Welcome to the On Our Doorstep summer holiday guide, the go to guide for events and activities happening in Kirklees.
Page 2- Free and low-cost activity ideas
Page 3- Discover Kirklees’ museums and galleries
Page 4– Fun activities at Kirklees Libraries
Page 5– Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
Get activities straight to your inbox
Subscribe to the On Our Doorstep – Half Term Activities email alert to keep up to date with activities happening in your local area every half-term.
There are plenty more activities and events happening in Kirklees! Visit Creative Kirklees to find out what else is happening near you.
Free and low-cost activity ideas
Yorkshire Day at Oakwell Hall
Join us this summer for a FREE, fun-filled, family-friendly day out to celebrate everything wonderful about Yorkshire!
Grab your picnic blankets, bring the family, and come along to enjoy the Yorkshire Day celebration on 3 August at Oakwell Hall.
Highlights of the Event:
- Mini Music Festival: Enjoy live performances from local Kirklees and Yorkshire bands and artists!
- Yorkshire Makers Market: Explore over 50 stalls featuring some of Yorkshire’s best makers and creators selling their unique wares!
- The Farm Comes to Oakwell Hall: Say hello to various animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, alpacas, calves, lambs, ponies, donkeys, and goats.
- Children’s Workshops: Participate in activities like bushcraft, arts and crafts, face painting, and much more!
- Street Food and Drink Market: Savour delicious offerings from some of Yorkshire’s finest street food vendors!
When: Sunday, 3 August 2025, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Oakwell Hall & Country Park, Nova Lane, Birstall
Cost: Free
Free summer holiday children’s activity day with Little Bikers
Give young riders the chance to take the next step in their bike confidence, whether they are just starting out or ready
for ramps and skills! Bikes and helmets provided (up to 11 year-olds).
When: Thursday 7 August, 10:30 am -3:30 pm
- 10.30 to 12.30: Balance bikes for beginners (2 ½ to 7 years)
- 13.30 to 15.30: Bike park (ramps and skills) for pedal cyclists (4 years+)
- At busy times, 15 minutes’ bike time with option of then queuing again
Where: Basketball Courts, Greenhead Park, Huddersfield, HD1 4DT
Cost: Free
Big butterfly count
Following the results of the Big Butterfly Count 2024, Butterfly Conservation have declared a butterfly emergency, and need your help more than ever before. By taking part in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count – a UK wide survey, you can help assess the health of our environment simply by counting butterflies. Head to your local park and see how many butterflies you can find!
When: 18 July- 10 August
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.
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.
Discover Kirklees’ museums and galleries
Brand new 3D trail at Tolson Museum
Explore our collection in more detail than ever with our new 3D object trail. Find the QR codes around the museum and scan them to see real objects in 3D. See previously hidden features and learn things you never knew before!
When:
- Monday: 11-3 (Mondays at the Museum wellbeing event)
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11-5
- Saturday and Sunday: 12-5
Where: Tolson Museum
Drumming classes at Tolson Museum
Join us for Rhythm of the Drums at Tolson Museum. Running as part of our Mondays at the Museum programme these free sessions are a perfect chance for children to socialise and let out their inner rhythm.
Suggested age 8+
When:
- 28th July
- 4th August
- 11th August
- 18th August
Where: Tolson Museum
Contact info@shapingcarekirklees.org to book your space!
Oakwell Hall family friendly activities
Step into the past at Oakwell Hall and uncover its hidden secrets! Follow brand new trails, hunt for animals, open mystery object chests, and dress up as your explore the spooky history of the hall, the family who lived there and its time as a school- with activities for curious minds of all ages.
When: Throughout the summer, during opening hours
Where: Oakwell Hall
Artist in residence workshops
Join our artists in residence for a series of creative workshops. You’ll write, illustrate, and build your own miniature ceramic book, inspired by the tiny books Charlotte Brontë made as a child.
When: 1 and 2 August 2025
Where: Oakwell Hall
Workshop: SCRAPtastic
Join SCRAPtastic at Tolson Museum for a workshop creating works of art from recycled materials. Sessions run from 11am-1pm and each week we’re creating something different!
When: 20 and 27 August, 11am-1pm
Where: Tolson Museum
Cost: £4 per crafter, cash only
Roman-themed crafts and trail
Unleash your inner Roman with hands-on crafts and an exciting trail through Tolson Museum!
When: 7 August, drop in and pay as you feel
Where: Tolson Museum
Tolson Museum family friendly activities
Become an explorer for the day at Tolson! Enjoy hands-on fun with dressing up, interactive activities, exciting trails, all whilst discovering more about the fascinating history of Huddersfield.
When: Throughout summer, during opening hours
Where: Tolson Museum
A natural history of nest building by Andy Holden
A film installation by artist Andy Holden that uses the study of birds’ nests to explore ecology, sculpture, and familial relationships.
When: Running until the end of August, during opening hours.
Explore the world at Bagshaw
Get creative with fun, hands-on craft activities, inspired by global adventures! A different theme each week.
When: Drop in during opening hours, pay as you feel.
Where: Bagshaw Museum
Fun activities 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
Lego club
Get creative and build exciting things with Lego at this fun and free family drop-in session. Boxes of Lego provided. Children of all ages welcome.
Date: Saturdays, various times available
Location: Various Kirklees Libraries
Cost: Free
Storytime at Kirklees Libraries
A friendly and fun session with stories and crafts. A great interactive way to develop children’s language and social skills while meeting with other parents and carers. Suitable for babies and children under 5.
Date: Various dates and times available
Location: Various Kirklees Libraries
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!
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: Wednesday 23 July at 10:00 to Friday 29 August at 10:00
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: Monday 4 August at 10:00 to Monday 18 August at 15:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £5.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
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: Tuesday 5 August at 10:00 to Tuesday 26 August at 15:00
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £7.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Rock climbing
Join our activity instructors in this new off-site activity for Cliffe House. You will get to experience real rock climbing, kitted up and ready to tackle vertical quarry walls that can challenge all abilities. All under the watchful eye of our qualified instructors.
Afterwards why not enjoy a lovely hillside walk taking in the fabulous 360 views or even enjoy the delights and abundant coffee shops in Marsden before leaving.
8yrs+ (adults welcome)
When: Wednesday 6 August at 10:00 to Thursday 21 August at 13:30
Where: Pule Hill, Marsden. (Exact location will be given to attendees ahead of the date booked).
Cost: £30.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Canoeing
Join our activity instructors in this new off-site activity for Cliffe House. Explore the local waterways, learning basic paddle sport skills to gain ‘Paddle UK’ start certificate. All equipment provided and under the watchful eye of our Paddle UK qualified coaches.
When: Wednesday 13 August at 10:00 to Thursday 28 August at 13:30
Where: Leeds Road Playing Fields. (Exact location will be given to attendees ahead of the date booked).
Cost: £30.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Climbing wall
Test your skill and strength on our climbing wall. Suitable for children age 6+. Fully qualified instructor led session. All equipment provided. No advance booking required.
When: Friday 7, 15, 29 August. 10.00-4.00pm (can arrive at anytime between the hours stated).
Where: Cliffe House
Cost: £5.00pp for 4 climbs.
