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- Activities at Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Page 3- Free and low-cost activity ideas
Page 4- Family fun at Kirklees Libraries
Page 5- Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
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Activities at Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Oakwell Hall
Art On Your Doorstep at Oakwell Hall
We are delighted to share that Oakwell Hall and Country Park in Birstall has been chosen as a host of the nationwide art exhibition, The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep
The exhibition will see life-size reproductions of National Gallery paintings on display throughout the Oakwell estate. The text which will accompany each of the paintings has been a collaboration between The National Gallery, Kirklees Museums & Galleries, and local community groups.
This free exhibition will run from 4 April until 30 September and is made up of fourteen paintings including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and Monet’s The Water-lily Pond. These fourteen paintings, spread around Oakwell Hall and Country Park, were selected to complement the landscape and connect with historical stories.
Bloomberg Connects
The entire Art on Your Doorstep exhibition is available on Oakwell’s free digital guide.
Follow the digital trail, listen to audio descriptions, and hear exclusive insights.
The guide is available anywhere which means you can take the artworks home with you!
Family Trail
Explore the family self-led trail at Oakwell Hall and Country Park as part of Art on Your Doorstep. Follow the route to discover famous artworks in the park. A fun, free activity for all ages – collect yours from the visitors centre!
The Makers Market
Celebrate the season at our Spring Makers Market, a vibrant showcase of creativity inspired by nature, new beginnings, and the joy of handmade.
Discover a wonderful selection of one‑of‑a‑kind pieces created by talented local makers, from thoughtful gifts to beautiful decorative items. Take time to meet the makers, learn about their craft, and enjoy browsing in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere full of springtime charm.
It’s the perfect opportunity to support local creativity, pick up something special, and enjoy a lovely day out with family and friends at Oakwell Hall.
- The Barn at Oakwell Hall
- Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May
- 10am–4pm
- Free Entry
Bagshaw Museum
Spring Collecting Crafts
May: Saturday 23, Sunday 24, Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27, Thursday 28, Saturday 30, Sunday 31
During opening times | PAYF / £4
Join these family fun craft sessions to make the most of family time this May Half Term. Get crafty with our exciting collections-based craft workshop!
Tolson Museum
Community Butterfly Art Mural
Contribute to our community butterfly art mural with your own beautiful butterfly!
During opening times
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
Head out on an adventure to one of our fantastic parks!
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.
Family fun at Kirklees Libraries
Library Adventures
If you’re looking for something to do during half term, then get down to your local library.
You can pick up your copy of our latest Library Adventures pack, full of activities (and don’t forget to send us in your jokes for the next pack – borrow one of our many joke books for inspiration and send your jokes to lal@kirklees.gov.uk, together with your child’s first name and age). 2026 is the National Year of Reading, so don’t forget – if you’re into it, read into it!
Craft activities, Lego clubs, and board game sessions
There are drop-in craft activities, Lego clubs, and board games sessions at some of our libraries – just ask at your local library for details of what’s happening there, or look at our Creative Kirklees and Ticketsource pages.
Comic Drawing Sessions
We’ve also got comic drawing sessions on at a whole host of libraries across half term, although you’ll need to book a place for these.
Making Faces – Print Making Workshop
If you like building with colourful bricks and making things with your hands, then this workshop is for you.
Slaithwaite Library, Huddersfield, HD1 2YZ
Monday 16 February 2026 – Wednesday 27 May 2026
Explore what’s happening at Cliffe House
Canoeing
Join our activity instructors in this 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.
Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026
Times: 10.00am – 12.00pm & 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Duration: 120 min session
Cost: £30.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Age: 8yrs+ (adults welcome)
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 main house to collect your prize (1 prize per paid trail sheet)
Dates: Tuesday 26 – Friday 29 May 2026
When booking your ticket, Select your respective day, the time frame reads 10.00, but you are able to attend anytime between 10.00am – 4.00pm on that day.
Age: Open to all ages
Parental supervision required for the duration of the activity.
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. Open to all 3+ yrs, instructor led session, all equipment provided.
Date: Wednesday 27 May 2026
Times: 10.00am – 11.00am | 11.15am – 12.15pm | 12.30pm – 1.30pm | 1.45pm – 2.45pm | 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Duration: 60 min session
Cost: £5.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Age: 3yrs+
Parental supervision required for the duration of the activity.
Bushcraft
Enjoy the great outdoors cooking and using woodland tools over an open fire, all washed down with a warming hot chocolate.
Please advise us of any special dietary requirements. Instructor led session, all equipment provided.
No need to worry about the damp conditions – this session is based under cover within our woodland.
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Times: 10.00am – 11.30am | 12.00pm – 1.30pm | 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Duration: 90 min session
Cost: £10.00 per person + booking fee (you only need to purchase a ticket if participating in the activity)
Age: 6yrs+
Parental supervision required for the duration of the activity.
Climbing Wall
Test your skill and strength on our climbing wall. Qualified instructor led session. All equipment provided.
Date: Friday 29 May 2026
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
No advance booking required. You can arrive at anytime between the stated hours (last access at 3.30pm).
Cost: £5.00 (for 4 climbs)
Age: 6yrs+