https://apple.co/2BLNwJh https://bit.ly/3gCVsLwOutdoor Fun and activity numbers 27, 33, 34, 41 and 48
Bonfire Night Celebrations and activity numbers 13, 16, 17, 20 and 47
Bonding with your baby and 5 things to do with activity number 1 ‘Get to know you’
Craftsmas and activity numbers 4, 11, 16, 20, 25, 46, 47, 48
Our 50 Things Christmas Party and activity numbers 6, 7, 10, 15, 18
Coxley Woods … these woods have it all!! Trees, stream, duck pond, dens, wild garlic and lots of bluebells … a perfect outdoor adventure for the whole family
(Reviewed May 2020)
It was something for our little boy to focus on during the walk and he did some map reading too to find the next cache, smiley face was added when we found one. Make sure you take some bits of treasure too to do some swaps!!
To download the Geocaching app – click here. We used the basic version which is free but you can pay for the premium upgrade.
If you’re stuck inside as the weather is miserable, cold or snowy outside check out these tried and tested ideas to keep your kids busy and not saying … I’m bored!!
Click here for indoor activities for a rainy day
Click here for indoor activities for babies & toddlers
Click here for 20 Activities to Keep Toddlers Busy at Home
Click here for educational TV programmes
Click here for 13 family-friendly card games
Click here for indoor scavenger hunt
Click here for indoor safari picture hunt
Click here for 101 things to do indoors
Wakefield Libraries have fun, friendly and free storytime sessions at libraries across the region!
Under 5’s can join in with stories – pre- booking required.
Please call in advance to pre-book your place as numbers are reduced due to Covid-19 restrictions, demand is expected to be high and things are having to be done a little differently.
Explore Caphouse, a modern colliery which witnessed more than two hundred years of coal production. Hear stories directly from former-miners about their careers and understand the roles men, women, children, animals and machinery played in the operation of the mine.
Find out about the people and communities at the heart of the industry and uncover how the miners lived at work and play. Explore acres of woodland, spotting plants and wildlife and find out how the excess water from the mine is cleaned and pumped back into a local river. Then let off some steam in our Adventure Playground.
Find out where miners would start and end their days and how they would get paid in the Pithead Baths. See our historic steam-winding engine in action which pulled miners and coal from 140m underground before taking a trip to the stables to meet our horse and ponies.
Understand how difficult mining was in the 19th century and why they realised it wasn’t appropriate to have children working underground. See some of the tools of the trade to discover how miners overcame the challenges of working underground.
Experience the Underground Tours, Soft Play Area, Hope Pit and the Library
Book your visit at www.ncm.org.uk
Please note we are closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Pre-booking essential
National Coal Mining Museum, New Road, Overton, WF4 4RH
Pugneys Country Park is a local favourite for a reason. With so many different parts of the park appealing to different people and different age groups. There really is something for everyone.
The park put on some fabulous events. We loved Dinosaurs at Pugneys!! We was able to Discover dinosaurs with the Love Exploring App. Find out about our adventure HERE (Reviewed in 2019)
Pugneys Country Park features on our 5 Free Family Days out in Wakefield as it’s a wonderful place to visit without having to constantly reach for the bank cards. The huge play ground, nature trails, sandpits, zipline swing and bird watching huts ensure Pugneys Country Park is accessible for everyone on any budget.
Home to the Pugneys Light Railway, your little ones will love a trip on the miniature railway which runs alongside the lake and in to a little forest. We love that the Light Railway get seasonal and put on themed events for Christmas, Halloween and Easter. We share these seasonal events on the Mumbler Facebook page.
Topping our 7 Places with sandpits in and around Wakefield post, Pugneys Country Park has a well maintained and much loved sandpit which our little ones would stay in all day if we let them.
Let’s not forget the watersports! From Pedalos to Kayaks, Windsurfing or Rowing Boats. You can enjoy the water aswell as the beautiful walking trails that surround the park.
While you’re there, don’t forget a little trip up to Sandal Castle, which tops our Top 5 Places for a Picnic in Wakefield. Beware, it is all uphill to the Castle from Pugneys.
Getting there
Pugneys Country Park is well signposted and has plenty of parking (plus overflow parking for busier times). Please Note: Parking is now chargeable £1.00 for an hour, £2.50 for two-four hours & £4.00 for over four hours.
Asdale Road, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield WF2 7BN
From museums to mining, lakeside walks to sculptures, Wakefield has lots of fun, free, family activities!
Click here to find out our top 5 for you!
Here at Wakefield Mumbler, we know how important it is for your family to stick to a budget. So we have come up with a list of 10 Things to do in Wakefield for £10 or Less.Our list of 10 Things to do in Wakefield for £10 or less is a mix of days out, days in, adventures and activities to suit all families. We love to share these ideas on our Wakefield Mumbler Facebook page and Wakefield Mumbler Chat Group. Pop over to Facebook to join the conversation.
Hepworth Gallery
Wakefield residents can visit the Hepworth Gallery for FREE. Explore the exhibitions, join in some of the arts and craft activities or visit the Hepworth Wakefield Garden. The gallery is free, but parking is chargeable. Parking available in its own car park located on Thornes Lane, WF1 5QJ.
Thornes Park
Another FREE destination, but there are a few ice cream vans that you and your little ones may be tempted by. Explore Thornes park by foot, bike, scooter or pushchair. A super accessible park with a large playground, secret garden, duck pond and rose garden.
Wakefield Museum
Regularly changing exhibitions make Wakefield museum a great, interactive place to visit for children and grownups alike. FREE to enter, the museum is location close to Wakefield Westgate train station and the bus station, so why not team your visit with a trip on public transport? Toddlers especially love a trip on a bus.
Trip on a Train
For those with children under 5, you can take them on the train FREE of charge and just purchase a ticket for yourself. An adult off peak return from Wakefield to Leeds is £6 and a child is £3 (2022). Pop a sandwich in your bag or pop in to a bakery for a sausage roll for a inexpensive snack while you’re out.
Ride a Miniature Railway
If you want to stay local but enjoy a miniature train, head to Pugney’s Light Railway at Pugney’s Country Park. With 2 hours free parking (you need to get a ticket for this), you have plenty time to have a walk around the lake and have a ride on the miniature train. Return trips are priced at £2, so a family of 5 can enjoy a trip together for £10.
Picnic in a Park
What can you pack in a picnic basket for £10. Here are our favourite picnic basket fillers:
Choose the best picnic spot by visiting our post on Top 5 Places for a Picnic in Wakefield
City Walk
We love a trip in to the city centre, but let shift the focus from the shops to the sites. With so many historical and modern sights to see. Why not park for FREE for 2 hours in a council car park (don’t forget to get a ticket still) and explore the Cathedral, the market hall or the Civic Quarter. Turn it in to an adventure by playing iSpy.
Arts and Craft
There are lots of venues in Wakefield that run Arts and Craft sessions. Or Messy Play sessions for littler hands. Libraries across Wakefield offer family friendly crafting sessions on Saturday mornings with all materials provides. You can find the details to each session HERE. Depending which venue you visit, parking is either FREE or inexpensive in local carparks.
Indoor Activities at Home
2020 taught us how to make our own fun at home. Sometimes when we’re sticking to a budget, staying home is one of the best ways to spend less. But what can we do at home that’s a bit different from the usual. Check out our post on Indoor Activities we thought up for a rainy day.
Soft Play
We all know the benefits of a Soft Play. A safe contained space where the kids can run around as fast as they can and burn all of that energy off. In Wakefield we are lucky to have some really special soft plays. You can check out some of our favourite Soft Plays HERE
We hope you love our ideas of 10 Things to Do in Wakefield for £10. We know families come in all shapes and sizes, with different budgets. So we hope your can take these ideas as inspiration and have a fab day for £10 or less.
The lake was once the deepest opencast mine in the UK!
At the visitor’s centre you can hire running buggies and bikes for the whole family including bike trailers for the tiniest!
Follow the Room on the Broom trail at Anglers Country Park. You can purchase activity packs from the Visitor’s Centre for £2. From the centre you’ll follow the trail, find sculptures, look for animal footprints, trace rubbings and have fun doing activities along the way.
Cafe and adventure playground next to the Visitors Centre
Parking charges apply
Haw Park Lane, Wintersett, Wakefield, WF4 2EB
Have a try of the Mumbler Autumn scavenger hunt – I’ve left them unlabelled so the bigger kids can practice their writing skills!
Download the Autumn Scavenger Hunt here
Download your free I Spy card or collect a card from the Cavendish Shop. Spot the pictures on the card as you follow one of the trails around Strid Wood. Who will be the first to get four in a line?
I Spy has been created with Natural England as part of their One Million Children Outdoors Campaign. Natural England is working on a range of projects to encourage an interest in nature amongst children; helping them to enjoy the natural environment.
Find out more at www.naturalengland.org.uk
Step back in time and explore the history of Castleford from Roman legions to rugby league. See a stunning Iron Age chariot or try on a pair of mining clogs.
31st May 2022, 10am – 3pm: Roman Day for SEND Families
Take a closer look at some amazing objects from Roman Castleford, explore Roman writings, and experiment with different materials to write your own messages.
SEND Families are welcome at all of our sessions but we are running this SEND session for those families who require a more relaxed atmosphere.
The session will be run with more sensory activities, more focus on independent learning, a lower light level and with a sensory tent and ear defenders available upon request.
Free, drop-in family activity
30th May & 4th June 2022, 10am – 3pm: Roman Writing
Take a closer look at some amazing objects from Roman Castleford, explore Roman writings, and experiment with different materials to write your own messages.
Free, drop-in family activity
Castleford Museum, Carlton Street, Castleford, WF10 1BB
Not open on Wednesdays or Sundays
This animal picture hunt was used at the Children’s Activity Day last year (the one where the butterfly disappeared!) and I thought it may be a useful activity for you to do with your children!
All you need to do is print the pictures, cut them along the dashed line (as there’s two images per A4 print out), and stick them up around the house or garden!
You can even get Grand Parents to join in, by doing half the trail virtually too!
For my ideas of things to do whilst you’re at home with the kids, visit our dedicated page to help you through Coronavirus … CLICK HERE
The Hepworth Wakefield is your space to explore, play and create together. New Explore & Draw packs have been created for families to explore our artworks, galleries and garden with specially devised looking and drawing activities!
Gallery Walk, Wakefield WF1 5AW. Open daily 10am – 5pm
Have a try of the Mumbler indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts – I’ve left them unlabelled so the bigger kids can practice their writing skills!
Download indoor scavenger hunt here
Download outdoor scavenger hunt here
💜 RECOMMENDED BY A MUMBLER! 💜
For kids who love trains, pop over to Moorthorpe Train Stain, near South Kirkby (WF9 3TA) 🚄🚂☕
It’s a nice quiet train station for the kids to watch the trains passing [Recommended – BP]
Note – unfortunately the cafe is now not operating xx
If you’re planning a staycation or a day out outside of Wakefield with the kids you’ll want to make the most of your time and money.
Why not use other Mumbler sites to do research on the area that you’re visiting?
We have fully operational sites in the following areas;
Yorkshire:
STAG Mumbler (Selby, Tadcaster & Goole)
Leeds (North Leeds Mumbler, South Leeds Mumbler, Wharfedale Mumbler)
Further afield:
Perfect place to feed the ducks, get your wellies muddy and enjoy the great outdoors. Paths suitable for pushchairs and bikes, it is likely to be muddy in Autumn & Winter months though so be prepared!
Take part in the Gnome Roam, find the sculptures and complete the activities and challenges as you go. Download the activity sheet here
Ice cream van often in car park
Car park charges apply
Newmillerdam, Wakefield WF2 6QQ
Managed by the National Trust. Built on the site of a medieval priory, Nostell has been the home of the Winn family for 300 years.
Visitors can explore 121 hectares (300 acres) of parkland with a range of walks and views. Gardens include lakeside walks, a newly planted orchard and an adventure playground.
Access to much of the parkland is free, parking charges apply.
Entry fees apply to non-NT members to the house, adventure playground and gardens
7am – 7pm (last entry 6pm)
Doncaster Road, Nostell, Wakefield WF4 1QE
Whenever we go on a walk where there are ducks, they are always being fed by people of all ages! It is such a good activity to get some fresh air and run off some energy with the kids (as well as being FREE!!)
Step inside our beautiful art nouveau building to discover a world where voting, Civil Wars and liquorice collide. Celebrate the captivating stories of Pontefract and its people, from glass-making to horse-racing.
1st June 2022, 10am – 3pm: Print Your Mark
Explore the history of the printing industry in Pontefract, and use original letterpress blocks to make a striking message of your own.
Free, drop in family activity
Free entry
Pontefract Museum, 5 Salter Row, Pontefract, WF8 1BA
At the Pugneys Watersports Centre you can try your hand at a fantastic range of activities including a children’s adventure trail based on the book ‘Blown Away’ by local author – download the activity sheet here and also spot dinosaurs using the Love Exploring App (read our review here and how to access the app)
Good paths for bikes, pushchairs and wheelchairs. There is also an outdoor adventure playground for the children.
Hire running buggies and take a ride on the miniature railway (charges apply)
Parking charges apply
Call: 01924 302 360
Asdale Road, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF2 7EQ
You can enjoy the beauty of the lake on a circular walk at any time. There are always plenty of opportunities to spot birds and wildlife.
The visitors centre and small cafe
Children can take part in pond dipping during Spring & Summer months
9:30am – 4pm
Access is free, parking charges apply
Newton Lane, Castleford, WF10 2BH
Have a try of the Mumbler summer scavenger hunt – I’ve left them unlabelled so the bigger kids can practice their writing skills!
Download the Summer Scavenger Hunt here
Explore the history of Wakefield and hear stories told through the eyes of the people involved in shaping our fine city.
Discover the extraordinary Charles Waterton, the Wakefield-born Victorian eco-warrior and explorer.
You can even stand on the back of our fierce caiman crocodile, captured on one of his trips to South America.
Free entry
Wakefield One, 159 Mulberry Way, Wakefield, WF1 2UP
YSP welcomes families and aims to be as family-friendly as possible. In the open air, children are free to run around, making the most of our 500 acres of historic parkland, download the park map here
Families will also enjoy walks in the newly restored lakes and woodland where they’ll discover bridges, follies and incredible historical features including a Greek-style summer house, a now land-locked Boat House, an Obelisk, Stepping Stones and a magical Shell Grotto.
Facilities for families include:
Baby changing at YSP Centre, YSP Learning and the Bothy Gallery
Highchairs in the Restaurant and Café
Family-friendly food and drink, unlimited tap water
Picnic areas
Pocket money souvenirs and affordable children’s accessories available to purchase in the YSP Shop and Café
Downloads for families
Downloads are available to enhance the family experience- click here
For more resources, including downloadable tours and podcasts visit the Learning section
Family events
There are regular family-friendly events to take part in at YSP. Find out about upcoming activities
Please see our school holiday section and events calendar for details of events for families and Children plus lots of open spaces indoors and out for all ages to enjoy, a great family day out!
£6 per person, under 18’s are free (some events also have a charge)
West Bretton, Wakefield, WF4 4LG
