, will now include a main, more family focused rink as well as a conjoining nursery rink for younger children.

These are not the only changes which have been made; the event will include a 30-metre dry…

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Feature Opera North's Little Voices

Tom Goodhand attends a drama and music group designed for parents and their babies or toddlers in the wonderful Howard Assembly Room

Opera North has long been established as one of Leeds’ premier arts companies, and the opening of the Howard Assembly Room in January 2009 gave them a home, a venue that they can call their own. The room has acted in the past as a musical hall, a cinema and an adult cinema, before closing in the mid-80s until Opera North reopened it.

As a built-for-purpose venue which has had significant acoustic work done on it by Opera North, the Howard Assembly Room is an acoustically superb space, built to make the very best of the sounds that…

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News Searching for a Secret Millionaire

Channel 4's Secret Millionaire came to Leeds on 27th November and a donation was made to local chairty Simon on the Streets

It’s the eon of email at our fingertips, social media sites bringing breaking news, and very few things more than a Google away – but it seems we still underestimate the power of the internet. The charity Simon on the Streets has received a phenomenal donation of £35,000 after it was provided with search engine optimisation (SEO), making it possible for Secret Millionaire, Charles Allen, to get in touch with the organisation.

The Leeds-based homeless charity was provided with free SEO recommendations from Search Laboratory, taking it from online obscurity to the top of search engine rankings. This stroke…

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Feature Getaway Special: Pinch the Pennies

We try out York's cheap but luxurious hostel, The Fort

York is one of the most visited cities in the UK and The Shambles was last year voted the most picturesque street in Britain in the Google Street View Awards. But despite living 20 miles away, I’ve never stayed in the city past about 5pm – marking as it does shop closing time or the full-time whistle at Bootham Crescent, depending on my inclination towards yelling at referees vs a new pair of tights.

With the recent opening of The Fort, a one-of-a-kind boutique hostel in the city centre, I spotted my opportunity to change all that.

Opened above Kennedy’s…

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Feature Getaway Special: Blow the Budget

The reviving experience at Rudding Park's new Follifoot Wing is worth every penny, writes Ali Schofield

We arrive at Rudding Park on a Friday evening, tired and hungry after a devil of a working week. We come away on the Saturday afternoon feeling satisfied and, in my case, looking about 10 years younger. It’s not something you would expect from a hotel stay, but Rudding Park has even won the accolade of Best Hotel in the UK before now, so youth-reviving as standard perhaps shouldn’t be such a surprise. As it is, I’d enjoyed a revolutionary treatment, the Pro-Lift Diamond Facial by Carita, in the hotel’s recently opened spa.

The French luxury skincare brand’s Pro-Lift treatment…

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Feature Howard Assembly Room Becomes a Leeds City Centre Wedding Venue

Opera North's performance space is Leeds' latest wedding venue and host of the LOVE weddings experience on 2nd October

Within our fair city lies a hidden gem, a subtle reminder of Leeds’ historic culture. The Howard Assembly Room at the Leeds Grand Theatre, programmed by Opera North, represents the perfect marriageof historical elegance and modern eclecticism. The transformed venue, which reopened two years ago, is well known as a performance space and theatrical rehearsal room but, unbeknown to many, is also Leeds’ most up and coming wedding venue.

Standing apart from other wedding locations in the area with its stunning Grade II* listed architecture, arched windows and high, barrel-vaulted ceiling, the Howard Assembly Room is one…

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Feature Summer Days Out

Make the most of our summer with some great family-friendly outdoor activities in and around Leeds

For many of us, the default option for a summer’s day is to head straight to the nearest beer garden and spend those fleeting moments of sunshine soaking up rays and alcohol. However, it’s worth remembering that Leeds and West Yorkshire are blessed with some stunning scenery and great outdoor activities. Want proof? Try any of these for size…

YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK

We’d happily take a trip out to the YSP if there was nothing there but the lakes, rolling hills, livestock and majestic unspoiled landscapes. As it is though, the Yorkshire…

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