Looking for fun activities to do this half-term? Well, look no further! With a variety of family events and activities across Kirklees – find out what’s happening near you.
Most of these activities are of little to no cost, where there are charges the information is displayed.
Page 2- Family fun at Kirklees Libraries
Page 3- Free and low-cost activity ideas
Page 4- Activities at Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Page 5- Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
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We have teamed up with AccessAble to provide detailed accessibility guides for our venues and buildings.
Family fun at Kirklees Libraries
Library Adventures
Your quest is to journey through your Library Adventures pack with six fantastic themes to explore. The Adventurer pack is full of fun crafts, reading suggestions, facts, and creative activities. You can collect stickers, bookmarks, certificates and more throughout the year.
There are separate versions of the Library Adventures pack for older and younger children. Just pick the pack which best suits your Library Adventurer when you arrive at the library.
All you need to join the Library Adventures journey, is a Kirklees library card. A library card is free and can be obtained online or in person at any Kirklees Library. No ID required.
Request a free library card from our How to join page. A year-round reading for pleasure programme for children aged 4-11.
Location: Kirklees Libraries
Cost: Free
Walk to your Library
May is National Walking Month, and it provides the perfect opportunity to step into the great outdoors and embrace the joys of walking with the family. Walking isn’t just about getting from A to B – it’s a chance to connect with nature, improve your health, and enjoy some much-needed time away from screens. Whether you’re strolling through the countryside, pounding the pavement in our towns, or hiking up a hill, every step counts towards a healthier, happier family.
Why not start by walking to your local library together? Pick up a ‘Walk to the library’ Storywalk sheet, designed exclusively by illustrator Stephen Waterhouse to make your trip to the library even more fun! Storywalk sheets will be available in all our libraries during half-term, 24th – 31st May.
Andy Day & Steven Lenton Live from Hay-on-Wye Literature Festival
On the 24th May, 10am, join children’s TV superstar Andy Day and bestselling illustrator Steven Lenton on a fantastic magical dino-tastic adventure!
Get ready to sing, draw, laugh and learn about some incredible dinosaurs…and all here, in Kirkburton Library!
When: Saturday 24 May, 10am
Where: Kirkburton Library
Cost: Free
Visit your local library
Kirklees Libraries are open for the little ones to have fun, to learn and discover new things and we’re so excited to welcome you in!
Free and low-cost activity ideas
50 things to do before your 5
Why not tick off 50 fantastic things for you and your child to experience together?
From woodland wandering to making music, there is something you can do with the little one’s today.
Discover your local park
Get wrapped up and hop on your bike or scooter for an adventure to one of our fantastic parks! Young people in Kirklees can enjoy improved play spaces thanks to the our Playable Spaces project.
Kirklees Local Offer
Information, services and activities for young people 0-25 with Special Educational needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Scavenger Hunt
A treasure hunt is a perfect way to get the kids active. We’ve put together a list of things to discover but you could make your own list of things to spot whilst you’re out and about.
- Leaf
- Feather
- Spider web
- Tree
- Bird
Make a tasty meal
Why not get the children involved with making some tasty food for all the family?
Children love to help with cooking and baking! They can chop and mix the ingredients while you chat about what you are doing.
Schools Out
Activities funded through the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, together with low cost paid for places for families in Kirklees.
Gardening
You don’t need to be green-fingered to have a grow! Gardening and growing your own ingredients is a great way to get kids to try new foods or enjoy the delicious taste of home-grown goodness. A packet of seeds, some empty plastic pots, a little compost and a sunny windowsill is all you need! Pick up some seeds from the nearest garden centre or supermarket and let your kids choose what they’d like to grow. Have fun planting up and encourage them to water daily, you could even keep a growth diary.
Arts and crafts using everyday items
5,4,3,2,1 blast off! Your child’s imagination can be fired by using large and smaller boxes to create a car, a fire engine, a house, or a ship! A box large enough for your child to climb into might need nothing more than imagination to be anything in the world.
Discover what Kirklees has to offer
There are plenty more activities and events happening in Kirklees! Visit Creative Kirklees to find out what else is happening near you.
Activities at Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Family Gardening Day at Oakwell Hall!
Join us for a day of outdoor fun as you and your family help keep Oakwell Hall’s beautiful gardens in tip-top shape! Work alongside our Country Park team, planting, weeding, and tidying up the garden together.
When:
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 10:00 – 12:00
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 13:00 – 15:00
Where: Oakwell Hall
Cost: Free
World Stitch Day
Join us for World Stitch Day, a vibrant celebration of the universal language of stitch and textiles! Inspired by the iconic Red Dress Embroidery Project, this immersive event brings together community groups, expert stitchers, and textile enthusiasts to explore the rich tapestry of global embroidery traditions.
When: 1 June, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: Oakwell Hall
Cost: Free
Visit your local museum
Entry to all our museums and galleries is free! Donations are welcome.
Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
Family Nature Trail
Get outdoors and enjoy our fun family nature trail around the grounds of Cliffe House. The trail is family and buggy friendly, something the whole family can enjoy. When you have collected all the clues return to the food kiosk to collect your prize (1 prize per paid trail sheet),
When:
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 10:00 – 16:00
- Wed 28. May 2025 at 10:00 – 16:00
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 10:00 – 16:00
- Fri 30. May 2025 at 10:00 – 16:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £2.50 (+ Booking Fee)
Pond dipping
Enjoy exploring the ponds in the grounds of Cliffe House, looking out for minibeasts, bugs, and all kinds of pond life, all while learning about the environment.
When:
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 10:00 – 11:00
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 11:15 – 12:15
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 12:30 – 13:30
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 13:45 – 14:45
- Tue 27. May 2025 at 15:00 – 16:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £5.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Bushcraft
Book on for our fantastic instructor led Bushcraft activity. This is the perfect family activity for all to sit around a campfire toasting marshmallows, making & cooking your own garlic bread twist, all washed down with a warming hot chocolate.
When:
- Wed 28. May 2025 at 10:00 – 11:30
- Wed 28. May 2025 at 12:00 – 13:30
- Wed 28. May 2025 at 14:00 – 15:30
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £10.00 (+Booking Fee)
Archery
Join our activity instructors in learning how to draw the arrow, balance the bow & fire at a distance target – Challenge your family members as to who can score the greatest points. All under cover so no need to worry about damp conditions.
When:
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 10:00 – 11:00
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 11:15 – 12:15
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 12:30 – 13:30
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 13:45 – 14:45
- Thu 29. May 2025 at 15:00 – 16:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £7.00 (+ Booking Fee)
Saplings Adventure Club
Let your little ones explore & embrace the outdoors in natural play sessions, set in the fantastic woodland grounds of Cliffe House.
When: Mon 2. Jun 2025 at 10:00 – 12:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £24.00 \+ Booking Fee (3\-week term).
